The modern DJing circuits often require a more elaborate setup. DJ speakers are an integral part of that. You need powerful speakers than can literally fill the venue and provide revelers with a club-like feel or at least compliment it.
When it comes to DJ speakers, there is a kaleidoscope of choices to suit various occasions. Your DJ gigs may entail performing in parties, weddings or major concerts and you obviously don’t want your speakers to be the weak link in your otherwise stellar craft.
In this article, we have compiled a list of some of the best DJ speakers that will give you the power, sonic performance, versatility and flexibility to dazzle your fans with quality music and sound system.
Buying the best DJ speakers need not be too hard. There are some simple basics that you need to grasp and which will serve as your guiding light when sifting through the crowded field of options. You must get the DJ specs, the brand, the context in which these speakers will be used as well as the pricing. The speaker ought to be good but you should also be able to afford it!
Here is a simple guide on how to go about selecting the best DJ speakers including some of the properties that you should look out for to get the most bang for your buck.
If you are in a rush, here is a quick rundown:
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Making Sense of DJ Speakers
What are DJ speakers and how do they differ from ordinary speakers? DJ speakers are certainly designed for DJ gigs but they aren’t exclusively for DJs. ‘DJ speakers’ is more of a general term used to describe speakers with the wattage to pump out some hair-raising sounds that will get the earth literally shaking to the beats.
They can, therefore, be applied in very diverse settings including weddings, rallies, concerts, school dances, auditoriums, small dance clubs and of course in the traditional DJing gigs. They are sometimes referred to as PAs or Public Address systems.
There is nothing about them that makes them particularly DJ speakers. When we talk of DJ speakers, we are simply talking of a speaker with some oomph! The power can range from as low as 200 watts to as high as 2000 watts.
What to Look for When Shopping for a DJ Speaker
Finding the right DJ speakers that suit your needs isn’t rocket science if you know exactly what you are looking for. Rather than focusing just on the raw power, think about the context in which it is to be used.
How many people can it accommodate per square meters? What is its frequency response? Is it compatible with USB, SD cards or Bluetooth functions? Does it support wireless connection and operation? What is the wattage and is it likely to support your typical gigs?
What is the sound quality like? Does it have adequate accessories for setup for your DJ gigs? Can it be used in conjunction with other subwoofers? What is the setup process like?
Here is a quick overview of some of the things to consider when purchasing a DJ speaker:
Passive vs Active Speakers
Decide whether you want a passive or an active speaker. Passive speakers need a separate amplifier in order to produce a more powerful sound since they don’t have a built-in power amp. A passive speaker is unpowered and the power must come from an amplifier that is purchased separately.
While passive DJ speakers are generally more affordable, the setup process is generally more complicated. You have to match up the separate power amp’s wattage with the correct level of power that the speaker cabinet can handle.
Active speakers are more self-contained and do not require a separate power amp as this has been built into them. The speaker also contains the EQ and volume controls.
Unlike passive DJ speakers that involve a more difficult setup process, active speakers are more convenient and easier to set up. All the components that you will need to make the powerful sound are contained in the speaker. Everything is in the system. This convenience comes at a price so they are generally costlier than passive DJ speakers.
If you are a DJ, you’d better off with an active or powered DJ speaker. The ease of setup and convenience is a clear winning edge.
Wattage or Power Rating
The power of the internal amplifier is the rating for your powered or active DJ speaker. For home-based equipment, you need a lower wattage of say 400 watts. However, for bigger venues hosting hundreds or thousands of people, you will need some insane wattage like 1000 to 2000 watts. The higher the wattage, the more power your speaker can pump out.
When picking the appropriate wattage for your DJ speakers, think about your typical crowd size. Do you typically do gigs for crowds numbering hundreds or thousands? The powered DJ speakers stipulate the watts and the recommended crowd size for which it would be ideal to use the speaker.
Think, too, about the size of space that you will be performing in. Many DJ speaker brands also make it easier for the shopper by recommending the ideal space where the speaker would be applicable. If space is larger, you will need more power to rev it up.
Wattage can be as low as 200 watts or as high as 2000 watts depending on how much power you need.
Frequency Range
The DJ speaker should have a wide frequency response that will enable it to amplify almost any audio that is being played, be it music or vocals. The speaker can have a lower range frequency woofers and the higher frequency tweeters and should easily connect to a wide range of musical instruments.
Portability
DJs are often mobile which means you have to constantly haul your equipment for DJing gigs. Speakers are of course all portable but you have to factor in the size. What is your mode of transport? Will it fit in easily?
Both the size and the weight of your DJ gear should be able to comfortably fit your vehicle. When it comes to portability, you should also factor in the ease with which the speaker can be handled. Does it have convenient ergonomic handles?
Budget
If you have gotten all the requirements right, you must now look at the cost factor. At the end of the day, it should be a speaker that you can afford and they don’t come cheap. For a good quality DJ speaker, you will be looking at spending several hundred dollars to acquire the gear.
If you are looking for cheaper options, you can go for the entry-level DJ speakers with prices in the low hundreds. These still have some decent power as well as sound quality but they don’t match the big hitters.
If you are going for the lower-priced models, you will have to sacrifice some power, sonic quality and in some cases, even convenience. If you are doing smaller-scale DJ gigs weddings, churches, meetings, conferences, speeches or gymnastics, these can be adequate.
In this review, we will have a look at some of the options that you can get for a relatively low budget.
The DJ Speakers to Buy in 2020
Alright, here is the list – it will make your DJ speaker searching journey a million times easier – trust me!
#1 Yamaha DBR10 700-Watt Powered Speaker
Power: 700 watts
Weight: 30.9lbs
The Yamaha DBR10 DJ speakers are the smallest in the DBR range which also includes the 12” Powered Speakers (DBR12) and the 15” Powered Speakers (DBR15). Yamaha is a trusted brand name for quality speakers and the DBR10 does not disappoint.
It has the reliability and sound quality that you would expect in a Yamaha speaker but it is also portable and a low budget option for smaller venues and crowds. Its design and performance are certainly gig-worthy.
It wouldn’t be a great choice for you if you are looking for something really bass-ey. Yamaha recommends this being used in smaller areas. For larger venues, you will have to buy a more powerful model.
Features-wise, it ticks all the right boxes. It is relatively light, weighing just 30.9 pounds so you can put it in your car and haul it off easily to all your DJ gigs.
It has rigging points that allow you to install other applications. Like all other DBR speakers, it is built with M8 rigging threads for the installation of rigged applications. There are also optional speaker brackets or the standardized eye bolts. These aren’t included and have to be purchased separately.
It is highly portable. The design is encased in a very portable and rugged exterior. It is also very compact. This, along with its lightweight design and durable plastic cabinet makes it very easy to carry and transport.
Cabinet includes sleek steel grille bolsters that gives it extra durability and protects the internal components to the maximum. The ergonomic handles make it even easier to transport them effortlessly.
It is a class-D amplifier. Although it is advertised as a 700-watt speaker, it is capable of producing up to 1000 watts and can achieve an SPL of up to 132 decibels. The clarity you get from this is impeccable. Its frequency range is 55Hz to 22kHz (-10dB).
The rear panel contains lots of inputs and outputs with a stereo RCA input, two XLR/¼ combo inputs as well as an XLR output. It also packs in some convenient EQ adjustments based on how you plan to use the speaker.
It has the high-power output woofers that provide a clear and powerful bass, without much distortion. Its 1.4” precision compression driver offers very accurate mid-range as well as high frequencies. The clarity is simply amazing. While the bass is not its strongest point, it’s still quite strong.
For indoor venues, the Yamaha DBR10 will fill your needs. For larger venues, you may have to invest in a more powerful sub-woofer such as the Yamaha DXS12.
Why I liked it: Yamaha is a top trusted brand for high-quality speakers. We love the ergonomic and durable design that makes this speaker really gig-worthy. Sound-wise, it still packs a punch but at a more affordable price. It is a dependable speaker with Yamaha’s 7-year warranty so you are assured of a long life with great sound quality. Buy this for smaller venues.
#2 The Bose S1 Pro
Power: 700 watt
Weight: 21.05lbs
The Bose S1 Pro is another great little speaker and a PA system that packs a good punch. It’s portable and ultra-compact and delivers a clean, high-quality sound for DJs, musicians, and performers.
The design is very lightweight and includes a 3-channel Bluetooth-equipped mixer. It utilizes cutting-edge Auto-EQ technology for a versatile sound system. You will get impeccable sound quality in any location.
It weighs just 21.05lbs. The cabinet has a sleek and ultra-rugged design with a convenient handle that can be used for quick setup as well as breakdown. It has a frequency response of 63Hz to 17Khz (3dB).
The design is multi-positional so you can use it as a stage monitor, mount it on tripod or speaker stand or tilt it back to try out multiple bass responses. The 3-channel mixer has reverb and EQ controls that allow you to integrate multiple music sources and participants into the performance. With Bluetooth, you can also do wireless music streaming.
The Bose S1 Pro also has the Bose proprietary Auto EQ that will optimize the speaker responses depending on the positioning. This will come in handy in the setup as it allows you to set up your equipment relatively quickly and get down onto the performance.
For outdoor usage and uses in areas with limited access to power, you can buy the optional lithium-ion battery that is sold separately.
Why I liked it: It is a smaller speaker with incredible sound output. The design is light and portable so you can haul it along to your performances. The convenient carry handle makes it easy to move around with. There is also the optional lithium-ion battery that enables you to perform even in places with limited access to power.
#3 QSC K10.2 Active 10″ Powered 2000-Watt Loudspeaker
Power: 2000 Watts
Weight: 32lbs (14.5kg)
Output: 130dB
The QSC K10.2 is top of the range and hands down one of the best of the best. If you can buy this 2000-watt beast, then you have reached the end of the line. You no longer have to upgrade to “better” models and can now sit back and focus on refining your art.
From functionality and build consideration, it ticks all the right boxes.
In the K range of QSC speakers, it lies midway between the K8 and the K12, combing the best of both qualities by giving users both portability and incredible power. The sound quality is crisp and extremely clear. Few speakers in its class can match its crisp sound quality. It belts out 130dB and has a frequency range of 50Hz to 20Khz.
Prime yourself for the best in class audio performance with its insane 2000-watt Class D amplifier module with matching high-performance woofers as well as compression drivers. It has a multi-function display that you can use to control and select the loudspeaker functions.
You will also appreciate its Directivity-Matched Transition (DMT) that will provide you with smooth coverage over the entire listening area. It offers an impressive frequency range of 50Hz-20Khz (-10dB) to accommodate a multiplicity of music and audio sources.
You will also appreciate its intrinsic correction tuning (thanks to its advanced onboard DSP) as well as loudspeaker management. There are factory presets as well as recallable scenes for the most used applications that will come in handy when you have to set up quickly and start your DJ gig.
The speakers are portable, versatile and reliable loudspeakers. They are easily transportable, easy to set up and also easy to use. The QSC K10.2 Active 10″ Powered 2000-Watt Loudspeaker is ideal for a vast range of live sound uses.
Why I liked it: It’s top of the class with unmatchable power and sonic quality.
#4 Electro Voice ELX200-10P 10″ Loudspeaker
Power: 1200 Watts
Weight: 34.5lbs
Here is another high-powered high-efficiency DJ speaker that ticks a lot of right boxes and one that’s built with professional-grade hardware. Fitted with Class-D amplifiers with a rating of up 1200 watts, it has the bass and clarity to provide for electrifying sounds and performances. It belts out a whopping 130dB SPL by leveraging its reliable EV-engineered transducers.
With its powered-full range models, you can set it up with relative ease whether for music, live concerts, speeches or club gigs. The EV ELX200-10P 10” loudspeaker includes a three-band EQ as well as five user-programmable presets.
Other important technical specs that make it a joy to work with including its visual monitoring limiter, the master volume control, the input level controls and meters and an integrated QuickSmart mobile application that enables you to rapidly and wirelessly configure, monitor and control a total of 6 ELX200 loudspeakers at the same time!
It also features the QuickSmartDSP for the top of the range processing power.
Why I liked it: High-powered speaker in professional-grade hardware. Very high tech construction yet super-intuitive functionality.
#5 Rockville BPA10 10″ DJ/PA Speaker
Power: 400 Watts
Weight: 20lbs
The Rockville BPA10 is a small and light speaker but with an impressive bark! For its size of 10”, it is quite loud and is suited for small to moderate venues. If you want to use it for speeches, jamming, karaoke or smaller parties, it will serve you right.
It has an active 300-watt performance that can hit a peak of 400 watts. Get deep bass and impressive acoustic power thanks to its 10” woofer and a 1.5” KSV coil. Some reviewers have reported a slight bass distortion at the bass frequencies but the bass distortion issues can be fixed with the limiter/compressor.
The frequency response of 20Hz-20KHz is quite impressive. It belts out a continuous 100dB. It has a Bluetooth signal input with a range of 32 feet that enables you to play music from your digital music players or smartphone via Bluetooth.
It also supports USB/SD MP3 music players. Channel 1 provides support for XLR as well as ¼” TRS while Channel 2 supports RCA as well as 1/8” inputs, all with volume control. You can input various kinds of audio signals, pre-programmed audio files or special effects and amplify them with the Rockville BPA10. As an added convenience, there is a wireless remote control!
It mixes perfectly both indoors and outdoors. If you are looking for small speakers for parties, jamming or karaoke, the Rockville BPA10 is certainly a good choice for you.
Why I liked it: Small, lightweight, intelligently engineered and perfect for smaller venues.
#6 JBL EON610 Portable 10″
Power: 1000 watts
Weight: 26lbs (11.79kg)
You could never go wrong with a JBL DJ speaker. The JBL EON610 is a portable, self-contained and multipurpose DJ speaker with a purposeful design and which leverages JBL’s proprietary waveguide technology for precise cover.
It is a 10” woofer with a two-way multi-purpose self-powered sound reinforcement. The maximum SPL output is 124dB with a wide frequency range of 52Hz to 20Khz (-10dB). With a power rating of 1000 watts off a Class D amplifier, you will get enough bass to rock the room. If this isn’t loud enough, you can press the mic/line button for a 30dB gain.
It also features Bluetooth integration and Bluetooth controllable DSP. It is Android and iOS-supported and also has a Bluetooth v4.0 compliant interface that you can use to control the master volume, adjust the 5-way user-definable parametric EQ optimized for different applications.
It saves and recalls the user presets. It includes multiple modes including Main, Monitor, Sub and Speech Modes. It also has different inputs including pro-XLR ¼ inch and RCA.
The dimensions are super convenient for storage and transportation. It is designed with two handles that allow for ease of transportation. You can comfortably lug this along for your DJ gigs.
Why I liked it: Small, lightweight and compact design but belts out raw power. Intelligent functionality inside a purposeful design. The waveguide technology is a plus!
#7 Behringer EUROLIVE B210D
Power: 200 watts
Weight: 19.18 pounds
Behringer is a top trusted brand when it comes to the making of DJ speakers and the Behringer EUROLIVE B210D does not disappoint. They are top of the line when it comes to stability, great sonic performance, and affordability. Suited for live and playback applications.
The EUROLIVE B210 is a budget-friendly DJ speaker, so if you are looking for an ultra-affordable option that still delivers great sound performance, this is it.
It’s a 200-watt 2-way speaker that does really well when it comes to love and playback performance for smaller-scale use-cases. The design is very lightweight and it is very easy to mount and transport. It has an average Class D amplifier that still pumps enormous power and outputs a crisp sound quality.
The EUROLIVE B210D also features an internal switch-mode power supply that delivers noise-free audio. Power consumption is very low and it has an impeccable transient response. Its integrated sound processor provides speaker protection and ultimate system control.
Why I liked it: Great little thing with raw power and intelligent functionality. Can be put to diverse uses. It has a great ergonomic handle. Solid build with very clear and loud sounds.
#8 QSC K12.2
Power: 2000 Watts
Weight: 32lbs (14.5Kg)
Output: 132 DB
This is another DJ speaker that comfortably falls under ‘top of the range’. Each of its speakers belt out a raw 2000 watts of power. It features a clever design with a digital display for the control. Its wide frequency range of 50Hz to 20Khz can accommodate a multiplicity of audio inputs.
The QSC K12.2 delivers best in class audio performance with its 2000-watt class D amplifier. The power module matches to high-powered woofers and compression drivers. The Directivity-Matched Transition (DMT) provides for very smooth coverage across the whole listening area.
The DJ speaker emits low noise and has a variable speed fan. It includes factory presets as well as recallable Scenes for some of the most commonly used apps.
It is designed with a multi-function digital display that you can use to control and select the loudspeaker functions. Its onboard DSP provides intrinsic loudspeaker management and correction tuning for extra performance optimization.
You can use it both as a Floor Monitor and as a Main PA. It offers multiple mounting options including flying it, wall or truss-mounting it or mounting on a speaker pole. With such flexibility, you can use in wide-ranging live sound scenarios.
Why I liked it: A top of the range and best in class DJ speaker that is versatile, portable and reliable. There are cheaper and quieter options so if you want to save some money and aren’t looking for much power, you can go for the QSC K10.2 or K8.2.
Conclusion
Hope this list helped you a little bit. Now that you know what to look for and what features to expect from DJ speakers, you’ll have no problem finding the one that ultimately fits all your needs and desires.
Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
