Welcome to The DJ Shop’s best DJ Mixer 2024 guide. With so many DJ mixers on the market, it can prove challenging to know which one is suitable for you.
A DJ Mixer is a vital piece of equipment within any DJ setup. Essentially it is a unit that provides DJs with the ability to seamlessly transition between tracks. A number of sound sources can be connected to a mixer including turntables, CDJs, DJ software, etc. Headphones can also be connected to allow the DJ to line up the next track with ease. DJ mixers normally come in the form of 2-channel or 4-channel.
The two-channel mixer can link up to two CDJs/turntables whereas the four-channel DJ mixer can accommodate up to four CDJs/turntables. It is worth noting that larger clubs tend to favour the 4-channel mixer over the 2-channel.
If you are fairly new to Djing it can be quite daunting trying to identify a suitable mixer. This is one of the reasons why we have produced this article. On the market, you will find there are 2-channel, 4-channel, some with effects, some without, 3-band EQ, 4-band EQ… the list goes on. To help narrow things down we have decided to subcategorise them into 4-channel and 2-channel mixers. A 4-channel mixer is desired; however, it certainly is not essential. It is also worth noting that the EQ band number is an important factor as it has a great effect on the quality of the sound output.
Below you will find a collection of DJ Mixers that we have selected to feature within this article. They cover a wide range of Djing abilities, so you will be sure to find one to match your skill level along with budget.
Best 4-channel DJ Mixers
A 4-channel mixer allows for up-to four audio inputs to be connected simultaneously and is what you will usually find within a club DJ setup. Below you will find five DJ mixers we believe are worthy of making the list.
- Pioneer DJ DJM-900NXS2 Professional DJ Mixer
- Pioneer DJ DJM-750MK2 Professional 4-channel DJ Mixer
- Denon DJ X1850 Prime Professional 4-channel DJ Club Mixer
- Allen & Heath Xone 96
- PLAYdifferently MODEL 1.4
Pioneer DJM-900NXS2 Pro DJ Mixer
To start, we have the Pioneer DJM-900NXS2 DJ Mixer. This high-end, 4-channel mixer features 4 phono inputs, 2 USB ports, DVS (Digital Vinyl System) control and Pro DJ Link capability (where you can connect up to four players and use only the one source). There are two headphone connections (3.5mm mini jack and 6.3mm jack) and two mic inputs (6.3mm jack and XLR). The DJM900NXS2 also features a 3-band EQ which provides more precision over the high, mid and low frequencies, a booth output, adjustable crossfader curve, crossfader assignments and numerous effects.
There are 14 Beat FX which includes Pitch, Vinyl Brake, Helix and Reverb, and 6 sound colour FX, each of which have a dedicated parameter knob that allows for settings to be changed for each of the effects.
The mixer is a standard 12 inches and weighs in at 8kg, it has a frequency range of 20-40,000 Hz, a 96 kHz sampling rate, 24 bit A/D Converter, 32 bit D/A Converter, <0.005% (LINE) distortion, S/N Ratio Line of 105dB, S/N Ratio Phono of 88dB, S/N Ratio Mic of 79dB and a 60 watt power consumption.
Pioneer DJM-750MK2
The next four-channel mixer we thought we would include is the DJM-750MK2. Many of its features have been inherited from the DJM-900NXS2 mentioned above. It includes four phono inputs, four line inputs, two USB (B/A) ports, a mic input (6.3mm TRS jack and XLR) and is rekordbox DVS ready. There is also an independent mic section featured on the face of the unit.
You will find a 3-band EQ which has the ability to isolate or stop a normal curve. Additionally, there is a Sound Colour FX (Sweep, Filter, Dub Echo and Noise) along with eleven time-based effects, which come with the means to independently modify the effects of each frequency.
The 750MK2 is a standard twelve inches and weighs in at 6.6kg. It has a D/A converter of 32-bits, A/D converter of 32-bits, sample rate of 48 kHz, S/N ratio of 105dB (LINE), total harmonic distortion of <0.005% (LINE-MASTER1) and a frequency response of between 20-20,000 Hz.
Denon DJ X1850 Prime
The Denon DJ X1850 Prime is a 4-channel DJ mixer with adjustable contour faders and channels that are multi-assignable. The crossfader on the mixer includes Denon’s renowned ‘flexi-fade’ technology which allows easy adjustments to be made, enhancing the users experience.
The X1850 mixer is a standard size at 12-inches and weighs approximately 7kg. It features 16 pro-level BPM FX with FX Quantise control, Expressive EQ including an ‘isolation’ mode and an OLED screen.
The mixer comes with four sweep effects which adds instant creativity, a lo/hi pass filter with resonance control, 16 professional BPM FX which provides club-standard performances and FX Quantise control which allows you to add FX to transitions and into sections effortlessly.
The Denon DJ X1850 comes with 24-bit/96kHz digital sound output, two independent dedicated XLR (1/4-inch combo) mic inputs with EQ/Level/talk over and dual USB audio connections.
Allen & Heath Xone 96
The Xone:96 builds upon the already well established and reliable name of the Xone series. The Xone96 comes with an intuitive layout so that the professional DJ can integrate this into a DJ setup quickly and make use of the groundbreaking features. The mixer comes with advanced digital connectivity while still maintaining unique, analogue style sonic qualities. Also, the dual 32-bit soundcard is Traktor Scratch certified so you can use this mixer straight out of the box.
Although we are classing this as a 4-channel mixer due to the four stereo input channels, you also get 2 additional stereo return channels which add a whole host of creative possibilities to your DJ performances than most 4 channel mixers. Allen & Heath mixers wouldn’t be as respected as they are today thanks to their voltage-controlled filters. The VCFs offer high, low, and bandpass settings which can be selected for even more diverse sounding performances. They also come with resonance and frequency sweeping controls. The amount of attention to detail Allen and Heath have put into such a simple, but essential DJ function is a testament to their attitude and desire to give DJs the best tools available.
Regarding inputs and outputs, the Xone:96 doesn't disappoint, offering you in-depth variety when it comes to equipment connectivity. The four stereo input channels come with phono RCA and line connections. Additional connections include two stereo ¼-inch TRS sends and four stereo ¼-inch TRS return connections. You also get a dedicated master insert. The 4-band EQ has been extended to the booth input which gives you so much more control over booth speakers than before. Now you don't need to bother the sound engineer to adjust levels you can alter to your taste.
PLAYdifferently MODEL 1.4
The PLAYdifferently MODEL 1.4 is a 100% analogue 4-channel mixer solely made in the UK. It includes two high-performing phono preamps, studio-grade TKD 60mm faders, six stereo channels, low and high pass filters, precision sculpting EQ, two stereo sends and returns, dual headphone cueing and 3-band master EQ.
The mixer also has a fully balanced mix bus which is usually only found on very high-end units. The mix bus is used for lowering noise, crosstalk, improve dynamic range and hum rejection. The connectivity options on the MODEL 1.4 are flexible and include a power source input, RCA inputs, 1/4 -inch TRS inputs and outputs, D-Sub input and output and XLR master out.
The MODEL 1.4 mixer is average weight compared to others in its class and has some pretty impressive specs. It has a frequency response of 20Hz-40kHz +0/-2dB, dynamic range >112dB, 0.008% Line In to Mix 1 out distortion, <-100dB inter-channel crosstalk and a left/right crosstalk of -80dB 1kHz. This high-class mixer is designed and made for true analogue purists.
Best 2-channel DJ Mixer
We have discussed the 4-channel DJ mixers so now we move on to the 2-channel mixers. You will find they are still packed with quality features, they just have fewer channels. We have selected three DJ mixers we deem to be worthy of making the list.
- Pioneer DJ DJM-250MK2 DJ Mixer with Effects
- Allen & Heath Xone 23 High-Performance Mixer
- Pioneer DJ DJM-450 2-Channel DJ Mixer with FX
- Reloop Elite 2-Channel Mixer
Pioneer DJM-250MK2
To start, we have the DJM-250MK2 which is a 2-channel mixer complete with 1 USB port, 3 Line (RCA) inputs, 2 Phono (RCA) inputs, 1 Mic (¼ inch TS), 2 Master Out (XLR / RCA) and 2 Headphone Monitor Out (¼ inch Stereo Phone Jack / 3.5mm Stereo Mini Jack).
The DJM250 has 3-band isolators and has inherited a couple of features from the industry standard DJM-900NXS2. This includes a high-quality Magvel crossfader and a dedicated filter on each channel which has been taken from the Sound Colour FX. The mixer has a frequency response of between 20-20,000 Hz, a sample rate of 48kHz, total harmonic distortion of <0.005% (Line-Master1) and a signal-to-noise ratio of 94 dB (Line).
This mixer is certainly value for money. We almost forgot to mention that it comes complete with a rekordbox DJ licence key as well as a rekordbox DVS one!
Allen & Heath Xone 23
The Allen & Heath Xone 23 is a professional DJ mixer that is high quality and durable. It is crammed with features including a 3-band total kill EQ, crossfader curve adjust and VCA faders and their very own widely known analogue VCF (Voltage Control Filter) system.
The mixer features dual Phone / Line inputs, balanced XLR Mic input and Mix out, an independent booth out, record (RCA) out and 3.5mm / ¼ inch headphone outputs. The unit itself contains a 9-segment signal level monitor, along with back lit controls and light pipe meters. The frequency response range is between 20-20,000 Hz.
The Xone 23 weighs in under 3kg and is a standard size for a 2-channel mixer. This mixer may be compact however it does not compromise on quality or power.
Pioneer DJM-450
The DJM-450 is a 2-channel DJ mixer that may appear small however it is powerful. It is crammed with many features and design elements from the industry-standard DJM-900NXS2. The mixer features a crossfader, channel faders and EQs, built-in soundcard, 64-bit digital signal processor, Sound Colour and Beat FX.
The DJM450 includes 3 Line (RCA) inputs, 2 Phono (RCA) inputs, 1 Mic (¼ inch TRS), 2 Master Out (XLR, RCA), 2 Headphone monitor out (¼ inch stereo jack, 3.5mm stereo mini jack), 1 USB (B) port and 1 USB (A) port. The RCA inputs/outputs are gold plated to ensure the highest quality of sound and an independent Mic section so the microphone and AUX input can be used simultaneously.
This Pioneer mixer weighs in at just over 3kg and is again, standard size for a 2-channel mixer. It has a frequency response of between 20-20,000 Hz, a signal-to-noise ratio of 94dB (Line), a <0.005% distortion and a sample rate of 48 kHz.
Again, it is worth mentioning that this DJ Mixer also comes complete with a rekordbox DJ licence and a rekordbox DVS licence.
Reloop Elite
The Reloop Elite is a high-performance 2-channel DVS DJ Mixer with a high-quality deep black metallic finish. The Elite has been developed in conjunction with some well-known industry turntablists and is ideal for scratch DJs. It comes with a DUAL 10 In/Out USB 2.0 audio interface with excellent 24-bit sound quality and uses Serato Pro DJ software.
The unit features an OLED display, two independent effects units, a mini-fader, sixteen large velocity-sensitive performance pads and an array of buttons and knobs. A series of connections allow for flexibility, including smart link USB ports, independent echo effect and on/off talk over switch, Mic/Line input that has 2-band EQ, two headphone outputs, a booth output, and MIDI-compatible control elements.
This Reloop Elite mixer weighs 6kg which makes it heavier than other 2-channel mixers that are available. This isn’t surprising, thanks to its quality build and feature list. It has a frequency response of between 20-20,000 Hz. A copy of Serato DJ Pro comes with the Elite along with DVS support, two Serato Control Vinyls with NoiseMap™ technology and a 90-day BPM Supreme Premium Membership.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading this article on the Best DJ Mixers 2024. As you can see there are a wide range of mixers from a number of different brands. Many of them are crammed with additional features, and a lot of them come complete with a copy of their associated software. It would not be fair for us to select one mixer as ‘The Best’ as it really is personal choice. They all have their good points along with suiting a variety of budgets. Whichever one you are drawn too, rest assured, you will not be disappointed by either its quality, usability or performance.
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