CDJ Guide & CDJ Setup
Below is a typical CDJ setup. As you can see, it is simple. It doesn’t require a laptop or a sound card. It is the most archetypal DJ setup you will come across.
Pioneer versus Denon
The only question you have to answer when it comes to a CDJ setup is Pioneer or Denon? Pioneer are the international club standard, they’re in 99% of clubs, 99% of DJs you’ll watch run Pioneer gear and of the equipment that’s for sale on the second-hand market, the majority is Pioneer too.
But wait! In the last few years, Denon has ramped up their assault on the Japanese stalwart and it’s starting to pay dividends. Their equipment is more feature-rich and has moved better with the times. They also integrate with streaming platforms, which is yet to come to Pioneer gear. And most importantly, they are cheaper.
Denon’s flagship SC6000 = AUS$2400
Pioneer’s flagship CDJ = AUS$4500
Starting to sound like a win for Denon, eh? I’m not so sure. The build quality of a Pioneer is far superior. If you are preparing to play in clubs, you want to be well versed with Pioneer gear and if you don’t want to buy new, you really don’t have a choice.
I guess the point here is if you stick to either of these brands, you really can’t go wrong as they are both amazing decks with great sound quality.
Second Hand CDJs
Buying new is boring. The favourite bit of gear I own is a Pioneer DJM mixer that I scored real cheap from a club I used to dance in when I was younger. The history of that machine is etched into its wear marks and I just love it. So what should you get if you aren’t buying new?
Pioneer CDJ 900 Nexus
$1000-1500: The Pioneer CDJ 900 Nexus is what I would be aiming for if your budget allows it. The CDJ 900 takes a USB drive and they display the waveform of the song (don’t underestimate how helpful this can be). The CDJ 900 must be the most widely used Pioneer CD player.
Pioneer CDJ 850
$500-800: While the Pioneer CDJ 850 doesn’t display an active waveform, they do just about everything else, including taking a USB memory stick and having a USB port to integrate them as a controller for Traktor and RekordBox.
Pioneer CDJ 1000 MK3
$300-500: You’ll be stepping back in time with the Pioneer CDJ 1000 MK3. They don’t take USB, so you’ll be burning CDs like it’s 1999. But it does have almost all of the other functionality of its successor, produces a great sound and is ultrareliable. They are also the most common CDJ you see on the second-hand market.
CDJ Setup Conclusion
The CDJ/Mixer/Speaker setup is simple, and it just works. It doesn’t require a laptop or any other pieces of expensive hardware like sound cards. You will see this set up in just about every DJ booth in the world, and you absolutely can’t go wrong if you choose to go this way. Plus, setups like this are always for sale so keep an eye on your local marketplace if you decide on a CDJ setup.
