It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned record spinning or an up-and-coming DJ just learning the ropes, a good set of speakers is a must-have. You can invest thousands of dollars in your other gear, but what good would that do if no one can hear what you’re doing?
The DJ speakers will help your skills shine and give people plenty of reasons to remember your name. They’re a smart investment in your craft that can set you apart from the competition.
With this guide, we’re going to help you find the right DJ speaker setup.
Contents
- What Are DJ Speakers?
- Will Studio Monitors Work?
- The Best DJ Speakers Reviewed
- 1. JBL EON610 1000w (Best All-Around)
- 2. Alphasonik Pro-Dj 800w/1000w (Best for House Parties)
- 3. Rockville BPA10 400w (Best for Home)
- 4. Behringer B210D 200w (Best Versatile)
- 5. Proreck Club PA Speakers Set 3000w (Best for Ourdoor)
- 6. Alto Professional TS310 2000w (Best for Large Venues)
- 7. QSC K10.2 2000w (Best Professional-Quality)
- How to Choose DJ Speaker: Things to Consider
- Active vs. Passive Speakers
- Power Specifications
- Frequency Range
- Speaker Cone Size
- Adaptability
- Final Words
What Are DJ Speakers?
First things first, what exactly is a DJ speaker? You’ll often hear this term getting thrown around by professional DJs. While you might think that it’s a product that’s exclusive to this type of profession, it’s not.
Truth is, a DJ speaker is nothing more than a heavy-duty loudspeaker. It’s a device that’s capable of pumping out loud volumes for a large group of people to enjoy.
They are much more capable than the speakers you use at home or those you find in your car. Sometimes referred to as PA speakers, or public address speakers, they’re the best way to ensure that music is reaching everyone in a large venue.
Will Studio Monitors Work?
If you have a set of studio monitors speakers that you use regularly, you might be tempted to take that to your DJ gigs. However, doing so is one of the biggest rookie mistakes you can make! Let me explain…
Studio monitors aren’t meant for the masses. They’re specialized pieces of gear designed for critical listening during the recording and mixing phases of music production.
While they can certainly be the best DJ speakers for home use if you’re preparing custom mixes to use during your next event, they won’t do much for the listening experience.
You see, studio monitors are engineered for close-up listening. Both near-field and far-field monitors are never more than a few feet away from you.
Not only that, but studio monitors have to be set up in a very specific way to take full advantage of what they have to offer. With everyone dancing and walking around at gigs, it’s impossible to make things sound just right.
As if that weren’t enough, studio monitors just aren’t built to handle the electrical load needed for DJ gigs. We’ll get into the specifics of wattage a bit later. However, DJ speakers are designed for high outputs. Those high levels will only fry your studio monitors, which will definitely hurt your wallet!
The Best DJ Speakers Reviewed
Here are our top picks selected based on the use you make out of them. We have found great options for both outdoor or indoor use, big or small places, and generally speaking the best we could find at the moment out there.
1. JBL EON610 1000w (Best All-Around)
- Active speakers
- 128 dB max output
- 1000 watts peak, 500 watts RMS
JBL is a well-respected brand in the live music industry. These speakers show why. They are solidly-built speakers that are specifically designed for on-the-go performers, such as DJs. We like the durable build and integrated carrying handles. It makes setting up for a set much easier.
From a performance standpoint, the speakers don’t disappoint either. They’re capable of getting very loud, making them a good choice for both indoor and outdoor venues. Not only that, but the speakers have JBL’s Waveguide technology built right in.
Basically, this feature works to control how sound waves are delivered to your audience. It ensures that your music sounds good for every single person listening regardless of where they are located in the room.
Pros:
- Punchy bass
- Portable design
- Waveguide technology
- Multiple ways to connect
Cons:
- Bluetooth connectivity is only for controls
2. Alphasonik Pro-Dj 800w/1000w (Best for House Parties)
- Active speakers
- 800 or 1,000 watts depending on model
- Up to 102 dB SPL
Looking for a simple DJ setup for house parties? This speaker set from Alphasonik has you covered. It has everything you need to get the music pumping. Not only are you getting the speakers, but you’re also getting large tripods, cables, a karaoke mic, and more.
Don’t expect these speakers to provide you with the best listening experience out there. They are rather limited in terms of performance. However, for a backyard party or small gathering, they work wonderfully.
The active speakers are quite punchy. Alphasonik offers speakers in a few different sizes to get the power you’re looking for. Thanks to wireless connectivity and multiple input options on the back, these are versatile speakers that can suit any DJing style.
Pros:
- Comes with tripod stand, cables, and more
- Integrated LED lighting
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Onboard equalizer
Cons:
- Not the best for larger venues
3. Rockville BPA10 400w (Best for Home)
- Active speakers
- 400 watts peak, 100 watts RMS
- Up to 102 dB SPL
The Rockville DJ speaker is one that can serve you well at home. Whether you’re performing for a house party or you’re simply looking to hone your skills before your next gig, the speaker has you covered.
It’s not as high-powered as some other speakers on the market. In fact, the RMS rating is closer to home speakers than a device that you’d use in a larger venue. However, Rockville has included some great features to improve frequency response.
The woofer cone is about 10 inches in diameter. This ensures that bass tones sound rich and punchy. There’s also a titanium diaphragm compression driver. It helps to keep those higher pitches sounding crystal clear.
Pros:
- Good frequency response
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Large woofer cone
- Several input options
- Portable build
Cons:
- Lower continuous power
- Can’t be used in stereo
4. Behringer B210D 200w (Best Versatile)
- Active speakers
- 200 watts
Behringer is another popular brand within the professional music world. The B210D speaker is a nice piece of gear that can be used in several different ways.
From a design standpoint, this speaker is great. It’s designed to be very lightweight. This improves portability tenfold. Yet, it doesn’t sacrifice when it comes to sound quality. Another cool thing that we like is that you can use this however you want.
Place it on the ground for a last-minute setup, prop it up on tripods, or even lay it on its side to use as a performance monitor! The choice is yours.
Class-D amplifiers are used. They do a fine job of powering the speaker and replicating sound without artifacts. At moderate power levels, the speakers produce very little noise, which is a huge plus.
Pros:
- Doesn’t waste electricity
- Low-noise output
- Lightweight and portable
- Versatile placement
- Portable build
Cons:
- Sensitive to clipping
5. Proreck Club PA Speakers Set 3000w (Best for Ourdoor)
- Active speakers
- 3,000 peak watts, 750 RMS
- Wireless up to 66 feet
Getting ready to play at your first big outdoor event? Check out this unique speaker setup from ProReck. Take one look at this product and you can see that it’s meant for larger crowds. It doesn’t have that traditional boxed design like other models.
Instead, it features a series of speakers in a line array. This is something that you’ll usually see in huge live venues. The arrangement of the speakers ensures that music is dispersed throughout the venue evenly. Everyone will be able to hear the music clearly without having to worry about environmental factors getting in the way.
There are also integrated subwoofers. They help to make the bass clear and punchy. The speaker setup, while unique, is perfect for getting the crowds excited in outdoor settings.
Pros:
- Can get very loud
- Superb bass quality
- Multiple music input options
- Integrated equalizer and several volume controls
Cons:
- Prone to rattling
- Higher price tag
6. Alto Professional TS310 2000w (Best for Large Venues)
- Active speakers
- 2,000 peak watts, 1,000 watts RMS
- Bi-amplified Drivers
The Alto Professional DJ speakers have a lot to offer in outdoor environments. These are very high-powered speakers. The peak wattage rating is 2,000.
However, the RMS rating is relatively high as well at 1,000 watts. Because it’s an active speaker, you can get this power without having to use an external amplifier at all.
The sound quality doesn’t disappoint either. The speakers have a good frequency response. The bass end deserves a special shoutout. Alto Professional offers woofers up to 15 inches in diameter. That said, even the smaller woofers are perfectly capable of helping the bass stand out.
Considering the fact that bass tends to get very muddy in outdoor environments, these speakers do a fine job of keeping music sound clear and pristine.
Pros:
- Good frequency response
- Large bass cone
- Integrated two-channel mixer
- Multiple input ports
- Adaptable design
Cons:
- No wireless connectivity
7. QSC K10.2 2000w (Best Professional-Quality)
- Active speakers
- 2,000 peak watts
- Class-D amplifiers
- Maximum 128 dB SPL
From QSC is this feature-rich speaker. It’s a piece of DJ equipment that can provide you with professional-quality sound regardless of your venue. Unlike other models that are somewhat limited based on your surroundings, this one is highly adaptable.
There’s a small digital display located on the back of the speaker. With this display, you can fine-tune the speaker’s performance. Adjust specific frequency bands with the equalizer, choose from preset modes, or create delays. Everything can be done right on the speaker itself.
QSC has included some innovative extras, too. Advanced technology inside the speaker, such as Directivity-Matched Transition and Intrinsic Voicing Correction work to improve coverage. As a result, music sounds great from anywhere in the room.
Pros:
- Integrated digital display
- Directivity-Matched Transition feature
- Several placement options
- Built-in equalizer and frequency contour system
- Sleek design
Cons:
- High price tag
- Only comes with one speaker
How to Choose DJ Speaker: Things to Consider
Like any other part of your DJ setup, it’s important to put some special thought into choosing the right speakers. Performance and overall quality are not the same across the board. To ensure that you’re getting the best speakers you can, here are some of the most important things to consider during your search.
Active vs. Passive Speakers
One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether you want active speakers or passive ones. Generally, active speakers are best for DJs.
Here’s the deal: Working DJs often have to do their own setups at venues. Unless you have a dedicated team to do that work for you, it’s going to be a one-person job! Your DJ arsenal is already filled with bulky gear, so why go through the trouble of using passive speakers that require even more equipment to operate?
Active speakers have their own integrated amplifier. Most even have their own crossover components. They work to split the music into different frequency bands, which are powered by an independent driver.
While they can be a bit heavier and bulkier, they are much more portable than the alternative. Passive speakers require a standalone amplifier. They need external power to pump out those tunes. This translates into an additional investment and another thing you’re going to have to lug around with you to gigs.
With all that said, passive speakers can work for DJs. They are one of the best DJ speakers for home use or venues with a permanent DJ setup. But for the vast majority of working DJs who move from venue to venue, active speakers are the best choice. They’re more portable, easier to use, and can be adjusted to match your environment.
Power Specifications
It can be very confusing to sift through speaker specifications. Wattage ratings, RMS, dBs, and SPL: What does it all mean?
Two of the most important ratings to understand are watts and RMS. Watts are a unit of energy used to represent how much electricity the speaker can handle. Typically, the higher the wattage, the louder the speaker can get. That’s not always the case, but it’s a good rule of thumb for live performances.
Many DJs say that you should have at least 5 watts of power per person in your venue. If you’re doing a large outdoor event, you could be looking at several thousands of watts of power!
When you’re looking at a speaker, it’s important to pay attention to the RMS as well. The RMS, which stands for Root Mean Square, is a value that represents how much continuous power the speaker can handle.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a 1,000-watt speaker can handle up to 1,000 watts for the duration of your set! Usually, the wattage rating is the peak. It may only be able to handle 700 watts of power continuously with an occasional spike up to 1,000.
Now, if you’re trying to find the right speaker based on loudness, you’ll need to refer to the decibel ratings. The decibels represent the sound pressure level, SPL, or the speaker.
Higher decibels are ideal for large venues and outdoor settings. Be careful with higher dB ratings, as high-powered speakers can cause hearing damage if you’re not careful.
Frequency Range
Healthy humans can hear frequencies between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. However, not all speakers have that wide of a frequency range. To ensure that your speakers sound as true-to-life as possible, go with equipment that offers the best frequency response you can get.
Speaker Cone Size
Speaking of frequency response, let’s talk about cone sizes. Speakers usually have no problem producing mid and high-range tones. It’s the bass that causes trouble. While you can certainly invest in separate subwoofers to provide that punchy kick, many DJ speakers have large woofers built right in.
A larger speaker cone can help create that fat bass you need for electronic, dance, and hip-hop music. We recommend going with a speaker that has a cone that’s at least 8 inches in diameter. The larger the cone is, the punchier the bass will sound.
Adaptability
Finally, you should always think about adaptability. Are you choose capable good party speakers that offer the same levels of performance in a large outdoor venue as they would in a small wedding reception party?
As a DJ, you’re going to pick up jobs in a wide range of locations. Having a set of speakers that easily adapts to changing environments can make all the difference.
Look out for speakers with easy power adjustments. Units that can be configured with or without a subwoofer are great, too.
Of course, it’s also a good idea to think about portability and overall durability as well. Your speakers should be easy enough to move around but tough enough to stay in good shape through every gig.
Final Words
As you can see, the market is filled with some great speakers for you to try out. Your speakers are going to be one of the most important investments you can make. They’ll translate your skills into something people can enjoy!
While all of your recommended picks have a lot to offer, the JBL speakers are the overall winner. The Waveguide technology implemented into the speakers makes them stand out.
The feature works to dramatically improve frequency response across the venue. It’s similar to what QSC does with its speakers. However, the JBL model is much more affordable.
Overall, the speaker set is a powerful option. It has a much punchier bass than most of the speakers on this list. Plus, it has a higher wattage rating than the speakers from Behringer, Rockville, and Alphasonik.
Give the JBL speakers a shot. You’ll be surprised by how much of a difference high-quality speakers can make to the end product. The speakers will get your audience pumped no matter where you are!
