Best DJ speakers: Recommended monitors for home and the DJ booth

Man wearing a white shirt DJs in his bedroom
(Image credit: Getty/Yagi Studio)

At the risk of making a rather obvious point, the best DJ speakers will form an essential part of any DJ set-up. Once you’ve sorted something to play and mix your tracks with – be that a laptop and controller, or a mixer with CDJs or turntables – the next step is making sure you can actually hear your mixes.

Let’s be clear what we’re talking about here – this round-up is focusing on monitor speakers for a home or small DJ booth set-up. Clubs and bars will, naturally, require proper sound systems in order to have enough power to get a dancefloor moving, and that’s a whole separate realm of the audio market.

The speakers here are generally what are known as ‘nearfield’ monitors – speakers designed to sit on a desk or stand within a few feet of the listener. They’re ideal for letting you hear the full effect of your mixer output as you practice, record or stream your next mix either at home or in a small studio. That said, when push comes to shove, some of these would likely do the job if you want to rock a small house party.

We’ve included a range of sizes and styles here, which should suit different needs and tastes. Check out our buying after the product section for a little help establishing what your set-up requires.

Best DJ speakers: MusicRadar's choice

KRK’s Rokit series of monitors have become such a ubiquitous choice for bedroom producers that they’ve become meme-worthy over the years. They’re an undeniably solid choice for their price though, and the more recent G4s are significantly improved on previous iterations.

The main reason to recommend the KRK Rokit RP7 G4s in this context is their flexible onboard controls, which allow users to adapt the speaker response to suit studio size and needs. Ideal for those looking for monitors that can handle both DJ and production duties.

The Pioneer DJ VM-70 falls into a similar bracket, although they’re even more targeted at DJ use. Of all the monitors here, Pioneer’s are probably the easiest for capturing a ‘vibey’ club sound that will complement your mixes. They make it simple to switch back to a ‘flat’ response for production too though.

Best DJ speakers: Product guide

Best DJ Speakers: KRK Rokit RP7 G4

(Image credit: KRK)

1. KRK Rokit RP7 G4

Affordable nearfields beloved by producers and DJs alike

Specifications

Launch price: $239/£208/€209 (each)
Frequency response: 42Hz - 40kHz
Speaker configuration: 2-way
Driver size: 7”, 1”
Tweeter type: Kevlar
Inputs: Combo input XLR / 6.3mm balanced jack

Reasons to buy

+
Sound great for the price
+
Built-in EQ and room analyser
+
Suits dance music well

Reasons to avoid

-
Black and yellow styling can be divisive 

For over a decade now, KRK’s distinctive yellow-trimmed Rokit range has been a go-to choice for many bedroom producers and aspiring DJs. Over the years the Rokits have improved significantly in terms of sound quality while remaining pleasingly affordable.

These fourth generation speakers boast a sound that’s reliable enough for production duties but with plenty of power and bass to suit DJs too. They also pack some impressive features for their price point, including a graphic EQ and built-in DSP-powered room analyser to help you overcome any sound issues with your listening space. For producers and DJs working with dance music genres in small-to-medium spaces, these are hard to fault.

Read our full KRK Rokit G4 review

Best DJ Speakers: Pioneer VM-70

(Image credit: Pioneer)

2. Pioneer DJ VM-70

The best DJ-specific monitors

Specifications

Launch price: $229/£219/€229 (each)
Frequency response: 37Hz - 36kHz
Speaker configuration: 2-way
Driver size: 6.5” woofer, 1” tweeter
Tweeter type: SILK soft dome
Inputs: XLR/TRS combo x 1 (balanced input), RCA x 1 (unbalanced input)

Reasons to buy

+
DJ-specific customisation tools
+
Good specs for the price
+
Stylish look

Reasons to avoid

-
DJ ‘room’ emulations potentially a bit gimmicky

Pioneer DJ is a dominant force throughout the DJ market, producing industry-leading CDJs, DJ controllers and DJ mixers. When it comes to speakers, the company might not have the same pedigree as some other brands on this list, but Pioneer certainly understands the needs of modern DJs, and the VM range comes up trumps on that front.

The pitch here is that these monitors can offer both neutral sound for music production duties and ‘club-like’ audio close to what you’d expect in a DJ booth. This is done through built-in DSP, with high and low EQ controls that can boost or cut frequencies to create a punchier or more bass heavy sound.

The result is a set of monitors that makes it convenient and easy to flip between a ‘flat’ production set-up for when you’re working on tracks, and more ‘vibey’ sound when you're in the mix or listening to your favourite tracks.

Best DJ Speakers: Adam Audio T5V

(Image credit: Adam Audio)

3. Adam Audio T5V

Affordable studio speakers from a highly-regarded brand

Specifications

Launch price: $199/£298/€339 (pair)
Frequency response: 45Hz - 20kHz
Speaker configuration: 2-way
Driver size: 5", 4"
Tweeter type: Ribbon Inputs: RCA, XLR

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent value
+
Broad sweet spot
+
XLR and phono inputs

Reasons to avoid

-
More of a reference monitor than pure DJ speaker

Adam Audio is a well established and highly regarded name in the studio monitor realm. Their high-end speakers are common in the studios of pro or established producers, many of whom swear by the brand’s products.

These are one of the most affordable pairs of speakers Adam offers, making them ideal for DJs who want studio quality but don’t need the power and clarity of a top end monitor. Despite the price and compact size though, there’s a lot to recommend about these. Imaging and separation is excellent, and the rear panel EQs make it easy to shape the sound to suit your room. The HPS waveguide creates a broad horizontal sweet spot too, which is likely to suit DJs.

The option of both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (phono) inputs – with a selector switch – is handy too.

If you’re looking for a speaker purely for DJ purposes and want lots of bass power, there are arguably better options at this price point. But for a monitor you can trust for production but will also suit DJs, these are a great choice.

Best DJ Speakers: M-Audio BX4

(Image credit: M-Audio)
The best budget speakers for bedroom DJs and producers

Specifications

Launch price: $159/£85/€99
Frequency response: 80Hz - 22kHz
Speaker configuration: 2-way
Driver size: 3.5”, 1”
Tweeter type: Kevlar
Inputs: 1x RCA stereo input pair, 2x 1/4" (6.35 mm) TRS inputs, 1x 1/8" (3.5 mm) stereo auxiliary input

Reasons to buy

+
Great price and solid sound
+
Flexible inputs

Reasons to avoid

-
Less lower bass response than some other speakers
-
Not as sonically customisable as some others

Unlike the compact budget options in this round-up, M-Audio’s BX series offer the look and power of a proper pro studio monitor. Especially considering the price, these offer impressive highs and decent bass response – even if the sub frequency range doesn’t go as low as other speakers in this round-up – making them particularly well suited for dance music.

Both balanced and unbalanced inputs are provided (a pair of TRS jacks and RCAs respectively). In practice, the BXs are very easy to set up and with only one power connection and stereo inputs, cabling is tidy. You can also specify left/right on the active monitor, so you can position the active speaker to whichever side suits.

Read our full M-Audio BX3 and BX4 reviews

Best DJ Speakers: IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors

(Image credit: IK Multimedia)

5. IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors

The best portable monitors for DJs on the go

Specifications

Launch price: $349/£299/€357
Frequency response: 55Hz - 20kHz
Speaker configuration: Two-way
Driver size: 3”
Tweeter type: ¾” silk dome
Inputs: Dual RCA Stereo, 1/8” TRS, Bluetooth

Reasons to buy

+
Portable
+
Surprisingly big sound
+
Bluetooth equipped

Reasons to avoid

-
There are cheaper options if portability isn’t an issue

Pitched as "the smallest active studio reference monitoring system in the world", IK’s compact speaker set-up is specifically designed to be wedged into tight spaces or packed away for use on the move. While these aren’t going to cut it as a speaker rig for a sizeable studio, they’re a significant cut above consumer-level speaker systems and offer a good level of power and sound quality for their price.

All of which makes these a great choice for more mobile-minded DJs. Since they’re highly portable and offer conveniences such as a single cable connection and Bluetooth capabilities, these make a great pairing with a laptop and compact controller for a DJ set-up you could conceivably fit into a (large) backpack.

Read our full IK Multimedia iLoud MTM review

Best DJ Speakers: Output Frontier

(Image credit: Output)

6. Output Frontier

The best looking monitors for a stylish home set-up

Specifications

Launch price: $1,399/£1,259/€1260
Frequency response: 45Hz - 25kHz
Speaker configuration: 2-way
Driver size: 6.5″ woofer, 1″ tweeter
Tweeter type: Coaxial aluminium alloy
Inputs: 1x RCA, 1x XLR/ Jack

Reasons to buy

+
Exceptionally stylish look
+
Great sound
+
Excellent build quality

Reasons to avoid

-
An expensive choice for purely DJ duties

LA-based brand Output is a newcomer to the monitor sphere but these speakers have pedigree nonetheless; they’re designed and created in cooperation with beloved speaker brand Barefoot Sound.

With a price point significantly over the $/£/€1,000 mark, these are a fair investment, but you get great quality for your money. The 6.5”/1.25” coaxial aluminium alloy drivers offer a superbly flat response which is usually reserved for a much higher-end speaker.

Call us shallow, but our main reason for the Frontier’s inclusion here is their look. Output is a stylish brand and these are some of the best looking speakers around, particularly thanks to that solid walnut base – which also helps to isolate the speaker. Just imagine how good these would look paired with a set of 1210s and a rotary mixer? Lovely stuff.

Read our full Output Frontier review

Best DJ Speakers: JBL One Series 104

(Image credit: JBL)

7. JBL One Series 104

Compact, budget monitors perfect for small set-ups

Specifications

Launch price: $199/£188/€188 (pair)
Frequency response: 60Hz - 20kHz
Speaker configuration: 2-way
Driver size: 0.75”, 4.5”
Tweeter type: Soft dome
Inputs: 1/4” TRS, RCA, 1/8” jack

Reasons to buy

+
Very compact
+
Well-priced
+
Good range of inputs

Reasons to avoid

-
Will probably need to be place on a stand or shelf

JBL’s compact monitors are small and stylish, making them well suited to squeezing into tight spaces. They pack a surprising amount of punch though, with a good amount of mid-range presence that will help you pick out those kicks, snares and claps.

Connectivity is convenient for a small monitor. Audio inputs, volume control and amp are all in one unit, and a cable then connects to the second speaker. RCA and 1/4” jack inputs can both be used together to connect two sources and a 1/8” input on the front overrides rear connectors.

The main factor to consider for monitors as compact as these is listening height. As they're somewhat short, you’ll likely need to place them on a shelf or stand to get the full effect while you mix. Still, for convenient and well-priced speakers, these are worth a look.

Read our full JBL One Series 104 review

Best DJ Speakers: Buying advice

Best DJ Speakers: Output Frontier speaker on a white background

(Image credit: Future)

What makes a good set of DJ speakers?

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To an extent, that comes down to what you want to get out of your set-up. Unlike studio monitors, where precision and clarity is always key, the qualities you look for in a set of speakers for a DJ set-up might differ depending on why you’re actually DJing.

Think about it in terms of the difference between home listening speakers and studio – aka reference – monitors. A good home stereo speaker is essentially there to make your music sound good, while studio monitors are meant to be honest; the latter will reveal any flaws in the audio being played, while the former might help to gloss over them. 

The best DJ speakers could potentially fall somewhere between these two poles. Trustworthy speakers are definitely handy, particularly if your aim is to have a set-up to practise on or record mixes for public consumption. However, if you’re mixing for the sake of your own enjoyment, a set of speakers likely to flatter your records could be desirable.

JBL 104 speaker closeup on a white background

(Image credit: Future)

The speakers in this round-up tend to lean towards studio quality monitors. We have, however, included a number of speakers that offer adjustable EQ settings that allow you to not only tweak the sound to suit your room, but also potentially create more of a ‘club like’ sound with a touch of artificial bass-boost.

On the size front, it’s likely speakers at the smaller end of the monitor market will do the job. Some of the sets here are compact and portable, which would be ideal for pairing with a laptop and controller set-up that you could potentially pack up and use in multiple locations. Even if you’re going to be using your speakers in one place, it’s best to place them as near to your listening position as possible, so speakers with a 5” or 7” drive will certainly do the job.

Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.

Si Truss

I'm Editor-in-Chief of Music Technology, working with Future Music, Computer Music, Electronic Musician and MusicRadar. I've been messing around with music tech in various forms for over two decades. I've also spent the last 10 years forgetting how to play guitar. Find me in the chillout room at raves complaining that it's past my bedtime.