The 10 Best DJ Speakers

Updated November 30, 2020 by Christopher Thomas

This wiki has been updated 16 times since it was first published in February of 2019. To a creative DJ, speakers are an instrument in their own right, so it's essential to select the right models for your needs. Whether you play at wedding receptions or all-night raves, one or more of these will help you sound your best, no matter your style of music. We've included options to meet most budgets. Always remember, though, to use a trusted pair of musician's earplugs. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki. If you'd like to contribute your own research to Ezvid Wiki, please get started by reviewing this introductory video.

1. TurboSound iX15

2. Mackie Thump

3. TurboSound Inspire IP300

4. JBL Eon

5. Electro-Voice ZLX-15BT

6. Rockville RPG Series

7. TurboSound iQ12

8. Peavey Dark Matter

9. Behringer Eurolive B12X

10. Yamaha DXR112 MKII

Special Honors

Funktion-One Res 2 Funktion-One sound systems are coveted by DJs, club owners, and dancers around the globe due to their unparalleled clarity, headroom preservation, and low-end definition. The company meticulously works to provide a dynamic soundscape that's capable of both rattling your insides and allowing conversations to take place. The Res 2 is a full-range, horn-loaded loudspeaker, comprised of three drivers and an advanced crossover system. funktion-one.com

BassBoss DV12-MKII With a considerable price tag, the DV12-MKII from BassBoss is probably best-suited for established musicians or record labels looking for simplicity in a mobile rig. It can handle 3000 watts of continuous power with a maximum sustained output of 120 decibels when set to full-range mode. It has a direct-radiating, ventilated LF driver and a wave-guide-loaded HF driver, covering a frequency response range of 40 Hertz to 19,000 Hertz. bassboss.com

Editor's Notes

November 26, 2020:

We made some changes to this list with our latest update. The Electro-Voice ZLX was updated to the company's latest model, the Electro-Voice ZLX-15BT, which now supports Bluetooth connection. The Behringer Eurolive was updated to the Behringer Eurolive B12X. This saw major improvements with the addition of a built-in 24-bit DSP system from Klark Teknik. The company also developed an app that pairs with the speaker and allows the user to take control right from their smart device.

March 09, 2019:

Boy, speakers are just great, aren't they? And you know, it can be fun to toil away for hours on end doing math and planning circuitry and running cables (at least for some of us it can be), but the bottom line is, if you've spent countless hours designing and arranging your sounds, compiling and organizing your library, driving to shows and unloading gear, or any combination of those three, you'll understand just how nice it is to have a professionally assembled, self-powered performance speaker. And, frankly, a good active speaker, that's been put together by the pros, is engineered to simply sound fantastic, at all times. So most DJs (at least the ones I know, have booked, and have performed with) prefer to make a slightly larger investment in self-powered speakers. Without further ado, unless you're willing to sell an organ or take out a mortgage for a set of Funktion-Ones, you should strongly consider some TurboSounds. If you make intricate, bass-heavy music, these are the ones for you, because they will perform consistently, for a very long time, and they'll give you complete control over the output, and no matter what you feed through them, they won't drown themselves out or cause distortion or noise (as long as you know what you're doing, of course). But they're pretty darn expensive. Mackies, on the other hand, also do an amazing job, and cost far, far less. In fact, Mackies are one of the most popular for DJs, even the used Mackies — which is a testament to how durable and long-lasting they are. JBLs, Electro-Voice, and Peaveys are good compromises, as they're in the middle of the price range, get relatively loud, and still sound great pumping out your uncompressed tracks. On the other hand, say you're a wedding or Bat Mitzvah DJ, and your audience isn't packed with audiophiles who would just as soon criticize your sound quality as dance. Well, you'll have a fantastic time playing behind some Rockvilles. There's really nothing bad to say about them, especially if there's anything by Rick Astley or the Spice Girls in your library (both of whom are fantastic artists). And if you're ready to make a serious investment, and don't mind maybe leaving your speakers fixed in one place, those Yamaha DXRs are pretty tough to beat — just ask nearly any pro music venue in the country. But NO MATTER WHAT, please do yourself a favor, and prolong your career, by wearing some high-quality musician's earplugs and/or sound-isolating headphones whenever you DJ. Your eardrums will thank you.

Last updated on November 30, 2020 by Christopher Thomas

Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.


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