Save money with this DJ Turntables Guide

The single most important equipment a DJ needs is a good quality pair of DJ Turntables. There are so many DJ turn tables to choose from nowadays ranging from beginner DJ packages to the Professional DJ equipment used in clubs. The aim of this section is to guide you into deciding on the best DJ turn table that meets your needs.

When it comes to DJ Turntables, there are only a handful of manufacturers to choose from. We recommend that you only buy Technics, Stanton, Numark, Vestax, or Gemini turntables. The leader of the pack is the Technics turn table, and specifically, the Technics 1200 /1210 turntable. These have been the industry standard for many years and used in clubs all over the world. These DJ decks are long lasting, and hold their value also.

DJ Turntables - Recommendations

There are two types of turntable being manufactured today. Belt Drive and Direct Drive. All the turntables recommended in this section are direct drive. For a more detailed explanation of Belt Drive and Direct Drive turntables, read our article Belt Drive vs. Direct Drive Turntables.

If you do decide to buy belt drive turntables, then it is highly likely that you will upgrade to direct drive very quickly. You will ultimately save money if you initially buy direct drive turntables, compared to buying belt drive first, and then upgrading to direct drive.

We recommend you decide to buy direct drive turntables. If you are serious about DJing, then this is the path to take. Save up if you have to.

Although they may initially cost you more, they will be better for you and save you money in the long run. They will last longer, and your skill level will improve much more quickly.

Some of the main things to look for when choosing DJ Turntables are:

powerful direct-drive motor giving high torque
a stable platter
tone arm (s-shaped for mixing and straight arm for scratching). The tone arm should be stable with a good suspension, and to help with skip-free playback, it should be easily adjustable.
pitch control of at least +/- 8%
good illumination

See below for the top DJ Turntable recommendations from Technics, Numark, Stanton, Vestax and Gemini.


Technics SL-1200MK2 Turntable Silver	Technics SL-1210MK5 Pro Turntable Black	These are the world famous Technics Turntables. As mentioned earlier, the Technics 1200 / 1210 DJ Turntables are the industry standard. They are a good investment and will give you years of pleasure if looked after properly.
Numark TTX Direct-Drive Turntable	Numark TT200 Direct-Drive Turntable	These Numark turntables are unique in that they are both able to use straight and S-Shaped tone arms interchangeably. A straight tone arm is less prone to skipping which makes it ideal for scratching for Battle DJs. An S-Shaped tone arm however, delivers better sound quality. But if you use either for normal day-to-day use, the differences are minimal.
Stanton STR8-150 Digital Turntable	Stanton T.120C Super High Torque Direct Drive Turntable with Curved Tone Arm	Stanton are another good quality manufacturer of DJ Turntables. Some highlights of these Stanton Turntables are that they have 2 separate start/stop buttons. The T120 model also boasts one of the industries most powerful motors, giving 4.5kgf-cm of torque, as well as a nifty reverse playback feature.
Gemini TT-04 Direct Drive Turntable	Vestax PDX-2300 MKIIPro Turntable	These are some of the best DJ Turntables available from Gemini and Vestax. Both have all the features that you should look for when choosing a turntable.

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