If you had the correct equipment for making music, it would be a lot easier. The quality of your studio equipment, whether it’s a microphone, an instrument, or an amplifier, is one of the most critical parts of creative music creation. The same is true when it comes to DJing and selecting a good DJ turntable. DJing, whether professionally or as a pastime, is a gratifying activity.
Your options to mix and DJ are soon becoming limitless, thanks to technical advancements in DJ equipment, dj mixer, dj gear, dj record player and DJ software. Modern DJ setups now rely on digital technology and MIDI, allowing them to connect to and ‘speak’ with your computer. Many will argue that classic setups with two tables and vinyl records are superior with a DJ facade, and while we agree that these settings have tremendous value and beauty, technology is constantly improving, and as a modern DJ, you’d want to stay on top of it.
Pioneer Pro DJ PLX-1000 High-Torque Direct Drive Professional Turntable
- High-torque Direct-drive Analog Turntable with Low-noise
- Professional Playback Quality
- High-stability Design
With good reason, the Japanese company stands strongly behind every product it produces, record players or turntables. The well-known Pioneer DJ PLX-1000 turntable has set industry standards for beginner djs. This starter turntable has it everything, from looks to intelligence, but it comes at a cost. The PLX-1000 is equipped with a high-torque direct-drive engine that ensures precise control and consistent vinyl rotation. Because of the torque of 4.5 kg/cm or higher, it can start playing a 33 RPM single in 0.3 seconds.
The chassis, which is composed of die-cast zinc and utilized to prevent vibrations or resonance, is another element that sets the PLX-1000 apart from the competition. The pitcher has a multi-tempo control that allows you to increase or decrease the speed by 8, 16, or 50%! With a simple touch of the reset button, you can return it to 0%.
The Pioneer DJ PLX-100 comes with a dust cover and gold-plated RCA output, ensuring that sound quality is not compromised. It rotates at two speeds, 33 and 45 RPM, which are both standard. The delivery does not include a cartridge, so you’ll have to wait another day or two for one for your dj setup.
Pick up two of these high-quality dj controller yet economical Pioneer PLX-1000 turntables if you’re looking for a set of DJ turntables on a budget. The spinner’s high-torque direct drive motor produces smooth sounds, and its old-school design makes it approachable for novices. You also get a lot of tempo control for different speeds and pitches, so you can get that chipmunk sample sound like Kanye did back in the day. This is the Best DJ Turntable for Beginners in 2023.
Audio-Technica AT-LP140XP-BK Direct-Drive Professional DJ Turntable
- connectivity technology: Wired
Although the Audio Technica AT-LP140XP may not seem like a natural choice for a starting DJ, I believe that an ambitious beginner could get started with this turntable and grow more quickly. Almost everything on this turntable appeals to me, while there are a few items that irritate me. Let’s have a look!
The AT-LP140XP is a powerful player, with three rotation speeds that allow you to play 33, 45, and 78 RPM vinyl. It has a direct drive motor with a lot of torque, so you can get the music going immediately. Furthermore, the pitch range is adequate, allowing you to speed up or slow down songs by 8, 16, or 24%.
The AT-XP3 cartridge, which is coupled to the Audio-Technica AT-HS6BK headshell, is a DJ-specific design featuring a conical stylus tip and belt drive. The cartridge is designed to be installed with 3g of tracking force and features a V-Mount dual magnet architecture, carbon fiber-reinforced ABS cantilever, and nylon wire suspension. The cartridge/turntable combo, on the other hand, delivers severe bass and clinical mid-range at that setting. While you can try to find your optimal weight, lowering the weight to 2g results in a more graceful mid-range and well-balanced bass.
On the negative, you won’t find a USB input on this Audio Technica DJ turntable, which you may expect given the price. It does, however, come with an RCA output, a cartridge, and a dust cover, which helps to make up for it. This is the Best DJ Turntables for Beginners in 2023.
Numark PT01 Scratch | DJ Turntable for Portablists
- Ultra-Portable, Feature Packed – Portable 33 1/3, 45 and 78 RPM DJ turntable powered by AC adapter or batteries (6 D, not included) to scratch...
- Robust, Reliable – Built-in adjustable user-replaceable Scratch Slide Switch exclusive to Numark that accommodates both right- and left-handed...
- Rich, Dynamic Sound – Scratch Everywhere with PT01 Scratch’s room-filling built-in speaker, or for more powerful sound, connect to external...
The Numark PT01 Scratch is a well-known model in the “portablism” sector, which includes portable turntables that are small, light, and have built-in speakers. This beginner dj model is reasonably priced and includes a number of useful features.
The Numark PT01 Scratch features a streamlined appearance and comes with a very nice red removable slide pad. It’s light and portable, weighing less than a large bottle of Coca-Cola. It comes with a slide pad that can be removed, a cartridge, and a dust cover. Scratch DJs can adjust the switch’s position by unscrewing it and then screwing it back in, making it suitable for both right and left-handed scratchers. The fact that the motor is belt-driven, however, is a disappointment because it makes scratching more difficult.
At the same time, whether you’re connected to a main power outlet or not, you can carry your portable Numark and scratch wherever you choose. The DJ turntable is equipped with both an AC wall adapter and long-lasting batteries. Another standout feature is the Numark’s three speeds: 33, 45, and 78 RPM, compared to only the first two on other DJ turntables for music recording in this price range. There’s a headphone jack and a stereo system output (through RCA), but there’s also a USB connection for recording music to your computer! This is the one of the best beginner dj turntables.
Denon DJ VL12 PRIME
- Isolation feet eliminate unwanted vibration and feedback
- Isolated motor design, for optimal signal-to-noise ratio, and switchable Low and High torque motor settings
- S-shaped tone arm for accurate tracking, adjustable pitch range: ±8%, 16%, 50%
Given that we’re towards the end of this list, I felt it wouldn’t hurt to show you some DJ turntables that experienced DJs could utilize for audio quality. Such is the case with the Denon DJ VL12 turntable, which I adore despite its higher price tag. With a few new revolutionary features and high-quality old ones, the VL12 raises the bar in the industry. I really like the design of this DJ turntable, especially the built-in RGB lighting that illuminates the borders of the die-cast aluminum platter — it looks really fantastic!
This direct-drive DJ turntable has a torque rating of 5 kg/cm or higher, which is above average. With this much torque, the engine can start playing vinyl in just 0.4 seconds! At the same time, the pitch range is quite wide, allowing you to slow or speed up a song by 8, 16, or 50%. Because the motor is isolated, any potential vibrations caused by high bass will be avoided. It can handle quite noisy environments, which is why it’s classified as a professional rather than a beginner turntable.
It, on the other hand, has only two speeds: 33 and 45 RPM. It doesn’t come with a cartridge, which I expected, but I’m upset that dust covers aren’t included at this price!
Reloop RP-2000MK2 Direct Drive DJ Turntable
- Quartz-driven DJ turntable with direct drive motor and precise motor control with 2 speeds selectable (33 1/3 & 45 rpm)
- Precision-engineered, die-cast aluminum platter with stable rotation
- Redesigned metal top panel, tactile buttons and reinforced housing construction
Reloop has a selection of high-quality DJ turntables for both beginners and advanced users. I believe the RP 2000 MK2 turntable is the best option for the former. It’s not too expensive, it’s fairly light, and it comes with a quartz-driven direct-drive engine.
The RP 2000 MK2’s features demonstrate that it is a capable DJ turntable. It has two speeds, 33 RPM and 45 RPM, like most DJ turntables. The pitch range is acceptable, with a range of plus or minus 8%, and the turntable has a lot of torque. Torque is significant for a turntable since it indicates how much power is utilized to rotate the platter. Higher torque means faster start-up time, but it also means the engine resists physical slowing or speeding up.
On the surface, everything appears to be in order. The die-cast metal platter gleams, and the S-shaped tone arm features a hydraulic lift and anti-skating system for the best dj turntable packages for beginners.
Numark NTX1000 | Professional High-Torque Direct-Drive DJ Turntable
- Pro Turntable Performance - Professional DJ turntable with full-size platter and high-torque direct-drive motor with a 2-speed design: 33 1/3 and 45...
- Simple Setup - S-shaped tone arm for accurate tracking with height adjustment, damped cueing and anti-skate control; plus, fully-adjustable...
- Mix Perfection - Pitch range adjustable to 8%, 16%, and 50% and long-throw Pitch fader with reset button for perfectly synchronising your records for...
The Numark NTX1000 is a great DJ turntable with a lot of fun features and a good build quality, but it comes at a price that may be out of reach for some. Anyway, based on the features and specifications, I’d say it’s a good investment. So, what exactly is the Numark NTX1000? To begin with, unlike its lesser models, it has a beautiful and simplistic design. According to the producer, a specific isolation design was utilized to withstand vibrations or feedback from loud surroundings.
The NTX1000 is a direct drive turntable with a high torque rating of 4 kg/cm or higher. Most brands rise from >1 kg/cm to >1.6 kg/cm, which is significantly worse. High torque will shorten the time it takes for the engine to start and ensure that it lasts longer. The pitch control, which has a range of /- 8, 16, and 50%, is another fantastic feature. With a simple click of a button, you may reset the songs when you’ve finished speeding up or slowing them down. Despite having a slightly greater pitch range, the NTX1000 only has two speeds: 33 and 45 RPM.
The model has a variety of connection options, including RCA and USB output. You can link it to your laptop or sound system, which means you can start turning your vinyl collection into digital music using DJ software and modify the purpose of the turntable. The Numark NTX1000 isn’t particularly hefty, but it’s not light enough to be held in one hand. It comes with a dust cover, headshell, and all of the necessary cords, but no cartridge.
Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB-BK Direct-Drive Turntable
- Experience the high-fidelity audio of vinyl
- Direct-drive, DC servo motor with selectable 33/45/78 RPM speeds. Damped base construction for reduced low-frequency feedback coloration
- Fully manual operation featuring adjustable dynamic anti-skate control, variable pitch control with quartz speed lock, and balanced S-shaped tonearm...
Over the last few years, you may have seen a resurgence of analog music and a rise in the popularity of vinyl records. The Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB-B is a high-end turntable that also functions as a vinyl player. It will not only allow you to jam out to your favorite tunes, but it will also assist you in digitizing your music collection.
The first thing you notice about this beginner’s turntable is its beautiful design. It comes with a polished die-cast aluminum casing with vibration-reducing felt mats. Other features of this type, such as the knobs, are constructed of plastic, unlike other luxury turntables. The turntable’s high-end sensation is diminished, but it still performs admirably.
The Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB-BK is simple and easy to set up. The platter and felt mat were simple to put together, however the instructions might use some improvement. We were able to balance the tonearm after a few instances of trial and error. The tonearm is S-shaped for a contemporary look, and it pairs well with the AT-HS6 universal headshell. For richer and clearer tones, the stylus can be updated.
We also discovered that this model has excellent audio performance and format compatibility. The control knobs for 33/45/78 RPM are conveniently located adjacent to the power dial, making it easier to select the correct speed. It also has a DC servo motor, which allows it to spin smoothly and with little to no resistance. If your stereo lacks a dedicated phono line, a built-in preamp will suffice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Parts of a Turntable?
You should familiarize yourself with all the components and features of a turntable before looking for a starting turntable. These are some fundamentals you should be aware of when looking for the finest beginning DJ turntables online.
A turntable’s plinth serves as its foundation. To lessen vibrations from the outside, this should be constructed of strong, high-quality materials.
The stylus is that microscopic needle that makes contact with the record. As the stylus needs to be very tough to avoid scratching the vinyl, these typically have a diamond or sapphire tip. Styluses need to be replaced after being used for roughly 2000 hours.
The component known as the tonearm is what holds the stylus and lowers it onto the record. On how these operate, more later.
The purpose of the cartridge is to convert stylus vibrations into sound. This little component is attached to the tonearm’s end.
The disc on which the record is placed is called a platter. This component is crucial because it spins the record uniformly without adding any extra vibrations that the stylus might detect.
What does a beginner DJ need?
Whether the inquiring novice DJ plans to use real vinyl or only digital decks will determine this. You will need records, two turntables, a mixer in the middle of them, and speakers if you choose the former option. For the latter, you’ll require a DJ controller, CDs (or a USB loaded with digital music), and speakers so that you can play the music you’re mashup via.
Do you need 2 turntables to DJ?
Almost, yes. It is a DJ’s responsibility to roughly combine music, whether in a live or studio setting (though the former is more often the case). The music must continue throughout the event in order to maintain the momentum. So, two turntables are required unless you plan to utilize some sort of looper to keep the preceding song playing for an indefinite amount of time while you transfer discs on a one-turntable configuration.
What’s the difference between DJ controllers and turntables?
The DJ industry began with a turntable. Traditional audio equipment relies on your ability to perform music and match pitch, among other things. They produce a more natural sound, but they require the user to contribute their skills in order to produce high-quality music. DJ controllers, on the other hand, are modern audio devices that function similarly to turntables but allow the user to easily create and remix records. Looping, sampling, and cue points are among the many functions available. A controller may be used by anyone, and you don’t need to be a pro to get the hang of it.
