16 Best Powered Speakers For DJs 2023

Looking to get the party up and bumping? Without sufficient volume, bass, and clarity, it’s a near impossible task, even for the best of DJs! You can’t have your speakers let you down. That’s why you need a solution that’s going to pump and groove reliably, all night long.

In this guide, we look at the best powered speakers for DJs.

Turbosound iQ10 – Best Overall

The Turbosound iQ10 (compare prices on Sweetwater and Amazon) features a mind blowing 2,500 watts of power and a two-way design, making it a perfect choice for a wide variety of applications – speech, music, installation, and more.

It includes a two-channel Klark Teknik class D amplifier, a 10-inch low frequency driver and a low mass voice coil, as well as a 1-inch compression driver with a copper-clad aluminum voice coil.

The Klark Teknik Digital Signal Processor (DSP) offers dynamic EQ, transparent limiting, and various selectable presets depending on the occasion.

There’s also a Spatial Contour Control (SCC) DSP function, which lets you optimize the frequency response based on the speaker’s placement. So, regardless of how the speaker is placed, you should be able to tune it up to match the gig!

The rear panel features an LCD display with various controls – EQ, speaker modeling, gain controls (for Channels A and B), rotary encoder, SCC, subwoofer integration, and feedback control.

In terms of connections, you get two combo XLR / jack inputs, two balanced XLR outputs, as well as a mix out XLR connector.

In case you ever want to use CAT5 cables, iQ10 features ULTRANET for transmitting audio signals to other ULTRANET enabled gear.

Highly portable, powerful, and sophisticated, it’s no wonder so many customers have fallen in love with this setup. We haven’t been able to find anything with so many great features at this price point, which is why the Turbosound iQ10 is our best overall pick!

Yamaha DXR15mkII – Best Premium Option

The Yamaha DXR15mkII (compare prices on Sweetwater and Amazon) is the meeting place of power, quality sound, loudness, customizability, and advanced features. With the latest upgrades, these speakers boast more SPL than ever and yet come in a lighter package overall.

With input from loudspeaker experts Nexo, Yamaha developed a speaker that’s suitable for just about any kind of situation, including, of course, DJing.

The Yamaha DXR15mII speakers also feature 1100-watt class D amplifiers, durable ABS enclosures, mirror mode floor monitoring, and an adjustable mount socket.

While not cheap, these are excellent speakers for the price! For those learning towards a premium PA speaker solution, we recommend Yamaha DXR15mII as our best premium option.

LyxPro SPA-8 – Best Budget Option

The LyxPro SPA-8 is a compact PA system boasting 100 watts RMS of active power. Whether in an auditorium, room, or yard, this system can fill its surrounding – speeches, musical performances, DJing, and more.

LyxPro SPA-8 does not require power amps, mixers, or other equipment to work, and that makes it a convenient plug and play solution for a variety of applications.

It offers up plenty of connection options, including XLR, 1/4” (with line / mic switch), 3.5mm stereo, and R/L RCA line inputs. There’s also an XLR line out for daisy chaining to additional active speakers.

This system also features a USB port, SD card slot, and Bluetooth functionality to ensure you’ve got plenty of options when it comes to MP3 and WMA playback.

As an affordable PA system with a ton of headroom, LyxPro SPA-8 is a budget friendly favorite. You’ll be hard pressed to find a speaker with this many features in this price range, and that makes LyxPro SPA-8 our best budget option.

If you are starting to play slightly bigger gigs, though, you may want something with more power.

QSC K8.2

The QSC K8.2 comes with a 2000-watt class D amplifier, Intrinsic Correction tuning and speaker management, Directly Matched Transition (DMT) design, ABS enclosure, factory presets, digital display (for EQ, crossover, delay, and frequency contour), and dual pole cup mounts.

This speaker is also versatile, in that it can be used as a floor monitor or PA main (although there’s a good chance, you’re planning to use it as a main)!

QSC says this speaker is ideally suited to DJs, bands, AV production, and even for houses of worship.

For the price, you get a very, very high-quality speaker.

Electro-Voice ELX200-10P

The Electro-Voice ELX200-10P (compare prices on Sweetwater and Amazon) is a stellar piece of kit. Featuring a 1,200 W class D power amplifier, 130 dB peak SPL, and advanced features for carrying and mounting, you know you’re getting quality goods when you shop with Electro-Voice.

With this setup, you can wirelessly control and configure up to six ELX200 speakers at the same time using the EV QuickSmart Mobile app. The setup work can be handled via the LCD screen on the rear. Four presets make it possible to get the right sound easily and quickly for different applications (Speech, Music, Live, and Club).

But there are additional settings like three-band EQ, sub / top system match, limiter status, input level control, master volume control, and five programmable presets, in case you need to do some fine-tuning.

As with most Electro-Voice speakers in this price range, the ELX200-10P features a Signal Synchronized Transducers (SST) waveguide design so you always get the best sound possible.

Electro-Voice ZLX-12BT

The Electro-Voice ZLX-12BT (compare prices on Sweetwater and Amazon) is a class D, 1000 watt powerhouse with custom designed drivers.

The built-in QuickSmartDSP feature (with four presets) lets you find the ideal sound for the room in a jiffy. But you can adjust additional settings using the convenient LCD screen – two-band EQ, sub / top system match, visual monitoring (limiter status), five user-programmable presets, input level control, meters, and master volume.

The Signal Synchronized Transducers (SST) waveguide allows for more even sound coverage with maximized acoustical loading and minimal distortion too. The ZLX-12BT is also Bluetooth enabled for wireless audio streaming.

Loud, rugged, and versatile, this is an excellent sound system. Reportedly, the EV menu is a little hard to use, though, so user beware.

Yamaha DBR15

The Yamaha DBR15 (compare prices on Sweetwater and Amazon) features a 15-inch, 1000W class D amplifier design with a custom designed transducer.

Lightweight and easy to set up, Yamaha DBR15 speakers are among Yamaha’s most portable. The speaker is suited to a variety of applications, be it MCing, DJing, or even live bands.

These speakers have a reputation of delivering a loud, high-quality sound that travels. They do live up to their reputation of being lightweight too. This is an excellent mid-tier bang for buck option.

JBL Professional JBL-EON710

The JBL Professional JBL-EON710 (compare prices on Sweetwater and Amazon) is part of JBL’s EON series of speakers, originally launched in 1995.

This selection features a 2414H compression driver, 10-inch woofer, 1,300 watts peak and 650 watts RMS, a MAX SPL of 125 dB, and a frequency response of 50 Hz to 20 kHz (at -10 dB) and 65 Hz to 20 kHz (at -3 dB).

The speaker also comes with two XLR combo inputs and one XLR passthrough output, advanced dbx DSP (with automatic feedback suppression, ducking, speaker delay, and parametric EQ), a three-channel digital mixer, Bluetooth connectivity, and more.

The JBL-EON710 is very easy to set up, has plenty of headroom, and is sure to fill a room with plenty of sound. Its sonic detail is also quite impressive, with mid and high frequencies that are near unmatched. You might need to complement it with a subwoofer, though, because the lows aren’t quite as strong.

The Bluetooth function could reportedly be better, but if you aren’t primarily using it for wireless connectivity, this should not pose much of a concern.

Yorkville YXL12P

The Yorkville YXL12P aims to be the cross section of quality and affordability. This speaker features 1,000 watts of power, a 12-inch woofer, 2-inch voice coil, 1-inch compression driver, three channels and master level, integrated three-channel mixer, Bluetooth, and three performance modes (Club, Concert, Monitor).

This speaker is perfectly suited to musical performances of all types, including DJing. True to form, while the speaker may be on the compact side, it will not disappoint at higher volumes.

I’ve always been fond of Yorkville products myself, and this appears to be a no-nonsense solution you can leverage for just about any opportunity.

LD Systems ICOA 12 A BT

The LD Systems ICOA 12 A BT is a versatile powered speaker with a ton of great features. With a class D amplifier, Bluetooth, 1200 watts peak power, 12 dB MAX SPL, horn-loaded woofer, and more, this speaker combines top of the line components with powerful features.

LD Systems says, with these babies, the bass will have a strong enough presence that you shouldn’t even need a subwoofer! The speakers are well suited to DJs, entertainers, dance schools, musicians, and bands too.

Need to fine-tune the sound before a performance? No problem. Take advantage of the four presets, three-band EQ, and delay. There are also plenty of connections, including two line / mic input channels with individual gain controls, as well as a mono mix output.

If you ever need to stream anything from your smartphone or tablet, simply take advantage of the built in Bluetooth wireless connection.

JBL Professional IRX108BT

The JBL Professional IRX108BT PA speaker is portable, loud, clear, easy to use, and full of great features, all at a reasonable price point.

Dial in your sound using four EQ presets. Even if you don’t have any experience setting up your rig for a room, the presets will streamline the process and help you find the ideal settings faster.

Worried about feedback? We’ve all had issues with certain rooms, performance scenarios, or troublesome frequencies. The built-in dbx DriveRack automatic feedback suppression feature lets you crank up without having to worry about the system going completely haywire on you at the wrong times.

The Bluetooth audio streaming feature is perfect for canned music or backing tracks, and there’s a handy ducking feature so your voice can be heard over the music whenever you need to address the crowd and make announcements.

There are also some handy connections including an XLR loop out and two mic / line combo inputs to account for various use cases.

JBL Professional IRX108BT also comes with an 8-inch JBL woofer, a MAX SPL of 124 dB, a frequency response of 54 Hz to 20 kHz, a wattage of 1,300, and a built-in pole mount.

MACKIE Thump212

The MACKIE Thump212 (compare prices on Sweetwater and Amazon) has a name that almost tells the whole story… this thing really thumps, and it’s considered among one of the best speakers in the category with some serious headroom and oomph – all at a mid-tier price.

With a lightweight design, Thump212 comes with an astonishing 1,400 watts of power packed into a sleek looking 12-inch enclosure and a green accented logo.

But its features… oh man. You get a class-D amplifier, feedback eliminator, music ducking, a 1-inch compression driver, and a 12-inch woofer. The speaker can be used as a main or as a floor monitor as well.

The music ducking feature is especially useful for vocal DJs who like to interact with their audience or announce the next number in their set. Hit the button and the music will move out of the way of your voice so it can be heard loud and clear. Additionally, The feedback eliminator keeps your mics from feeding back at the least opportune moments.

Thump212 has accounted for most practical applications with a two-channel mixer along with a 1/8” stereo line and two combo input jacks. It doesn’t matter whether you want to plug in your DJ mixer, microphone, guitar, or keyboard – you’re covered.

While the Thump212 hasn’t been “pushed” as a DJ rig, it checks a lot of boxes and isn’t one you should ignore if you need some serious thump.

Alto Professional TS408

The Alto Professional TS408 (compare prices on Sweetwater and Amazon) belongs to their TrueSonic 4 Series of loudspeakers. With an explosive 2,000 watts of power, an 8-inch woofer, and a 1.4-inch compression driver, this speaker was designed to fill a room with sound.

But there’s more to the speaker than meets the eye. The free Alto App (for iOS and Android) lets you configure and control the speaker remotely. Looking to stream directly from a device (smartphone, tablet, or laptop)? Simply take advantage of the onboard Bluetooth option for cableless operation.

Need to adjust the sound to match a room? Use one of three “Speaker Use” presets to find the ideal settings quickly, or even take control of the onboard Custom EQ settings in the Alto App. Remember, configuration can be done directly from your device and there’s no need to tweak knobs on the speaker.

All TrueSonic series speakers also come with a three-channel mixer with a dedicated Bluetooth channel as well as mic / line input channels with XLR / TRS combo jacks. Perfect for mics and instruments, you won’t even need DI boxes to take advantage. Plug right in!

Lightweight, reliable, versatile, and powerful, Alto Professional TS408 is a moderately priced option with some fantastic features.

Pioneer DJ VM-70

The Pioneer DJ VM-70 (compare prices on Sweetwater and Amazon) features a bi-amp two-way design, class D amplifier, a 1-inch tweeter, and a 6.5-inch woofer.

The VM-70 pair could be considered a chameleon in adapting to their surroundings too. The speakers will offer a flat frequency response for music production but can kick out a punchy club sound for DJing too. No matter the room, you can adjust the speakers to deliver the perfect sound.

So, as with the Pioneer DJ DM-50D speakers found elsewhere in this guide, you can use VM-70s for both music production and live performance too.

You’ll find the DSP settings on the rear of the speaker, with low and high EQ, each with four positions for a total of 16 possible settings. To find the ideal sound for the room, simply tweak these until you’re happy with the results.

For a complete DJ setup, a subwoofer is generally recommended. But some reviewers have said the Pioneer DJ VM-70s kick out enough bass that they don’t even require a sub. This probably depends on the size and shape of the room you’re playing in, but if you’re still a regular at the small rooms, it’s nice to know these babies just might be enough.

Pioneer DJ DM-50D

The Pioneer DJ DM-50D (compare prices on Sweetwater and Amazon) speakers are unique in that they can act as both studio monitors and DJ speakers. They even have a DJ mode and Production mode.

So, don’t be fooled by appearances, product descriptions, and names. Look into it, and you’ll find the same thing I did, that these are great speakers for at home and live performance use!

These loud-boxes come with a class D amplifier, a 5-inch woofer, and a two-way sound mode. They also feature a bevy of connection options to account for most DJ scenarios – mini jack, RCA, and TRS. Connect to your laptop, controller, or mixer with ease. Pioneer DJ is good with stuff like that!

These are great sounding speakers, and they’re easy to use. Just keep in mind they don’t have mounting options, so if you want to elevate them at your gig, you’ll need to plan for that. And if you’re taking your shows from small to mid-sized rooms, you might want to consider something with a little more power.

Alto Professional TX310

The Alto Professional TX310 (compare prices on Sweetwater and Amazon) offers 350 watts of power in a 10” two-way bi-amplified design. This versatile, compact speaker has been designed with a variety of scenarios in mind, including small venues, sports events, ceremonies, weddings, conferences, and more.

With a lightweight but rugged design, you shouldn’t encounter any trouble loading, transporting, and unloading this kit to and from gigs. The steel grille on the front protects the drivers, and the speaker has been designed for heavy-duty, uninterrupted use.

Its many input / output connections and mounting options should also make it a very convenient option for a variety of gigging scenarios.

If you’ve been using lesser gear, the Alto Professional TX310 should indeed help you feel like a true professional and give you a stronger presence at your performances.

For those on a tight budget, Alto Professional TX310 is an excellent option to consider!

What To Look For In Powered Speakers For DJs

There’s more to shopping for powered DJ speakers than you might assume. Perhaps you’re familiar with all the nuances of choosing the right setup, but if not, there are more than a few things you should be thinking about as you search for the right sound system for your next gig.

Some speakers have more headroom. Some have a better overall sound. Some come with Bluetooth and other features. No two speakers are exactly alike. And that means you’ve got to be mindful of choosing a solution that’s going to work for your performances.

I don’t want to make it sound overwhelming, though, so I’ve broken everything down into bite size chunks you should be able to process with ease.

The main factors to consider when shopping for powered speakers for DJs are as follows:

• Sound quality
• Wireless connectivity / Bluetooth
• Compatibility
• Portability
• Durability
• Connections
• Technical specifications
• Subwoofer
• Design / esthetics
• Budget

Let’s take a closer look at each.

Sound Quality

There are some technical factors that can contribute to the overall sound quality of speakers, including power rating, amplifiers, frequency response, and more (although drivers tend to be the greatest contributing factor in how a speaker sounds).

We cover many of these factors in more detail later, but we find product specifications woefully inadequate in determining the overall sound quality of a product. Unfortunately, you can’t tell how a speaker sounds just by reading about its technical specifications or by browsing product reviews.

For instance, wattage or power rating may be an indication of a unit’s overall power but may not be an indication of how good it sounds or even how loud it can go. Which goes contrary to what many assume about wattage. Most think it’s connected to how loud a speaker can go. While it is a useful measurement, it isn’t always reliable.

So, how can one go about assessing the sound quality of a speaker, especially when they haven’t heard it for themselves?

The best strategy? To rent a pair of speakers and test them in the types of rooms where you typically perform, with the gear you intend to use. We know not everyone has that patience or luxury, but in an ideal world, you would test the speakers out in real-world scenarios so you can get a better sense of whether you’re happy with them.

If you can test the speakers for performances, not only will you have a better idea of how they sound, but also how loud they can go, how portable and rugged they are, how easy they are to work with, and so on. Basically, you get to cover off most concerns in one go.

Barring that? You can still check out product demos and reviews online. It’s much better than doing no research at all. There aren’t any products that are universally loved, but some products are more highly rated and better reviewed than others, and this information can help the buying process.

Alternatively, if you have any DJ friends, you can ask them about what they use. Chances are they will be more than happy to share what they use!

Sound quality certainly isn’t everything, as output / volume is going to be a key factor for DJ gigs too. And if you know how to EQ your rig, maybe it’s not as much of a concern. Either way, a speaker system with the best of both worlds (sonic quality and volume / output) is the ideal, though usually you end up having to make small compromises somewhere.

But we’ve gotten kind of lengthy, and there are still plenty of other elements to consider, so let’s move onto…

Wireless Connectivity / Bluetooth

Wireless connectivity options may be relevant to some DJs, less to others. It depends a lot on whether you intend to stream directly from a device or plan to play canned music, background music, or otherwise (from another device) in between sets.

The good news is you probably won’t be spending a lot of extra cash on a PA system with Bluetooth, and it’s becoming a relatively common / standard feature, so it may not be a matter of with or without. But in case it is a consideration for your specific situation, it’s worth thinking about.

Another aspect of wireless connectivity is there may be an app you can use with the speaker to configure its settings without having to mess with the back panel. You may find this useful, you may not, but you should make up your mind one way or another, because there is relative few with this feature.

One major advantage of speakers with Bluetooth is that they tend to offer better compatibility for other speakers and devices. Which brings us to…

Compatibility

It’s nice to be able to scale for the event. You may be buying for the venues you’re playing in now, but you never know when you might be invited to play larger outdoor festivals, private parties in barns, or abandoned doll factories (yeah, I know that last one would be kind of crazy – it was a Wayne’s World 2 reference).

Now, in some cases you may not even need to bring your own gear if you’re playing shows of that size. But if you do end up needing to, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to add speakers or subwoofers, or daisy chain more loudspeakers together, if needed?

You may assume all systems can handle this, but sadly, it’s simply not reality. Not being able to scale with the event can be frustrating, and you may end up needing to rent or upgrade your gear if you can’t make things work with what you’ve got.

With bigger venues, you won’t really know what works until you get there, and it’s better to be prepared than to leave it to chance.

You may not be playing bigger gigs now, but just in case… it might be worth thinking ahead. If you think you might be playing bigger shows in the future, don’t overlook compatibility and extendibility. Know your options.

Compatibility may also be a consideration based on the other DJ gear you’re using (i.e., your mixer may or may not work with the speakers you’re exploring), so you may want to check. But in most cases, you should be fine.

Portability

If you’re purchasing powered DJ speakers it can only mean one thing – you’re anticipating multiple bookings in the future and you need your own sound system to fulfill on the performances, you’ve committed to.

The worst thing you can do to yourself is buy heavy, expensive gear you need to haul from your home all the way over to a venue, walk up five flights of stairs, and make multiple trips to and from your car just to get all your gear inside and set up. At which point you’ll be sweating bullets, naturally.

I mean, it is one of the realities of being a DJ or musician. Sometimes you’ve got to do whatever you need to do to get the job done. But you don’t have to make it hard on yourself. You can find lighter gear that’s well suited to the environments you will be playing in, thereby finding a compromise that works.

Now, most solutions today claim to be rugged and lightweight, and in many cases, they are. But just in case, it’s worth checking the dimensions and weight of the speakers you’re thinking about buying, so you know what you’re in for.

Portability and weight are well worth thinking about if you anticipate playing gigs often, because you will be hauling the gear everywhere you go.

If you like the workout, then no worries. Read on…

Durability

I’ve often joked that you don’t want your gear falling apart if you so much as sneeze in its general direction, but that most certainly applies here too. You want your speakers to hold up to some wear and tear, and barring that, can be counted on for many uses if handled gently and carefully.

After all, wouldn’t you love to be able to pay off the investment with gig money?

I have experience as a musician, sound engineer, producer, and audiovisual tech, so I have used a lot of different speakers in different venues, and generally, have not encountered issues with PA and sound systems, even if they are subjected to some bumps and scrapes.

It would still be word to the wise to handle your gear with care, though. You don’t want to be that guy or girl that tosses their speakers in the back of the truck, drives off at 70 mph, and stops at the side of the road to pick up the pieces after the speakers have fallen out the back and tumbled down the highway.

I’m being facetious, of course, but just in case.

If there are any durability issues with the speakers you’re considering, they’ll probably come up in the customer reviews, which is another good reason to do thorough research. For the most part, you shouldn’t encounter any major issues, though.

At minimum, be mindful of how you pack and stack your gear in your car, ensure that it’s secured, and if necessary, take it easy on the road. If you’re especially worried, buy road cases to protect all your gear. It’s bulky and cumbersome, but it will protect your gear from a lot of wear and tear.

Connections

Almost all speakers have at least two or three inputs and outputs (total). Some have more.

Before you rush out and buy a set of speakers, though, you should ensure that the product you’re thinking about buying is adequately equipped for what you intend to use it for. It would suck not being able to connect your DJ mixer, for example (although that should never happen)!

How many inputs do you need, and for what? What types of inputs would you find helpful (XLR, 1/4″, RCA, TRS, mini jack, etc.)? Do you need an output to connect with other speakers? Ask these questions in advance.

And, as noted earlier, you should ensure that your speaker is compatible, and capable of being used the way you plan to use it for your sets. You can’t ignore connections in this regard either.

Technical Specifications

If you want to go super in-depth, some will consider the following features important to their purchasing process (and for good reason). While technical, we’ve made things as easy to understand as possible.

Here are the main technical specifications to be mindful of:

• Speaker size. Active speakers are generally in the eight-to-15-inch range (eight, 10, 12, and 15 are your main options), and though not universally true, bigger speakers do tend to produce more bass while smaller speakers can have enhanced highs. There can be some differences in weight across different speaker sizes too. So, it’s fair to say speaker size will have an impact on sound, to greater or lesser degrees.
• Power rating. Power rating refers to wattage. There are two relevant measurements – peak and RMS. Peak is the highest volume the speaker has been designed to run at, and RMS is the speaker’s average output. More wattage is generally better for bigger venues with more bodies, but wattage doesn’t always make for a better sounding speaker, let alone a louder one.
• MAX SPL. If you want to know how far the sound from your speaker will carry, as well as how evenly it will be distributed in a room, refer to the MAX SPL measurement.
• Frequency range / response. Most speakers are optimized with at least a 20 Hz to 20 kHz range (some have greater range), meaning you should rarely if ever encounter any issues with any audio material you’re playing. Theoretically, though, sounds outside of the speaker’s frequency range and response will not play. So, if your speakers have limited frequency response, it’s probably because they’re specialty speakers and aren’t intended to be used for DJing (you should not find any speakers like that in this guide). So, if in doubt, frequency response is worth checking.
• Amplifiers. Amplifiers have a class rating system. All told, there are four types – class A, class B, class AB, and class D. For most applications, class D amplifiers are considered ideal. Most if not all products featured here have class D amplifiers.

The above list should not be considered comprehensive, as you may look at other technical specs too.

We would not consider the above unimportant to the buying process. But if you are new to DJ speakers or don’t now much about them, then these factors could just end up confusing you unnecessarily. Like a guitarist who doesn’t care / doesn’t know much about tone-wood or pickups, these features do not matter as much if you’re just getting started.

And as speakers continue to get better, we find that most have a great frequency response, feature class D amplifiers, and have adequate power rating to be used for their intended purpose. That is, of course, unless you go completely off brand or buy cheap speakers, in which case we can’t guarantee results.

If in doubt, one strategy is simply to buy best in class (and that way neither you nor your audience are ever disappointed), and the other is to do your research and come to your own conclusions. If you already know what the above means, though, I don’t need to say a word more.

If you do opt to buy best in class, though, do consider your budget. We’ll talk more about that a little later.

Subwoofer

Modern speakers are powerful, affordable, rugged, and optimized for a variety of settings, locations, and performance scenarios. They usually have solid highs and lows and pleasing sonic qualities too.

But we’ve all been to gigs where the music just wasn’t pumping, or it sounded kind of muffled, or the sound didn’t carry as well as it should have.

The issue is usually that there’s no subwoofer. It sounds weird. But subwoofers add both clarity and bass to your sound, and DJs find both factors very key to getting their audiences on their feet and dancing through the night.

That doesn’t mean you have free reign to blow your audience out the door with your speakers, though, so let’s be mindful of volume levels too.

Either way, we don’t recommend going overbudget, but if you can afford a subwoofer now, it may be worth considering. Otherwise, you can always upgrade after you’ve been paid for a few gigs.

Also note that some speaker solutions found in this guide say they pump plenty of bass without the need of a subwoofer. We can’t confirm or deny. The only way to know for sure is to try.

Design / Esthetics

Okay, so what’s the big deal… A speaker, is a speaker, right? It’s in a black enclosure with a grille in the front. They’re all the same!

To an extent, that is true. But DJs have more to think about than just how loud a speaker goes and how good it sounds, because they have their image to be thinking about too.

While there aren’t a ton of options when it comes to speaker color, some are available in white, and some speakers come with an accent color too – like MACKIE’s speakers.

If you want to keep elevating your live show and rise through the ranks, you might just want to start thinking about how your speakers complement your stage persona and presence.

Of course, this is not something that will matter to every DJ, and you’re welcome to disregard if it does not apply to you.

Budget

Last but certainly not least, we recommend considering your budget with every purchase. Yes, it’s a useful tool for filtering out options that you can’t afford right now. But we also don’t recommend going into debt for gear related purchases.

If you can’t afford it right now, don’t buy it. Buy something that fits your budget or save up for the product you really want. That’s a sensible approach.

With your own system in tow, you should be able to play more gigs, which should also boost your overall income and discretionary spending.

Best Powered Speakers For DJs Brands

There are many brands developing and manufacturing sound and PA system products well suited to a variety of live performance applications. Here are some of the best brands out there for DJs.

Yamaha

Yamaha is a well-recognized multinational conglomerate originating out of Japan. Music products are largely a matter of taste, but any company as prolific as Yamaha is bound to have a few hits along the way.

From pianos and guitars to music production and professional audio, Yamaha’s products are known to be very stable, reliable, and high quality. They also own several brands that are sometimes called upon to help with research and development, including Steinberg, Line 6, Ampeg, and Nexo.

As with most brands, Yamaha has products in every price range, though their speakers generally are more in the mid- to high-ticket price point. The quality of their products generally justifies the cost.

Electro-Voice

Better known simply as EV, the highly recognizable Electro-Voice offers powerful mid-tier to high-ticket solutions for installed sound systems, live sound systems, portable speakers, and microphones too. Their products generally pack a punch for the money, though, making them favorites for a variety of professional applications.

Electro-Voice offers an array of products to meet a variety of live sound needs, and they are a very trustworthy brand to boot. EV’s speakers are usually very balanced in terms of power and price point.

JBL Professional

JBL Professional is a well-recognized name in audio, and they have a long-standing history in their niche, starting in the 1940s (though founder James Bullough Lansing was in manufacturing long before establishing JBL Sound).

JBL Professional offers quality products in cinema, installed sound systems, live portable sound systems, performance audio, recording & broadcast, components, and more.

Yorkville

Yorkville (also known as Yorkville Sound, so as not to be confused with Yorkville University) has a formidable range of loudspeakers, subwoofers, mixers, amplifiers, studio monitors, and more, in a price range that’s usually more than reasonable.

The privately owned Canadian company was established in 1963 and knows what they’re doing when it comes to audio equipment.

Pioneer DJ

A brand name that should be familiar to every DJ, Pioneer DJ creates everything a DJ would ever need – players, turntables, mixers, all-in-one systems, controllers, software, interfaces, samplers, effectors, music production products, headphones, monitor speakers, PA speakers, and accessories.

Yes, their speakers are quite good too, and they generally account for most connections a DJ would need. That said, their speakers may not be as versatile as other PAs, in case you’re thinking about using your speakers for more than just DJing.

MACKIE

MACKIE was originally established in 1970 and quickly gained the reputation of developing high quality, premium audio gear. Founder Greg Mackie sold the company in 2003, when it became the flagship brand of LOUD Technologies, Inc.

Since then, the company has gone through a bit of a rebrand, and of course it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns along that path. But today, MACKIE is back on top with its stylish, powerful, but affordable line of mixers, speakers, studio monitors, audio interfaces, microphones, headphones, accessories, and more.

Alto Professional

Alto Professional is a relative newcomer to the scene. The company was originally founded in 2000, and they specialize in loudspeakers, live sound mixers, portable PAs, wireless solutions, and the like.

We find their products are generally in a very competitive, even “budget” price range, and that may well be so they can establish a bit of a presence in a market with many competitors.

Their products, though, are generally very powerful and feature rich and the fact that they’re affordable is a bonus.

Top Powered Speakers For DJs, Final Thoughts

If you’re playing more than a few shows per year, then powered speakers are a must have for every DJ. You want to be prepared for every occasion, and not miss out on possible performance and income opportunities to further your career. Consider powered speakers an investment. If you show up and do your job like a pro, the investment will pay off in relatively short order.