DJs working with a giant vinyl collection would be nothing without their dedicated DJ turntables. These specialised record players are designed for DJs and include features like pitch-shift faders, straight tonearms, a spherical needle, start-stop controls, and a responsive direct-drive motor.
What's the Difference Between a Standard Record Player and a DJ Turntable?
DJ turntables always have a pitch-shift fader for making accurate adjustments to the vinyl playback speed so the beat can be precisely matched to the record loaded onto the second deck. Most DJs will work with a set of two turntables (AKA decks) and usually prefer a model with a straight tonearm and spherical needle to support scratch techniques without actually damaging the record. Other specialised features include a start-stop button and a direct drive motor, which is covered in more detail in the sections below.
Professional Turntables for Old-School Vinyl DJs
Turntables can be roughly divided into two variations: direct-drive (the preference of many vinyl DJs) and belt-drive. Belt-drive turntables tend to be a little cheaper and are more designed for enjoying your vintage or freshly-pressed records at home. These days, a lot of belt-drive turntables feature a USB port for digitising records, and while they aren't really designed for DJ-ing, any budding vinyl-DJ can carefully try out their skills on some belt-drive turntables to see if it's really for them.
Are DJ Turntables Direct-Drive or Belt-Drive?
Direct-drive turntables are ideal for DJ-ing. Compared to belt-drive turntables, direct-drive models don't depend on a belt but have a motor which directly rotates the platter. This system boasts a much faster starting time so the record is almost immediately brought up to speed when the DJ adjusts the pitch. Another perk of the direct-drive system is that you'll never have to replace the belt. When coupled with smart DVS hardware & software, DJ turntables are also more flexible since they can be set up for tactile control over digital music loaded up on a laptop.
Turntable Accessories: Slipmats, Pickups, Needles, Cleaning Kits & More
To keep your DJ setup in club-ready condition, you can also get turntable flight cases, pickups and replacement needles. You can even expand your repertoire with an array of extra DJ gear and effects, and since caring for your vinyl is just as essential, we also have plenty of CD and vinyl care kits and accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions About DJ Turntables
How much does a DJ turntable cost?
You can pick up a budget DJ turntable for around £200, while professional models can run into the thousands. Cheaper turntables for home audio setups can go for as little as £50 to £100.
Which DJ turntable should I go for?
If you're shopping for a DJ turntable, you need to pay attention to the type of model you're looking at. So check if it's a belt-drive or direct-drive model, check if the needle is spherical or elliptical and that the tonearm is straight. Also, make sure you check the type of cartridge that comes with it and whether or not the model has an integrated phono preamp or an audio interface. If you need a little more help, then see our DJ Turntable Buyer's Guide.
What does 'direct-drive' mean?
Direct-drive describes the kind of motor that rotates the platter of a turntable. Instead of being rotated by a belt (like belt-drive turntables), direct-drive systems rotate the platter directly for a much faster start-up time, getting the record up to speed almost immediately when the DJ adjusts the pitch.
