Tips for Choosing Your DJ Speakers

This is my DJ speakers Buyer Guide for DJ systems.

Buying quality speakers for DJs can be a bit confusing if you don't know exactly what it is you are looking for. All of the specifications can be overwhelming. Take it form someone who's been there.

My first set of speakers where actually for my home recording studio. I bought a set of Tannoy Reveal monitors prior to that I used a set of Paramount home theater speakers. I could have purchased the now discontinued Yamaha monitors but I went the inexpensive route. I can't complain. The Reveals have been very reliable.

Anyway, at that time I wasn't really sure how to spec them out. If you've read some of my other reviews I often frequent my local pro DJ shop. I'm not known to ask a lot of questions but when I spend my hard earned cash I do.

I did not have a clue as to what DJ speakers I should buy and the guys at the shop helped plenty. They said I needed to tests different speakers to find out which ones sounded best to me.

We looked at the watts, dimension of the speakers, quality of the speaker box itself (is it made well), magnet size (can it handle power from the amp), and known reliability (has it been an item that has been returned often). If people don't like it they will return it.

When you select DJ speakers or any speakers you need to hear how it sounds with a quality mix tape and a crappy mix tape or any good source and bad source. Why? Here is a tell tale sign of a bad speaker.

When you pop your good mix tape into the deck it should sound just like you intended it to sound, great! Ok, it passed the first test. The speakers sound great, but don't buy them yet. It's when you pop in your crappy mix tape and it sounds just a great as your good mix tape. This is not a good thing.

When you test your two mix tapes the good mix tape should sound good in the speakers and the bad mix tape should sound bad. This way you know the DJ speakers are giving you a true representation of the sound from your mix tapes.

This is what it comes down to. How does it sound to you? I have been told by many people when I first bought my speakers for mixing that after you have them for a while and you do 4 or 5 mixes you get to know your speakers better and how to mix so your sound is top notch.

This is true with DJ speakers. After you have them a while and you start doing party after party and event after event you get to know the different nuances of your speakers and how much power they can handle.

Let's take a simplified example of how to match DJ speakers and power amplifiers.

For speakers and power amplifiers I like to keep them in the same family as much as possible because they have been spec'ed to give peak performance. Match the DJ amp size to the speakers.

The Yamaha Club Series V DJ speakers are matched to give maximum output with low AC voltage and heat from the Yamaha P Series II Amps. Why? Yamaha created a special circuit to regulate power to the speakers. This means more efficiency.

Get more information on speakers and amplifiers here.

Yamaha P2500S Dual Channel Power Amp

Yamaha P2500S Dual Channel Power Amp

The Yamaha P2500S Dual Channel Power Amp is equippped with a specially designed circuit tailored to the response of Club Series speakers. The P-Series amps deliver pro-quality power in a wide range of configurations, and are perfect for mating with the popular Club Series speakers, as each model's power signal is tuned via YS processing to the needs of Club Series speakers. All models feature both XLR and 1/4" TRS inputs, Neutrik Speakon, phone plug, and 5-way binding post outputs. Other features include sweepable high- and low-pass filters, Yamaha's exclusive EEEngine technology for high performance with exceptional efficiency, and a variable-speed fan. 2U chassis. The P2500S delivers 310W/ch @ 4 ohms, 250W @ 8 ohms, and 620W @ 8 ohms bridged.

Yamaha Club Series V Speakers

When you're looking at the specifications on an amp the main thing you need to look at is frequency response from at least 20hz - 20khz, and the maximum watt at a 4 ohm load and at an 8 ohm load. Also, get the highest signal to noise ratio you can. Anything above 96db should suffice.

Yamaha S115V Club Series V Speaker

The Yamaha S115V Club Series V Speaker is all about big house sound. Gigging bands, mobile DJs, and houses of worship helped make the first 4 generations of Yamaha Club Series Speakers incredibly popular. The refinements of generation V continue this success story with larger enclosures for improved low-frequency performance, improved drivers for higher power handling, redesigned crossovers, stronger grilles, and dual Speakon and 1/4" connectors. With professional features, excellent sonic performance, and great value, Club Series loudspeakers deliver premium quality night after night.The S115V 2-way enclosure features a 15" driver and 2" tweeter with a titanium diaphragm. Frequency response: (-10dB) 55Hz-16kHz. 500W program handling, 1,000W peak. Sensitivity: 99dB. 19"W x 28"H x 15"D. 61 lbs.

A 4 ohm stereo load handles more watts because there is less resistance where as an 8 ohm stereo load handles fewer watts because there is more resistance.

Make sure you DJ speakers have a matching frequency response and watts so it can handle the maximum output coming from your power amplifier. If you go with the Yamaha set you will be sure to have the best quality and compatible components that will last you a lifetime.

More Resources:
Stereo Speakers Buyers Guide
Speakers and amps for Mobile DJs.

Common Misspellings: dj spekrs, dj speakrs, dj spekers, dj speaks, dj speekers

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