The Denon DJ Prime Go is an intriguing and fun new DJ addition to the company’s pro-focused Prime DJ gear range, which was launched today alongside the Prime 2. It’s a standalone, portable two-channel DJ system with a built-in computer, screen, battery, and WiFi music streaming. While it might not appeal to everyone, I’m happy to see a fully standalone 4-channel offering from the industry juggernauts. It’s also quite expensive, but if appearance and functionality are your top priorities, the Pioneer OPUS-QUAD is worth adding to your shortlist. The above all seems a more than fair compromise for such a tiny unit, and the feature set overall means the unit is perfectly capable of being used to DJ in a professional environment.

Obviously if you don’t have a modern laptop, and have no intention of getting one, a regular old DJ controller isn’t going to help. These standalone systems require nothing but some music (and a set of headphones) to get you DJing.Consider how much the unit you’re looking at weighs and how you plan on transporting it to gigs. This can help you in choosing an appropriate controller for your needs. as its bigger PRIME 4 brother, but adds a rechargeable lithium-ion battery to provide extreme portability. Take advantage of The PRIME 2 also doesn’t have external inputs for turntables or CDJs, and it is missing the four Sweep FX (the knob controls a filter only). And while it does support Virtual DJ, Serato is out. Built Tough – A solid and dependable controller that is built to handle the rigors of on-the-go mixing. Good components, especially when you factor in the price point.

If you require the extra two channels, external inputs, or access to streaming services… choose the PRIME 4. Otherwise, it’s mostly a matter of taste. My hope is that by the time you reach the end of this guide, you’ll know for sure which is the right hardware for you based on your own wants and needs. The good news is: you can’t really go wrong. So let's start with the first impressions. As someone quite familiar with the Denon DJ Prime Go, the first thing I did was begin to compare and contrast the two, and to my surprise, there wasn't a tremendous amount of difference. Music & Mixing Acapella & Stems: Prepare First, Or Use Real-Time Features? Acapella & Stems: Prepare First, Or Use Real-Time Features? Over the las few years, Engine OS has been updated to provide new and improved features to the products running it. There are more updates planned offering more exciting and innovative features to the Prime GO and others units in the line.

Another option is to go standalone, but not all-in-one. For example, a set of XDJ-1000s (which are like baby CDJs) and a mixer accomplishes a similar task, just in separate pieces. In fact, I use this setup here in the studio all the time… original 1000s and a DJM-850.

Fantastic Screen – The Denon Prime 4 Plus offers an exceptional screen. Large, bright, and with touch controls. Once you get your head around how to navigate through the menus, it becomes a joy to use. Contour: Use this slider to adjust the slope of the crossfader curve. Slide towards the left for a smooth fade (mixing) or slide to the right for a sharp cut (scratching). Once again I’ll give my top recommendation in this category (assuming I had no other information)… and that is the PRIME 4. The Denon DJ Prime Series represents the most significant paradigm shift in DJ technology in recent years. Comprised of ten beautifully engineered, advanced technology units, the range covers every conceivable performance need for the forward-thinking, creatively driven DJ. From the SC6000 flagship media players and pro-club X1850 mixer, right through to the standalone smart DJ systems of the PRIME 4 and 2, Engine OS powered, ‘no-compromise’ feature sets can accommodate the most demanding DJ scenarios, from mobile to mainstage. The simplicity of ‘play anywhere’ DJing arrives too with the unique and ultra-portable, battery powered PRIME GO. This, alongside all other PRIME series DJ products, is empowered with WiFi and wired internet capability, enabling standalone streaming from premier music services such as TIDAL and SoundCloud* – Embrace the Future of professional DJ’ing with the PRIME Series! Analogue Output: Master, Balanced +18dBu (maximum) +4dBu (unity) Master, Unbalanced +15dBu (maximum) 0dBu (unity) Booth +18dBu (maximum) +4dBu (unity) Headphone Output < 40mWThe newly released Engine DJ 2.0 Firmware update brings an overhauled database, new Engine Lighting by SoundSwitch and all-new Ableton Link Wireless communication connection. In addition to the new features, there are several improvements and fixes to issues brought to Denon DJs attention. The latest update is available in two formats, one for the Operating System itself and the other for the Desktop platform, where both have been designed for a faster and more streamlined approach. Denon DJ and Engine OS are offering their users 3 MONTHS AD-FREE & OFFLINE listening on SoundCloud Go+ for FREE! Register your product at DenonDJ.com to activate and listen to all of your favourite artists and genres now! More information about this offer can be found in our latest blog article. Virtual DJ Integration It has 4 assignable inputs (for connecting media players or turntables), and a suite of effects from Denon's X1850 PRIME mixer. It can play music straight from one of its four USB inputs, or from an SD card. It even includes a 2.5” SATA drive bay… allowing you to carry your music on an internal hard drive. Uncompressed music is supported (such as FLAC, ALAC, or WAV files)… and you can use any one of these sources to record your DJ sets. All new & used goods supplied by Music Matter are warranted free from defects for 12 months from the date of supply (unless otherwise stated). It too has a beautiful multi-touch capable display, but it’s reduced to 7” instead of 10, and is fixed in place (unlike its larger counterpart). This makes the PRIME 2 a more portable choice, and the cost savings may make more sense for the DJ who doesn’t want or need those extra channels/inputs.

Good Price Point –Considering the extensive feature set and the full standalone capacity the SC Live 4 is an aggressively priced controller. Excellent value for money. Impressive FX –The XDJ RX3 offers a staggering amount of FX options. 6 sound color FX along with 14 Beat FX give you plenty of flexibility. Plus this selection of FX is the same that you’ll find on club gear. For most DJs using digital rigs, this interface is relatively standard and intuitive to those with any DJing experience. Even if you have never DJ'ed before, learning to get around this rig will take you no time at all.The Numark Mixstream Pro GO is a fantastic option for budget-conscious DJs that want a standalone system. Its compact footprint and built-in battery make it a great portable option. Couple it with Wi-Fi connectivity, and you have a flexible and feature-rich controller on your hands. Excellent Display –Crisp and clear. The full-color display is easy to read and presents all the information you need to mix standalone without a laptop. There’s another thing that often comes up when discussing these systems, and that’s the apparent elimination of “Serato face”, or “the screen stare”. You know, the phenomenon where DJs are glued to their laptop screen… staring at Serato, Virtual DJ, etc. instead of the crowd or their mixer.