DJ Gift Guide: What to Buy a DJ
What is a good gift for a DJ?
The safest gifts for a DJ are things that work with any setup: DJ headphones, a record case or gear bag, a laptop stand, a fast USB drive, gaffer tape, or a Hollywood DJ gift card. Gifts that have to match their gear, such as control vinyl, turntable cartridges, replacement styli, dust covers and fitted cases, make great gifts only when you know exactly what they use. If you can, check the model name printed on their controller, mixer or cartridge before you buy.
DJ gift ideas by budget
| Budget | Gift ideas |
|---|---|
| Under $25 | Gift cards ($10, $20 or $25), ProX gaffer tape, DeoxIT D5S contact cleaner, DeoxIT FaderLube, Reloop stylus cleaner |
| $25 to $100 | Serato control vinyl, Ultimate JS-LPT100 laptop stand, WELX USB drive (128 to 512 GB), ProX XB-250 MK2 gear bag, 12-inch mirror ball, Serato T-shirt |
| $100 to $250 | Pioneer DJ HDJ-X5, Sennheiser HD 25 and AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ headphones, AlphaTheta DDJ-FLX2 controller, Odyssey KLP70BL record case, Teenage Engineering EP-136 K.O. Sidekick, Reloop STAND-HUB-PRO, ColorKey BeBe FX party light, Shure SE215 earphones |
| $250 to $500 | Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4 controller, Hercules DJStarter Kit, DDJ-FLX2 kit with headphones and speakers, Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II, AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ Wireless, gift cards up to $500 |
| $500 and up | Reloop RP-7 turntable, Hercules DJControl Inpulse T7, Chauvet DJ GigBAR Move ILS, Pioneer DJ XDJ-RX3 all-in-one system |
What should I buy a beginner DJ?
A DJ controller they can plug into a device they already own. All four below are 2-deck controllers, and the difference is what they play from and what comes in the box.
| AlphaTheta DDJ-FLX2 | Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4 | Hercules DJStarter Kit | Hercules DJControl Mix Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plays from | Laptop, smartphone or tablet over USB-C | Laptop, iPhone, iPad or Android device | Laptop | iOS or Android smartphone over Bluetooth |
| Software | rekordbox, Serato DJ Lite, djay | rekordbox, Serato DJ | Serato DJ Lite | djay app |
| Speakers and headphones included | No | No | Yes: DJMonitor 32 speakers and HDP DJ M40.2 headphones | No |
| Power | USB bus power | USB bus power | USB bus power | Built-in battery, up to 10 hours |
| Connections | 3.5 mm master and headphone outputs | RCA master output, 1/4-inch mic input | 1/8-inch master and headphone outputs | Bluetooth to the phone |
The DDJ-FLX2 measures 15.09 x 8.19 x 1.90 inches and weighs 2.6 lb; the DDJ-FLX4 measures 18.98 x 10.74 x 2.33 inches and weighs 4.63 lb. For a complete starter setup in one box, the DDJ-FLX2 kit adds Hercules HDP DJ45 headphones and Hercules DJ Monitor 32 speakers to the DDJ-FLX2. The DDJ-FLX4 also comes in white (DDJ-FLX4-W), and a Decksaver DDJ-FLX4 cover makes a good add-on.
Which DJ headphones make a good gift?
Closed-back DJ headphones with a swiveling earcup, so they can cue the next track on one ear. Five good choices at different prices:
| Model | Style | Defining numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Pioneer DJ HDJ-X5 | Closed, over-ear | 40 mm drivers, 269 g without cable, 1.2 m coiled cable that extends to 1.8 m |
| Sennheiser HD 25 | Closed, on-ear | 140 g without cable, swiveling capsule for one-ear listening, detachable 1.5 m cable |
| Sennheiser HD 25 PLUS | Closed, on-ear | The HD 25 with a coiled cable, plus an extra 1.5 m straight cable, spare soft earpads, a pouch and a screw-on 1/4-inch adapter |
| AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ | Closed, on-ear, modular | Replaceable speakers, headband, earpads and cable; coiled cable 1.5 to 3.2 m |
| AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ Wireless | Wireless, modular | Ultra-low latency wireless for beatmatching, over 25 hours of battery life |
See every model in DJ Headphones.
What should I get my DJ boyfriend, girlfriend or partner?
Something they use at every set. Headphones and a gear bag are used at every gig, and a gift card lets them pick the exact model they have been eyeing. Skip cases, covers and replacement parts made for one model unless you know exactly what they own.
What do you get a DJ who plays vinyl?
A record case, cleaning gear, or more of what they already use. The Odyssey KLP70BL holds about 70 12-inch LPs in a foam-lined case, and the Odyssey K45120BLG holds 120 7-inch singles. The Gruv Glide cleaner kit and Reloop stylus cleaner fit any setup. Skip cartridges and replacement styli unless you know the exact model they use, because a stylus only fits the cartridge it was made for. Serato control vinyl is only for DJs who play Serato DJ on turntables. For collectors of 45s, Reloop calls the RP-7 the first professionally mass-produced DJ turntable for 7-inch vinyl; it plays 33 1/3, 45 and 78 RPM with a pitch range of 8, 16 or 35 percent.
What do you get a DJ who also makes beats?
A small instrument they can play anywhere. The Teenage Engineering EP-133 K.O. II is a sampler and sequencer with 12 pressure-sensitive pads, a built-in mic and speaker, and 64 MB of memory, and it runs on four AAA batteries or USB-C. The EP-136 K.O. Sidekick is a two-channel mixer, USB-C audio interface and effects unit in one battery-powered box. The AlphaTheta SLAB is a pad controller for Serato Studio, and Pioneer DJ DM-40D desktop monitors switch between DJ and Production sound modes. See the whole range in Teenage Engineering.
What are good stocking stuffers for a DJ?
Small things DJs use up or lose. Gaffer tape holds cables down at every gig, DeoxIT D5S cleans scratchy knobs and connectors, DeoxIT FaderLube keeps faders smooth, and USB and audio cables always need spares. Shop them all in DJ Stocking Stuffers and Gifts Under $100.
What if I don't know what DJ gear they use?
Give a Hollywood DJ gift card. It comes in 11 amounts from $10 to $500, it is delivered by email with nothing to ship, and it can be used on DJ gear, lighting and pro audio at hollywooddj.com. You can also call us at 1-800-700-4542 or visit our Downtown Los Angeles showroom at 934 E 11th St, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and we will help you pick.
When should I order DJ gifts for Christmas?
As early in December as you can. Items in stock at our Los Angeles warehouse ship the same business day when you order by noon Pacific, and delivery time then depends on the shipping method you choose at checkout. Gift cards are delivered by email, so they work right up to Christmas Day.
For more gift ideas sorted by who the gift is for, read our guide to the best gifts for a DJ.