• Understand the Basics of DJ Equipment

• Identify the Right DJ Equipment for You

• Select Essential DJ Accessories

• Find DJ Equipment on eBay Australia

• Buy DJ Equipment With Confidence

• Need More Help?

• Legal Disclaimer

Understand the Basics of DJ Equipment

Understand the Basics of DJ Equipment

You cannot be a DJ if you do not have the requisite hardware. A DJ setup can be as varied and extensive as you like, the following DJ equipment is just the basics to get you started.

• DJ turntables: DJ turntables are the backbone of any DJ setup. You will need at least two turntables to play, mix and scratch music.

• DJ slipmats: DJ slipmats reduce the friction between the record and the turntable thus allowing you to spin and scratch the records smoothly without stopping the turntable. It is usually made out of felt or slick plastic. One slipmat is required for each turntable.

• Cartridges: A cartridge is the housing for the record player’s needle (also known as stylus). Designed to provide different levels of skip resistance and output, you will need one cartridge for each turntable.

• DJ mixer: Used for mixing and beat matching, DJ mixers allows you to blend two audio signals into one output. A crossfader controls the amount of sound that you want from each turntable.

• DJ headphones: DJ headphones are used to cue up the next song for mixing.

Instead of spinning records, you can also use CDs as the primary source. In this case, all you have to do is simply replace the turntables, slipmats and cartridges with a dual deck CD player.

Identify the Right DJ Equipment for You

Identify the Right DJ Equipment for You

With such a large variety of DJ equipment available, it can be daunting at the beginning when trying to get together your setup. However armed with some background information, you can be sure to find the right equipment at the right price. 

DJ turntables

You cannot be a DJ if you do not have DJ turntables (also known as decks). There are two types of turntables. In belt drive turntables, an elastic band is used to attach the motor to the platter (the large flat area where you place the record) whereas direct drive turntables has the platter connected directly to the motor. Most DJs prefer direct drive turntables as while belt driven turntables are fine for just playing music, they are unable to withstand the vigours of scratching. Direct drive turntables on the other hand have much better power (or torque in DJ speak).

Turntables come with a variety of features, including variable speeds, LCD screens, and “S” shaped arms. Choose features based on what you need and your budget. Turntables are the most important part of any setup so you should always buy the best turntables that you can afford.

Quality DJ turntables include Technics turntables, Numark turntables, and Vestax turntables.

Cartridges

Cartridges house the stylus (the needle) that turns a record’s ridges into sound. Cartridges come in different weights (a 3 gram cartridge is ideal for beginners). Always make sure that your cartridge is clean and well maintained as a worn down or dirty stylus can cause a lot of wear and tear.

Shure, Stanton, Ortofon make popular cartridges.

DJ mixers

Like its name suggests, DJ mixer takes two signals and mixes them together. Most DJ mixers have two inputs but some high end models have more. The crossfader controls the amount of sound coming out from each turntable. Leaving the crossfader dead centre will give you an equal amount of sound from both inputs whereas sliding it all the way right or left will give you 100% of one input and 0% of the other.

DJ mixers also have several control systems. The EQ controls adjust the tone of the input while the gain control adjusts the levels of each input. If you're wanting to scratch, you will want to pay attention to the curve control as it is used to determine how fast the crossfader switches from one source to another. Another handy feature to have is the hamster switch, which reverses the crossfader position.

Popular DJ mixers include Numark mixers, Pioneer mixers, and Technics mixers.

DJ headphones

It is crucial that you monitor what you are mixing so a good set of DJ headphones is essential. Be sure to get one that fits you comfortably and blocks out unwanted noise. Also consider buying a headphone with rotating earcups so you can easily hold up the headphone and listen to just one cup at a time.

Many companies make quality DJ headphones. Some popular ones are Sennheiser and Behringer .

Select Essential DJ Accessories

Select Essential DJ Accessories

There are enough DJ accessories to create a system that is perfect for you. The equipment you need to DJ for a small gathering of friends is different from what you’d need to blow the roof off a nightclub.

Speakers

Speakers come in 2 types, powered and unpowered. Powered speakers have built in amplifiers whereas unpowered ones don't which means they have to be hooked into a system with an amplifier in order to produce sound. While they may not as easy to transport as powered speakers, they are also more versatile.

Popular speakers include Gemini speakers, Numark speakers, and Behringer speakers.

Amplifiers

An amplifier is not compulsary if you're using powered speakers in your setup. However, while it may be easier to just use powered speakers, an amplifier provides versatility.Amplifiers adjust different bandwidths of sound, allowing you to boost the low end for bone rattling bass or raise the high end to accent certain parts of a song. 

Denon, Skytec, and Numark all make popular amplifiers for DJs.

CD player

A CD player is a useful addition. Simple CD players can be plugged in to your mixer and played through your system. More complex CD players can be scratched and mixed, just like records.

Gemini, Pioneer, and Technics are makers of popular CD players.

Lights, video, and smoke machines

You can hook up almost anything to your system to provide the required effects. Laser lights that pulse with the beat, monitors to show videos, and even smoke machines to increase ambiance.

Find DJ Equipment on eBay Australia

Find DJ Equipment on eBay Australia

Once you know what type of DJ equipment you want, go to the Musical Instruments portal. Click DJ Equipment under Pro Audio, DJ Equipment and start searching for item listings on eBay Australia.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You’ll find links for CD Player , Headsets and Turntables.

• Keyword Search: Search eBay Australia listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a Technics turntable, type “technics turntable” into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay Australia's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can’t find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Australia Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay Australia will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy DJ Equipment With Confidence

Buy DJ Equipment With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay Australia and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay Australia (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay Australia are not covered by eBay Australia protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay Australia item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay Australia sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay Australia and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorised payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,500.

• eBay Australia Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay Australia's quick and efficient resolution tools.

Need More Help?

Need More Help?

Visit our help pages or start a thread on one of our Community Discussion Boards - If you have a quick question that needs answering, try posting it on our community Answer Centre - there's bound to be a seasoned eBay Australia veteran with just the information you're looking for!             

Legal Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer

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