The 7 best powered speakers for DJs

Every DJ knows the importance of power. The higher your speaker’s power, the better your sound quality.

Of course, every DJ will have a professional audio system. But if you’re a DJ who owns a powered speaker, you’ll be able to take your sound to the next level.

However, finding the best powered speakers can be confusing when you’re endlessly trawling through websites. To make things easy, we’ve rounded up the seven best powered speakers for DJs.

Some speakers are better at doing different things, so whether you’re just starting at home or performing at large venues, we’re here to help you find the right DJ speakers for you.

 

Table of contents

• What is a powered speaker?
• Best for home use: Pioneer VM series
• Best for bass: Sony XP500 X-Series
• Best for smaller spaces: Bose F1 Model 812
• Best for outdoor use: Wharfedale Pro TITAN AX12
• Best value: Alto Truesonic TS315
• Best for travelling: Mackie Thump 15A
• Best under £300: Alphasonik AKDJ155BTS

 

What is a powered speaker?

A powered speaker, also known as an active speaker, has everything it needs inside the speaker. You just need the right audio cables to hook it up and make some noise! 

Powered speakers don’t need an amplifier, so they’re super easy to hook up to your television, computer, or audio source.

Powered speakers are often more convenient and easier to use than passive or unpowered speakers. 

With the latter type of speakers, you need to purchase your gear separately and match how much power your speaker can handle with your amp’s Watts. As such, DJs often prefer to use powered speakers.

This added convenience comes at an additional cost, as powered speakers tend to be a little pricier. However, these speakers are known for their durability and reliability, so they are well worth the additional investment.

With the above in mind, we’ve put together a handy guide to the best powered speakers for DJing and what you’d use each one for.

 

1. Best for home use: Pioneer VM series 

Consider the Pioneer VM series if you’re looking for a speaker to support your home studio and desktop mixing. 

This series of active DJ speakers come in a selection of sizes: 5-inch, 6.5-inch, or 8-inch. They can each be tuned to suit the characteristics of any space, whether you’re DJing at home or working in a professional studio. 

The Pioneer VM series offers all the trademark features of Pioneer’s range of larger professional speakers—like the Class D amplifier and Vortex Bass Accelerator—without burning too big a hole in your pocket.

Starting at £139 (available at GAK), the Pioneer VM active DJ speaker is a dependable and durable piece of tech that generates high-class sound. It’s a great choice for those who DJ at home or in a smaller studio.

 

2. Best for bass: Sony XP500 X-Series 

This mighty party speaker from Sony has enough power to provide some heavy, booming bass if that’s what you’re after.

The Sony XP500’s MEGA BASS feature is its real speciality. With one swift touch of a button, you can easily enhance your track’s low frequencies for the biggest beats.

The system is lightweight and easy to transport by weighing approximately 11kg and measuring roughly 27.5cm x 57.2cm. Thanks to its built-in carry handles, you can effortlessly take it from your home setup straight to the party.

This speaker features a rechargeable battery, which can go for 20 hours even with the speaker lights off and three hours at full volume with MEGA BASS on. It also has an IPX4 water-resistant rating, so you can keep playing if a few raindrops appear. 

Priced at £329, the Sony XP500 is an affordable option if you’re after a speaker that can handle that heavy bass.

Related: The 7 best DJ headphones on the market

 

3. Best for smaller spaces: Bose F1 Model 812

The Bose F1 Model 812 can fill a small venue with sound with ease.

Containing 1000 watts of power and built-in Bose Flexible Array technology, this full-range loudspeaker is guaranteed to pack a punch at smaller gigs.

It features a 30cm woofer behind a selection of eight high-output speakers stacked on top of one another for a linear sound source. This means your beats will sound crisp and clear, whilst you’ll also be able to produce natural-sounding vocals and midrange clarity.

Moreover, you can control the vertical coverage pattern to suit your venue for optimal sound. You can choose from coverage patterns Straight, C, J, or Reverse J to ensure your F1 is exactly right.

It’s £1,129, but don’t let the price put you off. The Bose F1 Model 812 is an incredibly versatile speaker that can accompany you to a massive range of small-medium venues. 

One reviewer said: ‘This is an amazing product with lots of power and exceptional dynamic range. The lows are there, and so are the highs. I’ve done my last five events (weddings and birthday parties) with only one speaker.’

The speaker is small enough to transport easily, measuring approximately 66cm x 33cm with built-in carry handles—so it’s one of the best speakers for mobile DJs.

Bose is known for its innovation, and the F1 Model 812 is no exception.

 

4. Best for outdoor use: Wharfedale Pro TITAN AX12

The Wharfedale Pro TITAN AX12 is a 300W continuous active loudspeaker with a rugged design for durability.

It’s constructed with durable polypropylene plastic to enclose the speakers and uses a full-face 1.2mm steel front grille to protect the face of the speaker. 

For such a robust loudspeaker, the AX12 is surprisingly lightweight, weighing 12.4kg. It can be easily added to your existing setup and transported with minimal fuss.

The AX12 has a peak 600W power output and 128dB max SPL for powerful sound even outdoors. It has a 12″ active loudspeaker and a 2.5” voice coil to guarantee that your sound carries whether you’re playing music or speaking to a large audience.

The two built-in Class-D power amplifiers are remarkably quiet and so efficient that they use convection cooling, so you don’t need to mess around with fans. As such, this DJ speaker does exactly what you need it to—produce crisp, clear sound without any distractions.

The Wharfedale Pro TITAN AX12 is available for £325, making it an affordable option and a solid investment if you need an outdoor speaker that packs a punch.

 

5. Best value: Alto Truesonic TS315

Alto Professional is a well-established brand that produces some of the best DJ speakers at affordable prices. The Truesonic TS315 confirms why the brand has such a reputation.

A powerful 2-way speaker, the TS315 is designed to be compact and easy to use.

It’s got a 15-inch low-frequency driver and a 2.5-inch voice coil for those lower-frequency sounds. Higher frequencies are handled by the 1.4-inch neodymium driver using precision waveguide technology.

This speaker features a Class D power amplifier with 1000 watts of continuous power but can reach 2000W at its peak, promising powerful sound delivery.

The amplifier in the TS315 also prevents overheating thanks to Alto Professional’s innovative technology. The amp is designed with efficient heat-dissipation, cancelling the need for noisy cooling fans. This will save you money in the long run and benefit your speakers, resulting in a cleaner and quieter experience.

We know audiences can get rowdy during live performances, but you needn’t worry about using the TS315, as it’s encased in a sturdy solid cabinet design. This will minimise the impact of damage to your speaker when you’re using it at live events and during transportation.

One reviewer said: ‘The speakers are very good for their money. You can’t find something close to that sound quality and power at that price.’

Another reads: ‘Nothing can touch it in this price range. I bought just one for a test, and it has blown me away. The sound quality is fantastic! Nice full sound, not a rattle on it, even at very high-performance levels. Also, it is very light (and) easy to move around… considering it is a 15-inch full range “active” speaker.’

Priced at £439.99 at PMT Online, the Alto Truesonic TS315 is in the mid-price range, but it’s worth every penny.

Related: Home DJ set ups: the ultimate guide

 

6. Best for travelling: Mackie Thump 15A

Mackie is a beloved brand among DJs and is well-known for its top-quality range of legendary speakers such as this one.

The Mackie Thump 15A active speaker has proven itself as one of the best DJ speakers for generations, providing high-end sound and performance reliability. With Mackie’s renowned, reliable technology and modern innovation, this speaker is a versatile and cost-effective option for the mobile DJ.

It features a 15-inch high-performance woofer, 1.4-inch titanium compression driver, and 1300W Class D power output, promising booming sound wherever you perform.

Encased in the heavy-duty resin moulded cabinets and metal carry handles, the Mackie Thump 15A will sustain travel and is built to last. The Thump loudspeaker also features a built-in 2-channel mixer with Vita Preamps and Wide Z technology.

Mackie’s innovative Dynamic Bass Response technology is one of this speaker’s standout features. It makes for a powerful bass response every time and creates an exceptionally fast response to transient or heavy bass tracks. You can choose from four EQ settings—Music, Live, Monitor or Sub—to suit your venue and optimise performance.

One reviewer said: ‘They are brilliant, (have a) great all-round sound, and when you start to push the volume up, there is no distortion. I would recommend these to anybody.’

The Thump 15A is pretty lightweight at approximately 15.8kg, and it’s designed for intensive use. Next-Generation System Protection prevents overload or overheating, which, in turn, provides crisp dynamics and clearer sound.

It costs £369, falling in the mid-price range. It’s no secret to DJs that investing in a Mackie Thump is almost always worth it, so consider this if you’re after a speaker that travels well, performs incredibly, and doesn’t break the bank.

 

7. Best under £300: Alphasonik AKDJ155BTS

This Alphasonik powered DJ speaker has a powerful 2800W system and is perfect for live performances.

This single professional speaker can produce impressive volume sound and handle heavy bass thanks to its strong power output. The 15″ ASKJ155BTS features a high output 1″ titanium horn-shaped tweeter for high frequencies and has a high-quality woofer with an efficient motor system to prevent overheating.

The LED ring light around the woofer makes for an illuminating experience with this powerful active speaker, which reacts to your track’s bass levels and syncs up with the music.

The ASKJ155BTS is protected by the robust ALPHATOUGH cabinet and a strong protective grille. This is a versatile option and is an exceptionally cost-effective option for a high-quality speaker from Alphasonik.

It’s easy to connect via Bluetooth so you can use it with various media platforms or USB and SD Card imports. 

The ASKJ155BTS is suitable for many different events with a built-in FM Radio and MP3 Player, and it can even act as a guitar amp. Furthermore, it’s easy to use with an LCD screen and EQ controls.

Priced at £250.68, it’s a bargain for such a robust and adaptable speaker system.

A remote control, microphone and a tripod stand are also included with your purchase, so you can use the Alphasonik AKDJ155BTS to easily suit your venue.

 

Specialist DJ insurance through Insure4Music

Whichever speaker you go for, you might want to protect it through specialist DJ insurance. 

At Insure4Music, we arrange specialist DJ and sound equipment insurance so that, if the worst happens, you won’t bear the financial burden of replacing or fixing your music gear. 

It also includes Public Liability, arguably the most important form of cover for DJs—because many venues won’t allow you to perform live unless you have a valid Public Liability certificate as proof of insurance.

Click here to find out more about how we can help, or get a quote in minutes.