Which DJs Use Denon? (And Why Are More DJs Using Them?)

For a long time, Pioneer dominated the DJ market, and they had a stronghold on the DJ equipment market. That is, until the past few years, some of the biggest DJ’s have been jumping ship in favor of Denon.

This US-based company is offering equipment at a competitive price. Yet they are beginning to gain some real recognition that they have been waiting a long time for. This article will go into further detail about who is Denon and which DJs now use Denon.

Who Is Denon?

Denon has been around since 1992 and has established itself as one of the leading and most reliable manufacturers of DJ equipment. Professional DJs use their equipment all around the world.

They have created players, mixers, turntables, and controllers. Denon has created everything you need to perform the best sets possible for a budding DJ. 

Denon’s slogan is ‘Change Your Rider.’ Denon is trying everything they can to make better and cheaper equipment which is available to more DJs. It is seen as the equipment that will help you hone your skills and help you grow as a DJ.

They are considered a reliable brand that delivers you amazing quality equipment to work with 

Is Denon Better Than Pioneer?

It may be hard to know if Denon is any good, well the only way to know is to compare it to its biggest competitor. Pioneer was the number one brand for DJs for a long time; no matter where you looked, you’d find Pioneer hardware.

Pioneer’s products are professional and made to a high quality. However, they were at the top for so long, and no one was really competing with them.

Therefore they didn’t have to bring anything new out. In every club, festival, and DJ booth, you would have found a Pioneer set up. While Pioneer was at the top, other brands were slowly yet steadily making a new name for themselves, like Denon.

DJs were really familiar with Pioneer. It got to a point where clubs and organizations didn’t want to risk putting another brand in the booth. If anyone wanted to use another brand, they needed to bring it with them.

However, other DJ brands do exist and work well. Denon developed features where you could switch between two decks with a double audio output and the inclusion of a built-in battery.

This battery protects your player and keeps your set going even if there is a power cut. However, it is all about personal preference and what kind of DJ you are when it comes to DJ equipment.

Price

Denon is cheaper than Pioneer, at around half the price. However, when choosing between both brands, it depends on your preferred music source.

If you are using a USB stick or SD card, or Serato DJ, the Denon is the better choice due to its lower price and extra features.

However, if you plan to use CDs, Recordbox, Traktor, or Virtual DJ, the Pioneer may be a better choice. However, it all depends on personal preference. 

Design 

The look and design of both the Pioneer and the Denon are pretty similar. However, it all comes down to personal preference again. Many DJs actually prefer the look of the Denon over the Pioneer, but really there isn’t a massive difference between both sets. 

Compatibility

When it comes to compatibility, Pioneer is better than Denon. Pioneer has CD drives for CDs and supports Recordbox, Virtual DJ, Traktor HID, and Serato DJ. You may say that CD drives are pointless because no one really uses CDs anymore.

However, there are still some CD DJs who need those drives to be able to perform. Also in recent years, we have seen the comeback of vinyl. So who is to say that we won’t see the comeback of CDs at some point?

Interestingly, Denon only supports Serato DJ, which sort of limits them. However, hopefully, in the future, Denon will support Traktor and Virtual DJ, which will make them an even more compatible brand to use.

Who Uses Denon?

As Denon has made a bigger name for itself, more DJs have turned away from Pioneer and toward Denon. They must be doing something right, as huge DJs like Laidback Luke, Oliver Heldens, MaRLo, and Maceo Plex, all request Denon equipment when performing.

Alongside this, Paul Oakenfold used only Denon equipment throughout his ‘Generations Tour’ in 2017. Slowly more DJs are requesting and using Denon equipment instead of other brands, including Pioneer. 

It’s a big deal and a massive sign for Denon that they are doing something right if well-known and influential DJs are turning away from what they know and used for so many years and going to them.

This could be a sign of what’s to come, as more DJs start turning to Denon and new DJs start using Denon from the beginning. However, if others start following in Denon’s footsteps, they could have some good competition.

Yet at the moment there isn’t anyone they really need to worry about.

Final Words

There is nothing wrong with Pioneer, but it was at the top for so long that it didn’t think it needed to change. Yet there are little things that could be improved on.

However, Denon has come storming in and giving DJs what they were looking for. Denon is willing to adapt to the times with WiFi and incorporate streaming services faster than its competitors.

It is no real surprise it is becoming the number one DJ brand. Alongside that, it now makes sense why DJs like Laidback Luke are requesting their equipment. 

Denon is much cheaper than some other brands, so newly starting out DJs can afford quality equipment to hone their skills. It may be on the cheaper side of the market, but it still provides fantastic quality. 

As more DJs turn to Denon in the next few years, they may become the new number one brand that DJs trust for their equipment.