We’re Guitar Center customers, too. We get why you’re here—from being inspired by your musical heroes to the electrifying pursuit of the sound and vibe you’re after.
So, it should come as no surprise that when we were presented with this “best of 2025” staff picks article, we clamored for who got to write about what. In this article, you’ll get to hear from industry veterans working various roles within Guitar Center’s Marketing department, from marketing analysts to content producers to some familiar voices on the writing team.
Without getting too sentimental about 2025, let’s rip right into our top DJ gear picks of the year.
AlphaTheta CDJ-3000X
Drew Beaupre, Longform Creative Copy Manager:
It may no longer be under the well-acquainted Pioneer DJ moniker, but the latest CDJ, the 3000X, is designed by the same engineers who’ve made the CDJ the industry-standard media player. And it maintains much of that beloved layout and workflow, with some subtle feature optimizations and aesthetic modernizations throughout. It’s akin to the jump from the CDJ-2000 to the 2000NXS, which was my foray into the world of CDJs.
So, what makes the CDJ-3000X an upgrade over the CDJ-3000? At first glance, the 10.1" touchscreen is noticeably bigger than the 3000’s. Then, it finally answers the burning “What does CDJ stand for now?” question. It hasn’t been the “Compact Disc Jockey” since the CD drive was removed several years ago, but now, its Wi-Fi streaming capability gives its acronym a new meaning: “Cloud Disc Jockey.” As someone who’s both a language and music junkie, that’s a huge win in my book.
Another leap forward is the NFC (near-field communication) tech, giving you instantaneous cloud login to CloudDirectPlay and your streaming services via your rekordbox app-equipped mobile device. Just place your phone in front of the 3000X, and you’re good to go.
Shop Now: AlphaTheta CDJ-3000X Professional DJ Media Player
AlphaTheta SLAB
Max McAllister, Sr. Longform Creative Writer:
If you work in Serato Studio, the AlphaTheta SLAB is a must-have MIDI controller for making beats. It offers hands-on control over the DAW’s powerful sampling, stem separation, sequencing and performance tools, so you can get out of the box and “play” a beat in real time with the pad-based workflow.
As someone who tried my hand at beatmaking for a few years, anything that allows an electronic musician to step outside their software and feel a little more connected to their project is invaluable to the creative process, if you ask me.
Shop Now: AlphaTheta SLAB Hardware Controller for Serato Studio
The SLAB’s functionality extends beyond native Serato Studio integration, too, as it’s also compatible with other DAWs (Ableton Live, Logic, FL Studio) when you run it in MIDI mode.
By far my favorite thing about the SLAB, though—and this isn’t to cheapen its actual performance as a controller, because that’s fabulous—is the ultranostalgic ’90s grey color scheme. It reminds me of the first PlayStation. Nicely done, AlphaTheta. Nicely done.
AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ Wireless Headphone
Drew Beaupre:
The future is wireless. AIAIAI knows this and engineered the TMA-2 DJ Wireless headphones to give you untethered freedom in the booth. Bluetooth is nice for casual listening. It won’t cut it for DJing for obvious reasons—ahem, latency. TMA-2 DJ Wireless’ codec gets that latency down to 9.2 ms, which is humanly indistinguishable from a cabled connection. And while it’s not the first DJ-worthy pair of wireless cans—as AlphaTheta released their own a while back—it’s got some perks that set it apart.
Shop Now: IAIAI TMA-2 DJ Wireless Headphone
For one, the TMA’s compact form factor makes it lightweight and easy to maneuver. It sits comfortably on the borderline of on-ear and over-ear—and boasts some seriously impressive sound isolation. And its battery life of 20 hours gives you all the juice you need to run your longest marathon set.
But what I truly love about AIAIAI’s TMA-2 series headphones is their modularity. Every component is replaceable, from the speaker units and headband to the X03 wireless transmitter you plug into your headphone or USB-C output. This means you can transform your wired TMA-2 into a wireless one—and once you have the wired model, you can still opt to go the cabled route if you wish. How cool is that?
Hercules DJControl Mix Ultra
Dustin Hackworth, Sr. Manager of New Product Marketing:
The DJ Control Mix Ultra is the most portable DJ rig … maybe ever. It has no internal processor, but instead, pairs with your phone and uses it for its processing power—just like Apple CarPlay. That makes it incredibly light and able to run on its rechargeable battery for up to 10 hours, which is perfect for having an idea on the go and being able to create it right as inspiration strikes. With my phone connected, I have access to my entire music library, so I’m free to experiment with my favorite music anywhere without cables or power outlets.
It’s perfect for beginners because it’s small, inexpensive and nothing about it feels intimidating. You can stumble around, try things, mess up transitions and still have fun. The jog wheels and performance pads give you that a tactile “DJ feeling” without needing a big, bulky traditional rig.
I keep mine in my backpack. It’s been fun to surprise my friends with an impromptu DJ set on road trips, at the airport or even at my desk at work.
Shop Now: Hercules DJControl Mix Ultra Portable DJ Controller
RANE ONE MKII
Drew Beaupre:
Since my early days in the DJ realm setting up DJ Swamp’s rig on tour with Ministry, I’ve been familiar with RANE’s built-like-a-tank factor and high-end components but hadn’t delved into the world of motorized platter controllers.
That all changed when I got to chat with the makers of the RANE ONE MKII for a Guitar Center-exclusive interview a few months back, and I’ve been jazzed about its awesome combination of vinyl-like feel, motorized platters and stem separation ever since.
It's got old-school turntable appeal along with all the Serato-integrated features modern DJs know and love, including dedicated acapella, instrumental, melody, bass and drums buttons, so you can remix to your heart’s content. ONE MKII’s Stems Level Control, Stem FX and Stem Roll make mixing and manipulating those elements intuitive and fun.
To top it all off, it’s loaded with an internal suite of 29 effects—in addition to your Serato DJ software effects—along with an OLED display showing your basic FX section parameters. What an addictively fun piece of gear.
Shop Now: RANE ONE MKII DJ Controller
That’s a Wrap for 2025
Cue the ball drop festivities—2026 is upon us, and we can’t wait to see what’s next. In the meantime, head into your nearest Guitar Center store and see if you’ll come out with a new favorite toy of your own. And if you’re feeling extra determined to ring in the new year with a DJ rig resolution, our expert Gear Advisers are at the ready to help you find the perfect fit for your needs.