Which Cables Your DJ Setup Needs

Match the cable to the output on your gear: a controller with only RCA outputs needs an RCA cable, or an RCA-to-1/4-inch or RCA-to-XLR cable for speakers without RCA inputs, kept under three metres, and gear with XLR master outputs needs two male-to-female XLR cables. Turntables also need their ground wire on the mixer's ground terminal, CDJs need a LAN cable for PRO DJ LINK, and if the system hums, run the laptop on battery and use balanced connections wherever the gear has them before buying anything.

This page covers what to buy for each part of a setup. For what each connector is and carries, see DJ cable connectors explained.

Controller with RCA outputs only

The Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4, Hercules DJControl Inpulse 300 MK2, Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX and Reloop Buddy have a single unbalanced RCA master output. No cable makes that signal balanced, so buy the shortest cable that reaches: Rane's Sound System Interconnection note says any unbalanced cable must be kept under three metres.

• Speakers with RCA inputs, like the Pioneer DJ VM-50 and PreSonus Eris E4.5: a dual RCA-to-RCA cable, such as Hosa's CRA-200.
• Speakers with only XLR or 1/4-inch inputs, like the JBL 305P MkII and Yamaha HS5: a dual RCA-to-1/4-inch cable, such as Hosa's CPR-200 (RCA to TS), or an RCA-to-XLR cable. The connection stays unbalanced.
• Headphones: the FLX4's only headphone output is a 3.5 mm jack, so headphones with a 1/4-inch plug need an adapter. Its manual says the controller can't run on USB bus power alone with a mono plug in that socket.

Mixer, controller or all-in-one with XLR outputs

Gear such as the DDJ-FLX10, XDJ-RX3, DJM-450 and Rane SEVENTY has a balanced XLR master output. Buy two male-to-female XLR cables long enough to reach the speakers; the best XLR cables guide lists which gear has XLR outputs and which cables to buy.

• Booth monitors: booth outputs on the FLX10, XDJ-RX3, DJM-S11 and SEVENTY are balanced 1/4-inch TRS. Use a dual TRS-to-TRS cable, such as Hosa's CSS-200, for monitors with 1/4-inch inputs, or TRS-to-XLR for XLR inputs. The FLX10 manual warns that a TS cable or a TRS-to-RCA adapter into an unbalanced input may add noise.
• Speakers with only RCA inputs: use the RCA master output, which Pioneer DJ labels Master 2 on gear that has both. Pioneer DJ's manuals say not to run the XLR Master 1 into an RCA input through a converter cable.
• Phantom power: Pioneer DJ's manuals say never to connect the XLR master output to a device that can supply phantom power, such as a mixing desk's mic input with phantom power on.

Turntables

A turntable needs two connections to the mixer: its RCA audio cable into a phono input, and its ground wire onto the mixer's ground terminal. Turntables without a built-in preamp, such as the Technics SL-1200MK7 and Audio-Technica AT-LP140XP, need a PHONO input; the DJM-S11 manual says its SIGNAL GND terminal takes the ground wire to reduce unwanted noise. On controllers with switchable inputs, such as the FLX10 and DDJ-REV7, set the channel to PHONO. Both of those turntables have a detachable cable, so a damaged one can be replaced with a dual RCA cable that has a ground wire, such as Hosa's CRA-200DJ. For timecode vinyl, see the guide to digital vinyl systems.

CDJs and other media players

Each player sends audio to a mixer channel on its RCA cable, into a LINE input. To link players for PRO DJ LINK, the CDJ-3000 manual calls for the supplied LAN cable or a shielded CAT5e (STP) cable, plus a switching hub of 1 Gbps or more when the mixer doesn't have a LAN port for every player. The CDJ-3000 comes with its analogue, digital and LAN cables, so a spare of each type is all there is to buy. See what a CDJ is for how players and mixers fit together.

Laptop or phone to controller

The FLX4 comes with a USB cable, and its manual says to use the supplied cable for a USB-C computer or phone; for a USB-A port, a certified USB cable three metres long or shorter; and a USB hub only if the computer's maker recommends it. The FLX4's second USB-C port takes a USB power adapter or battery to power it when it's used with a phone. Check the port on older or larger gear before buying a spare: the Reloop Mixon 8 Pro has a USB-B port, and a second that switches between USB-C and USB-B.

Passive speakers and microphones

Passive speakers, which have no amplifier inside, need a power amplifier and speaker cable rather than XLR. See the best speaker wire guide for the gauge to buy and the connectors. Most DJ speakers are powered, though, and take XLR or 1/4-inch line cables.

A dynamic mic takes a male-to-female XLR cable into an XLR or combo mic input. Check the input type in the manual: the FLX4's MIC input is unbalanced, per its manual.

Stopping hum and buzz

Rane's note traces almost all noise to ground loops: two pieces of gear joined by an audio cable and also connected through their mains earth, so a current flows round the loop and through the audio. Native Instruments' ground-loop guide sets out the order to work through:

1. Find the source. Unplug everything from the computer, mixer or controller except the speakers, then reconnect one item at a time. Listen on headphones with the speakers disconnected to see whether the speakers are part of the loop.
2. Run the laptop on battery. A low-quality power supply can cause ground-loop noise, especially on laptops. If the hum stops on battery, replace the charger with one that matches the computer's specifications.
3. Use one outlet. Plug every connected device into the same outlet, for example through one power strip.
4. Ground the turntables. Connect each turntable's ground wire to the mixer or audio interface.
5. Use balanced cables wherever the outputs and inputs are balanced. Rane says balanced interconnects are the only way to guarantee hum-free results, and that unbalanced cables should stay under three metres.
6. Add a DI box. If the hum remains, a DI box between the source and the mixer or powered speaker breaks the audio ground and lets a balanced cable carry an unbalanced signal. Most have a ground-lift switch. Rane recommends transformer isolation for every unbalanced-to-balanced connection.

Nearby electrical equipment, such as fridges, heaters, fans and dimmer switches, can also cause hum, Native Instruments says; switch them off one at a time to find out. Native Instruments says never to lift the ground of the power connection, and Rane notes that safety regulations require all of a unit's original grounding to stay intact. Never remove a plug's earth pin.

How this page is made

Every instruction on this page comes from a maker's manual or support note linked beside it, read on 13 October 2026: Pioneer DJ's manuals for the DDJ-FLX4, DDJ-FLX10, DJM-S11 and CDJ-3000, Rane's Sound System Interconnection note, Native Instruments' ground-loop guide and Hosa's product pages. The inputs and outputs listed for each product come from the spec sheets behind its product page. We haven't tested these cables, and the cables named are examples of each type, not ranked picks. The methodology explains the whole process.