Imagine a compact and portable standalone DJ system that you can take with you wherever you go, all without the need for external power.
Now stop imagining because that product is already here.
The Denon Prime GO is a product designed to change the world. This rechargeable battery-powered engine comes with its own Wi-Fi streaming functionality and rugged design for portability.
Four hours of built-in battery power means that you can throw your device in a DJ backpack or the back of your car and head to your next gig instantly. The Denon Prime is easily one of the most effective tools for mobile DJs that are constantly on the move.
You can even prepare your sets when you’re on the train, on a plane, or traveling in the back of a car on the way to your next venue.
The fully-featured DJ systems can also work as a backup for bigger events, with outdoor functionality, and a host of capabilities to make your life easier, like music library search play and record function, waveform views, and a familiar touch/swipe control for streaming on your favorite services.Â
Is the Prime GO any good? (in short)
The Denon team has succeeded in creating something truly unique and special with this tiny portable standalone DJ system. If you’re looking for something compact and rugged that you can use in virtually any DJ environment, then it’s hard to go wrong here.
Key Features of the Denon DJ Prime GO Controller
At first glance, the Denon Prime doesn’t look like a revolutionary product – but don’t be deceived. This no-compromise product comes with a host of amazing features packed into a small device.
The Denon Prime might be the smallest, and most affordable product in the Prime series lineup, but don’t let that convince you that it’s not an amazing investment.
The Denon Prime comes with 2 channels, and the feature set is a little limited when you compare it to bigger products like the Prime 2 and Prime 4.
However, this product also has unique benefits that other products can’t offer. The Denon Prime GO comes with a surprisingly robust set of features, including a full 7-inch HD touch screen that gives you total tactile control over all of your digital media, music library navigation, waveform views, and track search or load functionality.
Small in size and big in everything else, the Denon DJ Prime is around 11 inches deep and 16 inches wide, smaller than your standard DDJ-400 and DDJ-SB3.
When considering the options for more portable and compact gear options, the GO is an excellent product, and it comes with standalone functionality, powered by Engine OS (Denon’s flagship software).
All you really need to get started with the Denon Prime is an SD card slot or a well-exported USB port.
You can also use great connection Wi-Fi and a link to your favorite streaming service if you prefer. With the release of the upcoming update to the Engine OS, there’s also support for Dropbox, which is a great added extra for DJs taking full advantage of the cloud. Features include:
- Fully-featured 2 decks smart console for DJs
- 7-inch touchscreen display with gesture functionality
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with 4 hours of power
- Built-in wired and wireless connectivity options
- Dual bank ultra responsive trigger pads for looping, rolling, and hot cues
- Audio quality and connectivity pro-grade audio solutions
- RCA auxiliary input for tablets and media players
- Capacitive touch jog wheels
- Internal RekordBoxDJ analytics and collections direct from the USB port
- Assignable Beat FX functionality with 3-band EQ
- Level controlled mic channels
- Standalone track preview
- SD and USB stick media inputs
Denon DJ Prime GO Controller Set-up
The Denon Prime GO is small in size, not functionality. There are a ton of workflow features to explore, alongside powerful independent dual-mic control, dual FX engines, and various other options to check out as you play.
The face of the device is mostly covered by the 7-inch touchscreen with HD performance.
This touchscreen is common among the Denon products, with bright and clear graphics great for helping you to handle your music.
The touchscreen on the Denon comes with familiar touch and swiping control functionality, as well as excellent responsiveness levels.
Most of the typical controls you would expect from a product in the PRIME range are included, although there are some limitations.
For instance, you can access four pads instead of eight on this device, but there is an option to access four additional functions with a bank button too.
The Denon Prime DJ system allows you to access EQ and gains in a convenient horizontal layout, and you can adjust the crossover according to your needs. Denon has also given DJs the option to choose between standard EQ and isolator options, with a beat jump and autoloop features built-in with a small encoder on each side.
This means that the user can engage in a loop by clicking on their encoder. You can also engage a beat with the Shift button as you turn your encoder in either direction.
Jog wheels and faders
The first, and slightly less appealing thing you’ll notice about the Denon Prime GO, is the tiny jog wheels and platters.
Just 3.1 inches in size, these are some of the smallest jog wheels on the market, and that’s sure to impact your mixing and DJ performance in some way.
You should keep in mind that these capacitive controls work very well, with excellent responsiveness, but the size might throw off your entire experience at first.
Notably, the line faders on the Denon are pretty small too, measuring around 100mm, the volume and crossfader options are ok – but not ideal.
They don’t give you the highest quality feel, and as is typical in most of the gear on the market right now, the up faders definitely feature a lot more resistance than the crossfader.
You may have some trouble with this device if you’re looking for a scratching deck.
Effects
For Effects, the Denon Prime GO gives you two options. First, you can find a set of color and sweep effect knobs that allow you to access a filter or echo option immediately. Next, there’s a beat effects module on the top left side of the unit.
This gives you a range of around 13 different effects to choose from, including various phasers, reverbs, and so on.
The beat effects available through the Denon are available to assign to the channel of your choice, or you can place them on both channels.
You’ll control the functionality with a depth knob and a pair of encoders. Additionally, there’s an option to adjust the filter resonance and the type in your chosen menu, which is a nice touch.
Interestingly, the Denon Prime also features support for the Stage LINQ technology from Denon, so you can control sound switch lighting and video software from the same device.
Outputs and inputs
Despite its compact size, the Denon Prime GO has a surprisingly rich selection of outputs. All of the standard cables are supported: RCA, TRS, and XLR.
Additionally, the dedicated XLR and RCA output pair also feature the same control knob, while there’s a volume control DJ system for the TRS.
With the Denon Prime, users also get a single-stereo AUX RCA analog input, a set of microphone pro inputs, and two headphone outputs of varying sizes.
The mic inputs are particularly impressive because it’s not common to have multiple in various all-in-one products, yet, the Denon Prime GO has two.
The mic controls are on the right-hand-side of the device, and they’re reasonably easy to use, with a talk-over feature available.
Build
If you need a rugged and portable device that you can take anywhere, then the Denon Prime GO might be the perfect purchase for you.
Like most products in the Denon lineup, the Denon Prime GO comes with a selection of metal and plastic components, with no elements that feel flimsy or loose to worry about.
There are clicky buttons, like hot cues buttons and start/stop buttons, which feel professional in build quality.
It’s worth noting that the pitch faders are ok – but not ideal. There are some limitations here that make it easy to separate your Denon Prime GO product from some of the market leaders elsewhere in the landscape. For instance, the performance pads aren’t as tactile as they could be.
Sound
It’s often difficult to effectively review sound quality when you’re choosing the perfect compact DJ system, as it all depends on your tastes.
The Denon Prime GO has the typical quality of the Denon DJ systems, with a very warm overall presence that is bound to appeal to a lot of performers and music creators.
The stereo output separation is also quite effective in the GO.
If you’re concerned that the small size of this portable product might detract from what you can do with it, don’t be.
This device is one of the better-sounding products on the market, and it will perform well in most environments.
Ease of use
Standalone DJ controllers won’t be the right option for every musician or artist. Some people still prefer to stick with other solutions that they can build using a variety of modular products.
If you like a laptop-based DJ system, then it’s unlikely that the Denon Prime GO will immediately sell you, unless you’re specifically looking for a product that you can rely on for portability when you’re rushing between DJ sets and venues.
Saying that, if you are looking for an excellent DJ controller experience for all-in-one fans, then it’s hard to go wrong with the mix Prime GO.
The Denon technology feels professional from start to finish, with a range of amazing capabilities to explore.
You shouldn’t have much trouble getting started and discovering what this product has to offer you. You can even stream from various cloud-based applications with just the press of a button.
The Denon Prime GO’s HD touchscreen is a full seven inches in size, and it comes with a waveform view option, music library navigation, track search, and loading functionality too.
There’s also access to your dual-bank trigger performance pads for hot cue juggling, looping, and beat rolls.
The software
The Denon Prime GO is powered by Denon’s flagship DJ software – Engine OS. In terms of functionality and sound, the Engine Prime experience is fantastic. The intuitive UI means that using a standalone mixer for the first time doesn’t have to be a stressful experience. Y
ou can prepare and optimize your digital music collections on the Engine DJ system, and the screen is easy enough to use.
Using all the functions of the Engine OS DJ software is surprisingly simple, with just a quick glance at the screen or controls required in most cases.
Compared to other DJ units and players where you’re constantly having to return to the instructions to guide you, the Denon Prime GO is extremely intuitive.
Denon DJ Prime GO Controller Pros and Cons
The Denon Prime GO succeeds in its mission to be a totally unique and impressive music creation solution. Sure, there are other more comprehensive tools out there, if you’re willing to pay for them.
However, Denon does manage to really pack a lot of functionality into a small space, and they do it without making the controls less intuitive or the DJ system too overwhelming.
Everything you need is already included, such as support for two microphones and all the three major cable types that you can access too.
There’s also the fact that you’ve got a totally portable and battery-powered device here. There’s no need to worry about finding a place to plug in your technology. You can just jump into action and move from one stage to another, provided that you have enough charge.
The Denon Prime GO is a delight for mobile DJs who want to have a backup DJ system in place that comes with all the features that they need to truly thrive in a changing musical environment.
Sure, there are only two channels, and the extra features are missing in some places, but it’s still a great investment.
Pros
- Durable build with ruggedized elements
- Easy to take on the move thanks to built-in battery
- Wi-Fi and wired streaming options
- Standalone functionality
- 4 hours of battery life
- 7 inch HD touchscreen for library management
- Pro features with dual mic control
- Excellent selection of inputs available
- Performance pads (4) included
- Capacitive jog wheels feel great
- Works with a wide range of cloud based applications
- Feels intuitive thanks to Engine OS
- Dual FX functionality built-in
- Convenient range of flexible monitoring options
- Stage LINQ equipped for video and presentation
Cons
- Only 2 channels
- Smaller jog wheels than most products
- Not the best fader experience
- Pricier than some beginner models
The Denon Prime GO is certainly a unique product, but it’s a lot more than just a novelty. If you know how to use a product like this correctly, then it can become a powerful part of your mixing and playing experience.
It’s rare in an age like this that we can see something so new come into the marketplace and shake things up as well as the GO has.
This product might have a few missing elements, like the lack of extra channels, and slightly smaller jog wheels than we might like.
However, it’s still impressive enough that it’s hard to imagine any mobile DJ who wouldn’t want one of their own.
Whether you need a standalone deck that you can start learning on, or you want a backup DJ system, the Denon Prime GO has you covered.
Denon DJ Prime GO: The Verdict
Mobile DJs that are keen to find a convenient secondary or backup DJ system will be an obvious target here.
This Denon Prime GO standalone DJ system can easily go into a flight or travel case, and you’ll be able to mix with it on the move with virtually no problem.
Even if you’re new to using steam music standalone technology, the intuitive software and convenient hardware will make it easier to get used to everything at a pace that’s right for you.
Perhaps the person most likely to benefit from the Denon Prime GO is the DJ that already has a Prime controller but wants a second one for music prep and management on the move.
You can charge this device and work on your music in virtually any environment, including hotel rooms, or the back of a car. Plus, the product is capable enough to perform as a first DJ system too.
The GO sounds great, and it comes with a decent selection of specs for a budget price. If you’re a modern DJ that doesn’t want to cart a lot of equipment around with you, this is the kind of standalone product that you should have no problem adding to your kit.
Although it’s a little more expensive than some DJ controller products on the market for beginners, it’s still affordable enough if you’ve got a little extra cash and you’re keen to start learning.
The Denon Prime GO falls into a DJing category entirely on its own, and it’s appealing enough that many DJs will instantly see that it’s a beneficial investment.
The only reason you would probably avoid this product is if you don’t like standalone solutions or you’re disappointed by the idea of having mini jog wheels and faders to deal with.
