First seen during the beginning of the DVS period, laptops have become an essential tool for the modern DJ. As the DJ controller, DJ Apps, and mixer have become the replacement for the old school standard turntable, having a powerful “digital djing” laptop to run their favorite DJ software programs is virtually a requirement.
Not only that but because these same types of software are used to run more complex and intricate tasks, the workload and pressure continually placed on a laptop require that a DJ have something more impressive than your run-of-the-mill laptop if they plan to take their DJing from a hobby, gig events through to an actual DJ profession.
And this is where the XMG DJ 15 comes in. Built and developed by Ray Arkaei (a DJ as well as a super geek) from the German laptop manufacturer, Schenker, and their gaming brand, XMG, the XMG DJ 15 is a laptop made specifically to serve the needs of professional DJs out there and to offer them the best performance available.
The only question is whether they did so or not. Here, in this review, we’ll get into the computer’s base specs, its overall build, and whether or not it’s truly the next great thing for DJs around the world.
How good is the XMG DJ 15? (in short)
True to its mission, the DJ 15 is a laptop for DJs and by DJs; and while it may not have the same level of quality when stacked against a MacBook or a Dell XPS, it’s not trying to be anything that it isn’t.
XMG DJ 15: The Hardware
When first getting your hands on the XMG DJ 15, you have your choice between either classic silver or red.
Either features aluminum construction with a top case and a resin mold base and bezel. What’s immediately noticeable is the fact that the laptop’s exterior body feels great to the touch while also having a slight flex near the trackpad.
The XMG DJ 15 weighs 1.6kg and is 15 inches in size.
Despite its size and weight, the DJ 15 is actually quite secure. Its hinges feel very tight and require both hands if you plan to open it.
Its outside panel is made with an anti-glare material that makes it an ideal option for DJs that want to work in dark clubs (or a low-light studio) making roving light beams a non-issue.
While not the sharpest or brightest, the 1920x1080p panel does everything a laptop needs to do at its €1116 ($1288) price point.
One thing that is interesting about the DJ 15 that is fairly niche is the fact that it offers custom logo branding, thus helping maximize a DJ’s brand.
You will have to go through emailing the company directly to get this service.
The XMG DJ 15 has a full-sized keyboard with a dedicated number pad. Its keys feel solid and study while also having enough room that you aren’t going to accidentally hit an “r” when you’re trying to hit “t”.
The keyboard’s keys are laser etched, allowing the computer’s backlight to shine through.
This backlight is great for dark environments and can be alternated between 27 different colors.
The mousepad both feels incredibly intuitive while also having an impressive level of precision. It’s closer to a MacBook than a Dell or standard Windows laptop.
The mousepad also has a built-in fingerprint scanner to allow for easier logins, booting the computer from off to fully usable in just under 20 seconds.
In terms of port connectivity, the XMG DJ 15 comes with three USB ports (2x USB 3.2 and 1x USB 2.0 for compatibility with older peripherals). A USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 combo port, an RJ45 Ethernet port, and an SD card reader, as well as full-size HDMI and 1x Mini DisplayPort.
It comes with a lightweight power adapter, it will easily fit into any standard DJ backpack.
The XMG J15 also has a USB Type-C port while supporting 1x Thunderbolt 3, for display and charging purposes
The XMG comes with a dedicated headphone port that is compatible with all types of headsets, ranging from standard to gaming to DJ-specific.
The microphone port can double as a digital S/PDIF optical output, making it great for those audiophiles that want to use an external DACS. Alongside the RJ45 ethernet port, HDMI the XMG DJ 15 also has a 6-in-1 card reader, giving the DJ 15 one of the largest ports on any available laptop to date.
The XMG DJ 15 Specs
| Memory | DDR4-2666 Samsung (8GB, 16GB, 2x 8GB, 2x 16GB available options) |
| Storage | Samsung 970 EVO Plus NVMe or Samsung 860 EVO SATA III (500GB, 1TB, or 2TB available options) |
| Display | 15.6″ Full HD IPS Non-Glare |
| Processors | Intel Core i5 – 10210U (1.6 – 4.2 GHz) or Intel Core i7-10510U (1.8 – 4.9 GHz) |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
| Battery | 54.4 Wh Li-Ion Battery (Changeable) |
| Ports | USB-A 2.0 / Thunderbolt 3/USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 / 2x USB-A 3.0 / Mini Display Port 1.2 / HDMI Port / Headphone-Out / Mic-In & S/PDIF optical / 6-in-1 Card Reader / 1x RJ45 Port (LAN) |
| Security | Fingerprint Scanner |
| Weight | 1.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 360.4 x 244.5 x 19.9 mm (W x D x H) |
A Deeper Look – The Software
While much of the XMG DJ 15 hardware components are certainly fine, the reality is that there are a lot of laptop computers out today that match what the DJ 15 has to offer outside of the fact that there are a lot of different connection options available.
Where the XMG DJ 15 does become a DJ’s best friend is in its software.
Working together, Arkaei and the XMG crew were able to build and test out numerous different hardware combinations to find the most optimized setup for DPC performance.
Using their parent company’s (Schenker’s) different supplies, they were able to build up and create the ideal version of Windows OS that specifically prioritizes audio performance as its number one focus.
Coming included with the computer, the DJ 15 has Windows 10 Pro already pre-installed as a base operating system.
Not only that but it comes cleared and stripped of the many unnecessary games and other pre-existing pieces of software that most Windows computers come installed with.
This frees up a ton of space and memory while also giving it room to more effectively tune itself to the hardware it’s installed on.
In addition to Windows 10 Pro, the team at XMG also created a customized BIOS, ensuring a stable DPC latency that is ultra-low, even when running off of an uncharged battery or when operating while Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are active.
The laptop performs well with all the usual suspect Dj Software including Serato DJ Pro, Pioneer Rekordbox DJ, Virtual DJ, Ableton Live, and Native Instruments Traktor Pro.
DPC Latency (And Why DJs Should Care)
DPC, also known as Deferred Procedure Call, is basically when your computer interrupts a certain component to process some essential tasks.
DPC Latency is meant to refer to the time it takes for that component to respond. If you have a highly optimized system, DPC latency can be fairly insignificant.
In fact, for most people (manufacturers included) the DPC and DPC latency aren’t things that are considered for a computer, as the standard amount of latency observed will never be much higher than 6-8ms, – something most emails and online movies & videos will fail to even note or register.
This is not the same for professional DJs that are using higher-end software or a DAW.
In these instances, that same 6-8ms can easily double after factoring in the inclusion of a mixer, controller, and other audio interfaces, resulting in slower response times and potential audio glitches or dropouts, thus making the overall performance terrible.
The XMG DJ 15‘s BIOS interplay seeks to fix this completely by optimizing the DPC, thus giving it a much better latency rate.
This is due to the OS as well as the various DPC-optimized components and drivers over the other options that, while more expensive and name-brand, are otherwise useless.
Our Final Look
After putting the laptop through its paces and seeing what the XMG DJ 15 really had to offer, I can very comfortably say that, in terms of what a DJ is going to need this laptop for, the DJ 15 truly does everything right and fires off on all cylinders.
Run by 10th-generation Intel processors and hosting a large amount of memory and storage space, the XMG DJ 15 just isn’t going to run out of space or slow down.
In fact, you’re probably going to be blown away by just how fast everything runs when performing any task or activity.
Speaking of blowing, the laptop’s cooling vents ensure that you’re pretty much never going to deal with any thermal-based throttling unless you’re really straining your computer during a DJing session.
The only real issue is that these cooling jets can be pretty loud if you’re not careful.
When it comes to overall audio performance, the DJ 15 excels on virtually every metric.
#For example, after adding in and running several large DJ software pieces, the DJ 15 was still able to move as fast as possible while never causing any glitches, dropouts, or dead spaces.
The only area that the XMG DJ 15 is truly weak in, is its base hardware hang-ups. Its integrated stereo speakers, while not nearly serious enough to negate the laptop’s positive attributes, are legitimately terrible; which makes no sense considering their audience is all focused on quality audio.
Some other smaller issues include the 1080p display not being ideal during the daytime, low screen resolution stealing away a bit of sharpness from images on the screen, or the fact that the computer does not have a dedicated GPU installed (making it difficult to stream or watch high-fidelity videos).
Again, these issues won’t be enough to dissuade any professional DJ, however, if you’re someone that is looking for a good laptop first and a functional DJ tool second, the XMG DJ 15 may honestly not be the right choice.
XMG DJ 15: The Verdict
In the beginning, the question was asked whether Arkaei and the folks at XMG could make a laptop that suited the demanding needs of a DJ, or if it was just a bunch of empty promises wrapped in a shiny new box.
Well, it turns out that the XMG DJ 15 is everything it’s presented to be (and a little bit more).
If you’re looking for a laptop that you’re going to use to browse the internet or play games, then the DJ 15 isn’t going to be your best option, especially at its price tag.
However, if you’re someone that’s either already a professional DJ or becoming one, this laptop is going to be your best friend in the whole wide world.
In terms of audio performance, expect the DJ 15 to show you that there isn’t anything else out there.
Now, if it would only come in black…
