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My job's really eaten into the amount of time I have available to put into this site and into email's, so I've tried to cover each aspect of Dj'ing as well as I could, with the hope that people will learn from the pages, or at least read them. I should be so lucky.

So, in this page, I'm gonna run through some of the stuff that is out there for you to buy. Not the same as the reviews page though, this is going through combinations of decks and mixers together for a price. Even though I've mentioned them a lot, and even though there's a big table on the basic equipment page, people are still emailing me regarding equipment. Something which is beginning to get on my tits. Not only because the answers are here if some forethought is put into how you read the pages, but also because I'm getting pissed off, and the reason I put this site up here was to help people - so my getting pissed off really doesn't help anyone!!!

So, I'm gonna run through budgets, give some examples, and let you work it out for yourselves.

0-Ł200

Nothing. Seriously, the only things available to you here are the Gemini XL-100 decks and the Soundlab DLP-1600 decks . You can get the DLP's with the DSM-1 mixer for Ł199 from Sapphires, but I will say again that these decks are the spawn of satan, they are not meant for Dj'ing. The tone-arm isn't constructed to take the vigours of Dj'ing, the motor is pathetic, the pitch control laughable and the pitch accuracy down-right rude. Buy these decks at your peril - you'd be better shitting on a stove for all the use they'd be. Your only serious choice on this budget is to look second hand. Like I said elsewher, I got my first set of decks for Ł180 through an ad in the newspaper - you might get lucky.

Ł200-Ł300.

You're hitting the decks that look as though they might be good but are actually mutton dressed up as lamb in truth.

Decks available are really only belt-driven decks. You've got choices through Numark (1510), Soundlab (DLP-12), Gemini (XL-400) Citronic (RT-1) Kam (BDX) Stageline, American Dj, Lineartech, Omnitronic , lots of the buggers. Personally, and from what I've heard from other people, each one is just as good as the next - which funnily enough is not very. They'll run better than the previous mentioned ones, but they'll still have problems with the deck power being a strong as American beer, (sorry guys) the pitch wanders more than a sleep walker with Timberlands on, and they'll feedback and the slightest instant of vibration.

Mixer's that will be open to you will be very much the cheap ones as you're spending the increase in budget on better decks, and can't really afford a better mixer yet. Out of all the mixers that are available to you, I'd probably go for the Citronic CDM-1 , because it's one of the only ones in the Ł50-60 range that gives you gain controls for the two channels it offers.

If you have a very limited budget, and you're not too sure whether you're going to like the Dj thing or not, then it might be an idea to get one of these decks, just be assured that the moment you get any good, you'll kick yourself for spending so much money on something so bad.

So, in summary, I'd go for the Citronic CDM-1 mixer, and the Gemini XL-400 decks.

Ł300 - Ł400

Getting a bit better, but you're still going to have to rely on the cheap mixers right now so you can afford to get the better decks.

Decks wise then I'd go for the Numark TT-1910's (but as they're now defunct, I'd go for the Gemini Xl-500's as the new version of the Numark (now the 1520 ) doesn't have a target light on it.

As they cost about Ł300 a pair, that leaves Ł100 for the mixer (if you won't have Ł100, then the CDM-1 might be the choice). If this IS the case, then I'd plump for the Numark 1001X mixer. It's a bit better, has 3 band Eq's, which is REALLY useful, and punch buttons. The only thing that makes this mixer not what I'd recommend normally (for a bigger budget) is that there isn't a way to check the incoming signal strength. (I waffle about that a lot, you'll find it somewhere in this site). So, in my choice, I'd go for the Gemini Xl-500 and the Numark DM1001X

Remember to read through my reviews page if you want to know about more of the decks open to you in this price range.

Ł400 - Ł500

This time, it's a case that you'll stick with the decks I've just mentioned (in the case of what I'd get, the Gemini XL-500 ) and get a better mixer. The two XL-500's come to about Ł300, which will leave you up to Ł200 for a mixer. (or you could go for the Xl-600's

and have a pitch bend) If you have more than Ł400, by just little, then I'd go for the Gemini PMX-140 mixer. It's about Ł120, and has all the stuff you'll need for a long, long time. Kills, level strength indicator, nice cross fader, good cue section - nice.

A little more than that, and if you want three channels is the Gemini PS-626 mixer, which I think is the dogs bollocks (that's good by the way) when it comes to budget mixers. It's about Ł150.

Then if you have the full Ł200, then I'd jump towards the either the Gemini PS -646 if you want four channels, or the 676 if you want a sampler in there.

Or, after saying all that, you could go back to the basic mixer ( CDM-1 ) and get the Numark TT-100's . Best decks you'll get in this price range.

So, either the Gemini XL-500's and the Gemini PS-626 mixer or the Numark TT-100's and the Citronic CDM-1 mixer.

Ł500-Ł600

Things are looking up. Not only do you now have the Numark TT-100's on offer, but the Gemini PT-1000 and the PT-2000's now come on offer.

A pair of the 1000's will cost about Ł430 leaving you room for something like the Ps-626 mixer.

The 2000's will cost about Ł480, which means if you have the budget, then the PMX-140 might be better suited. Or if you have even less, then the CDM-1 .

And, as the TT-100's only cost Ł390 a pair, then you've got Ł210 to blow on a mixer. You should be able to get the Pioneer DJM-300 for that.

Out of these three options though, I think I'd go for the Pt-2000's with the PMX-140 mixer .

Ł600-Ł700

Getting almost towards Technics here - but not quite.

Best decks you can get and still afford stuff here are the Numark TT2's . They are REALLY good decks and will probably last you a lifetime unless you get bored with them.

As they run at Ł590 a pair, this leaves you enough money for either then PMX-140 (low budget) or the PS-626 (higher budget)

Ł700-Ł800

WOO-HOOOOO!!!! You can afford Technics!!!

Technics are running at around Ł700 a pair right now, so you're not leaving much room for a mixer. If you take it to the hilt of your budget, you'll get something like the PMX-80 from Gemini as the mixer.

My advice would be to do this. If you're just starting out, and you have the money, then get the Technics and a shit mixer - it's the best way to go about it.

Ł800-Ł900

Technics SL's and the PS-626 mixer.

Or, Vestax can come into play. The A1's and the PMX140 mixer is a good choice. This one comes down to a personal thing. What do YOU like between Vestax and Technics?

Persoanlly, I'd go for Vestax - but only if 2 channels were enough.

Ł900-Ł1000

Sticking with the Vestax way of thinking, I'd go for the Pioneer DJM-300 mixer.

Ł1000 +

If you're into this realm of money, you really should know yourself what kind of thing you should be looking at.

Put it this way, I'm currently saving up a bit so I can upgrade to the Vestax A3's (if they're out when I have moolah) and the Pioneer DJM-600 mixer. Together, this lot will cost about Ł1400. So, if you want my opinion on what to get for Ł1400, get that!!

Finally, remember that I've worked out the money thing here purely by the individual costs. I've not accounted for places doing packages at all. So you might, and probably will find things cheaper than I've just written. Just look through this page, and the reviews page, and hopefully you'll find what you're looking for.

Also remember that I've not included prices for headphones, cables, needles and carts, slip-mats and stuff in here - just the cost price of the decks and the mixer. If you speak nicely to the people you're buying from, they should throw in a few of these things when you buy - but if they don't, remember to allow for the price of the little extras in there.

Remember to take a look at these two stores below when looking through prices. In my view, the best two places in Britain to shop.

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