Before I get into this, I know Denon have just released an all singing all dancing deck, but I've not seen it, haven't had a chance to use it, but when I do, I'll update - so PLEASE stop asking.

To start with, if you can manage to get Technics or Vestax, then get them! You really can't go wrong, you'll only end up wanting them after a couple of years using inferior stuff anyway!! The reason Technics have been the dominant deck for so long is becasue they are built SOOOOOOO well. They just won't break on you (much). Time will tell with the Vestax A* range.

But, if you can't get them, then a step down from them is the Gemini PT-2*00's (The * is coz there's a 2000, 2100 and 2400 (plus more by the time you read this probably). They are only just not as good as Technics, and if you get them, the only thing that will make you want to upgrade to Technics is the fact that you want the best. They run about £500 for a pair. (there is now a Mark II version of this deck, which is about £60 a pair more expensive - the big ad on here is that there is pitch bend on it - and a reverse play)

Next down the list are the Numark TT-2's. They are the step up from the TT-1's which were out last year, the main improvement being the tone-arm on them is a lot more solid and stable - less likely to feedback. There's been varying reports about these though, that the motor has problems, that the chassis can't handle the backwards and hi pitch settings - which makes them feedback something wrotten. I've still not had a chance to demo the TT-2's, so I'm not able to advise. Some people swear by them, some people say theys suck - get a demo and judge for yourself. The TT-2's are (as I said) very similar to the TT-1's. There's a couple of extra add-ons on the TT-1 and TT-2 which make them more attractive to some than the Gemini's above - a reverse play, and a digital pitch readout (which doesn't do anything other than inform you of the speed the deck is turning - not the BPM of the tune). They are really nice, have HUGE amounts of power to the deck, and run at the same cost as the Gemini's above.

Next down is the Gemini PT-1000's and the Numark TT-100's. The main difference between these and the 2000's / TT-1, TT-2 are that they don't have a height adjustable tone-arm. If you're not planning on scratching, or using them to play live, then this shouldn't be a problem. These run at about £400 a pair). The Gemini 1000 has a Mark II version, which had a pitch bend on it. (about £460 a pair)

Then we get into the family of decks that are all basically the same. Things like Citronic's PD-1, Gemini XL-600 are the leaders of this group, with the XL-500, the SoundLab DLP-32, Kam DD deck, Numark TT-1910 American Dj etc direct drive decks all falling in to the £170 a deck mark (give or take £20). This lot are good for the beginner who just wants to beat-mix, but not much else. We start to get into reliability problems here when it comes to things like the ability to hold their pitch settings and the power (torque) or the deck. If you're really strapped for cash, really dying to start Dj'ing, and are willing to compromise with the knowledge that if you really get into the Dj'ing game, and want to do a lot more, then you'll be upgrading in a couple of years, then these decks are a nice option.

There is another set of decks in and around this range, but I've not had a demo of this particular one yet, so can only go on the specs of it, and on the things people have said about them. The one in particular (pictured right) is the Stanton STR68 (I think). The big thing about these chaps is that they have the straight tone-arm which has been pioneered by Vestax. Which is a very good thing. What worries me though is its application. See, this special tone-arm is built for the scratch artists amongst you, it helps to (almost) eliminate the needle jump which can piss you off during a monster scratch. The thing is though, that the power to the Stanton deck is only 1Kg per cm2, compared to Technics 1.5 and Numarks 2Kg. This means it's not the most powerful deck in the world, so will probably (and so I'm told) fall down in the Scratching side of life. Kinda like getting a Ferrari with all the trimmings, then putting the engine from a Ford Escort inside it.

Then we get into the Belt Driven range. For all the good these decks are, you might as well get a sewing needle and drag that round the record while humming a tune. Belt Driven decks are aimed towards people who get carried away with the idea of becoming a Dj, and think with their wallets instead of their brains. Do not go the way of the belt-drive, it only leads to anger and hatred....young Skywalker.

As for mixers, it gets a bit harder to run through them in the same sense I just did with the decks.

You get your basic ones like the Gemini PMX-20/40 or 60 the Soundlab DSM1 + 15, Kams KMX-100, Citronic's CDM-3:2, Numark's Blue Dog etc. which are all really cheap and don't have much on them except a pretty colour scheme and if you're lucky, a cross fader! Normally only setting you back about £80, these guys are all very good for starting out, when you want to spend more money on your decks, and just make sure you have a mixer to learn with (which I recommend if you're on a tight budget) but you'll only end up wanting to upgrade it the moment you learn how to beat-match anyway.

Next is the basic, but a lot better style mixer, which the main improvement is the fact that they have EQ's on them. Numarks Dm-1001, Gemini's PMX-80, 140, PS-525, Citronic's CDM-7:2, Soundlabs DSM-30 etc are all in here. They might be the better choice for the first mixer as they will last you a lot longer than the other ones I mentioned because of the Eq that they have - and they'll only be about £30 more than the other ones. They're still basic, but they will last you longer.

Next up is the semi-pro/amateur league mixers which have a lot more functionality to them - normally in the form of an extra channel, kill switches, cross fader curve adjusts, transform buttons, gain controls and readouts, and better looking!!

In this pile, live mixers like Citronic's MSX-1, Kams BPM-Jnr, Gemini's PS-626, KL-10, BPM-150, Numarks DM-1002, DM-2002, 2000X etc. Normally running at costs from £130-about £190, this lot will last you a lot longer than the others as there's only things like Samplers, BPM counters, extra channels, better cross fader curves, better audio quality, effects etc that will make you want to upgrade the unit. I've seen clubs using things like the PS-626 - it's definitely the choice if you have a little more money to blow.

It now gets hard to split the rest of it up. Everything that's left comes down to a personal choice on what mixer you like the best. Most of them now have four channels, and full Eq's, Gain controls etc. What I'll do is mention a few of them, then go onto my choice of mixer if I was in heaven.

I've been leaving the Vestax range out up until now. Why? Don't know - I just think that paying £140 for a basic two channel mixer is a bit out there when I'm talking about what to get when you're starting. They are better for the scratch side of life, but I don't know anything about that - so I didn't mention it.

Their PMC-17a is a really nice unit. 3 channels, full eq on each channel, and gain controls, replaceable line faders (which not many mixers have the ability to do) a send and return (so you can use an external effects unit) and a really cool look to it, makes this a really nice mixer. I've used it once, and really liked it. £270

Or, if you've got a little more money, and want an extra channel, you could look at the PMC-15a by Vestax. Basically the same except for the fact that the EQ's go to a 24dB cut, an assignable cross-fader and again, a nice look make this nice. The one thing it doesn't seem to have is the Send and Return that the 17a has. But, if you want the extra channel, and don't need the effects opportunities, then it's nice unit.

Numark do the Dm-1200 which is alright, but there's no Eq's on each of the channels - they go for a sweeping EQ of the whole system - which can make mixing sound a bit messy at times - but if you don't think you need it, and you want four channels, then you can get this four channel mixer (3 phono) for £230.

The Dm-1720X that they make is basically the same, but it's got the dedicated EQ to each channel this time - making it a far better choice (in my mind). I've used this one quite alot, and I like it!! This one is only £50 more than the 1200, so it's probably the better option.

Gemini do a whole range of four channel mixers. from the Ps-646 which is the same as the 626 but has an extra channel, the PS-700, 800 (same but has shitty effects) 900 (same as 700 but has a sampler) and the Ps-1000. All this lot have varying differences to why they are....different. But Gemini make some nice products. Personally, I like the PS-1000 because of the signal level display that's next to each of the channels - no button pressing to find it. If you prefer the longer mixers rather than the higher ones, then the PS-700 is just as good - except it's a split display on the main LED's to check the levels.

But, Gemini also do a BPM countered range for most of these models mentioned. The mixers' the same, but it has BPM counters. The only thing I don't like about the counters built into most mixers is that they only go to whole numbers. I prefer things like Reds Micro BPM counter which goes to the decimal point. The difference that the unseen half a BPM can make when using the Gemini counters can be huge (especially if your mixes last more than 20 seconds).

Anyway, the prices for the basic mixers sit at around the £250 mark, with the BPM versions sitting at about the £300 mark.

Citronic make the Pro-10 and the CDM-10:4-2 both of which are four channels. The Pro-10 just looks shit though. Sorry to say it, but it does. It looks like it's been make out of plastic. The CDM one has lots of pretty buttons to press. Shit, sorry - I've never used these mixers, so apart from looking at pretty photo's of them, I don't have a clue about them. £280 - £300.

And now (finally) we get to the big-guns when it comes to mixers. These two are the ones I'd choose if given the opportunity.

The first is the Pioneer DJM500/600. This mixer is fantastic, the sound from it is great, the controls are big, and spaced apart - so you don't hit the wrong thing, the built in counters are great, the effects amazing, there's no wonder why this is one of the industry standard mixers. The only thing I don't like about the DJM-500 is the headphone controls. Basically, the problem I have with is that there isn't a headphone mix.

I still monitor using the conventional single ear method (one ear with the headphone on, other ear hearing the live sound) but I like to be able to bleed the live sound into the headphone slightly so I can check for sure that the beats are matched. So, everytime I've used the 500, I've had to re-learn how to monitor. It's not a huge problem, but I'd rather not. Good thing is though, the DJM 600 has sussed this problem, and has the headphone mix (thanks to EVERYONE who wrote to tell me that when I had it wrong up here)

So, finally we have my choice of mixer. And it's the one I've just bought - the Pioneer DJM600. As far as mixers go - it's the DOGS BOLLOCKS MATE!! I'll give you a proper review of it once it's arrived and I've sussed the things I didn't know it could do.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed that - my fingers hurt.