Pioneer is a brand that most budding DJs will know and their Pioneer DJ range provides affordable products to get you started. This is not the first of their range we have reviewed as we have tested out Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1 Bluetooth headphones.
The DM-40 BT compact bookshelf speakers aim to be more than just a DJ speaker in fact you can use these all day long.
Build/Design
The DM-40 BT speakers are traditional in the way they look being a pair of vinyl-covered wooden black boxes with rounded edges and moulded plastic on the front and metal backplates. They are available in either black or white.
The DM-40 BT come with 4-inch woofers and is paired with a 1-inch tweeter. The left speaker is known as the primary speaker as this is the speaker which houses all the ports and switches for example:
- RCA Input
- 1/8 inch minijack input
- Power supply & on/off switch
- Ports for attaching a bell wire-style speaker cable to the secondary speaker.
- Volume control is positioned on the front and a white LED is to indicate when power is on.
- 1/8 input for wired headphone use
Setting up the DM-40 BT is really easy simply position them in the room, connect the speaker power cable and connect a source and bingo you are ready to get the music playing.
You will also see a switch marked DJ and Production modes. In producer mode, you’re getting the best attempt the speakers can offer in a flat-frequency response. This offers clarity in the bass and clear mids and highs. Switch over to DJ mode and the bass is deeper and the mids reined in to provide a more impressive sound however it does impact a little of the transparency.
This mode is great when having a play on the decks but if you want to get more serious and produce some music having a flatter frequency is preferred but make sure the positioning of the speaker has greater importance.
Overall, the design looks very professional with that crescent diffuser moulded just below the tweeter. The diffuser is practical as it helps direct the high frequencies around the bass driver. The DM-40 BT also have a front-mounted bass port which helps deliver the bass lower moving more air as a result.
Connectivity
The DM-40 BT speakers feature a pair of unbalanced RCA and 1/8th inch AUX input. Using the RCA to AUX cable allows you to connect to a range of devices such as a computer, tablet or decks.
Having these connection options is great if you have cheaper equipment as the DM-40 BT doesn’t feature any balanced connections this is completely fine considering the cost of these bookshelf speakers.
The DM-40 BT also comes with an internal Bluetooth receiver for music playback. Now you will find they are capable of streaming music in the following codecs:
- SBC
- AAC
- Qualcomm aptX
- Qualcomm aptX Low latency
It is worth noticing if using the Bluetooth connection is more for casual listening. If you want to DJ with them don’t use the Bluetooth connection as you will suffer from poor latency and large lag. There is also a slight issue if you are using them to DJ, someone else with a Bluetooth connection to them such as a family member could play over your DJ set which is very annoying.
Sound Quality
When you consider the £150 price tag they sound great they offer a full sound with a deep bass that punches harder than the footprint that takes up. The included convex diffusers use DECO technology that helps spread the high frequencies. Ensuring a wide and even coverage is around the room reducing the need to be positioned directly in front of the speaker to achieve the best listening experience.
The Speakers as you might expect come with a bass-heavy EQ perfect for mixing or production work. The inclusion of the AB amplifier inside the left speaker allows both to run at 21 watts. This allows the volume to be loud without being to much and even at loud levels not impacting the sound.
What makes these speakers stand apart is the DJ/Producer switch which in DJ mode the bass has more punch but when switched over to producer mode this provides a flatter frequency mode which is better. I would also suggest getting some speaker wedges to angle the speakers to enhance the sound even more as any budding DJ will know speakers on a flat surface are not ideal as it prevents the treble from being pointed directly towards your ears.
Verdict
The Pioneer DJ DM-40 BT are a great pair of budget-friendly bookshelf speakers they are not quite as good as an entry-level monitor speaker but with the ease of use and set up and without hitting the wallet they are an excellent purchase.
What makes these stand out is that the DJ/Producer switch is nice to have and will aid any budding DJs but if you were to set the switch you could in theory just forget about it.
Overall, these are a great pair of speakers that is ideal for a bedroom DJ wanting to escape the old-school laptop speaker. The inclusion of Bluetooth makes these even more suitable so if you want to be the next DJ Luck check these out.
Product Rating
Design/Build: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Connectivity: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Sound Quality: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Value for Money: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Overall ranking: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars – 4.5 stars
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