Best new standalone DJ controller 2024: AlphaTheta Omnis Duo
As 2024 draws to a close and we look ahead to 2025, we’re bringing you our picks of the best new gear this year, from synths to DJ mixers.
Winner: AlphaTheta Omnis Duo
The AlphaTheta Omnis Duo sits in a category which didn’t really exist just a few years ago. Standalone controllers have always meant there’s no laptop required, but solutions like the Denon Prime Go and now the Omnis Duo take things to the next level in terms of portability. Compact proportions and a built-in lithium ion battery make the Omnis a genuinely go-anywhere solution.
The truly standalone, wireless approach of the Omnis Duo extends to its Bluetooth connectivity, often an afterthought at best on DJ hardware, but cleverly integrated here. Activating a smart option called Input Playback allows you to record up to 10 minutes of audio into the Omnis Duo, which can then be played back as though it were a track loaded from your Rekordbox library.
It doesn’t do any harm that the Omnis Duo draws on AlphaTheta’s stylish new design language, softly finished in dark blue with a minimalist look reflecting the streamlined approach to performance. The portability benefits of the Omnis Duo hint at the likely uses of this controller in terms of playing house parties, impromptu sets in any location, and possibly video streaming, where the striking looks of the unit are sure to look impressive.
The fact that the Omnis Duo was released alongside the Wave Eight wireless speaker system is no coincidence. Bluetooth audio has always come with the unavoidable issue of latency – time lag between playback and hearing the sound – but the battery-powered Wave Eight offers lag-free wireless playback, meaning that the Omnis Duo can be part of a fully wireless system for performance any time, any place.
More info/buyRunner Up: Rane Performer
Essentially a more advanced version of the Rane Four, the new Performer took over as Rane’s flagship controller. Designed for seamless integration with Serato and its Stems functions, it now features motorised vinyl-style platters, upgraded channel fader and crossfader tension control options, plus all-new channel effects taken from the brand’s flagship Seventy mixer.
More info/buy