By Mike "Jabs" JaballahFounder and Director. Location Sound Recordist. CASA Licensed Drone Pilot.
The difference between the CDJ 2000 NXS2 and the CDJ 3000 is speed, screen and media. The CDJ-3000 loads faster, has a bigger 9 inch screen, eight hot cue buttons and key shift. The CDJ-2000NXS2 is the last flagship CDJ that still plays CDs.
Any DJ who plays one can play the other. Book the 3000s when the rider asks for them. Our NXS2 console starts at $420 per day.
What changed from the NXS2 to the CDJ-3000?
Pioneer DJ released the CDJ-2000NXS2 in 2016 and replaced it with the CDJ-3000 in late 2020. The layout carries over, so nobody gets lost moving between them. These are the changes a DJ will notice.
- Screen: The NXS2 has a 7 inch colour touchscreen. The 3000 goes to 9 inches, with a sharper, brighter display.
- Speed: The 3000 was the first CDJ with its own MPU, a dedicated processor. Tracks load and browse noticeably faster.
- Hot cues: Both players hold eight hot cues. The NXS2 gets there with four buttons across two banks. The 3000 puts all eight on their own buttons under the screen, plus more loop and beat jump buttons.
- Key: Key shift and key sync arrived with the 3000. The NXS2 doesn't have them.
- Jog wheel: The 3000 has a redesigned jog with an LCD in the middle showing the artwork and playhead position.
- Media: The NXS2 plays CDs, USB and SD cards. The 3000 dropped the disc drive and plays USB and SD.
- Linking: Both use Pro DJ Link. The NXS2 links up to four players. The 3000 links up to six over Gigabit Ethernet with a six channel mixer.
One thing that didn't change: both play lossless FLAC and ALAC files. Plenty of comparisons sell lossless as a 3000 upgrade. The NXS2 already did it in 2016. Pioneer's own launch notes for the CDJ-2000NXS2 and the CDJ-3000 have the full spec lists.
Which CDJ 2000 are you looking at?
There are three CDJ 2000 models, and venues mix them up all the time. The original CDJ-2000 came out in 2009, the CDJ-2000NXS (Nexus) in 2012 and the CDJ-2000NXS2 (Nexus 2) in 2016. The Nexus 2 is the one with the 7 inch touchscreen and lossless playback. If a venue tells your DJ it has "CDJ 2000s", ask which ones. The players in our hire fleet are the Nexus 2.
Which one should you book for your gig?
Book what the DJ asks for. Riders name a player for a reason, and a DJ who preps on 3000s will want 3000s in the booth. If there's no rider, or a lineup of DJs who'll play whatever's set up, the NXS2 does the job.
The Pioneer DJ NXS2 Console is two CDJ-2000NXS2s and a DJM 900 NXS2, from $420 per day. It suits venue nights, private parties, activations and touring setups that already have a PA sorted.
The Pioneer CDJ 3000 DJM A9 Console is two CDJ-3000s and a DJM A9. It's the one for nightclub riders, touring DJs and brand activations where the DJ setup is on show.
Both are console only. There are no speakers in the case, so add a PA if the console is the main sound for the room. Each one also comes as a ready to go package with speakers: the Pro DJ NXS2 PA Package and the CDJ 3000 DJM A9 PA Package.
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Pioneer DJ NXS2 Console
Two CDJ-2000NXS2s and a DJM 900 NXS2. The classic club layout.
Hire it
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Pioneer CDJ 3000 DJM A9 Console
Two CDJ-3000s and a DJM A9. For the current rider.
Hire it
How many CDJs do you need?
Two players is the standard booth, and it's what both our consoles include. DJs add a third or fourth player to layer tracks, run longer blends or get the next track ready while two decks are in use. Both the DJM 900 NXS2 and the DJM A9 are four channel mixers, so there's room for four players. Add extra decks from the CDJ-3000 or CDJ-2000NXS2 hire pages, and match them to the console so every deck behaves the same.
Where does the CDJ-3000X fit?
The CDJ-3000X is the newest flagship, released by AlphaTheta (Pioneer DJ's parent company) in September 2025. It adds a 10.1 inch screen, built in WiFi, streaming from Beatport and Tidal, and a USB-C port. It also drops the SD card slot. AlphaTheta's CDJ-3000X announcement has the details. We hire the CDJ-3000, not the X. The controls are close enough that a DJ who knows one can play the other. For the rest of the range, see our Pioneer DJ equipment hire guide.
Common questions
Is the CDJ-3000 discontinued?
Yes. Retailers now list the CDJ-3000 as discontinued, and the CDJ-3000X has taken over as the flagship. It's still one of the most common players in club booths, so you'll keep finding it at gigs.
Why is the CDJ-3000 so expensive?
It's a flagship player built to run in clubs every night, with its own processor, a 9 inch HD screen and a heavy duty jog wheel. A booth needs two players and a mixer, which is why most one off events hire a console instead of buying one.
Which Pioneer CDJ is considered the best?
The CDJ-3000X is the newest and has the most features. The CDJ-3000 is the most common in club booths right now. The CDJ-2000NXS2 is still in plenty of venues and is the one to pick if your DJ plays CDs. For a gig, pick the one your DJ plays on.
Do the DJ consoles come with speakers?
No. Both consoles are two players and a mixer only. Add a PA package or speakers if the console is the main sound system.
Hire the gear
Pick the console, add a PA if the room needs one and book your dates online. Pick up from Footscray or ask about metro delivery.
