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Buying a Used DJ Mixer: What to Check

A fair price for a DJ mixer in good condition is around £39 to £228 (approximately $52 to $304), against £60 to £350 across the full condition range. Mixers are judged on the faders and crossfader, since those take constant use and are what fail.

What a fair price looks like

Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.

ConditionTypicalWhat it means
New with Tags£350 (~$466)Unused, tags or seals intact
Like New£298 (~$396)Barely used, no visible wear
Good£228 (~$303)Light signs of use, complete and working
Fair£158 (~$210)Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part
For Parts£88 (~$117)Not working or incomplete, sold as seen

Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.

The checklist before you pay

Neck and truss-rod problems on stringed instruments, and undisclosed repairs — especially a repaired headstock break, which permanently changes what an instrument is worth.

Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a DJ mixer is worth what is being asked:

  • Worn crossfaders with dead spots
  • Crackling channel faders and pots
  • Failed inputs or outputs
  • Discontinued models with no spares

And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:

  • Recognised DJ brands with parts available
  • Crossfaders with no dead zones
  • Clean channel faders with no crackle
  • All inputs and outputs working

Common faults and fakes

Counterfeits of premium guitars exist and usually show in the headstock shape, the logo decal and the serial format.

Ask for the serial number and where it was made, whether anything has ever been repaired or replaced, and for a photograph sighting down the neck from the headstock.

WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.

Questions to ask the seller

These are the three that get asked most often about a DJ mixer, and the answers tell you most of what you need:

“Does the crossfader bleed?”

Run it fully to each side and listen for signal leaking through. Bleed is the standard wear point and buyers test it first.

“Do all channels work?”

Test each one individually with a source. A dead channel halves the mixer’s usefulness and must be disclosed.

“Is the crossfader replaceable?”

Check whether it is a cartridge type. Replaceable faders mean the mixer can be refreshed cheaply, which buyers value.

Also worth establishing before you commit:

  1. Run every fader through its full travel
  2. Test every input and output
  3. Sweep the EQ pots listening for crackle

Photographs to ask for

If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:

  1. The mixer from directly above, whole surface
  2. The crossfader and channel faders close up
  3. The rear panel showing all inputs and outputs
  4. Any worn label, bent knob or damaged socket

Details to confirm before you commit

  • Brand, model and number of channels
  • Input and output types, including phono, line, XLR and USB
  • Whether it has built-in effects and a sound card
  • Crossfader type, and the condition of all faders and pots

Live DJ mixer listings

Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse music & instruments for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.

When to buy

Steady with a Christmas lift. Recognised club-standard mixers hold value well.

Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.

Paying and collecting safely

WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.

Selling one instead?

If you already have a DJ mixer sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell DJ mixer for what to photograph and how to price, or what DJ mixer is worth at each condition grade.

Frequently asked questions

What should I pay for a used DJ mixer?

Around £39 to £228 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.

How do I check a DJ mixer before buying?

Ask for the serial number and where it was made, whether anything has ever been repaired or replaced, and for a photograph sighting down the neck from the headstock.

Is buying a DJ mixer second hand safe?

Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Neck and truss-rod problems on stringed instruments, and undisclosed repairs — especially a repaired headstock break, which permanently changes what an instrument is worth.

See also: all buying guides · DJ mixer value guide · selling DJ mixer · Music & Instruments · condition grades.