Denon DJ Prime Go: A Battery Standalone for Your Backpack
· re:union Radio editorial · 3 min read
Denon DJ Prime Go: two decks, a 7-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi streaming and up to 4 hours of battery. Full specs, connections and what the Prime Go+ changes.
The Denon DJ Prime Go fits a complete standalone system into 411 × 274 × 53 millimetres: two decks, a 7-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi streaming and a lithium-ion battery good for up to four hours. Denon DJ unveiled it in January 2020 alongside the Prime 2. No laptop, no power socket – you can play in the park, at the afterparty or use it as a club backup.
At a glance
- Standalone console with 2 decks and Engine OS, no computer needed
- Built-in battery for up to 4 hours of use
- 7-inch HD multi-touch display, Wi-Fi and Ethernet for streaming
- Two mic channels, balanced XLR master and booth outputs
A club setup in backpack format
Denon DJ sums up the concept in four words:
“Prepare, Perform, Back-Up & Backpack!”
— Denon DJ, Prime Go product page
At its core sits a multi-core processor running Engine OS. Your music comes from a USB drive or SD card, or over Wi-Fi from Beatport LINK, Beatsource LINK, SoundCloud GO+ and TIDAL. Dropbox gives you remote access to your own collection. You can record directly to the connected USB or SD media.
DJ TechTools places the Prime Go as the smallest model of the Prime family, below the Prime 4 and Prime 2 – at 16 inches wide it is even more compact than a Pioneer DDJ-400.
Controls: small but complete
The capacitive jog wheels measure just 3.1 inches according to DJ TechTools, the pitch faders 100 mm. Each deck has four pads with a bank switch, giving you eight slots for hot cues, loops and loop rolls. EQ and gain run horizontally to make room for the display.
For effects there is an assignable Beat FX module plus a Sweep FX knob per channel with filter or echo. Digital DJ Tips highlights the dub echo in the channel filters, inherited from the larger Prime mixers. Timestretch and Key Shift open the door to open-format sets. DJ TechTools notes that Slicer mode, Censor and Slip are missing.
Technical specifications
| Decks / channels | 2 |
|---|---|
| Display | 7-inch HD multi-touch |
| Power | Lithium-ion battery (up to 4 hours), power supply 19 V / 3.42 A |
| Power consumption | 30 W maximum |
| Audio quality | 24-bit / 44.1 kHz |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±1 dB) |
| Dynamic range | > 109 dB (A-weighted) |
| Master outputs | 2 × XLR balanced, 1 × RCA pair |
| Booth output | 2 × 1/4" (6.35 mm) balanced |
| Headphones | 1/4" (6.35 mm) and 1/8" (3.5 mm) |
| Inputs | 2 × XLR/1/4" (mic), 1 × RCA (aux) |
| Media and network | USB, SD card, USB to computer, Ethernet, Wi-Fi |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 411 × 274 × 53 mm |
| Weight | 3.68 kg |
Who the Prime Go is for
The manufacturer's specs point to clear use cases: preparing sets on the move, acting as a fully featured backup for larger events, or outdoor and mobile gigs without mains power. Two independently controlled mic channels – mic 1 with talkover – also make it relevant for weddings and announcements.
If you need bigger jog wheels and four channels, the Denon DJ SC LIVE 4 is the closer fit. Whether standalone, controller or CDJ suits you best is covered in DJ controller vs. CDJs: which is better for you?
The successor: Prime Go+
Denon DJ now offers the Prime Go+. It adds Bluetooth in and out plus Apple Music and Amazon Music Unlimited, but drops the Ethernet port. According to the manufacturer, the battery delivers 25 percent more than the Prime Go; dimensions and weight stay the same.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Denon Prime Go battery last?
Denon DJ quotes up to four hours from the built-in lithium-ion battery.
How heavy is the Prime Go?
Without USB and power cables it weighs 3.68 kg at 411 × 274 × 53 mm.
Does the Prime Go have a microphone input?
Yes, two: combo XLR/1/4" jacks with their own level controls.
Source: Denon DJ – Prime Go, Denon DJ – Prime Go+, DJ TechTools, Digital DJ Tips, DJWORX
