If there is one thing we are fans of here at The DJs Guru, it’s making DJs’ lives easier. Because of this, it’s pretty easy to see why we spend a lot of time talking about battery-powered event gear. DJ speakers, mixers, and even lights with built-in batteries can make load-ins easier and turn previously difficult situations into a breeze. More and more battery-powered gear is available every year – today, we are going to break down some of our favorites. We’ll share with you some product highlights, what we like, and what situations we think each item is best for. And of course, if you want to pick anything on this list up, make sure to head over to djsupplystore.com.
Battery-Powered Event Gear – Speakers
Maui 5 Go
Starting off our list is the Maui 5 Go, a portable column array system powered entirely off of a powerful 3200 mAh battery. With column arrays taking the DJ world by storm the past few years, the Maui 5 Go has a lot of positives – a beautiful aesthetic, full sound, and 12 hours of run time. To top it all off, it weighs only 28 lbs, making transport easy for anyone. It has a respectable 50-20,000 Hz frequency response, even with its 8″ woofer.
Best applications: Wedding ceremonies, cocktail hour, simple background PA, solo musicians.
JBL Eon One Compact
If you prefer a more traditional speaker design then the JBL Eon One is also a fantastic battery-powered option. The Eon One is super feature-packed and easy to use for DJs and non-DJs alike. For example, effects and presets can be easily adjusted via an app – no need to fiddle with knobs and buttons if you don’t want to. One of those effects is automatic “ducking,” which automatically lowers the speaker’s volume whenever someone is speaking (a very handy feature for fitness instructors). If you need to expand your sound or add some volume, you can stream via Bluetooth to not one, but up to four Eon Ones simultaneously.
Best applications: Simple PA solutions, cocktail hour, musicians, fitness instructors
Battery-Powered Event Gear – Lights
Ape Labs Can SE
The Ape Labs Can SE is a battery-powered uplight, but you won’t mistake it for any old uplight. Its unique, tall design and light profile are one-of-a-kind and sure to turn heads. Instead of the same old beam of lighting, the Can SE projects “wall art” uplighting that is both interesting and impactful. The Can SE comes with multiple lenses, allowing DJs to change up the light depending on their personal taste or the event requirements. The lights only weigh a pound and have wireless control built-in – no need to mess with bulky controllers or cables. The RGBW creates a wide, rich color palette. Did we mention they’re also water-resistant?
Best applications: Uplighting, wash lighting, effect lighting
Click here to check out our overview of all of Ape Labs products, including the Can SE
JMaz Aero Spot/Beam 60
A battery-powered moving head?! Yes, we’re not joking. The JMaz Aero Spot (or Aero Beam) 60 are powerful, portable moving heads that pack a punch. Other battery-powered moving heads are small, underpowered, and wimpy. The Aero 60 moving heads are anything but – each contains a 60 watt LED able to run for up to 8 hours. DJs are no longer limited to putting their lights on totems or trusting. Battery power allows you to be creative with your lighting placement! JMaz didn’t cut any corners with these lights; the Spot 60 has a 7+1 color wheel, a rotating 6 gobo wheel, and even a rotating prism.
Best applications: School dances, corporate events, weddings, private functions
Battery-powered event gear – Mixers and Audio
Denon DJ Prime Go
If you truly want to take your DJ performance on the go, the Prime Go from Denon will allow you to do so. This is a full-feature, professional controller that’s jam-packed with all the features a DJ would expect. A 7-inch touchscreen makes navigating your library and building a playlist easy. USB and SD card inputs (along with wireless streaming) give DJs options when it comes to playback. You can even record your sets directly to one of those media options if you want! In addition to the unique features like a battery capable of 4 hours of performance, you’ll find welcome standard tech like XLR mic inputs, touch-capacitive jog wheels, performance pads, and booth outputs.
Best applications: DJing on the go, backup controller, all-in-one DJing
Click here to check out our full review of the Denon DJ Prime Go
XVive U3 Wireless Audio Transmitter
Having all this battery-powered DJ gear is great, but your setup won’t be truly wireless unless you can transmit your audio without cables. That’s where the Xvive U3 comes in. The U3 can be used in a few different scenarios. Want to make your existing microphone wireless? Just pop the XLR transmitter in the bottom and you’re good to go. Want to send audio from your mixer to your speaker? Boom, one step, and you’re done. Need to send sound from one speaker to a satellite speaker? It’s no problem with the U3.
This 2.4GHz wireless system can last up to 5 hours on a single charge and transmit up to 90 feet. Latency is minimal, coming in at only 5ms. DJs have been jerry-rigging mic body packs to do these tasks for years. With the XVive U3, you have a device dedicated to sending pristine audio from one place to another.
Best applications: Long speaker runs, making microphones wireless
Click here to check out our full review of the XVive U3
Final thoughts
There have been some huge advances in battery tech over the past few years. These advances have made portable DJ gear more powerful, portable, and easy to use. From speakers to lights, battery-powered event gear makes our lives as DJs easier. Whether you’re looking to shorten your setup time or take your performances to new and remote places, battery-powered gear will help you get it done.
Click here to check out all of the gear mentioned in this article
