Read our in-depth, editorial review of the Denon DJ Prime 4 Plus. Discover everything about its groundbreaking standalone stem mixing, touchscreen controls, performance pads, effects, and hardware connectivity that make it a top-tier all-in-one DJ solution.

Denon DJ Prime 4 Plus Review: The Next Big Step in DJ Technology

Denon DJ continues to redefine the DJing landscape, and the new Prime 4 Plus is a landmark product packed with powerful, professional features. With standalone stem mixing, performance pads, and a 10-inch touchscreen, is the Prime 4 Plus the ultimate all-in-one controller for club, mobile, and home DJs? Here’s our editorial review of everything this unit has to offer.

Introduction: What Makes Prime 4 Plus Special?

The Prime 4 Plus is an evolution of Denon DJ’s popular Prime 4, now outfitted with features like:

Standalone stem mixing via Engine DJ OS
Improved jog wheels with central HD displays and RGB accents
Vivid, adjustable 10-inch touchscreen
Deep software updates and expanding feature set
Four-channel mixer emulating high-end club mixers

Standalone Stem Mixing: A Game-Changing Feature

Engine DJ OS introduces real-time stem separation directly on the device—a first for standalone DJ gear. After updating and activating stem mode on the touchscreen, you can isolate vocals, drums, and instruments from any track loaded onto a deck. This powerful feature is currently exclusive to the Prime 4 Plus, demonstrating its processing prowess.

How Do Stems Compare to Computer-Based DJ Software?

Stem isolation is easy to access and usable in a live DJ context.
Quality is competitive but not quite at the level of Serato DJ (which remains the benchmark for clean, artifact-free stems).
Engine DJ’s stem feature is rapidly evolving, promising future improvements.

Right now, think of stems as an extra tool in your arsenal rather than the sole basis for a polished, professional remix.

Jog Wheels & Performance Pads: Tactile Excellence

The Prime 4 Plus sports 6-inch capacitive jog wheels with matte finishes for superior grip, ideal for both scratching and beatmatching. RGB lighting around each platter visually indicates deck status, a feature borrowed from flagship media players.

Each deck includes 8 premium RGB performance pads, enabling hot cues, loops, rolls, slicer modes, and even sample bank access via simple pad commands.

Touch Effects

Swiping on the touchscreen enables instant buildups, drops, and transitions using one of ten onboard effects. This hands-on interaction streamlines creativity and makes live performance more dynamic.

Mixer Section: Pro-Grade Controls

The four-channel mixer is designed to mimic club-grade mixers, featuring:

3-band EQ and trim on each channel
Blue backlighting for visibility in dark booths
Sweep FX controls for quick access to filter, echo, wash, and noise effects
Crossfader with customizable curve settings

Above the mixer, effect selectors allow precise parameter adjustment across frequency, intensity, and type.

Touchscreen: Complete Control at Your Fingertips

The 10-inch adjustable touchscreen is the heart of the unit, making navigation, playlist creation, streaming, and performance effortless. Most DJ functions are available via touch, including accessing supported streaming platforms.

Supported services: TIDAL, Beatport, Beatsource, SoundCloud Go+, Dropbox, and more
Computer integration: Use the controller with Serato DJ Pro or Virtual DJ, with performance info displayed on screen

Connectivity: Ready for Any Venue

Prime 4 Plus delivers a wealth of professional-level input and output options:

Four USB inputs plus SD card slot for flexible media playback
Four line inputs for connecting external decks and devices
Dual XLR outputs for main and booth monitoring—club ready
RCA outputs for smaller setups

Build Quality and Design: Sleek, Future-Proof, and Reliable

Denon DJ spared no expense, blending high-grade materials, tight fit and finish, and a new, stylish exterior to ensure the Prime 4 Plus stands out—even in professional environments. RGB LEDs, streamlined layout, and thoughtful ergonomics cement its reputation as a next-generation controller.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Denon DJ Prime 4 Plus?

The Prime 4 Plus is the most fully-featured standalone controller to hit the market in recent years. If you need:

Real-time stem mixing on hardware
Touchscreen control for all software and streaming needs
Flawless jog wheels and performance pads
Comprehensive connectivity for any DJ environment
Constantly evolving features and updates via Engine DJ OS

…then this is the ultimate choice. While stem separation currently works best in Serato DJ on a computer, Prime 4 Plus’s hardware performance and creative tools open new possibilities for performers worldwide.