Head to head
XDJ-RX3 vs. Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3
Both are DJ controllers in the same price bracket (over €600) — which is why you genuinely hesitate between them. Here is what our register says about both, side by side, including what speaks against them.
Pioneer DJ
XDJ-RX3
over €600
Two players and a mixer in one housing with a large touchscreen — plays rekordbox libraries from a USB stick, no laptop.
For
- Standalone: plug in a USB stick, no computer needed
- Operates like a CDJ and DJM
- Large touchscreen with waveforms
Against
- Considerably more expensive than any controller
- Two decks, no four-channel mixer
Native Instruments
Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3
over €600
Four channels and motorised jog wheels with Haptic Drive — no longer available new, second-hand the Traktor flagship.
For
- Haptic Drive: motorised jog wheels with cue points you can feel
- Four channels, inputs for turntables and external players
- Traktor Pro included
Against
- Big and heavy
- Traktor only — no rekordbox, no Serato
- No longer available new — Native Instruments no longer lists the S range
Where it says “Ad” we earn a commission if you buy through the link — on the other routes we earn nothing. Either way you pay the same price, and it changes nothing about our recommendation. How we handle this
The key facts side by side
| Feature | XDJ-RX3 | Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Pioneer DJ | Native Instruments |
| Price bracket | over €600 | over €600 |
| Our classification | Step up | Step up |
| Meant for | Controller setup | Laptop only, Controller setup |
Technical specifications from the manuals
Every value taken word for word from that device’s manufacturer manual, with the PDF page. A dash means there is no clear value in the manual — not that the device lacks it.
| Feature | XDJ-RX3 | Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3 |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | no clear value in the manual | 4 mixer channels (A, B, C, D)p. 25 |
| Jog wheel | no clear value in the manual | Haptic Drive, 3 modes; spins in TT modep. 8 |
| Inputs | 2 × PHONO (RCA), 2 × LINE (RCA), AUX (RCA, 3.5 mm)p. 129 | External sources on all 4 channels, PHONO on A and Bp. 27 |
| Outputs | MASTER1 (XLR), MASTER2 (RCA), BOOTH (1/4″ TRS)p. 129 | MAIN OUT (balanced XLR, RCA), BOOTH OUT (6.3 mm)p. 29 |
| Headphone output | 1/4″ stereo jack and 3.5 mm stereo mini jackp. 129 | PHONES OUT 6.3 mm and 3.5 mm (1 or 2 headphones)p. 29 |
| Microphone input | 2 × XLR and 1/4″ TRSp. 129 | 2 (channels C and D), MIC D as XLR jack on the frontp. 84 |
| USB | 2 × USB-A (5 V / 1 A or less), 1 × USB-Bp. 129 | USB port (computer) and USB hub portp. 30 |
| Audio resolution | 24-bit / 44.1 kHzp. 128 | 24-bit / 96 kHzp. 5 |
| Power supply | no clear value in the manual | Included Native Instruments power supplyp. 30 |
| Power consumption | 54 W (standby 0.3 W)p. 128 | no clear value in the manual |
| Dimensions | 728.1 x 118.4 x 469.5 mm (W x H x D)p. 128 | no clear value in the manual |
| Weight | 9.3 kgp. 128 | no clear value in the manual |
Sources: XDJ-RX3: XDJ-RX3 — Bedienungsanleitung (AlphaTheta Corporation) · Traktor Kontrol S4 MK3: TRAKTOR KONTROL S4 MK3 — Handbuch (Native Instruments)
Where they differ
- They suit different paths — someone starting with vinyl needs a different device than someone on a controller.
- Different manufacturers, so different software ecosystems, spare parts and control logic. If you already own gear from one brand, that is a reason in itself.
We deliberately crown no winner here. What we can back up is above; anything else would be a claim, and there are plenty of those on this question already.
More comparisons: DJ controllers
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