Monitors for playing out

There are a few options.

1) Mixing everything in your cans. Personally I only like to even attempt this when controller/mixer have split cue option (generally speaking only a few controllers have this and quite a few mixers).
2) Same as above, but using in-ears so you can keep them in and use them as hearing protection at the same time.
3) A monitor speaker on stand. I personally believe that 1 should be enough. And clearly powered. There are various models and brands that have suitable stuff. I managed to buy a Numark NPM100 which is very compact and sits on a microphone stand, angled up and aimed at my ear. Loud enough (for my purpose anyway) and not too obvious for the crowd. Mackie has the SRM150 which has lots of stuff to set the monitor sound to your liking. And basically any 8″ or 10″ active PA speaker should do. Clearly you could use bigger, but I am no fan of that.

KRKs or any studio monitor should be kept there, in your “studio”. While they are all called monitors, the job of a studio monitor or playback monitor while practicing DJ-ing is significantly different from that which you need at a gig in a live environment. It needs to be louder, no problem if it’s a bit colored in sound, should have option for stand attachment and have a grille in front of your cones.

Just my three cents.

Go for it – a monitor will make all the difference. We keep several pairs of cheaper end active 12s on hire stock so I normally just grab one of them and go. In other words cheap used to be appalling but there is some really reasonable good gear round these days that you don’t have to pay silly money for – remember the law of diminishing returns.