Rank #1 in Best DJ Controllers 2026: 10 Ranked, Three Whose Numbers Don't Add Up
Hercules DJControl Inpulse 300 MK2
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Hercules DJControl Inpulse 300 MK2 sits at number one in our guide to DJ controllers. It is a two-deck USB controller for Serato DJ Lite and DJUCED, listed at £174.00 and rated 4.5 out of 5 from 521 ratings.
The number worth looking at on this listing is not a wrong one, it is a misplaced one. The specification table gives "Number of Keys: 16" and a "Keyboard Description" for a piece of DJ hardware that has no keys. The 16 itself survives a check: the bullets claim 16 performance pads, eight per deck, and the spec field agrees. On the same page the five star levels are listed as 75, 15, 5, 2 and 3 — a set that adds up to 100, not to the 521 ratings the listing quotes, so read those as shares rather than counts.
Every figure on this page is taken from the Amazon listing for this product. We have not tested it ourselves.
How those 521 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.5 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £174.00 |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 out of 5, from 521 ratings |
| Star breakdown on the listing | 75, 15, 5, 2 and 3 across five, four, three, two and one star; adds to 100 |
| Performance pads | 16 total, 8 per deck |
| Number of Keys (as listed) | 16 |
| Item Weight (as listed) | 1.8 kg |
| Supported Software | DJUCED, Serato DJ Lite |
| Connectivity / Connector Type | USB |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“I've been using the Hercules DJControl Inpulse 300 MK2 for several months now, and it has significantly enhanced my DJing experience. The Beatmatch Guide is an invaluable feature, offering LED indicators that assist in manually syncing tracks, which is perfect for those learning the art of beatmatching.The 5.5-inch touch-sensitive jog wheels have a smooth rotation and a larger detection zone, making scratching and cueing more precise and enjoyable. The 16 performance pads are responsive and versatile, allowing for hot cues, loops, and samples across various modes.Compatibility with both Serato DJ Lite and DJUCED software provides flexibility, and the inclusion of the Intelligent Music Assistant (IMA) in DJUCED offers helpful track suggestions based on key, tempo, and energy level, streamlining set preparation.The controller's build is sturdy yet lightweight, making it portable for gigs and practice sessions. The integrated audio interface delivers clear sound through RCA outputs and a headphone jack, suitable for home setups and small venues.”
Verified purchase“Easy set up and gigging straight out the box . Serato is fantastic and works with other software effortlessly. Will take me a while to learn all of the functions but for the money fantastic. Just make sure you have an rca to jack cable as not trs jack output.”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best DJ Controllers 2026: 10 Ranked, Three Whose Numbers Don't Add Up.
Questions people ask
What software does the Hercules DJControl Inpulse 300 MK2 come with?
The listing says Serato DJ Lite and DJUCED are included, along with DJ Academy tutorials.
How many performance pads does it have?
16 — the listing gives 8 pads per deck and 8 modes including Hot Cue, Roll, FX and Sampler. The spec table files that same figure under "Number of Keys".
How heavy is it?
The specification table on the listing gives 1.8 kg. No bullet on the page states a different weight.
What does it cost and how is it rated?
£174.00, rated 4.5 out of 5 from 521 ratings.
How are those 521 ratings split?
The listing shows 75, 15, 5, 2 and 3 across its five star levels. Those figures add up to 100, so they read as shares of the ratings rather than a count of all 521.
Does the Hercules DJControl Inpulse 300 MK2 have jog wheels?
Yes. The listing describes large smooth-touch jog wheels and a Beatmatch Guide with light arrows, and gives USB as the connectivity, connector type and hardware interface.
Comments
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