I’m looking to build out a dual-turntable setup for my home. My goal isn't to become a performance DJ; I primarily want a high-fidelity listening experience with the ability to "keep the music going" by blending tracks when I have guests over.
My Criteria: Use Case: 100% home use. Primary focus is sound quality, secondary is smooth transitions. Style: No scratching or juggling. Just long, smooth blends and beat-matching.
The Gear: I need two turntables and a 2-channel mixer.
The Stylus Question: Since I’m focusing on listening, I’ve been wondering about running two different styli. For example, using an Elliptical or Fine Line stylus for critical solo listening to get the most detail, but switching to a more rugged Spherical (DJ) stylus when I'm actually mixing or having people over. Does anyone else do this? Is it worth the hassle of swapping headshells, or should I just find a "high-end" DJ stylus that bridges the gap?
Current Thoughts on Gear: Turntables: I'm looking for something with a solid pitch fader for beat-matching but won't break the bank.
Mixer: I’d prefer something with excellent internal pre-amps. I’ve seen people mention Rotary Mixers for this kind of "listening first" workflow—are they worth the learning curve for simple blending? What would you recommend for a "Hi-Fi DJ" home setup? Open to any and all suggestions on decks, mixers, and the "dual stylus" theory.