Supported Audio Formats
| Format | Extension(s) | Bit Depth | Sampling Frequency | Bit Rate | Encoding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP3 | .mp3 | 16 bit | 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz (MPEG-1) / 16 kHz, 22.05 kHz, 24 kHz (MPEG-2) | 32–320 kbps (MPEG-1), 16–160 kbps (MPEG-2) | MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3, MPEG-2 Audio Layer-3, CBR & VBR |
| AAC | .m4a, .aac, .mp4 | 16 bit | 16 kHz, 22.05 kHz, 24 kHz, 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz | 16–320 kbps | MPEG-4 AAC LC, CBR & VBR |
| WAV | .wav | 16 bit, 24 bit | 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz | — | Uncompressed PCM |
| AIFF | .aif, .aiff | 16 bit, 24 bit | 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz | — | Uncompressed PCM |
Some files may not play even if the format is listed as supported. The most common cause is encoding that technically matches the format but violates the exact spec — see compatibility issues below.
USB & SD Card Specifications
| Supported filesystems | FAT, FAT32, HFS+ |
|---|---|
| NTFS | Not supported |
| Max. folder depth | 8 levels |
| Max. folders per folder | 10,000 displayed |
| Max. files per folder | 10,000 displayed |
| USB hubs | Not supported |
| External optical drives | Not supported |
| SD card max. capacity | 32 GB |
| SD card standard | SD (8 MB–2 GB, FAT12/FAT16), SDHC (4 GB–32 GB, FAT32) |
| CPRM (protected SD content) | Not supported |
Common Compatibility Issues
FLAC files are not supported
The CDJ-2000 does not support FLAC. If your USB stick contains FLAC files prepared for a newer player, they will not play on this model at all.
Full fix guide: Which CDJs Play FLAC? Fix E-8305 on Older Pioneer PlayersApple Lossless (ALAC) files are not supported
The CDJ-2000 does not support ALAC (.m4a Apple Lossless). ALAC files will not appear as playable tracks.
Full fix guide: CDJ E-8305: Apple Lossless ALAC (.m4a) Not SupportedWAV/AIFF: Sample rates above 48 kHz not supported
The CDJ-2000 supports WAV and AIFF only at 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. Files at 88.2 or 96 kHz will not load.
Full fix guide: CDJ E-8305: 96 kHz WAV / AIFF Not Playing — FixWAV: 32-bit float files do not play
The CDJ-2000 only supports 16-bit and 24-bit PCM WAV. Tracks exported from DAWs like Ableton Live or Logic Pro default to 32-bit float WAV, which the player rejects silently.
Full fix guide: CDJ E-8304/E-8305: 32-bit Float WAV Fix — Pioneer CDJWAV: Non-standard header format (WAV EXTENSIBLE)
Some recording software writes WAV files using the EXTENSIBLE header format instead of standard PCM. The CDJ-2000 cannot parse this variant and will refuse to play the file.
Full fix guide: CDJ E-8305: WAVE_FORMAT_EXTENSIBLE WAV Fix (Bandcamp)AIFF: Compressed AIFF-C files not supported
Only uncompressed PCM AIFF is supported. AIFF-C (compressed) files will not play.
Full fix guide: CDJ E-8305: Compressed AIFF-C File Fix (ALAW, ADPCM)AAC: DRM-protected files cannot be played
AAC files purchased from the iTunes Store before 2009 contain FairPlay DRM. The CDJ-2000 cannot decrypt them — the .m4a format is supported, but DRM-locked files are not.
Full fix guide: CDJ E-8305: DRM-Protected AAC (iTunes Store) Cannot PlayUSB: NTFS filesystem not recognized
USB devices formatted as NTFS will not appear in the source list. Windows defaults to NTFS for larger drives — reformat as FAT32 or HFS+ before use.
Reformat your USB device as FAT32 or HFS+. On Windows: right-click the drive → Format → FAT32. On Mac: Disk Utility → Erase → MS-DOS (FAT) or Mac OS Extended. Note: FAT32 has a 4 GB per-file limit.
Check your library
Scan for compatibility issues before your gig
Manually checking files works for single tracks. For a full library of hundreds or thousands of files, Boothready scans everything in one pass — WAV encoding, sample rates, FLAC compatibility on older models, and path lengths — and auto-fixes what it can before you export to USB.
About the CDJ-2000
The CDJ-2000 was Pioneer's flagship club player from 2009 to 2014 and set the rekordbox standard still used worldwide. It supports MP3, AAC, WAV, and AIFF from USB, SD, and disc — but not FLAC or Apple Lossless — and WAV/AIFF is limited to 44.1 and 48 kHz. Many clubs still have CDJ-2000s in the booth as backup or second-room players.
- Released
- 2009
- Manufacturer
- Pioneer
- Product line
- CDJ flagship series
- Position
- Professional club standard (2009–2014)
- Display
- 6.1-inch LCD
- Disc support
- Yes — CD, CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW
- Successor
- CDJ-2000NXS
- PRO DJ LINK
- Yes — up to 4 players via LAN (100BASE-T)
CDJ-2000 vs CDJ-1000MK3
| Feature | CDJ-1000MK3 | CDJ-2000 |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 support | Yes | Yes |
| AAC support | No | Yes |
| WAV support | No | Yes |
| AIFF support | No | Yes |
| SD card slot | No | Yes |
| USB playback | No | Yes |
| rekordbox | No | Yes |
| PRO DJ LINK | No | Yes |
| Display | Monochrome | 6.1" color LCD |
| Disc support | Yes | Yes |
| Released | 2005 | 2009 |
Frequently asked questions
Does the CDJ-2000 support FLAC?
No. The CDJ-2000 does not support FLAC or Apple Lossless. Supported formats are MP3, AAC, WAV, and AIFF. Convert FLAC files to WAV or AIFF (16 or 24 bit, 44.1 or 48 kHz) before use.
What file system does a CDJ-2000 USB need?
Your USB device must be formatted as FAT16, FAT32, or HFS+. NTFS is not supported. The CDJ-2000 also has an SD card slot: SD cards (up to 2 GB) use FAT12/FAT16, SDHC cards (up to 32 GB) use FAT32.
Does the CDJ-2000 have an SD card slot?
Yes. The CDJ-2000 has an SD card slot that supports SD cards (8 MB–2 GB) and SDHC cards (4 GB–32 GB). CPRM is not supported.
Can the CDJ-2000 play WAV files at 96 kHz?
No. The CDJ-2000 supports WAV and AIFF only at 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. Files at 88.2 or 96 kHz will not load.