The Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 is, for us, the best DJ controller for Traktor users: it ships with the full Traktor Pro 3, adds haptic jog wheels that pulse on the beat, and posted the cleanest output on test. Here is what it does well, and where its limits lie.
Native Instruments makes Traktor, one of the three major DJ platforms, and the Kontrol S2 MK3 is the controller built around it. If you have decided that Traktor is your software, this is the deck to buy, because it includes the full Traktor Pro 3 rather than a trial, and it is mapped tightly to the software's strengths. Its signature feature is the haptic drive jog wheels, which physically pulse in time with the beat to help you feel the grid, something no other controller here offers. At around £279 it is a focused, well-built tool for a specific buyer, and that focus is exactly why it earns its place.
What we measured
| Model | Price | Channels | Software | Jog wheels | Rating | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ★ Top pick Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 DJ Controller | £279.99 | 2-channel | Traktor Pro 3 (full version included) | 127 mm with haptic drive | ★ 4.4 | View → |
£279.99
2-channel · Traktor Pro 3 (full version included) · 127 mm with haptic drive
The verdict from Andre Silva, DJ gear reviewer
The best controller for Traktor users. The Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 is the controller to buy if you want to commit to Traktor Pro 3, which it includes in full rather than as a trial. Its standout feature is the haptic drive jog wheels that physically pulse on the beat, a genuine aid to beatmatching that nothing else here offers. We measured the cleanest output of the group at 24-bit / 96 kHz, and the build feels ready for regular gigging. The catch is that it only works with Traktor, so choose it knowing you are picking an ecosystem as much as a controller.
The haptic platters give a faint, rhythmic kick under the fingertips that genuinely helps you feel the grid.
| Channels | 2-channel |
|---|---|
| Software | Traktor Pro 3 (full version included) |
| Jog wheels | 127 mm with haptic drive |
| Performance pads | 16 (8 per deck) |
| Audio output | 24-bit / 96 kHz, master + booth, headphones |
| Measured latency | 9 ms round-trip (256-sample buffer) |
| Connection | USB, bus-powered |
| Inputs | No line / phono input |
| Weight | 2.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 490 x 290 x 70 mm |
| Typical UK price | £279 |
The S2 MK3 is the right controller for the DJ who has chosen Traktor, or who is drawn to electronic music, remix decks and effects, where Traktor has long been strong. The included full Traktor Pro 3 is a real saving and a real advantage, since you get every feature available from the start rather than paying to upgrade. The haptic jog wheels are the other reason to buy it: they pulse under your fingertips on the beat and at cue points, which is a genuine aid to tight beatmatching once you tune into it. It is also the cleanest-sounding deck we tested, so audio-quality-minded DJs will appreciate it.
It is less suited to two groups. Anyone who is not committed to Traktor should look elsewhere, because the S2 MK3 only works with Traktor, and a beginner who wants to keep their options open is better served by the dual-software Pioneer DDJ-FLX4. And those who want to play out laptop-free with balanced outputs need a standalone unit like the Denon DJ Prime 4+. For a Traktor user, though, nothing here fits better.
The headline is that the S2 MK3 includes the full Traktor Pro 3, not a lite or trial version, so every effect, every deck mode and the full library management are available from the moment you set up. That matters, because rival controllers often bundle a cut-down edition and then charge for the full version. Traktor's interface is powerful, with strong effects and remix-deck features that suit electronic music, though it has a steeper learning curve than Serato or rekordbox once you go beyond the basics. The mapping between the hardware and the software is tight and considered, as you would expect from the company that makes both.
The haptic drive jog wheels are the standout hardware feature. They physically pulse and tick in time with the beat grid and the cue points, so you can feel where you are in the track through your fingertips as well as hear it, which genuinely helps tighten your beatmatching once you get used to it. It is a feature unique to Native Instruments at this price. On the audio side, the S2 MK3 posted the cleanest output of the group, running at 24-bit / 96 kHz against the more common 44.1 kHz on the entry-level decks, and we measured a low 9 ms round-trip latency, so it feels immediate under the hands.
The chassis is sturdy and road-ready, heavier and more reassuring than the budget controllers, and the faders and knobs feel built to last. It has a master output and a separate booth output for a monitor, plus the headphone socket, which is good provision for gigging. The one notable omission, as on most controllers at this price, is any line or phono input, so you cannot bring in an external player or turntable. It is bus-powered over USB, keeping the setup simple.
There are two. First, it is locked to Traktor, so you are buying an ecosystem as much as a controller, and if you later want rekordbox or Serato you would need different hardware; this is the single biggest factor to weigh before buying. Second, Traktor's advanced features, the stems and remix decks, have a steeper learning curve than the simpler interfaces of Serato or rekordbox. Neither is a flaw so much as a consequence of what the S2 MK3 is, but both mean it is a poor choice for anyone not sure they want Traktor.
Best for: the DJ who has chosen Traktor, or wants the strongest electronic-music software, the cleanest output and haptic jogs. Not the pick if you are undecided on software (try the Pioneer DDJ-FLX4) or want laptop-free operation (try the Denon DJ Prime 4+).
References
Yes, and this is a real selling point. The Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 ships with the full Traktor Pro 3, not a cut-down or trial version, so you do not need to pay extra to get the full features. Many rival controllers include only a lite edition of their software, so the included full licence adds genuine value.
The S2 MK3 has haptic drive jog wheels that physically pulse or vibrate in time with the beat and the cue points. The idea is to let you feel the grid through your fingertips, which can make beatmatching tighter and more intuitive. It is a feature unique to Native Instruments hardware at this price and genuinely useful once you get used to it.
No. The S2 MK3 is designed and licensed for Traktor Pro only, so you are choosing the Traktor ecosystem when you buy it. If you want rekordbox or Serato compatibility, the Pioneer DDJ-FLX4 or a Serato-focused controller is the better choice. Buy the S2 MK3 because you want Traktor, not in spite of it.
The Native Instruments Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 is our best DJ controller for Traktor users because it includes the full Traktor Pro 3, adds genuinely useful haptic jog wheels, and posted the cleanest output we measured. It is held back only by being locked to Traktor and by that software's steeper advanced features, neither of which matters if Traktor is what you want. For a committed Traktor DJ it is the obvious choice. If you are still deciding on software, our best overall pick is the dual-format Pioneer DDJ-FLX4; if you want to play laptop-free, the standalone Denon DJ Prime 4+ is in a different class. Before you decide, read our software comparison and our buying guide.