The standard of technology in DJ equipment has improved immeasurably in recent years. Modern technology has included the clarity and quality of the sound DJ's can deliver to their audience. The standard of computer software and the functions that can be performed on a computer have also seen a dramatic improvement to the results that can be achieved by top DJ's. For these reasons it has never been a better time for DJ's.

Many have touted this as the golden age for DJ's. So who are the jewels in the crown of this golden age? It is of course not possible to have a completely objective assessment of which is the best but it is possible to take into consideration the amount of money the DJ makes and use votes from magazine polls to compile a list. So with no real scientific explanation here are the top DJ's in the world at the moment.

Armin van Buuren

Dutch born Armin van Buuren has experienced great popularity as the interest in Trance music rapidly grows. He has described himself as a nerdy kid and tells stories of how he used to spend every penny he earned on his paper round on music. He says he used to make mix tapes for his friends until he listened to music his uncle had created using a computer. Stunned by the sounds he heard he soon invested in a computer and set about mixing, sampling and creating his own tunes.

Despite some successful early work Armin was worried that the music may not pay off so studied a degree in law. In 2003 he and two friends created their own music label which offers 'everything an artist could want'. He plays a weekly residence called Armada at the Amnesia club in Ibiza.

Tiesto

Another Dutch DJ Tiesto has achieved numerous landmark accomplishments for a DJ and throughout his career he has actively raised the bar for DJ's. He was the first DJ in the world to sell out a stadium of 25,000 people two nights in a row. He has performed at the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympics and his remix of silence, written by Delerium featuring Sarah Machlaughlan, was the first house music song to be played on daytime radio in the US.

He has become a household name in numerous parts of the world and consistently reaches the top end of the charts with the tunes he releases. A pioneer of trance music he is also heavily influenced by techno and house. He has said that 'the only way forward for a DJ is to play a diverse mix of sounds'. Recently he was nominated for a Grammy for his Elements of Life album.

Paul Van Dyk

Born in eastern Berlin Paul van Dyk spent his formative years tapping into forbidden western radio stations and listening to the music they offered. Paul left East Berlin shortly before the fall of the wall and went to live with his aunt in Hamburg. After he had completed school he moved back to East Berlin and performed his first gig in 1991. Since then he has achieved an almost unbelievable list of awards and achievements that includes first place in DJ magazine's top 100 DJs in 2005 and 2006 he was also Americas favourite DJ in 2004 and 2005.