Category 
DJ Gear
If in the 60’s and the 70’s, the role of DJs was just to play albums in Night-clubs or on the radio, they were soon to take on a more creative role. In the 80’s, some approached their turntables not as tools but as musical instruments in their own right. Inaugurating new techniques (Beat Juggling, etc.) and new sounds (Scratching), they also knew how to benefit from the inventions of the time (samplers, drum machines…) laying the groundwork for new musical genres such as House or Hip-Hop
Click on one of the icons above to access the different content & services related to the cateogory DJ Gear.
List of user reviews
DJ Gear
-
-
Overall Opinion 
- (Originally written by faustmix/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
How long have you been using it?
Three days
- Which feature do you like best?
Master/slave mode, a single USB stick (an 8GB model for example) is enough to feed both desks), no need for a CD. It seems easy to use, but watch out when you remove the USB stick and do it properly otherwise you'll have problems!!!
- Which feature do you like least?
It takes too long to load files. When the same track is played on both desks I've noticed that that the BPM of the slave is higher than the master (although but I'm not really sure).
- Did you try any other models before buying it?
A BST 450 (with unreliable BPM counter), Allen & Health XONE 4D (too complex for me), CDJ MK3 (too expensive).
- Did you try any other models before buying it?
No because good quality gear is much too expensive.
- Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?
Very good desks but I haven't used them enough to write a more detailed review. Very good value for money.
I will update this review after spending more time with them...
Mark: 7/10.
-
-
Overall Opinion
- (Originally written by mimieanv/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- How long have you been using it?
I bought it in January 2009.
- Which feature do you like the most / the least?
Pros
- Horizontal cue fader (for your headphones), much more practical than a rotary control
- The ease of use (it's only a two-channel mixer)
- Price (I got it at half price)
- Value for money: even though it's a very basic and limited device it's great to get a DJ mixer at this price!
- Works with MixVibes, which is provided as well as a USB sound card
Cons:
- Precision of the faders
- Very limited functions
- Did you try any other models before buying it?
None ^^
- How would you rate its value for money?
Excellent for beginners and people who only use it occasionally.
- Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?
I don't think so, in spite of its excellent value for money. This product is ok for beginners but I would choose an Allen & Heath Xone 22 (a much higher product range ^^)
-
-
Overall Opinion
- (Originally written by lachosenet/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- How long have you been using it?
Three years
- Which feature do you like the most / the least?
Pros:
- Bop function (a button that takes you back to the cue point in play mode), which is very convenient for track sync.
- Ultra accurate cue points.
Cons:
- Almost useless scratch function.
- Did you try any other models before buying it?
Many... And I prefer turntables to the CDJ.
- How would you rate its value for money?
The product is quite expensive even though it's MP3 compatible, which was a rare feature when I bought it.
- Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?
I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again. It's a good and effective product.
-
-
Overall Opinion
- (Originally written by laulaulastar/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- I used this player for several events.
- Pros: effects, pitch, CD tray and CD loading system
Cons: Obsolete cue point system, somewhat old...
- I've mixed with a CDJ200, a CDJ800 and a DNS1000. There is simply no comparison with this one.
- This player is obsolete and very expensive. You'll find better players or the same price (however the quality of this one is pretty high!).
- I wouldn't buy it again because it's too old. I recommend you the CDJ200.
-
-
Overall Opinion
- (Originally written by lordolf/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
1/ How long have you been using it?
Six months
2/ Which feature do you like the most / the least?
Easy to use, ideal for every kind of mixing (techno, club, hard techno, ragga, hip-hop, etc.)... Very accurate controls...
3/ Did you try any other models before buying it?
Yes
4/ How would you rate its value for money?
The current price is excellent for such a high-quality DJ workstation.
5/ Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?
Yes
-
-
Overall Opinion
- (Originally written by Shabrak/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- I've been using it for two months.
- Pros: - Dual deck concept. I hesitated before buying it because
I wasn't sure about its practicality but it works really
good.
- The tray!!! You can place a vinyl record on it and the sound emulation sounds very good.
- DSP effects: I love the easy-to-use echo/loop effect.
- The possibility to mount a HDD in the device.
- ASIO sound card and Midi function. I can't wait for native support in Serato :p
- Cons: - Bugs but they will be removed by the next
update (in one month).
- Denon Music Manager which is not very practical to use.
- I previously owned two DN-S 1200 (very good value for money) and I' don't regret having changed them for this, especially considering the rotating plate. I also had ICDX (they are toys), Cortex HDC 3000 (avoid them), Denon DND-4000 (good).
- The value for money is excellent considering it's a dual tray device!! Cheaper than a CDJ-1000, even with the 250GB HDD, the Asio and Midi sound card and the plate! I personally think Denon made a quantum leap with this product.
UPDATE: after eight months of use.
lots of bugs have not been removed yet:
- First and foremost the Music Manager:
MP3 tag editing is annoying and with plenty VERY irritating minor bugs.
The search engine is also exasperating. I'd prefer an
itunes-like browser. Music Manager's search engine is not ergonomic at all.
- The deck:
The dual decks concept is NOT RELIABLE for live mixing, even after
upgrading, I still have pitch stability problems when I toggle between both decks, or
when I enable the echo/loop effect. The most irritating thing is that
you usually need to switch decks or start a loop
when you start the second song. And then the first song (or loop) changes
from 135 to 143 BPM (it happened to me 20 minutes ago while I recorded
a demo!). Worst of all is that there is no way to know when it will happen!
There are still other smaller problems which are unnerving:
- DSP effects are not reseted when you disable them
- buttons are not reliable (I would prefer aluminum buttons, especially for cue points.
After several months of use you'll have to depress them quite hard to make sure they are activated).
- You have to use the wheel to set DSP effects.
I miss dedicated buttons because the wheel is very sensitive and unpractical
to set parameter values.
- pitch value changes from time to time
- some functions are useless: mirror mix, next file, hot list,
filter. It would be better to have more cue points and, as I already said, dedicated buttons instead of the
wheel (but that's a matter of taste).
As a summary, the product has no major problems but I'm fed up of waiting for bug fixes. That's the reason I lower the mark from 9 to 7.
I wouldn't buy it again if they don't fix these bugs.
-
-
Characteristics
- (Originally written by mono-core/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
This mixer can't be mounted in a rack.
It has four channels with phono RCA input, line RCA input and one line input jack (two 1/4" TS jack). On the front panel you've also got an instrument and an XLR input with phantom power.
Fader and crossfader curves are adjustable. The included software allows you to adjust the curve of each fader separately.
The EQ works with preset modes.
Each channel and the master have an effects section and a tempo-synced sampler.
The Firewire port allows you to use the mixer as a sound card (up to 192-kHz sampling rate).
-
Utilization
- Used as a classic mixer:
You'll master it within 30 minutes. Settings are quick and easy, no sweat.
The headphone output level is rather low.
Used as a sound card:
Things get a bit more complicated. You get almost no information about how to set it but you'll find out if you're patient.
The sampler is disabled when you work at high sample rates.
-
Sounds
- There are several EQ modes.
Depending on the mode the EQ will be more or less effective.
I can't say anything regarding noise because the speakers I use (EVP-X15P) already generate a bit.
-
Overall Opinion
- The mixer still works perfectly after one year of use.
Pros:
- This DJ mixer can also be used as a home studio mixer
- Effect module on each channel and the master
- Firewire sound card
- Midi controller (all buttons and controls are implemented)
- Excellent sampler
Cons:
- Headphone output not loud enough
- Gain controls affect the channel level and the level of the signal sent to the computer. This means that when you use timecode vinyl records you'll have to use one channel to set the gain and another one for the return from the computer
I tested some other products (Pionner DJM800, Ecler NUO5).
Good value for money considering you get a Midi controller, a Firewire sound card and a mixer with effects and sampler.
I would buy it again with my eyes closed.
-
-
Characteristics
- (Originally written by phil.hub/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Rack-mountable... but not in 19" format!
-
Utilization
- Incomparably user friendly...
-
Sounds
- I fully serviced it with high-quality components.
Stunning audio quality.
-
Overall Opinion
- I bought it secondhand a short time ago and it was in pretty bad condition. I fully serviced and enhanced it. I've been a fan of this mixer since its launch and it's a real delight to work with it. Sound quality, dynamic response, headroom... so many qualities. Indestructible.
The price I payed for it and the components as I serviced it with is about the same as the price of a good new mixer, but no modern mixer can compete with this one.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again (regardless of the price).
-
-
Overall Opinion
- (Originally written by samlepetitlutin/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- How long have you been using it? Three days
- Which feature do you like the most / the least? Pros: the three hot starts, the auto loops, the beautiful looks, the plate that gives you the feeling that you're actually using a real vinyl record, etc.
Cons: no RJ45 cables, no fader start cables... In short, the only thing you'll find inside the box is the product itself. I'd expect more considering the price.
- Did you try any other models before buying it? Yes: SN-S 3500 (I didn't like the plate), CDJ 400 (no hot starts and no auto loops).
- How would you rate its value for money? Good compared with competitor product.
Based on your experience, would you buy this product again? Yes I would!!!
-
-
Characteristics
- (Originally written by didayen/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
The only thing you can do with this mixer is switch from one channel to another. If someone tells you the crossfader is good, he's probably joking. It was my first mixer and I broke the crossfader twice. Even though I'm very careful with my gear. No effects, lousy EQ, noise even with a brand new vinyl record (it sounds as if the stylus were broken). I recommend you to avoid this mixer even if you're a beginner.
Even if you don't have enough money for another product you'd better save a bit more money and buy something better.
-
Utilization
- Don't buy it.
-
Sounds
- Don't buy it.
-
Overall Opinion
- Don't buy it unless you're buying mine, which doesn't come out from its box anymore.
