DJ kit, Pioneer or Denon?
Discussion
During the lockdown last year I got my old DJ kit out of hiding (2 x Pioneer CDJ500 MK2's & a Numark mixer).
I'm now hooked again. I don't want to spend thousands (I don't have it, otherwise I would!).
Was thinking a Pioneer DJM-600 or DJM-700 mixer? I understand the 700 has a digital bus so should sound much better?
As for the decks, I'm thinking a clean set of Pioneer CDJ-1000 Mk3's or CDJ-900's as they have USB capability.
Thoughts?
Cheers
I'm now hooked again. I don't want to spend thousands (I don't have it, otherwise I would!).
Was thinking a Pioneer DJM-600 or DJM-700 mixer? I understand the 700 has a digital bus so should sound much better?
As for the decks, I'm thinking a clean set of Pioneer CDJ-1000 Mk3's or CDJ-900's as they have USB capability.
Thoughts?
Cheers
Whatever you get make sure you get USB, its brilliant having all your tunes on a stick and not buggering about with cds! I had a Pioneer XDJ-RX2 which has two 'decks' and a mixer, which works out a lot cheaper than buying separate units. It was great, and if it wasn't for the fact I missed mix8ng on my Tecnics I never would have sold them
hucumber said:
Whatever you get make sure you get USB, its brilliant having all your tunes on a stick and not buggering about with cds!
Why would you even bother with that. Use a laptop and either stream it on the go (Beatport do a good streaming/rental service) or even if you don't want to do that, you can get far more effects using something like Traktor or Serrato. hucumber said:
Plugging a USB stick into a deck is a lot less bother than what you are suggesting. Plus you can mix at mates or out without having to carry hundreds of pounds worth of laptop, cables, charger etc.
Does mean you have to spend time buying music, downloading to USB stick, etc. Whereas if you stream then you have access to millions of songs at your fingertips. Besides, once you've taken your decks, mixer, speakers etc, then a laptop isn't much more effort.
Condi said:
Does mean you have to spend time buying music, downloading to USB stick, etc. Whereas if you stream then you have access to millions of songs at your fingertips.
Besides, once you've taken your decks, mixer, speakers etc, then a laptop isn't much more effort.
Fair enough Besides, once you've taken your decks, mixer, speakers etc, then a laptop isn't much more effort.
maybe its a genration thing, I would rather my own library of tunes to draw from rather than stream. I don't think I would ever be able to decide what to play if I had the choice of everything 
p4cks said:
Perfect timing, I'm about to get back into DJing but I'm looking for turntables. None of this CDR cheating s
te 
I'm so glad I never sold mine when I bought digital stuff. I only went cd/usb as everywhere I played they got rid of the decks and put in digital only. To be honest I find it pretty soulless, hence flogging it and going back to my 1200's te hucumber said:
p4cks said:
Perfect timing, I'm about to get back into DJing but I'm looking for turntables. None of this CDR cheating ste
I'm so glad I never sold mine when I bought digital stuff. I only went cd/usb as everywhere I played they got rid of the decks and put in digital only. To be honest I find it pretty soulless, hence flogging it and going back to my 1200's te I'll not be getting 1200/1210s but more likely some Audio Technica copies as I need to keep my funds to buy back all those records I sold! Funny enough I've started already but not got to the decks yet!
808 Estate said:
Pioneer is becoming industry standard, in the same way Technics did. However, I would say Denon is more than good enough 98% of the time. I certainly wouldnt say no to a decent Denon setup.
The Denon gear looks decent - back when I was doing this stuff the Denon 2500 CD player was what you'd find (along with Technics 1200's) and Pioneer had just released the CDJ500.Edited by 808 Estate on Sunday 15th August 11:34
Do people people even have to beat-match now or do you have the bpm and cue points already saved so you just hit the play button and peck at random knobs on the mixer?
I've been right through from Numark belt drive decks and cheap Gemini mixers, though to SL1210's, Pioneer DJM800, DJM3000 Rotary, Various Vestax Rotary mixers, Allen & Heath, CDJ1000 MK3's, various Reloop controllers etc.
If I was starting again today, I would buy an all in one controller such as the Pioneer DDJ1000.
No question.
The mixer part has all the features of something like the DJM800 and one of the best ever crossfaders, and the deck sections have the same platters and controls as the top end CDJ2000's etc. You also have pads for activating cue points and suchlike.
Plus, if you want to plug external sources such as vinyl or CD in and use the mixer element, you still can.
If I was starting again today, I would buy an all in one controller such as the Pioneer DDJ1000.
No question.
The mixer part has all the features of something like the DJM800 and one of the best ever crossfaders, and the deck sections have the same platters and controls as the top end CDJ2000's etc. You also have pads for activating cue points and suchlike.
Plus, if you want to plug external sources such as vinyl or CD in and use the mixer element, you still can.
rodericb said:
Do people people even have to beat-match now or do you have the bpm and cue points already saved so you just hit the play button and peck at random knobs on the mixer?
I used to put a bit of tape over the bpm readout on the display, there was no way to turn it off and would always find myself peeking at it which takes the enjoyment out of it. One of the things that tipped me over the edge and made me sell my digital stuff was that loads of tunes I was buying were exactly the same speed so there was never anything to do! hucumber said:
rodericb said:
Do people people even have to beat-match now or do you have the bpm and cue points already saved so you just hit the play button and peck at random knobs on the mixer?
I used to put a bit of tape over the bpm readout on the display, there was no way to turn it off and would always find myself peeking at it which takes the enjoyment out of it. One of the things that tipped me over the edge and made me sell my digital stuff was that loads of tunes I was buying were exactly the same speed so there was never anything to do! What I will say is that saving your tracks so they can be instantly beat matched upon loading is really good if you want to try something different like mixing Hip Hop as you can forget about the speed and practice mixing in different way, and cutting/looping etc.
If I was coming back and I was intending on playing out you'd have to go down the Pioneer route as most/all clubs etc will have CDJ's etc
Saying that for my personal use I would choose a standalone controller, DDJ-1000 and a laptop or a Prime 4. It's been said already that you can stream songs now with the correct subscription so it would be a no brainer for me.
I guess it depends on the software/workflows you are used to, I've been using Traktor for years and only played a little with Recordbox, never touch Denon stuff TBF.
Saying that for my personal use I would choose a standalone controller, DDJ-1000 and a laptop or a Prime 4. It's been said already that you can stream songs now with the correct subscription so it would be a no brainer for me.
I guess it depends on the software/workflows you are used to, I've been using Traktor for years and only played a little with Recordbox, never touch Denon stuff TBF.
Thanks for the replies. I don't use BPM readouts. My mixer has it but I switch it off. My decks are so old they don't show BPM either. I'm not interested in having beat matching done for me or making it easy. What's the point??!!
I was looking more for the effects that can be done with newer kit.
I was looking more for the effects that can be done with newer kit.
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