Another eBay steal that I happen to have acquired. This is like a $300 brand new, got it for lets say 9 bucks lol. Yea no lie, I know you’re thinking pfff it’s a Gemini CD player. I’m not surprised you’re got it that cheap, in fact what it should be worth. Nope, ill tell u this is a legit player. Very good, Gemini has stepped up their game in the CD player market. Though i review this since, not many brands like gemini are review.

Designed for the active DJ, Mix or remix on the fly

Specs

- Audio CD, CD-R, & CD-RW compatible
- 8 DSP effects: Filter, Zoom, Echo, Pan, Reverse,
Trans, Brake & Scratch
- Precise Dry/Wet FX parameter, start & brake rotary
controls
- 5 Fly cues & 4 sampler memory buttons
- Easy to operate memo button for cue function
& sampling
- Vinyl/CD jog mode function
- Master cue has hot-start feature
- +10 track selection knob
- Key & BPM controls
- Anti-shock using RAM buffer memory
- Slot in mechanism with blue LED display
- Fully programmable direct access keypad
- Single auto-cue/continuous play mode
- Seamless looping with reloop/stutter & loop editing
- Pitch bend via jog wheel or buttons
- Three mode time selection
- Frame accurate search & cue
- Large blue backlit LCD display w/ dimmer control
- Coaxial RCA digital output
- Rubber jog wheel with finger grooves
- Variable pitch control with ranges of 4%, 8% , 16%, 100%
- Soft touch buttons with bright LEDs.

At a glance

When I took this thing out of the box, wow this is some bulky shit. Good size though, I measured it compared to a tech, it’s about half of it & just a little bit taller. This is a beast.

Top View

All buttons & knobs are nicely layout (Very User Friendly)

First Impressions

Turning this thing on, there’s a nice little blue LED right over the CD slot. Which is a nice touch, especially if u were to use this in a low lighted environment & cannot see where the slot it. When you pop in a CD, there’s another Blue LED strip on top that lights up that’s also a nice add on. Helps to know when a CD is in or not. Just like what is featured on the Pioneer DVJ-1000. Makes it look nice in the dark as well.

Cueing

When I first popped in a CD & cued up a track, it was a little different from I’m used to. My biggest gripe about the entire player was that the cue button or the extra hot start wouldn’t be functional at all until u actually searched for your cue point. What u do is (Hit play then pause, turn the jog wheel / stutter to find the starting cue & then hitting play again, which the cue button will flash blue & be enabled). Than like being a traditional player, the cue button would be functional automatically.

Jog Wheel

This is an uber smooth rubber jog wheel, with circles grooves all around for easier grip. (Kind of looks like an old telephone, lol). For use of either pitch bending, stutter cue, Jog Mode (track search), controlling the parameters of the any of the DSP effects & of course the scratching. It’s good, because people don’t like the jog wheels on some of the latest players like the Pio CDJ-200, Denon DNS-1000 or a Stanton C.314 (it’s either too slick or tough to move). For me it’s perfect, feel just like the jog wheels on the Numark CDN players like the 88 & 90.

Pitch

Always an important feature, this one is about perfect in feel imo. Very smooth, click less as well which is great for u prime mix DJs out there that doesn’t like the center pitch. That I have experience with while beat matching and can be a real pain (Like what the late model Technics feature on the M3D/MK5’s).

Pitch range of 4, 8, 16 & 100 %. Also you’re essential Key adjusts & Pitch bend buttons.

Seamless Looping & B-Edit

A CD player is not complete without a seamless loop, good feature that I love using. Have your standard Loop in & out. Right next to the loop buttons there is a Reloop Stutter. (Basically like a hot cue for it). Sort of a basic thing I’ve started to see on CD players nowadays , (I know my old Numark CDN-88 had it, which was basically my favorite feature, although it had 2 so I can actually recall the loop or cue point I had set to it anytime I want or could use it as an extra stutter cue button)

Now next the B-Edit which is probably one of my favorite features by far. I was actually really surprised to find out what this did when I figured it out. The B-Edit is basically a loop adjustment. For example if u set a small loop, and your didn’t really time the loop out that well & there is a noticeable double beat or u can tell its kind of like a skipped CD. What u can do is adjust where your loop out ends using the jog wheel when B-Edit is engaged, so you can get that smoother & true seamless looping with out even stopping the cd & trying again. Perfect for when doing live sets. (See video demo for example)

Hot Cues & Samplers

Nothing too special here, you have 5 cue points or as also called “Hot Cues”. To be able to recall any cue points you have saved. Also have 4 sampler banks, allowing you to rearranging or remixing you music on the fly. To engage a cue or sampler button, you must turn on the Memo button (Which will light up blue, like the cue buttons). Once its one you are free to use any of the memo assignable buttons (Cue or Sampler).

Effects

Here’s the fun part, the CFX-30 has 8 fully adjustable DSP effects. Filter, Zoom, Echo, Pan, Reverse, Trans, Scratch & brake. All sound pretty good, I like the Filter the most. You control the parameters with the Jog wheel. There is 4 knobs right below the LCD, 3 of them are for effects. The 1st on the left is the main Dry / Wet control & the 2 on the right are the Start & brake time control for the Brake effect.

Scratch - Although its part of the DSP effecst, so its not really full vinyl emulation like other CD players. Its not that bad actually, does have the digital type sound, Also is not touch sensitive….so if you were to release the jog wheel it wouldn’t reset, would actually just drag / brake. Basically the same as it would on other DSP effect plays. Its not the greatest but fine if u want to add some scratches for fun, i don’t recommend this for pure scratching at all. Buy a real turntable …….Can do some basic scratches (babys, lazers, scribbles etc..)see video link below for a demo

Others

Track Select – you have 2 options for selecting the next track. You have a dial knob (push down for +10 tracks) or you have an easy push number pad.

Also another handy feature is the LCD Dimmer knob that can adjust the brightness of the LCD screen. Which is a nice add (especially if u play outside or in a dark environment).

Back

Around back you have your standard RCA outputs, even a digital output if your mixer or any other component with digital INS (for better sound quality), Power switch of course & also a voltage switch, (which is a good thing especially if u want to take your CFX out of the country or if u live out of the US u have to option so you don’t have to buy a voltage converter). Although I must say the panel near the power switch does get a bit hot, actually scolding hot maybe. Even for just after 5 minutes its pretty dang warm, but it is a small area that does that which is think metal type plate. So it’s kind of understandable that it would get that hot.

Overall

I Didnt expect this CFX-30 to be as good as it is, ive seen the Gemini’s video demo of it when it came out & thought it was pretty good though. The Bottom Line, Is the CFX-30 does exactly what it says it’s suppose to do, good budget player packed with features under $300. I would recommend this to any one looking to get into the digital domain or wanting to add one to an existing setup, Or any of the newer model MPX-40 & CFX-20. This is a very good buy, There is also MPX-30 available for full MP3 support.

Hats off to Gemini for a solid product

Ratings

Build Quality - 8/10
Very Solid, Bulky but it’s a good size. Plastic buttons im not a huge fan off, as they can crack or break fast if u hit it a lot. Like rubber buttons a lot better or the ones kind of like on the Pioneer CDJ-200, 800MK2 & 1000’s.

Sound Quality - 9/10
The DSP effects are pretty good, adds a great spin your mixes.

Features - 9/10
Packed with easy to use functions, probably more than what u really need.

Price - 9/10 (for me 10/10 )
Although this actually has been discontinued. Been replaced by the MPX-40. It’s still a good buy if u can find a cheap deal on it. For me this was the best 9 bucks I have ever spent.

Pros:
• 5 Hot cues & 4 Sampler buttons
• Seamless looping w/ B-Edit
• 8 DSP effects

Cons:
•Cueing takes a lil getting used to
•Plastic buttons (but not bad)
•Rear panel gets really hot

Made a small Video demo if you want to see it in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci2Sg1IFoto

written by: Jon Avalon
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