Irrational_Fear
03-06-2012, 11:13 AM
Firstly hello!
Bit of background info- I've been DJing on and off for about 10years. When I started out at school my budget was pretty much zero, so I learnt to mix on a used pair of Synergy CDJ2000's (anyone remember these?!) which have little more than a pitch control and a play/pause- and a second-hand 4 channel studio-type mixer with line EQs, the learning curve was steep but has been beneficial in the long term. I subsequently added a Gemini SA600 Mk2 DD turntable for spinning vinyls and thats pretty much how the setup stayed.
Due to several house moves and other circumstances I went a couple of years without being able to play much, but about a year ago I picked up a Behringer BCD3000 controller to have a play with and it's all come flooding back...
I love the Behringer controller (even if its a bit out of date now) but I'm now longing to get back to a CDJ, Turntable & mixer setup- and now have the space to do so.
Obviously, my Synergy CDJ2000s (never has a name association been so inappropriate!) were out of date when I brought them 10 years ago, and despite still just about working they have long since earned their retirement. Regarding CD decks I have had a play on a few of the current offerings but sadly as a result I'm now quite picky on my requirements:
-I LOVE the bigger 'full-size' units with a big jogwheel. Period. It may sound odd but I'm just not a fan of the smaller units.
-Has to be CD & USB compatible. (Midi not quite so important but I've seen it on some in my price range)
-I want one that feels 'solid' to use. Im not an aggressive DJ but 'feel' is important, hence the desire to return to a full deck setup rather than controller.
As for price, I know my insistance on the bigger units means I'm looking toward the higher end of the price range, but equally these will only be getting used for probably 2 or so good sessions a week (we always host a bit of a weekend gathering round ours) and won't be leaving the house so I don't want to spend a fortune. (Plus I don't have a fortune)
I have been extremely impressed with the Numark NDX800's /900's. In fact the 800 is what I am leaning toward. I've also tried a Pioneer CDJ1000Mk3 and an 850 (can't remember which one). These were excellent, but I didn't get the feeling there was enough 'extra excellence' (as it were) to reflect the vast increase in price over a pair of NDX800s...
So given my circumstances, what would people suggest? I don't want to go for the Pioneers JUST to have Pioneers- like I said the NDX800s felt brilliant to use, but am I missing anything?
As an aside, ill be getting a half-decent 3/4 channel mixer at some point too, with a view to getting some second-hand 1200s/1210s in the future (wanted a pair since I was a kid) so the CDjs won't be my sole equipment. (I play mostly hardhouse / hard trance / hardcore / house / techno if that is relevant)
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and appologies for the long post. (Pics of the stone-age Synergy CDJ2000s will be coming soon to make up for it!)
Thanks :)
Bit of background info- I've been DJing on and off for about 10years. When I started out at school my budget was pretty much zero, so I learnt to mix on a used pair of Synergy CDJ2000's (anyone remember these?!) which have little more than a pitch control and a play/pause- and a second-hand 4 channel studio-type mixer with line EQs, the learning curve was steep but has been beneficial in the long term. I subsequently added a Gemini SA600 Mk2 DD turntable for spinning vinyls and thats pretty much how the setup stayed.
Due to several house moves and other circumstances I went a couple of years without being able to play much, but about a year ago I picked up a Behringer BCD3000 controller to have a play with and it's all come flooding back...
I love the Behringer controller (even if its a bit out of date now) but I'm now longing to get back to a CDJ, Turntable & mixer setup- and now have the space to do so.
Obviously, my Synergy CDJ2000s (never has a name association been so inappropriate!) were out of date when I brought them 10 years ago, and despite still just about working they have long since earned their retirement. Regarding CD decks I have had a play on a few of the current offerings but sadly as a result I'm now quite picky on my requirements:
-I LOVE the bigger 'full-size' units with a big jogwheel. Period. It may sound odd but I'm just not a fan of the smaller units.
-Has to be CD & USB compatible. (Midi not quite so important but I've seen it on some in my price range)
-I want one that feels 'solid' to use. Im not an aggressive DJ but 'feel' is important, hence the desire to return to a full deck setup rather than controller.
As for price, I know my insistance on the bigger units means I'm looking toward the higher end of the price range, but equally these will only be getting used for probably 2 or so good sessions a week (we always host a bit of a weekend gathering round ours) and won't be leaving the house so I don't want to spend a fortune. (Plus I don't have a fortune)
I have been extremely impressed with the Numark NDX800's /900's. In fact the 800 is what I am leaning toward. I've also tried a Pioneer CDJ1000Mk3 and an 850 (can't remember which one). These were excellent, but I didn't get the feeling there was enough 'extra excellence' (as it were) to reflect the vast increase in price over a pair of NDX800s...
So given my circumstances, what would people suggest? I don't want to go for the Pioneers JUST to have Pioneers- like I said the NDX800s felt brilliant to use, but am I missing anything?
As an aside, ill be getting a half-decent 3/4 channel mixer at some point too, with a view to getting some second-hand 1200s/1210s in the future (wanted a pair since I was a kid) so the CDjs won't be my sole equipment. (I play mostly hardhouse / hard trance / hardcore / house / techno if that is relevant)
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and appologies for the long post. (Pics of the stone-age Synergy CDJ2000s will be coming soon to make up for it!)
Thanks :)