DJ Equipment Reviews

With this digital era zooming by faster than the blink of an eye, a lot of DJ suppliers are struggling to keep up with the changing times. How many working DJs have stumbled across a company that claimed they were taking their special effects to the "next level?" And while it looked like a stroke of genius on paper, when DJs went out to actually buy the product, they ended up purchasing junk. That has probably happened to every working DJ on the planet, and if not, you must be shacking up with Lady Luck.

With Pioneer, what they claim is what you get. So is it any surprise that they’re an award winning DJ supplier? I know I’m not shocked, just like I wasn’t shocked when Kevin Federline’s career tanked. With all of Pioneer’s incredible gear, which product is currently under the microscope, prepped for critical analysis? The Pioneer DJM-800 mixer, winner of International Music Awards best mixer.  And when Pioneer says it’s taking "Digital mixing to the next level", believe them.

If you’ve taken a good look at the DJM-800, you will see that it resembles the DJM-600 to a great extent. Naturally, those were Pioneer’s intentions. This modern, yet flavorful look is telling working DJs the DJM-800′s features and functions remain as classic and dependable as that of the DJM-600, only this time around, they’re way better. The illuminating buttons are clearer, the knobs stronger, and the overall build is more durable. Beauty can also be spotted on the inside of the DJM-800, with brand new features like the Robot Vocoder and the Reverse Delay. Working DJs depend on their mixers to jazz up their mixes, so the functions have to come through, right?

Features:

• Input Terminal CD/LINE x 5 (RCA) PHONO x 3 (RCA)
• DIGITAL IN x 4 (COAXIAL S/PDIF)
• MIC x 2 (XLR / ¼” combo x 1, ¼” x 1)
• Output Terminal MASTER OUT x 2 (RCA x 1, XLR x 1)
• BOOTH OUT x 1 (¼”)
• HEADPHONE MONITOR OUT x 1 (TOP PANEL ¼”)
• REC OUT x 1 (RCA)
• DIGITAL OUT x 1 (COAXIAL S/PDIF)
• Other Terminal SEND x 1 (¼”)
• RETURN x 1 (¼”)
• MIDI OUT x 1 (5pin DIN)
• CONTROL x 4 (3.5mm MINI JACK)
• Frequency Response 20Hz – 20kHz
• Total Harmonic Distortion 0.005% or less
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio 105dB (line)

I wish I could list all the features here, but working DJs can get a more in depth look at Pioneer’s official Web site.

I can just hear mobile DJs asking if the DJM-800 is portable. At 17 pounds, I’ll let you guys decide.

Did I mention the insane flexibility of the MIDI controls? Or how about the fact that working DJs can assign all four channels inputs to the crossfader? How about the talk over feature, which allows MC’s to talk over their track and do a little self promotioning…discreetly? Did I mention that working DJs can change the crossfader and channel fader curves with the fader curve adjust special effect? Oh, and…did I forget to mention how easy it is to use the DJM-800????

With all of Pioneer’s new features, I think I’m tripping over my feet and missing a lot of the DJM-800′s capabilities. One feature that can’t be questioned is Pioneer’s sound quality. It meets club, DJ, and outside listener expectations every time. The Pioneer DJM-800 is nooo exception. In fact, depending on you like the sound of your music, working DJs could go so far as to say Pioneer’s DJM-800 beats all of Ecler’s mixers…Naaaaahhh!!!!

With products like this, it’s no wonder Pioneer is a favorite in the DJ world. And so is the DJM-800. But don’t take my word for it….