DJ Equipment Reviews

 

Stanton CM 205

Is the CM.205 a hybrid beast or a hybrid dud?

For many reasons, working DJs have been opting to go the "hybrid" route for convenience, the seamless mesh of "modern meets tradition", and of course, to keep up with the latest trends in technology. There are many hybrid options reviewed on workingDJ, like the Gemini CDT-05, which is a surprising intermix of analog and digital.  But right now, it’s all about Stanton and their CM 205. Hopefully, by saying the popular DJ supplier, Stanton, I’ve got your attention. Now let me tell you what this hybrid machine’s all about.

In a nutshell, Stanton calls the CM 205 a hyrbid two channel CD mixer. In it, working DJs have the benefit of both a dual top loading CD player and a basic two channel mixer. I think what Stanton was going for was a unique product with the combination of a CD player and a mixer in one unit. However, if you review the product closely, you’ll find it’s still pretty basic.

Stanton’s CM 205

Here’s how you can tell that the CM 205 is your basic mixer and your basic CD player:

The mixer section features:

• 2 line inputs to connect iPod, other MP3 device or more CD players
• Gain and 3 band EQ (+9/-26) per channel
• User replaceable crossfader
• 1/4" mic input with volume control
• Headphone output with cue pan
• Optional rack ears included

And the CD player section features:

• MP3 playback
• 20-sec. anti-shock buffer per side prevents CD "skips"
• 8% pitch control with pitch bend
• Fader start
• Relay play

I’m not going to lie and say it’s what all digital working DJs have been waiting for; it’s nothing special. It’s just extremely convenient. Because of this convenience, it’s perfect for mobile DJs, as you guys can take it anywhere you need to go. However, when you get to these places, don’t expect the CM 205 to start mixing any miracles. It may not mix mayhem, but it’s certainly not a unit you should have as your "main set up". Use it only as a back up. Fortunately, it’s cheap enough to be used as such. ($499 MSRP, around $200 street).

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