Gemini CDJ 700 vs. Pioneer CDJ 850

[paulie.phonic]

Gemini-No, Pioneer-Yes

[bobalandi]

Gemini-No, Pioneer-Yes

I appreciate the response and I'm already kind of biased to agree with you but do you have any good reasons in terms of the two controllers? I'm trying to make an educated decision based on more than just the brand names.

[deevey]

I appreciate the response and I'm already kind of biased to agree with you but do you have any good reasons in terms of the two controllers? I'm trying to make an educated decision based on more than just the brand names.

If I was bringing the decks to Gigs OR was dependent on Reckordbox for touring huge gigs for insane amounts of money I would deffo go for Pioneer (although at that stage i'd be sponsored anyhow and get them free).

BUT for just home usage/practice and using USB sticks and CD's I'd would defiantly go for Gemini's, I could not for the life of me justify the extra $1500+ for 2x Pioneer 900's (better things to spend money on), the 850's lack some of the nicer and to me more essential features (slip mode/quantize) ... and the Gemini's Features lie somewhere more between the 900+2000 territory than the 850.

Just for the record Pioneer's do crash as well (I have had CDJ crash during gigs when reading from USB sticks and MP3 CD's - in one case it just died mid track).


Good review here - and virtually the only bad points were: Heavier Wheel, crappy effects (which pio's don't have anyhow). And Lack of a headphone output (weird point and makes no-sense).

Ironic that Gemini have been making DJ gear ALOT longer than Pioneer.

[Shishdisma]

People really undermine the whole "build quality" thing. I'm really not sure how the Gemini's get certified for "home use" while the Pioneers are built for "reliable use." I've said this multiple times, and I'll say it again: if you're buying players for "features" and not "usability," media players probably aren't for you.

While the Gemini's might have comparative "features" with the zomg touch screen and the ability to play back tracks on USB media, the Pioneers absolutely destroy them with minor details like "having a fairly spacious screen that doesn't look like total ass" and "having file organization, waveform and cue loading, and a workflow that doesn't make a 90's CD deck look good." But it depends on how usable you want the players to be, it's not just "reliability vs features over cost."

That being said, if you're comfortable with a completely shit layout and ergonomics, the Numark players offer a fairly solid platform at a pretty reasonable price too. The "feel of CDJs" bullshit is one of the most mind-numbingly stupid arguments in DJ culture.

[Louie_V]

definitely would go for the CDJ-850's. I was a beta tester for the Gemini CDJ-700 and lets just say, if you ever want to play in a club with pioneer cdj's then the Gemini CDJ-700 would be counter intuitive and will get you used to a work flow that does not translate to the pioneer workflow.

oh, and don't even think about it if your a scratch dj, the gemini's have simulated scratch (no vinyl mode)

[ksandvik]

CDJ-350s are also a good compromise as those work with RekordBox. So if you ever have a bigger gig and need to bring USB sticks to gig, everything is ready. Seems Pioneer USB CDJs is the next norm with clubs.

[G MONEY]

definitely would go for the CDJ-850's. I was a beta tester for the Gemini CDJ-700 and lets just say, if you ever want to play in a club with pioneer cdj's then the Gemini CDJ-700 would be counter intuitive and will get you used to a work flow that does not translate to the pioneer workflow.

oh, and don't even think about it if your a scratch dj, the gemini's have simulated scratch (no vinyl mode)

Really? I thought the whole point of these decks was to pretty much mimic the pioneer decks so that when you step in you are ready to go as the layout and all is pretty much the same.

Well with regards to that argument then I guess any CDJ that is not pioneer is gnna be countering when you step in the club right? No point in getting anything else your saying as it will be drastically different when you step in front of Pioneers?

[Otacon]

I think the best thing is to do research, and find which is gonna fit your style better. Everyone on here is going to have a different opinion, so it all comes down to what will fit your flow.

[Louie_V]

The point of those decks is to look like a pioneer cdj, not to work like one. Try to set the cue and the hot cues (then delete/reset them and do it again) on the gemini then come back and we'll talk.

(to me) its not about them being knock offs of the pioneers, its about them being totally $h!TTy knock offs.

There are decks that work similarly to the pioneers (when it comes to activating the cue,hot cues, and loops, etc.). A lot of companies make their equipment so it can translate to the industry standard, but some dont, gemini is one that doesn't. Trust me, as someone who rocks numark decks, i can definitely care less about the brand, but more about how it works and how it can translate my workflow to other gear that i may have to encounter at gigs.

Note: last time i used a CDJ-700 was with the RTM firmware, some improvements may have been made, but i honestly doubt it.

[G MONEY]

The point of those decks is to look like a pioneer cdj, not to work like one. Try to set the cue and the hot cues (then delete/reset them and do it again) on the gemini then come back and we'll talk.

(to me) its not about them being knock offs of the pioneers, its about them being totally $h!TTy knock offs.

There are decks that work similarly to the pioneers (when it comes to activating the cue,hot cues, and loops, etc.). A lot of companies make their equipment so it can translate to the industry standard, but some dont, gemini is one that doesn't. Trust me, as someone who rocks numark decks, i can definitely care less about the brand, but more about how it works and how it can translate my workflow to other gear that i may have to encounter at gigs.

Note: last time i used a CDJ-700 was with the RTM firmware, some improvements may have been made, but i honestly doubt it.

Good input about the CUE issue, didnt think about that since Iv never heard it mentioned in any of the reviews which Iv read. Id rather trust opinions from users than to go buy company/vender/youtube reviews. Glad you pointed that issue out about the cue, gnna try and test these out at guitar center for an hour or so and see how it goes.