Any Denon DN-X1600 mixer users…Need input before buying…
I am potentially buying a Denon DN-x1600 mixer for use at home to replace my functional, but largely useless Numark M6 mixer. I mainly use Traktor with an X1, a Xone:K2 as my internal mixer controller etc., and now the new F1. I recently have branched out to add 2 CDJs for practice at home to give me extra versatility. After a lot of research it looks to me like the dn-x1600 meets most of what I want:
4 Channels
Built-in 4 Stereo In/Out USB Sound Card
FX Send/Return
Full-Kill Isolator EQs
Matrix Input
MIDI Mappable
Built-in digital FX
Sub $1,000 price-tag
What’s missing for me: dedicated Filter is the major issue. A 2nd FX engine would be nice…but sends the price through the roof. The DN-x1700 is just a bit beyond my reach as are the Pioneer mixers, and the Xone: DB2 and DB4 are just ridiculous $$$.
I briefly considered picking up a used Xone:42 and a Pioneer RMX-1000, but the built-in soundcard and MIDI mappable surface of the DN-x1600 just seems to provide more flexibility. I want to use this for both Traktor and CDJs, so I want maximum flexibility for minimum $$$…I still may want to pick up an RMX-1000
So my question is this: any DN-x1600 users out there, how do you like it? worth the investment? any regrets?
Also, any other mixer recommendations?
Or…talk me down from the ledge and tell me to spend my money on something else…
Very, very well built mixer I think you’ll be happy. I ended up selling mine looking more towards a DB mixer, but That is in no way a reflection in the quality of the 1600.
Check back a few months in the buy/sell section here. Someone had a 1700 for sale if they still have it they might be willing to deal. Less midi on the 1700 though.
Thanks for the info. My impression is that the 1600 is a pretty nice mixer, but my impression is based more on research than on use…can’t find one locally to play with.
I’ll have to think about the 1700. All other things being equal (namely the $$$), the tradeoff in the 1700 is less MIDI for one more FX engine is a toss up for me…I would probably go for the 1700 as the ability to have different FX for different channels is nice…or have one FX engine routed to Send/Return (e.g., RMX1000) and the other for the internal FX…
I’ll check the buy/sell section and see what the status is.
I had a 1600 mixer for almost two years, sold it when I bought my MC6000, still kicking myself for that.
I won’t go over all the features as I’m sure you know them already. But I’ll mention that the adjustable Flex Fader is really nice, if you scratch. If you want a better mixer, you’ll have to spend more money.
Thanks for the input. I may go with the 1700 if I can get a good deal…otherwise it will be the 1600…I have not heard anything yet that would convince me otherwise
Agreed. I will likely go for the 1700…I may adjust my setup to only use the X1 and F1…the K2 was acting as my internal midi mixer at home and when I am out…so I don’t think I will be using it too much at home with a new mixer.
I’ll keep that in mind…for now I still will use it away from home sometimes. Actually, when I travel, I take my X1, K2, my headphones and an X-mini mini USB speaker for a fairly lean setup and do mixes in my hotel room.
I picked up the x1600 right around when it was released and I’ve been pretty happy with the purchase. Everything can be customized relatively easily. The build in audio interface has good sound and has a ton of options (i.e you can assign the master output to a channel for recording sets, mic input to another channel for separate recording). Cross fader is very smooth and has stayed that way for a while now. Everything is midi-mapable with some options (You can turn on a mode that lets you use your eq knobs as midi controls without affecting the output sound of that channel til your done). I was considering a used pioneer 800 at the time and decided to go with the Denon mostly based on the usb midi and crossfader, and I haven’t regretted it. One thing you may want to take into consideration however, if you use FX heavily I’d make sure you actually try one out and see how it works for you. Most people are very comfortable with the FX on Pioneer mixers and might find the Denon takes a bit of getting used to.. you have to be kind of careful to not distort the sound past the level you were aiming for. I don’t really use any mixer FX so i’m probably not the best authority on this. The addition of the extra filter on top of the main effect is pretty cool though.
Hardware wise, 2 of my upfaders came a bit loose after a couple weeks of use, but I just had to tighten the screws and haven’t had a problem since. It does conveniently have a pop out plate near the bottom to have easy access to the faders for cleaning without taking the whole mixer apart. Other than that, it’s served me well.
Wow. Great info…this is really useful in my decisions. I may get a 1700 as I found a barely used one for about the same as a new 1600. The loss of the extra MIDI is not a huge deal as I have an X1 and an F1 that I will use. I mainly care about MIDI for the channel strips anyway. The extra FX engine is nice to have as I may wind up having one FX engine just for the mixer FX and one routed to the FX Send/Return…that being said I will likely not use the FX on the mixer heavily…but will want to have access to them. Eventually I will acquire an external FX unit like an RMX-1000 so that I don’t have to depend on the FX units of other mixers.
So far it looks like my decision to go with the 1600 or 1700 is a good one…still trying to decide whether to pull the trigger on the 1700…
Honestly, you really kind of owe it to yourself to save up for a DB:2. The mixer is going to be the nexus of your setup, and having a slew of high quality controllers with a budget mixer in the middle is really going to end with mixed results. Nobody ever regretted waiting to buy a quality product, but there’s tons of passive regret associated with rushing and buying cheap, not to mention stress and wasted money. The x1600 vs a DB:2 may have a slightly different price point, but in a full setup, the marginal value of saving up is immense.
Get thee behind me Satan…
I am already spending more than I want to think about…with it being such a new mixer…there aren’t many new ones out there and the prices tend to be around $1,799…an open box one on eBay is going for $1,499…but that is already 50% over my budget!
The DB2 seems pretty amazing though…and integration with my K2 would be a bonus…but it is just too much $$$ for me. BTW, Is it just me or is it weird that neither the DB2 or DB4 have FX Send/Returns? I mean yes the internal FX seem amazing and all, but it seems like a weird decision to me…
Anyway, I am trusting in the number of people that have indicated no regrets with the 1600/1700 and going with one.
Woohoo!!! Got it yesterday!!! Had to take some time to set it up…haven’t gotten much of a chance to play with it yet. But so far I’m impressed and pleased.
Will probably post pictures and my impressions when I get more time to play with it.
i’m about 2 days away from ordering one. i was going to get one in from the states as it was cheaper, however the shipping is going to be a killer ( app. 400 extra NZD ) so picking one up from NZ actually works out slightly cheaper with free shipping, warrantee etc.
