DJM vs DB help please
Im stuck between DJM900 or a XoneDB series. Instincts are telling me to stick w pioneer because im already familiar w their products. And i like em. But i know A&H deliver pure quality. Looking to put together a minimal, powerful, quality setup. using Traktor and K2 controller. Any suggestion greatly appreciated.
thx
Xone DB all day long.
In a club you are more likely to come across the Pioneer range of mixers, granted, but if your already familiar with Pioneer mixers, then the A&H for home use is an absolute beast.
I sold my DJM 800 to get a DJM 900, and I was all set to buy it when I went into the store. The DB2 blew the 900 out of the water IMO. And is substantially cheaper (depending on where you are located admittedly). The DB4 was only slightly more expensive for me than a DJM 900, and is just a MUCH nicer mixer for my use.
To be honest though, I was never really a huge fan of the “harsh” effects available on the DJM series, and the infinitely more subtle, studio grade effects found on the DB series of mixers are far more up my street.
And the filter EQ’s as well as standard and ISO eq’s, are immense. Not to forget the A&H filters that are separate from the normal effects unit, and you have a really powerful package.
You do loose out on scratch certification and send / return with the DB, but then they can be worked around too.
Then there is mixarchitects tsi file for the DB4, and you don’t even really need an external controller for Traktor (although I do use an external controller, and scratch dvs).
If you’re mixing at home or putting together a mobile setup, then go for whatever you prefer (try them out in person).
If you want to be prepared for gigs elsewhere, get the DJM.
I have a DJM800 and a DB4 and I have to say I prefer the DJM due to my mixing style - but the DB4 is a much better made, higher quality mixer…which is reflective on the price.
As per other answers above, if you are planning to play out I’d get a DJM as that is what you’ll come across in a club 9/10 times.
This.
Unless you’re a touring act and have a rider…I say stick with the DJM.
I’ve already come across several beat up house mixers at the clubs we play in…the last thing you need in that situation is figuring out where the filters and effects are at.
And to those that keep saying the DJM effects are harsh…use it less!
The Level/Depth knob is there for a reason, the effects are only as harsh as you make them.
The OP has already stated that they are already familiar with the DJM line-up, so it’s a non starter to suggest he would have to look for filters and effects.
In comparison to the A&H effects, the best description for the DJM effects is that they are harsh. There is nowhere near the same amount of control, subtlety and quality in the effects on the DJM as there are on the A&H. I have yet to see a Pioneer mixer, for example, effect a delay on a narrow frequency range, with timing and frequency control, as well as level depth and attenuation.
Looking for a mixer that is minimal, powerful & quality, when used in conjunction with a K2, as the OP is looking for, the DB series is a much better choice than the DJM.
If the OP was unfamiliar with the Pioneer line-up, then my advice may have been different, but for what he is looking for, the DB series mixers can’t be beat. Well, not by Pioneer anyway.
Judging the Pioneer on it’s own, yes, you are correct. Comparing it to the A&H, you are wrong. The A&H effects are a completely different league to the DJM effects, with a lot more subtlety and control available on the DB. Hence why some of the biggest DJ’s rider includes a DB4 (John Digweed, Pete Tong, Sasha etc…).
There is much more to a mixer than its effects. And what good are the DB4’s effects if you’re not gigging with it? If you’re only using 2 decks EQing your FX is simple on a DJM900, and it comes as standard on the 2000. And timing/depth/frequency control is of course on both.
A non-standard mixer is only worth if it you’ll actually be gigging with that specific mixer. Only the big name DJs can pick and choose what gear they’ll get.
If you hate stubby little bastard EQ knobs, don’t get the Xone.
It’d help to know what genre of music you mix. I’d say for house and techno, go for the Xone as the effects work with that genre/bpm range.
I wouldn’t recommend it for say drum & bass as the only think you’re likely to use on the Xone are the filters.
Yeah, I’m not a big fan of Xone mixers. Mainly because of the stupid fucking knobs.
haha so much hate ^
i’d also say it boils down to what you will mix, or least mainly mix. tech house and around that range i find xone mixers to be very useful.
Very good point made about that you already have learned the pio mixers and that is probably enough to have a good enough workflow on them, ofcourse it can be better but im gonna tell you little about my situation.
I have a 900+2000 setup and sure its sweet and fun to mix on, but im also a audiophile kindofguy and the sound of xone analogue mixers is what draws me towards them. Thats why the DB (digital range) has no appeal to me, only the xone 92 and 4D is what i would like to use.
I played with the idea of having a DB4 because of all the cool effects and stuff but then i realized only 1 club has it in the city i live in and the 100 other clubs have pioneer mixers, so I would just be sad to come to use pioneer mixers when i learnt tricks on the db4 and could not justify the load of cash it costs for the occassional gig which i need to bring my own gear to.
My solution was getting a 4D which doesnt cost so much but is a real beast. So when i know a club has a decent pio mixer and cdjs i just use theirs, if i know they have some shit/nothing/bashed gear i just bring the 4D.
Allen and Heath seem really committed to building amazing quality mixers, with a “death by papercuts” approach to virtually every single aspect of usability on the gdmf things.
“Im just saying, I know a few engineers, and this… this feels like it was built by just engineers.”
Thank you all
Thanks for all the feedback. Greatly appreciated. A lot to consider.
Appears the mixer war boils down to personal preference. I grew up on a djm 400 (old i know) so that’s why im more inclined to go for the 900. Familiar w the layout, built in sound card, and yes, the universal punch amongst the club scene. However, i don’t want to ignore a&h because its the odd man out. As much as id love the familiarity of the pio mixer i dont want to shy away from something brand new, foreign
really. But damn that db4 is expensive!! well, they both are a pretty penny.
im not so concerned w the effects, i use traktors. im not a huge fan of pios, (no hate). but new effects would be a plus.
I mainly mix house 128-132 and am lately getting sucked into this trap scene.
just looking to invest in a minimal, durable, quality mobile setup. that’s why i love that both mixers eliminate the need for an external soundcard. wanna plug and play.
just looking for that perfect workhorse.
and nothing against pio, but why is the club scene so saturated with pio gear when a&h prove to provide such quality instruments?
Fin.
Just my .02
I’ve never gigged out and have no real desire to (as I have a great full-time job). If I gig out once, on my equipment, it will be all to surreal. I am nut for technology and have a passion (more like addiction) for good music - especially bass (infra-bass 
slight_smile:! I am lucky enough to have a budget that allows me to have had a good amount of equipment such as an S4, X1600, and a DB4.
I say this because…
Even though I do not have real industry experience, I have personal experience. While the DB4 is not perfect, its 90% of everything I want in a mixer. It’s got tons of features - features that I am still learning to use, effectively. When I get the chance to mix, I am always greeted with something new to try, or enhance what I am already working on. For me, this has already made my purchase more then worth it. On top of that, A&H have been pretty open to user input on adding features and product development. The DB series mixers were made with the future in mind, I think it has that spot. With the possibility of a end user firmware utility (for setting user preferences) this mixer would be future proof… but that may just be my wishful thinking.
I am not saying you wont find these intricacies in Pio gear (as they have their own), but that’s just my insight. You can have Pio gear that you can feel comfortable and build upon mastering it… or you could grab a DB series mixer, think a little outside the box, and start from scratch.
Profit( what you get out of it, tangible or not) should be equal or greater then, the Sacrifice (time, effort) + Value ($$$)
Good luck on your decision.
Sincerly,
A&H fan (w/ less money in his account)
considering i hate the xone series, for numeurus reasons…
i have been slightly inclined witht the DB…
you post might just have sealed it for me dario
LOL, no worries. That’s what I am here for 
DarioJ brings up a great point - how many times has PIO released a firmware upgrade that added new features?
Pioneer generally try to avoid fragmentation (to provide more of a consistent standard), which is why you don’t see much customisation in the options.
They do tweak existing features depending on feedback though. Here’s the update history for the DJM900:
http://forums.pioneerdj.com/entries/20230863-djm-900nexus-drivers-firmware
As a avid android user and a MBP owner - I agree with you that controlling fragmentation (to keep a consistent standard) is key for user end experience. But on either end the firmware updates are developed and released for a specific product (in this case a mixer), so the responsibility falls on the end user, and not the manufacturer. IMO, Options in this case would be considered preferences, not features.
There is more fragmentation in the product line (DJM vs DB), then there is in an update feature list (from release to release), on any mixer. Granted that the DB series has only had 1 major update 