So last year i started to learn how to DJ. I bought myself a Kontrol S8 and was on my way. After 3 months i decided to get a pair of CDJ’s and i love using them. Ive been using the S8 as a standalone mixer without it even connected to my laptop. Im thinking of selling or swapping the S8 as i really shouldn’t of bought it to learn on and i don’t use the remix deck features atall. I was looking for some advice on what mixer i can get for around the price of the S8 and maybe a couple of hundred £. I figure i should get around £775/825 for it.I don’t want to purchase anything without some advice from people who’ve used the mixers and not just off a website shop. I have no preferences to manufacturers or models i just want something that will last for years and keep me happy. Any ideas people?
Well, any decent mixer from a top manufacturer (Pioneer, Denon, A&H,..). Considering S8 has channel filters you’ll probably like something similar (DJM 800 and above range).
Unless you’re sure you’ll stick with this mixer for the rest of your DJing days, make sure you get a popular model from a reputable brand so you can easily sell it on for a good price. Pioneer DJM 800 / 900 is best for this, and they’re really good mixers too! You should be able to pick up a good second hand one for within your budget. For more futureproofing get the 900 with built in soundcard.
If you fancy an analogue mixer, the A&H Xone 92 is hard to beat. Here though I’d spend the extra cash and get a new one – there’s more to go wrong if they’re not well looked after.
Don’t forget – if you buy cheap, you’ll buy twice! Either A&H or Pioneer 800 / 900 can be the only mixer you’ll ever need.
Thanks for the reply. Putting the S8 on Ebay next week. With the money in going to get two Technics and an Xone 42. My friend is selling a djm 350 aswell. In your experience should I go for the 350 or the Xone 42?
For me, the whole point of an A&H mixer is the filters. Plural. As in 2 filters - one for each side of the cross fader. The Xone 42 only has one filter so kind of misses the point. Unless you’re getting a Xone 62 or 92, I’d just go with a Pioneer.
If using DJ software: Denon x1600, it’s also Traktor Scratch certified so no external sound card required.
If using vinyl more or less exclusively: Allen & Heath Xone 92, or thereabouts.
Pioneer make good kit I agree, but I find them overpriced and uninspiring, so I avoid them where possible. But that’s just me, objectively speaking they are good mixers.
There is plenty of good solid mixers for less than 1000 bucks. Don’t let the Pioneer Fanboys tell you you need “the industry standard” or something.
A&H Xone Mixers are nice, but need some “getting used to” time. I would definitely try them before buying. They are definitely not everyones thing.
I will get flamed to death for this by the Pio fanboys again but I recently tried out one of the newer Reloop mixers and was very positively surprised. Nice buildquality and the FX where really not bad.
If you consider getting Technics you might also think about keeping the S8 as a mixer. It’s a very solid 4 channel standalone mixer for its price and it includes a Traktor Scratch license which you could use with the turntables.
Of course the Pioneer mixers are great products too, but they are ridiculously overpriced. If you play out you’ll find it easy to adapt to them and can still use them.
Personally, I have used a lot of different mixers. The Allen and Heath mixers are brilliant, and very much respected in the DJ world. Don’t be fooled by ‘industry standard’ as mentioned previously, shop around. You know what you want, and need. I use Denon Gear, and use an older DN-X1500, 500 and an MC-6K MK2. And to be honest, they have caused me no trouble at all, and are solid. In my 20 ish years of DJ’n, I have seen more pio gear fail than any other premium brand.
Get a Pioneer DJM-850. It has almost all the good parts of the 900, but some bonus extra’s as the Echo Up as well. That fx alone makes me want it that much more than a DJM-900.
And Pio fanboys or not, just look at the secondhand market. I’ve tried some mixers, but it’s always the DJM’s that I prefer. That is personal, I know it, but that opinion is shared with the mass.
I’d keep the s8 if I was you. If you don’t use the remix decks I’m sure you can do a million other things with a s8. Map some buttons to some effects or a loop recorder. Traktor is ten times more capable then a pioneer setup. I have a friend with all the top of the line pio and as he showed it to me, I felt bad. My z2 and TTs, which were a fifth of the cost could do ten times more than his setup. Granted it’s not that out of package experience.
Unfortunately you can’t re-map the S8 remix controls (yet) if you don’t want to put the whole unit into Midi mode which makes you loose the normal functionality. The mapping on the S8 is way to complex to let people mess around with it I guess.
But still, with an S8 you have a very solid 4 channel mixer, a Traktor controller and a DVS soundcard in one device. Not the worst deal.
Also… a lot of DJs (including me) get bored after doing 2 channel song 2 song mixes and you’ll be happy to be able to do more without upgrading to a totally different setup
I can vouch for Ecler mixers as well. Good quality for the price and have always kept me happy. All current modells also have good send-return if you want to encorporate an external effect unit.