Please help me choose between the A&H Xone DB2 and DB4…
Hi All! Long time lurker, first time poster
I want to replace my 12 year old Pioneer DJM 600 with a better mixer that has an internal soundcard, great sound quality for enjoying my vinyl, club standard build quality so I can bring it to gigs, hardware filters and hardware FX.
I run a pair of Technics 1210’s and a Kontrol X1 currently, mixing between analogue vinyl and DVS on the DJM. I have an Audio 6 for DVS but my Traktor installation has been modified for use with Xone internal soundcards.
I don’t scratch but I mix deeper Detroit style electro and techno and experimental electronica that benefits from a more subtle and less formulaic style of mixing, I guess. Good EQ, and level management are key, and I imagine I’d really benefit from the Xone filters.
The DB2 and DB4 seem ideal for me, but other than the lack of 2 additional FX units and the per channel loopers and some shorter VU meters I can’t see much to tell them apart. There’s a £1000 price difference, so I can’t help thinking there has to be something else important I’m not seeing? What am I missing? Thanks in advance!
DB4 comes equipped with the Xone dual filter system, loopers on each channel and four effects untis, i mix techno and tech house and would not buy the db2, i really love the effects being there where they have a direct relation with the channel, also the filters are very usefull..
Ah yes, the DB4 has those 2 independent digitally emulated VCF filters. They look like they could be really useful and fun. Thanks for pointing those out
The filters on the DB2 are integrated into the two FX units and I can’t see a resonance control for them either, which makes them less useful to me. Trimodal EQ work as a replacement in filter mode, but seems kinda tricky to use without soft takeover.
I second this, I really dislike how the filters are laid out on the DB2. I would rather a 900. It is a great sounding mixer though.
The DB4 is a great mixer, but I would personally wait and see what this new ‘play differently’ Ritchie Hawtin mixer is all about before dropping all that money on a DB4.
I think the new ‘play differently’ Ritchie Hawtin mixer is leaning more towards the 92 as to the db4. So i think no soundcard from what i have seen on pictures where the mixer was hooked up, Also no effects…more leaning towards EQ and filtering the sounds and aux for external routing…but its still a mystery
Thanks for your input guys. You’ve all sort of confirmed my opinions about these mixers. The DB2 seems like it might be a compromise too far to be truly satisfying for me.
I could probably live with the lack of loopers on the DB2 because I don’t often use loops and when I do I have my X1. Likewise the 2 FX units arent so bad because I mostly mix on 2 channels.
But the DB2 filters and channel VUs are 2 features that are really compromised on that mixer when compared to the DB4. I’d use those a lot and would regret working with them as they are. If I want simple bipolar filters like those I can use my X1!
The DB4 has the traditional Xone filters (albeit digitally emulated) and a more intuitive approach to FX (that crossfader-based FX assignment on the DB2 looks like a recipe for disaster! I dont use the crossfader at all). The DB4 seems much closer to what an A+H mixer should be, in my eyes.
I agree. Looks pretty cool but possibly not for me
