What do people think of these two mixers? I’m looking to possibly change to an external mixing setup with an X1 and probably a K2 in the future. I’ve heard the only problem with the Xone 22 is the filter pop, and I can get a used one for $150-180. The DJM 250 is around 350 because it just came out and has dual filters. Has anyone used these mixers and could you tell me what you think?
Also, my main worry about using an external mixer + modular midi controllers is I won’t have a pitch slider. Is it possible to route a rotary to change traktor’s pitch? Or is pitch bending with buttons enough? I’ve even thought of using a couple of the xone K2’s sliders as pitch sliders…the problem with that is there is no center click on those sliders. Your thoughts?
I’d say go for the DJM, it’s one of the most solid mixers in it’s price bracket, and completely blows away everything I can think of in a cost/durability ratio. There’s a little bit of case rattle when you tap the plate, but the knobs and buttons are all totally rock solid. It’s more like a DJM mini than a budget DJM.
Also, I vote against the xone because of my end all nitpick with all of them: the gdmf cue section, and the filter workflow. This is just me, but in my experience, a “hot filter,” that is, dual purpose knobs that don’t have to be routed, is exponentially better suited to mixing. Yes, the filters on the DJM are a bit soft, and the xones filter “sounds nicer,” but the way filter routing works vs hot filters just makes it more work to use than it has to be. Managing routing, filter position, and frequency knob position vs turn knob for filter has the potential to be set damaging if you get crossed up in the heat of the mix. This is just a nitpick though, both of them work quite well, and in practice you should be fine when you get the feel of it. However, a hot filter with a status indicator doesn’t really have the potential to let you down. Just my $.02
I’m constantly hearing how Xone sound quality beats out pioneer…Is that the case with the lower entry level mixers as well? What makes xone’s sound better?
I have used them both quite a bit and the Xone is built better and beats Pioneer in every aspect possible when it comes to comparing the two, but i just couldn’t get along with the Xone so i would have to chose the Pio even though i think the build quality is far worse than the Xone.
Just felt a bit more at home around the DJM250 to be honest, There wasn’t much build quality difference but i just felt that the Xone was built that bit better.
Although the Xone is a fantastic mixer and i have a lot of respect for it, i just enjoyed the Pio more i suppose. But it was just purely a preference, others may prefer the Xone (which i think they will).
But over here (UK) there is only like £1 difference between the two mixers new depending on where you go
I won’t lie…I like Pioneers layout and ease of use.
Its like Windows…user friendly.
The Xone is a better mixer, but I am still not 100% used to it.
The 22 is nothing…but the bigger brothers took some getting used to.
Once you have tried the Xone series, you will hear the diff in sound.
Maybe not in your bedroom, but on a big outdoor rig, I find it just sounds MUCH warmer and does not freak out like the Pioneer when you push it a bit my mistake.
How does the EQ curve sound when comparing the 250 to the xone 22? Or just pioneer vs xone in general? It’s not so much the filters I’m concerned about but more about the EQ quality. Hell, if anyone has any other 2 channel mixer recommendations with amazing EQ feel/quality I might consider something else
And what about the “problems” with the filter and the cue volume level sarasin? I’ve been looking everywhere for a detailed report on the pros and cons of the xone 22 but can’t find one anywhere. Think you could do a quick write up on what you like/dislike about it?
The Filter pop is something you will just need to get used to. In the beginning it pissed me off. But after a while and a few searches online, i got the hang of it!
If you enable it at the right setting and time, you don’t get the pop.
The Cue Level issue?
If you have decent cans, its not an issue i think.
I have not used the Xone22 in a club or festival, only at home (where it will be used mostly I think), so i can not say if it is really too soft. But in my home studio, its fine!
Its a better built mixer that the DJM. I owed a DJM600 previously and LOVED that thing.
However, since having a Xone forced on my when playing out, i found it to be the SHIT!
Its solid…seriously solid.
I got it…to be my DVS External Scratch mixer. I put the InnoFader Pro in it.
So while its not an actual scratch mixer, it does teh job fucking well.
The line faders are long, so you are not gonna enter a DMC with it. But its serves me well. I just want to scratch a bit with the X Fader (with the best in teh world installed) and also be able to mix as per usual with the long line faders and use the Filter and EQ’s for other styles.
So the best quality (sound and built) mixer for a GOOD price (for what you getting) and the best X Fader in the world installed.
For the price of a entry level mixer I would not buy (after years of experience and knowing what I like now) anything else. If you want a quality 2 channel mixer…it will do it for you.
I have used both and even owned a 22.
You can not go wrong with either just consider that the pio is digital and the xone is analog.
As a workflow, the pio is easier and no brainer while the xone you can screw some things:
It has no switch to turn off or on and it is very easy to get disconnected.
You have to route the filter and since is one filter, easily you can screw your mix if don´t look at the bottom switch for on and off and another switch for hp/lp.
To see the levels, there is another switch for cue or master.
On the plus side:
With the internal jumpers you can make it for 4 phono or 4 line switchable plus the fx return you can use efx machine.
It has booth output with separate volume, wild and mild resonance on the filter.
The faders are very long, the filters are way better (May be because they are analog and vca).
In the eq. part it is a little weird where they cut the bass, i preffer to take out more lows and almost no middle like in other allen and heath mixers (I own a 4d) but that is a question of taste.
I think the better you can get is an used djm-400. It is an awesome two channel mixer with better d/a a/d converters, sampler, effects and the great loop roll. The only problem is that do not have balanced outs and booth out, otherwise is a great mixer.
Sarasin, in reference to the “cue” issue I was talking about: I looked into it further and found that some people complain about a distinct “hissing” noise that is put out by channel A in the headphone output…any words on that?
WTF? OS is much more user frindly than Windows. Not going to make a discussion about it noe though.But Windows is only more ‘‘friendly’’ to your wallet.
I disagree with that. I hate my mac for trying to get anything done in a decent workflow. Windows is better for actually being able to get things done for most people. OSX gets in my way instead of helping me. I mean you can’t even use the delete key to delete a file. You have to use the damn mouse.
Anyways back on topic. I bought the DJM-250. I really can only compare it to other Pio mixers I have used and to a vestax PMC-275.
The line faders don’t have any resistance to them. You can just toss them around. I really don’t like that myself and may open it up and replace them with a set of faders from the DJM 800.
The filter knobs are plastic and feel to light. Otherwise the mixer is pretty solid for the money. And if you do some searching you can pick one up for about 300 USD.
