XDJ-RX, XDJ-1000 or what?

Hi Jones,
I was in your situations a couple of months ago trying to decide between 2nd hand CDJ 900s or a new XDJ-Rx, I ended up getting the RX and haven’t regretted for a second! I feel like its the closest thing to a pair of CDj 2000 nexus without having to drop 5k. In regards to the Xdj-1000s I didnt consider these at the time as it was an additional cost as I needed a new mixer too (Im also a little iffy about the touch screens!)

Personally I wouldn’t got the 850s for a number of reasons.. Firstly not having the link is a pain in the ass, you have to constantly update 2 separate drives and also after a few drinks in a long set I start to forget what I’ve played, I really need both players telling me EVERY track that Ive played so I don’t repeat myself.
Also the track display is pathetic (That may not bother you though?)

Unfortunately I dont really know anything about Denon players so that ones up to you. if you do decide to get gigs again though you’ll be making life a lot easier for yourself if your rekordbox ready.

Also if your looking a saving a few dollars have you considered the Xdj-700, looks like a great unit for the money!

Good luck.

Few thoughts for you…

I’ve been using Denon gear for years, and it’s all rock solid, BUT… there are strong rumblings that the new overlords at inMusic are about to pull the plug on the 2900 model, and there have been no further updates to Denon’s Engine software, so I would have some reservations about buying into that system right now.

You say you don’t like the feel of the jogs on the XDJ-700 – where have you touched one? They’re not due for release until the end of the year. I’m expecting the jog to feel very much like the XDJ-RX so I’m curious about what you didn’t like about them?

In my humble opinion there isn’t a really good laptop-free option available yet. The XDJ-RX probably comes closest, together with a (much more expensive) XDJ-1000/DJM solution.

Being a big Denon fan myself and having owned two 2900s, it sucks, but I can understand if they pull the plug. At one point Engine was actually better than RekordBox, but they failed to conquer the market, making it too much of a niche thing. Sad but true, RekordBox won that race.

On a sidenote, there are a zillion DJs out there playing with laptops who manage NOT to lose the connection to the crowd. I personally think the guys that do have the “Serato-stare” would have the same stare but at their mixer/CDJs if they were able to play on club-gear. I.e. it’s the DJ that determines if the laptop is a hindrance or just an excuse NOT to have to look at the audience.

Yes do not get the Gemini, build quality is very lackluster….

I transitioned from CDJs to controllers 5 years ago and never looked back. I rarely stare at the laptop. Laptop stare is mostly insecure people not the fault of the laptop…

While they are great media players (you do get to play CD’s with them if wanted), you’ll miss the nice colored led ring (haven’t found an integration with DJ software that works well). Clearly you can go the DVS way with them (timecode is built-in, no need for a CD) in which case the colored ring works as expected. DVS does provide a way less integrated option and essentially no feedback from the software to the device.

A HID/Hybrid option is available too. And while it all works, it’s just not quite “there”. Having to prep tracks for USB with their proprietary software is a bummer too. Yet another platform to contend with. Even though using Engine on a laptop as a rather large touch screen library system works very nicely indeed.

Unless you are dead set on using seperate players, need CD support (which you probably don’t otherwise you wouldn’t consider XDJs) or care about the biggest jogwheels available, I’d probably move towards the SX2. Solid controller, all the features you could possibly need, stand-alone mixer capability, integration with Serato, RekordBox DJ and other midi-software (I use my SX with Mixvibes Cross), decent and decent size jogs. Pretty much all you need and the obvious all-in-one plug and play minimal setup.

Not laptop free, but you know our take on that. If you decide to go RekordBox, you can even split your library screen to be in front of you (iPad?) and have your actual DJ laptop sit to the side or the back of you.

One more thing about the Serato stare and paying attention to the audience. In both vinyl days, records and CDs would often be in less than optimal places, having you (me for sure) with your side or back to the audience while digging through the crates. Vinyl dictated looking down at the grooves while re-cueing. My point is, at least back in the day there were lots of things preventing us from spending all our time watching the crowd.

“In both vinyl days, records and CDs would often be in less than optimal places, having you (me for sure) with your side or back to the audience while digging through the crates.”

Ding, ding, ding! THIS!

Exactly, people need to worry a little less about “Serato Face”. I mean I get it – looking for a track on your laptop is about as visually exciting as reading through your emails. But rummaging around through my binders of CDs trying to find the next track had my back to the crowd, sometimes for a few minutes at a time. If I’m looking at the screen, it’s because I’m doing something. DJs shouldn’t have to apologise for looking like they are actually working instead of dancing around.

But I digress…

Great that it worked out and thanks for the feedback, we always value the feedback when people come back and tell us things worked for them.

Keep spinnin’ and merry X-mas!