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Axis9

I'm thinking about buying me some cd-decks now.
And looked at different players. And the big problem is to decide witch one you should get.

I know the best way is to try them out by your selv, even before thinking about buying. Therefor I'll ask for your experience.

The new Axis9 from Numark seems like an excellent choice in my eyes.
but I know this is expensive stuff, so is there someone that have tried this one out? and is it worth the money!??

http://www.numark.com/products/prod...v=overview&n=38

Course the CDJ-800 from Pioneer seems to have what it takes, but though more expensive....

http://www.djsounds.com/hardware/cdj-800.htm

any advice from you guys?

thanks for your time.

Re: Axis9

quote:

Originally posted by Sjodalf I'm thinking about buying me some cd-decks now. And looked at different players. And the big problem is to decide witch one you should get. I know the best way is to try them out by your selv, even before thinking about buying. Therefor I'll ask for your experience. The new Axis9 from Numark seems like an excellent choice in my eyes. but I know this is expensive stuff, so is there someone that have tried this one out? and is it worth the money!?? http://www.numark.com/products/prod...v=overview&n=38 Course the CDJ-800 from Pioneer seems to have what it takes, but though more expensive.... http://www.djsounds.com/hardware/cdj-800.htm any advice from you guys? thanks for your time.

well i have axis 8, and for begginners their a good choice. i havent tried the axis 9 yet but as far as im concerned there arent alot of differences from the axis 8. the axis 8 are like one of the best ones out there, better than the cdj-800's.

im looking into buying a single cd deck also and i gotta admit the new axis 9 looks qualty! havent tried it yet but im considering saving a few more quid to get this one!

Re: Re: Axis9

quote:

Originally posted by djshawnb well i have axis 8, and for begginners their a good choice. i havent tried the axis 9 yet but as far as im concerned there arent alot of differences from the axis 8. the axis 8 are like one of the best ones out there, better than the cdj-800's.

w00t, you gotta be kidding me?
Axis8 better then cdj-800 from Pioneer??

hum.. sounds a bit strange..
but haven't tried either one of them.. so if you say so..

oh ya it's better than the axis. It's in the same price catagory so if I was you, i'd go for the CDJ800

Info: HERE

Re: Re: Re: Axis9

quote:

Originally posted by Sjodalf w00t, you gotta be kidding me? Axis8 better then cdj-800 from Pioneer?? hum.. sounds a bit strange.. but haven't tried either one of them.. so if you say so..

yeah well wutever u say then, i havent tried the cdj800's b4. maybe they could be better.

Here is my take on it. I don't see any reason to buy the axis 9 over the axis 8, unless you actually plan on using the extra features that you will be paying $200 extra per deck.

1. The touch sensitive jog wheel. While I've used this on the cdj-1000, the ability to turn it on and off is one feature that I would make sure is included on this table. I saw no mention of it on Numark's webpage, so you may want to look for that, or go into a music store and see if you can play around with it before you buy. Also, this is primarily to give you better ability to scratch, will you actually be doing that>--and with trance? :

2. I couldn't tell if there are more effects on the axis 9 versus 8, but it looks about the same. I've never really felt that effects should be on cd decks or turntables. I think that it's useless and you are paying double for it to have it on both decks instead of just having a mixer with an effects processor. Better yet, buy a single external processor and hook it up to your mixer--you can get a LOT more effects, a better quality effects processor and only have to for it once! In addition to this, I know that on the CDJ-100s that I have, you have no control over how fast or slow the effect happens relative to your BPM. Sure you can slow the effect down or speed it up with the jog wheel, but this is just the ability to change the speed, this is NOT control. The DJM-600 has a function that allows you to beatmatch the effect to your track. This way the effect will take EXACTLY 4 beats (or whatever you set it to), not 3.5 or 4.25 etc.
It is very possible that the newer decks can do this, especially since the axis 8 and 9 both have BPM counters on them (which again, you are paying for one on both decks and probably a third on your mixer if you are sticking with higher-end equipment.

3. As above, the looping abilities are in the same boat as the effects--if you will be one of the very few to actually USE the loop function, you will probably be using the one on your mixer instead of your table.

4. The next function that is semi novel is the adjustable start and stop speed. This is quite nice, but can easily be imitated with the jog wheel and a zip effect on a less expensive deck like the cdj-100. Both the axis 8 and 9 have it, so there is no difference on this point between the two decks--but do you really need it?

5. The BPM counter and auto-sync function is good I guess if you are a newbie and are spinning out, but if you are newbie, then you probably are not spinning out, and you probably should not be spinning out Therefore unless you don't want to learn how to really mix, then you won't need this function. This, again, is on both decks, so no difference.

6. All of the digital and midi connections are the same, and both can take cdrs. Both have rubber buttons, which you may or may not like because your finger can stick to them and they can be worn smooth after a while. Both say they are upgradable, but to what? Do they mean that there are more after market parts that you can buy and install to make your deck better, or does this just mean that you can replace the parts that will inevitably break? And sleep mode to increase laser life? This makes me question what kind of crappy laser are they putting in there in the first place. When have you ever known a cd player or cd deck to stop working because the laser has failed? For me personally, I've been using the same cd decks for over 3 years and they are fine. I've been using the same cd player on my stereo for close to 10 years, and it's still in tip top shape--and it was a LOT cheaper than the axis 8 or 9.

So I have come down to only two differences between the axis 8 and 9. One is the very first point--the touch sensitive jog wheel, which may or may not be useful to you. Is this worth paying $1200 for instead of $800 for the Axis 8? The other difference, is of course the most obvious one--looks. Of course the 9 looks way better than the 8, but all they really did was paint it black and resign the look of the buttons. It's up to you to descide if it is worth it or not. I know that sometimes I am willing to pay for looks, but I don't really have the budget concerns of most, so you will have to consider your own budget and whether or not you feel the upgrade in looks is worth the extra cost.

Now let me discuss the CDJ-800, which will run you $1400 a pair. Honestly, the only differences between the decks comes down to four points.

1. The 800 has a larger jog wheel--almost 18cm, versus 13cm for the axis. This is very important, so don't think that size doesn't matter! The larger the wheel, the less sensitive it is. Think about it this way. The larger the wheel, the larger the circumference of the wheel. This means that when you move a larger wheel, lets say, 1cm along its point of rotation, then you will move it fewer degrees (360� in a circle) than you will a smaller jog wheel. So it seems like this is bad that it is less sensitive right? No, in fact this is the one reason I enjoy spinning with vinyl over cds and I have to readjust when I don't use cds for a while. Since the larger wheel (vinyl having a 30.5cm "jog wheel") doesn't move as many degrees, you can now fine-tune your beatmatching much better. This is the most important point of my whole post, because if you spend $1200 and get the Axis 9s, then you will be sorely disapointed that you didn't spend the extra $200 if you can't beatmatch as well as you could with the CDJ-800s. All of the advanced effects and features won't matter if you can't get the basic ones down!

2. It does the touch-sensitive jog wheel a LOT better than Numark does. It links the entire player to the jog wheel so you can have absolute control over everything that you do, with many very convienent features. You can read about them by clicking on the tech spec link on the page that tiger777 provided above. So if you are really getting the Axis 9 for it's touch sensitive jog wheel, then you better be sure that you like it at least as well as the one on the cdj-800.

3. Another topic is the quality and reputation of the Brand Names. Pioneer wholey wins the cake here, no contest. Numark is making a good comeback with it's highest end products, but Pioneer doesn't even market a "low-end" product line--something to think about. Pioneers most inexpensive equipment is still very good quality.

4. Again, it comes down to looks. If you think that the Numarks are beautiful and the CDJ is ugly, then you may not like putting all that money toward something that you don't like looking at. My personal point though, is that whichever one you get, you will enjoy it's look absolutely--because it will be YOURS!

In summary, I would suggest going for the CDJ-800 if you are going to use the touch sensitive jog wheel and looping effects etc. If you are not going to use those effects, or are unsure, then I wouldn't suggest that you get any of the decks discussed here. I would go for the CDJ-100. This way if you want the effects, you can get them on your mixer, or with an external processor--and it doesn't leave you effect-less either. There are three effects on the CDJ-100: Zip, Wah and Jet(flanger). The Jet/flanger and Wah effects being by far, the two most common effects that djs use. The 100 is the perfect choice since, by your comment "the CDJ-800 from Pioneer seems to have what it takes, but though more expensive...." I would assume that you are on a budget. This way you can get a pair of decks for $600 and have $200-$800 more to spend--a new mixer, an effects processor, a nice case and stand, speakers and of course, music!!

As always, I suggest that you go to a music store and play with your decks before you buy them!

Re: Re: Axis9

quote:

Originally posted by djshawnb well i have axis 8, and for begginners their a good choice. i havent tried the axis 9 yet but as far as im concerned there arent alot of differences from the axis 8. the axis 8 are like one of the best ones out there, better than the cdj-800's. yeah well wutever u say then, i havent tried the cdj800's b4. maybe they could be better.

No offense man, but why did you even state that the Axis 8 is better than the CDJ-800 in the first place if you have absolutely no basis for comparison. In my opinion, you did nothing but mislead someone who was depending on those who post here for correct information. And with this information he might have spent money on a certain pair of decks and regretted it due to misleading information.

I don't mean to rail on you, but please think about if you actually know about what you are typing when you post advise.

I always say: "When you don't know what you're talking about, you better shut up..."

He's rite there man. If it was you who needed advise, you'd like to have correct information too huh

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger777 I always say: "When you don't know what you're talking about, you better shut up..." He's rite there man. If it was you who needed advise, you'd like to have correct information too huh

i dont want to be mean here, but please read the post's i type carefully. i stated that they could be better than the axis 8's, or maybe not, bcuz i never tried the cdj800's before. so that tells the person i dont know anything about the cdj800's. and therefore, he or she will compare both of them and will check to see which one suits him or her the best. i never meant that they have to buy the axis 8.

quote:

Originally posted by djshawnb i dont want to be mean here, but please read the post's i type carefully. i stated that they could be better than the axis 8's, or maybe not, bcuz i never tried the cdj800's before. so that tells the person i dont know anything about the cdj800's. and therefore, he or she will compare both of them and will check to see which one suits him or her the best. i never meant that they have to buy the axis 8.

True, if you hadn't made that second post, then I wouldn't have had the basis for making my post to you. My point was that you didn't tell us that you had never used the CDJ-800 until the second post, which was prompted by Sjodalf stating that your initial post was rediculous. Again, I'm not trying to be mean either, but if you are going to compare equipment like that, then your disclaimer of not ever having used the CDJ-800 should have been in your initial post, because it is possible that the person may never read your later post.

quote:

Originally posted by Dj Flesch True, if you hadn't made that second post, then I wouldn't have had the basis for making my post to you. My point was that you didn't tell us that you had never used the CDJ-800 until the second post, which was prompted by Sjodalf stating that your initial post was rediculous. Again, I'm not trying to be mean either, but if you are going to compare equipment like that, then your disclaimer of not ever having used the CDJ-800 should have been in your initial post, because it is possible that the person may never read your later post.

oh well sorry about that. i forget to type things sometimes.

If I were you, just save up for these:



It will be the last CD player you will ever buy

quote:

Originally posted by Vlad If I were you, just save up for these: It will be the last CD player you will ever buy

thats what i wanna get after i sell my numarks.

I agree, but I figured that if $1400 was out of his pricerange, then $1750 was even more out of his pricerange! By far my favorite feature is the actively driven platter. This has been my biggest gripe about vinyl emulating cd players. If you truely want to emulate the vinyl feel, you have to have the platter move! I don't know about anyone else, but I don't make note abou how hard I'm pressing, but I do look at the strobe speed indicators on the side of the platter to see how much I am slowing the record down or speeding it up. If there is no spinning platter, then it doesn't emulate vinyl IMO.

For this reason, this would be the only vinyl emulator on the market (that I am aware of atm) that I myself would consider purchasing, if I was in the market for one. Though, I wouldn't really even consider buying one, because if you want the cd player to emulate vinyl, why not just go with TTs? I think that most trance djs will head toward that point at one time or another anyway. Sure cds are useful, so that is why I have them as part of my setup--to play cds with cd feel etc. Then I have my TTs to play all of my vinyl. Period. I don't want my cds to feel like vinyl. If I did, I would much rather spin the real thing rather than imitate it poorly.

Anyway, this deck is still a very very good one--even for a vinyl emulator The good thing about this deck is all of the features other than the vinyl emulation. The ability to cut out sections of the track on the fly is increadible, being able to play multiple tracks from the same cd at the same time is neat, though I don't know how exactly one would go about mixing that in properly. And it seems to be loaded with lots of extras and standards that should make it one of the best cd decks out there on the market right now!

The only thing to consider, again, is if you will actually get your money's worth. How many of those increadible features, like 3-way scratching, will you actually use? Cutting out a section of the track on the fly is something that I probably wouldn't trust myself to do live, and I can use software to be more prescise in my studio. They are pretty much one of the biggest ticket items that you can buy right now and being that you can get the brand new grand master MK5s for $1400 a pair, and the 1200mkII for $940 a pair or lower... Is there really justification in spending THAT much money? Shit, you could buy a pair of technics 1200MKII AND a pair of CDJ-100s and still have money left over to pick yourself up a pair of HDJ-1000s and still have enough to take your girlfriend out to a nice dinner. You can save even more if you go with the TTX1s over the 1200s.

My whole point is the justification of buying something that expensive. The grand master techs are a LOT, and is there really any big difference over the other techs that you would actually USE (ie an extra +/-8% pitch range was never needed in the last 20 years...) So unless you have a bunch of filthy money to throw away on this stuff, think about how to maximize the dollars that you do have. If I had $1700 to buy a whole setup, I would buy this:

Berhinger DX626 Mixer- $100
2X Numark TTX1s - $800
2X Pioneer CDJ100s - $600
Pioneer HDJ-1000s - $160
Never having to upgrade anything but your mixer - Priceless

Total Cost: $1660

The mixer gives you three channels with 5 inputs and 3 outputs. It is by far the best mixer in its class, considering the features that it has compaired to the price. This will allow you to use all of your equipment to a decent capacity until you can afford to buy a mixer which has individual channel volumes--which I couldn't find on a mixer under about $450 (though my search was not comprehensive). With all of this, you could upgrade to another mixer and only have to replace a $100 piece of equipment--no big deal considering the increadible use you can get out of it. Anway, I think that I'm really off-topic and so I'll stop now All prices and equipment I found on www.pssl.com

Thanks for your replies guys!

Specially thanks to DJ Flesch for some great recommendations!!
It's cuz of guys like you, that makes this board so great man!! you really went in my position and gave me some good advices there mate!

Haven't decided me jet on witch of them I'm gonna buy, but my plans are a bit changed now.
Figured out that Axis8 isn't that much better then Axis9, and the extra cost aren�t worth it!

And my budget can't take it either.. hehe.

Well, seems like everybody on this board recommend Pioneer, and their stuff, and since CDJ-800 is way over my budget
The only one that is left is the CDJ-100. I know this is a solid player which does the basics, but not much more..
But hey, I'm totally newbie on this CD mixing thing, so I guess this is the best way to start! and later on,
I can upgrade my equipment...

To the mixer. As you recommend Dj Flecsh, the behringer mixer is a great choice, and after speaking with other
DJ's on this, they say I should go for it. And the price is nice to!! so I guess this is quality for the money!

But I'm going to try the Decks out next week, so I�m sure on what I will go for.. but as it seems now,
I'm going for:
2 x CDJ100s
1 x Behringer Pro Mixer VMX200

Again, thanks for the help!

Don't get the Pioneer cdj 100's over the Numark Axis 8's.... The numarks are a hell of alot better than the 100's.... What can the CDJ100 do that the Numark can't do better....Those Pioneer's are an artifact of cd technology...

My friend has the Axis 8's and I like them just as much as my denon 2600 if not better sometimes...

The Numarks can be upgraded over the net too, when new functions are introduced...Plus they are alot more fun than those boring Pioneers....

quote:

Originally posted by pumavisor808 Don't get the Pioneer cdj 100's over the Numark Axis 8's.... The numarks are a hell of alot better than the 100's.... What can the CDJ100 do that the Numark can't do better....Those Pioneer's are an artifact of cd technology... My friend has the Axis 8's and I like them just as much as my denon 2600 if not better sometimes... The Numarks can be upgraded over the net too, when new functions are introduced...Plus they are alot more fun than those boring Pioneers....

Obviously there are cd decks that are better than the CDJ-100s. They also carry a price tag to reflect that! Sjodalf is on a tight budget, as it would seem, and so he would rather not spend the money for the Axis 8s. I counter this argument to you, why spend the extra $400 on features that 1) you don't need and 2) you may never use. If you read my posts above, then you would know that the Axis 8 has lots of features that are incorporated into most good mixers. And this way you don't have to buy the looping and effect functions three times over! You buy it once in the mixer and don't get cd decks that have these functions because you already have them in your mixer or external effects box.

To take a varient of JohnSmith's argument, there are two cases here:

1. You buy the best equipment right off the bat and don't need to upgrade, or

2. You buy your starting dj equipment and you either pay money to upgrade or pay money to add on.

The first case is only for people who have the will to save or the money to front the expense.

The second is for everyone who can't shell out 2-3 grand of the bat.

If you are in the second case, that doesn't mean that you have to buy crap equipment that you get rid of when you want better stuff. If you truely stick to cd decks, then you won't bother upgrading to turntables, you will get a second pair of cd decks that have all the functions of these top of the line decks.

My point in so many of these posts is that most people--ESPECIALLY trance Djs--will never use any of these functions, and so you are wasting your money on something that you could better put elsewhere, like in music.

So your main question is what can the CDJ-100s do that the Axis 8 can't do better. Well, my responce is that for all of the basic functions that you need to mix CDs, most CD decks are pretty much equal. My main question is, if the laser is the same, and the pitch control is the same, and the cueing is the same, then why spend more money to get these basic functions than you need to, if most trance Djs never use the advanced functions that you pay for?

Price difference for the Cdj 100 to the Axis 8 = $99.00 per table. (this is from PSSL) And I'm sure you could find an even better deal somewhere else. That is not much of a difference for a table that can spin circles around the CDJ 100. Why not spend an extra $100.00 and get something that you won't have to upgrade for years.

As for the features...why wouldn't you use them?
The instant you get your hands on a cd player that can produce loops and hot starts and effects, you start using them. I guarantee that you would use the majority of the options on the deck. Meanwhile all the pioneer will do is play a cd and add some litte effect... where's the looping, hot starts, etc?

The pioneer is a second rate cd player now. There are so many other cd players out there that are better than this one.
If you want something comparable to the cdj 100- get the axis 2. This is even cheaper than the cdj.

quote:

Originally posted by pumavisor808 Don't get the Pioneer cdj 100's over the Numark Axis 8's.... The numarks are a hell of alot better than the 100's.... What can the CDJ100 do that the Numark can't do better....Those Pioneer's are an artifact of cd technology... My friend has the Axis 8's and I like them just as much as my denon 2600 if not better sometimes... The Numarks can be upgraded over the net too, when new functions are introduced...Plus they are alot more fun than those boring Pioneers....

i have the axis 8's too.

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