Ecler SMAC Pro 30 vs Vestax PCV 180/275

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-- Ecler SMAC Pro 30 vs Vestax PCV 180/275

Posted by borron on Dec-25-2003 03:09:

Ecler SMAC Pro 30 vs Vestax PCV 180/275

I'm searching the market for a new mixer. My current one is Reloop RMX 2 Kill, which has a lot of defects (shitty sound, shitty buttons and faders). Anyway, after a lot of searching i came up with these two mixers which i think fit perfectly what i want.

I wanted a mixer which was small, no beatcounter, no integrated fx, two or three channel, fx send knob, kill switches, cue pan, not very expensive and finally, with XLR balanced connectors so i can plug my monitors without any RCA adapters.

Out of these characteristics, the Ecler is only missing the cue pan. On the other hand, the Tascam is missing the kill switches.
Their price is similar, with the tascam being a little more expensive. Right now i'm thinking more of the tascam, has i enjoy the cue pan very much and don't use the kill switches that often. Also i have no use for 3 channels at the same time. But i only dj for about 10 months, so maybe i will need those functions in the future...

So what i'm asking out is what you people think of these mixers, have you ever played in one? And most importantly, how is their sound?

Merry X-mas

Posted by `pr0digy on Dec-25-2003 04:34:

I'd personally go with the Tascam if it's just between those two.

Posted by borron on Dec-25-2003 18:47:

After extensive research, i just discovered that the Tascam XS8 is exactly the same as the Ecler HAK 360, only with a different brand and faders. It seems (from what i've read around) that Ecler is the one that makes them, then sold the design to Tascam who replaced the faders and knobs.

So for now i'll drop the idea of the HAK, as it is mighty expensive.

I'm also thinking of buying a mixer without XLR connectors... but i'm only doing so if these below are much better than the Smac Pro 30. What's your opinion?

Vestax PCV-180 (infinite kill? what's that?)
Vestax PCV-275 (split cue... nice...)

Thanks

Posted by Nemesis44 on Dec-26-2003 13:11:

I would recomend the Vestax PCV275 over anything else that you have mentioned. This mixer has the design that is the industry standard for club mixers not to mention you are getting the Vestax build quality. It's common that I run into this mixer in the clubs I play at and can't fault it.
My experience with the PCV-180 is limited however and the main reason why I don't like it is it's ugliness. But I'm sure it's a quality mixer.

I wouldn't be too fussed about the kill switch thing though, I find that they are not really that useful for mixing trance. But you have great EQ control with this mixer.

I used to have the previous version of this which was a smokey chrome colour 'the PMC-17 or something like that' and can't fault that either. I never liked ECLER mixers though, but that is just a personal prefference thing and not because some of them are bad.
Good luck with your choices.

Cheers
Nem

Posted by venomdx on Dec-28-2003 12:40:

I have a small question about the PCV-275.

Does the low frequency EQ have a significant effect on the lower-mid frequencies? I have read that the bass EQ is not as tight as it could be on this mixer.

On my current mixer if i drop the bass to around -16Db (the lowest on the PCV-275) this will also kill quite a lot of the volume on the lower mid-range frequencies (but this is only a 2-band EQ) and I find it a very annoying problem.

thx.

Posted by Nemesis44 on Dec-28-2003 13:57:

Hey Veno,

I have never had any problems with this mixer when I have played in a club that has it installed, though I must admit that I have never had the luxury of hearing it over a home system. But the mixer I had before my current one was as I mentioned the previous version of the 275 and I found that there was no problems with that.

I also own a PMC-05 Pro II and that only has two band EQ so I know where you are comming from. Saying that, I have a Xone 464 in my house and I don't turn the bass EQ all the way down on that either. It would suck the life out everything in the room as it goes down pretty far.

Cheers
Nem

Posted by venomdx on Dec-28-2003 14:37:

Thanks nemesis

Posted by benoitfan on Dec-28-2003 21:04:

I'm a Vestax PCV-275 fan, that mixer rocks, I'd choose it over any of the others you mentioned, definitely!

Posted by borron on Dec-28-2003 22:27:

Thanks peeps, the choice is made. PCV-275 it is.

Posted by Nemesis44 on Dec-28-2003 23:40:

Just so you know,

Anytime you move up to a 'better' format of mixer it will take a little bit of time for you to get used to it. Once you have mastered it I think you will be happy.

Cheers
Nem