Hey all.

For the past couple of months, I've practiced mixing music on my computer almost every day.. I've gotten really into it, and I think that I want to try doing it in the real world.

I am considering buying the Pioneer "DJ Box 1" package. It includes a Pioneer DJM-300 mixer and two CDJ-100 CD players. I know you guys will say "go with vinyl instead".. My argument against using vinyl is that I can't afford it. Buying this is a one-time investment, and it won't lose value for a while. It will be fun to play with, and I'll learn to beatmatch and mix much better than I do now.

If I bought Technics instead, I would have to spend several hundred bucks more on vinyl as well.. I don't have money to do that, and probably won't for a long while (I'm in college and half-broke). I think I can afford the Pioneer mixer and CD players, and just have some fun with them.. I have no aspirations to be a famous club DJ yet, I simply want to practice, have fun and play for friends and some small parties.

I realize that playing CDs is very different from vinyl, but if I get good enough, I will simply buy 2 Technics 1200's to compliment my CD players and mixer. You have to start somewhere, right? I think that if I don't start now, it will be too late..

So is it worth it? Two great CD players with a good mixer.. Money comes and goes, but this might actually make me happy for a long time. I think this is one of my only passions in life, it's something I care deeply about, and I want to pursue it I guess I need some justification for spending 800+ dollars on a toy.

Does anyone have any feedback or moral support?

Thanks in advance.
-Nennon

Go for it.....

based on your explanation and reasoning, i don't see how this would be a bad purchase..... i have both TT's and CD decks, and using the CD's is more difficult.... then again that could be because i'm USED to vinyl..... but i'm sure if you spin on cd's for a couple years, when you finally hit the TT's they'll be cake.... plus the CD setup is smaller and easy to tote-around, especially if you want to do parties, like you said.

-ABT-

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Peace.

Thanks for your reply. Does anyone else have any opinions?

Also, how is the Pioneer DJM-300 mixer, quality wise? The cool thing about this package is that it comes with free headphones that retail for $129.. I looked them up, they seem very decent. Has anyone here used the DJM-300, and if you did, how was it?

I've never used the 300, but I have used the 500, and it's great.

the 300 is basically the same thing, only 2 channels instead of 4, and no effects.

I'd say go ahead with your purchase.. but a few things to consider.

a 2 channel mixer severly limits you. you'll never be able to play with more than 2 sources. for example, if you wanted to do a VS thing with another DJ, and he only had a 2 channel, you'd be out of luck, you'd need ANOTHER mixer, 3 in total.

if you get a 3 channel, you can plug the other guys mixer into the middle channel of yours and be ready to go.

or if you get a 4 channel, you can be totally ready, not even need his mixer at all.

and if or when you get your technics(which I highly reccomend), then you will be able to plug your 2 CD decks in, and your 2 turntables.

even before you get your 1200's, you can plug 2 channels of your computer into it, and have 4 sources that way.

just a suggestion. Pioneer is coming out with a new mixer very soon, the DJM3000. it has 4 channels, and is made to work with pioneer CD decks, fader start and all that(i'm not sure if the 300 does that). the sound quality is supposed to be awesome.

also, as for the CD players, the CDJ300s are OK, but the 1000s are even better. course they are also more expensive.

personally myself, I am going to buy top of the line stuff so that I won't have to upgrade it for a long time.

just some suggestions buddy... let me know how you do.

Go for it! I share the same passion and that was justification enough for me to dump the money I have into a hobby that I enjoy so much. As for the equipment, I haven't heard anything bad about any of the above. I just picked up 1 CDJ-100 to compliment my two 1200's and it's great. I don't find it any more difficult to mix with than TT's, but that's just me. 2 Channel mixer? I wouldn't worry, as long as you can plug in more than 2 sources your gold. Won't be very often you will have more than two channels playing at any given time so you don't need more than two. I've got a 3 channel mixer, and can hook up 9 different sources.

DO IT!

just out of curiousity, what does that package cost?

I am currently trying to get together a basic setup, and I've got the mixer already (but I will upgrade, because I am starting to h8 it, a Gemini PMX-80).

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Overpriced places sell it for $999.. The cheapest I found was $899. Good deal, I think..

The cheapest I've seen CDJ-100's go for is $258.. times two, that's 516. Mixer is pretty expensive too.. $350 is the least expensive one I could find on Yahoo Shopping.

516 + 350 is already 866 bucks.. And the package comes with $129 headphones for free. Pretty good deal I think, compartively speaking. That is, if you don't laugh at the idea of paying 800 bucks for two CD players

just by 2 technics with that 900 dollars. If you dont like them, the resale value is incredible. Start with the tables because you will find that djing with cds is a lot less manipulative and simple than vinyl...Unless you get the newest pioneer model cd djs i dont think thats a wise investment...

I agree and disagree at the same time..

Cost of CDJ's.. $899 (retail) includes 2 CDJ-100s, a DJM-300 mixer, $129 pioneer headphones and all the cables to connect it together. Cost of music: none, I can burn several singles on CDRs and learn to play those before really building a music collection. I remember what people said about CD dj's before - they have 100 CDRs but don't know the music inside out because you don't learn it as well as vinyl.. Since vinyl is expensive and you can only get limited quantities of it, you learn to play it a lot better than numerous singles you can put on CDs.

Cost of vinyl: around 800 for two technics, 299 more for a decent mixer, more for headphones, even more for vinyl.. I would be looking at something like $1300 total before I can really play.

1300 vs. 899.. I'd have to stick with 899.

dude
there is no reason to buy those cd things right now...just wait and save your money... you will regret spending so much money when you could have saved it and got a job. Theres lots of jobs on College campuses...Do i sound like a Dad? Im sorry if im prodding but please save the money and wait till you get another 300$! Besides, buying vinyl is so much fun! Its like when you were a kid and you walked into the G.I. joe Section of Toys r Us. Mmmmmm vinyl....