I've got a vestax pcv-002 (http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:...LQ2HuLVE_-pMJg=) which has seen better days. The cross fader is leaking, the EQ knobs are scratchy, and the volume on one channel is a bit dodgy when it's at max. It is about 8 years old so not really surprising that it is a bit f*cked.

I'm thinking of upgrading to this...

http://www.chemical-records.co.uk/s...rack=VMC002XLUB

This is the latest version of my current mixer. My mate reckons I should upgrade to something like a Xone 22 or a Pioneer DJM350. Much more expensive but he reckons way better sound quality.

Now the thing is, I use traktor, so I don't really need the FX on the mixers. However, if the sound quality is going to be better then I'd definitely consider spending a bit more $.

I've got nice speakers Alesis M1's and a KEF sub so my sound quality is already good. I don't see how the mixer could improve this though. Is anyone able to explain how the mixer would improve the sound quality?

ive had Pioneer DJM300, DJM500, DJM600, Ecler Nuo 3, and Allen%Heath Xone:32 and the Xone wins easily all of them. and the fact that you dont need efex makes it a easy choise, oh and the filter is pretty cool. The third channel can be used for efex for example. Xone32 was on sale some time ago when i got mine, maybe there more left, I dont remember where but if u search this forum you will find a thread about it, like a year ago or something (or last christmas maybe), half of the people here bought it. I have never heard Vestax though but Im pretty sure the more expensive ones sounds great.

Allen & Heath all the way. Superb sound quality, design, and the years of service it will give you.

In answer to the actual question, "explain how the mixer would improve the sound quality"...

In analogue mixers, poor quality components (amplifiers, filters etc), bad routing of signal tracks around the mixer and poor shielding from interference will introduce noise and distortion (non-linearity) in the signal - i.e. what comes out won't be exactly the same as what goes in.

In digital mixers, there are still some analogue components and the same goes for these, but also poor quality analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue conversion will introduce noise, as will space-saving techniques in digital processing, like low resolution FFT algorithms (used a lot in digital FX).

The Xone:22 and the Vestax mixers are, to the best of my knowledge, entirely analogue, while the Pioneer DJM350 is almost certainly mostly digital.

Allen & Heath are recognised as experts in analogue design - their analogue recording studio desks are very highly regarded and used in studios across the world. They make their low-end mixers cheaper by reducing functionality, not quality. Vestax (and some would argue Pioneer) make their low-end mixers cheaper by using cheaper parts as well.

That said, in that price range Vestax are still one of the better brands - people like Numark and Behringer just make unreliable tat.

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Stu Cox |

urei

There is nothing wrong with vestax sound quality.

I would easily say they are as good as pioneer.


The xones I cannot comment on since I have never used one. But everyone one raves so they are probably the shit.

[rant]
With all the crappy/badly recorded MP3s out there the sound quality doesn't mean shit in any case. How many clipped tracks does one need to buy in ones life.
[/rant]

quote:

Originally posted by Stu Cox In answer to the actual question, "explain how the mixer would improve the sound quality"... In analogue mixers, poor quality components (amplifiers, filters etc), bad routing of signal tracks around the mixer and poor shielding from interference will introduce noise and distortion (non-linearity) in the signal - i.e. what comes out won't be exactly the same as what goes in. In digital mixers, there are still some analogue components and the same goes for these, but also poor quality analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue conversion will introduce noise, as will space-saving techniques in digital processing, like low resolution FFT algorithms (used a lot in digital FX). The Xone:22 and the Vestax mixers are, to the best of my knowledge, entirely analogue, while the Pioneer DJM350 is almost certainly mostly digital. Allen & Heath are recognised as experts in analogue design - their analogue recording studio desks are very highly regarded and used in studios across the world. They make their low-end mixers cheaper by reducing functionality, not quality. Vestax (and some would argue Pioneer) make their low-end mixers cheaper by using cheaper parts as well. That said, in that price range Vestax are still one of the better brands - people like Numark and Behringer just make unreliable tat.

cheers dude. I definitely wasn't going to go for numark or behringer. But to be honest I wasn't totally happy with the quality of the vestax. Really tempted to splash out on a better quality mixer...hmm.

I heard some bad things about the xone22 after I did a google search. Apparently the cross fader leaks on some of them. Maybe A&H didn't get their first 'bedroom-dj' level mixer right first try?

quote:

Originally posted by sebjr I heard some bad things about the xone22 after I did a google search. Apparently the cross fader leaks on some of them. Maybe A&H didn't get their first 'bedroom-dj' level mixer right first try?

Yea the X:22 seems to be a one off for them. They use a cheaper version of the filter which leads me to think they just used a cheaper chipset overall.

If you can track down a X:32 for a good price, grab it. I picked up one a year ago and love it. I've used vestax mixers before, and while they aren't crap, they didnt feel nearly as good as a pioneer or A&H.

That being said...DJ'ing is 95% technique, 5% equipment... so I doubt the vestax would hold you back.

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you can't go wrong with this

I've own the vestax mixer you are proposing. To me the sound quality is sub-par and the their is a lot of sound leak (when you can hear music coming through channels despite the gain being all the way down). I would suggest spending a bit more money. FYI, my Numark DXM06 sounded and performed better than the vestax.

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quote:

Originally posted by orTofønChiLd you can't go wrong with this

Really.

I love my Ecler. Excellent sound quality!

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