I recently played at a buddies house who has some pretty decent equipment, but something just wasn’t right. The bass wasn’t coming through very clearly, and often it seemed like the kicks were double hitting, almost like a mix that was ¼ beat off, but only with one song playing. It happened in the headphones and the speakers, so I’m pretty sure it’s the decks or the mixer. Here’s his set-up:

2 Numark TTX’s
DJM-600
Sony 700’s
Crappy “in-the-box” cables
I don’t know what kind of needles

All equipment was purchased new a few months ago. My friend is not very well educated about DJing or audio equipment. He doesn’t even hear the problem, but its so bad that I can’t even beatmatch on his gear. Normally I wouldn’t care, but I’m going to be spinning at a party this summer, and we’ll probably use his gear. I checked most of the wiring for polarity, but is there anything else that could be wrong?

maybe the tables aren't grounded?
maybe there is a ground hum?

or maybe it's just the sony 700s which are notoriously boomy and echoy for bass.

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Check da needles.

Its not the headphones, I have 700's and I know what they sound like. I didn't check the ground or the needles yet, mainly becase its not my gear. Next time I'm over there, I'll try that.

is it like that when you mix and cue from the headphones? There is a delay in the sound from the 700s to the speakers? Or if you are listening in only the 700's and there is an echo beat. I think i have a solution for both of them.


Problem one. Echo beat in the 700's w/ little bass. make sure they are plugged in slug. If they are out just a bit, it affects sound by alot.

If there is a delay when cueing.... get a new amp (better) when i first started I had a class D amp (from sony) and there was an ungodly delay ( about the same). So i had to que up solely from the 700's.

Hmm, I thought that I had posted on this thread--maybe it was just a similar one though. Anyway, try switching the TTX1's over to the phono instead of the line input. This should solve your problem. If it doesn't, then you'll have to analyze it piece by piece. First, plug your headphones into a stereo system that you know works and listen to them on that system. Once you know the cans work, then take a normal cd player and hook it up to your mixer. Play a CD in EACH input that you plan on using and make sure that each input on the mixer works. If they don't, then your mixer or the way your mixer is connected to your amp/receiver is the problem. If everything is cool, then it is the turntables that are your problem. As I said, try switching the input from line to phono or visa versa depending on how you have it set up.

There isn't too much of a difference that you'll have to be concerned about between the two outputs for live use. If you plan on recording, the mixer or your sound card will be your limiting factor, so it's not even that big of a deal between the phono and line inputs on your tables. The only feature that you can't use on the phono input is the key lock. This requires digital compression and therefore, your line input has to be used.

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