I am looking to buy a mixer, for mixing trance.

Here are my criteria, in order of importance:

• At least 3 channels
  
• Sound Quality
  
• Cross Fader life and overall durability
  
• Price
  

I want something that sounds good, but not a Rane or Allen and Heath, they are out of my price range. I want something that is durable, and i won't need to replace any parts. Of course, I know that ANY mixer is eventually going to wear out, so i need something with user replacable crosfader, and hopefully, faders as well.

volume lights are essential, but BPM counters, effects, aux send and return, kill switches, are not. pans are nice.

And finally, I want something cheap, but ONLY if it doesn't compromise the other 2 pre-requisities.

I have discounted anything from American DJ, Citronix, and other similar crap. I have mostly discounted anything from Gemini and Numark, I have heard they are lower end in sound quality. i have heard the better models aren't TOO bad, but, i'm still biased to higher end stuff.

I've also pretty much discounted 19 inch rackmount mixers. I don't want a huge behemoth i can't set up on a table anywhere.

That pretty much leaves me with Pioneer, Vestax, Roland, Stanton and some other brands i don't know much about.

I have looked at some nice mixers, some really expensive, and some cheap ones that do the job.

Here are my candidates:

PIONEER

Pioneer DJM600


Pioneer DJM500


Pioneer DJM3000


As for Pioneer, i had previously thought that the 600 is the ultimate mixer, but have recently heard bad things about their reliability, the cross faders in particular tend to go quite quickly. I doubt I need a sampler, and have yet to hear someone tell me that they have used their's much on the 600. If anyone has one, and the sampler is awesome, i'd like to hear from you. how easy is it really to grab a 16 beat loop on the fly?

the DJM500 is a little cheaper, i've used it myself, but still pretty expensive. There is also the DJM3000, which i haven't heard a good review of yet. anyone used this thing? how are the new effects? not sure if i want to take up that much space, but the price is cheaper.

VESTAX

Vestax PCV275


Vestax PCV175


Vestax PMC-170A


I have also looked at the 275, looks like a good choice, with awesome faders that will hold up. The 175 is apparently the same thing, with cut switches, and no AUX send. I don't think i need either. Is the extra price for the 275 worth it? Then there is the PMC-170A. A lower end model, without the PCV faders. I have used one of these, and didn't like it, the faders were lose and scratchy. I don't think the savings warrant the loss in durability and quality.

there is also the new samurai series from vestax. as far as i can tell these are only 2 channel scratch mixers, and they make a swooshing sound when cross fading. and they are way pricier. i think i should forget those. finally, there is the quadrophonic vestax http://www.vestax.com/products/pmc-07pro_isp.htm, which is 2 channel, but still.. it's damn cool! probably not worth the money though.

they also have a few high end mixers, a few 19" monsters.. i have discounted those.

STANTON

RM3S


this is pretty much the only stanton mixer i am considering. it looks pretty good, and a decent price. I played on a stanton 2 channel scratch mixer before, and i hated it. the channel faders were crap, from 3 to 10 was no change in volume, only at the very bottom did it get any quieter. this is good for hip hop DJs and scratching, but no good for trance. the cross fader was similarly sharp. Can anyone tell me if the RM3s is not like this?

Stanton also has a few 19" mixers, the prices are cheap, but somehow, i think the sound would be too.

ROLAND
DJ2000

this is the only mixer that roland offers that i think is right for me. The DJ1000 is nice too, but it only has 2 channels. I used it once, and didn't like it either. the sound seems to cut out at the center of the cross fader. also, some people have complained of an electrical hum when using roland mixers. also, this mixer is huge, has a lot of fun stuff i don't need, and is very expensive. I only listed it here to be complete.

OTHER STUFF

behringer has 2 mixers in my qualifications. I know the behringer name is good for sound, my question is, why is this stuff so CHEAP? has anyone used a Behinger mixer and had good results? bad?

here are the 2 I am looking at:

VMX300


DX500


then there is this RED one:

Infader


a triple cross fader! that sounds AWESOME. but, will it hold up? how good is the sound?

there is also a mixer from technics, but i think it is too much money for the features, and it's only 2 channel.

So, those are my choices, I hope that someone can help me choose. I left out a whole bunch of Gemini and Numark ones, just because there are so many of them. if anyone can suggest anything from these companies, then i would appreciate it.

whew.. that took a long time to write.

Hey... Good Candidates... I cant talk about the statnaton cuz i dont know thems.. well..a Friend has the RM3S and he says is good... but he is a Scratch DJ.. so.. who knows... those my Options:

1. DJM-600
2. DJM-500
3. Vestax pcv-275

With Any of these u cant Go wrong.... if u really have a lot of money go for the 600... if not.. go for sure for the pcv275... maybe ill be buying a pcv275 soon.. when i get the money.

Thats all...See ya

I have stanton rm3s and I think it's a really good mixer for the price. ( around 200 $ )

but for sure, as some1 above said, u cant go wrong with DJM's.

I would have to say DJMs or the PCV-275's. As Werewolf has already mentioned, I don't think you can go wrong with either of these.
As for me, I own the Kam KMX-300, a basic no-frills 3 channel mixer. I'm in love with it, and the price range is pretty affordable as well.

___________________
Melodic Progressive.

Better than sex.

i say go with the vestax pcv - 275

ya and its also worth the extra couple of bucks, cause in the 175 u dont get EQ in da headphone which really sucks!!!..

so go with the 275

I suggest getting the pcv 275 because thats the mixer i have and i LOVE it. I previously owned a pcv 175 but i immedately returned it when i found out you couldnt hear eq changes in the head phones

___________________


Latest Production:
Lightworks-Behind_The_Matrix_(Andy_LaStrange_Remix_1.2).mp3

Thanks everyone!

looks like the Vestax PVC275 is the way to go!

not hearing EQ in the headphones?!? jeez, what were they thinking?

anyway, i was hoping to hear from a few more people.
anyone used any of the other mixers, the behringers or the red one?
on the stanton, is it only a scratch mixer with sharp cuts?

on the pioneers, do your cross faders seem to wear out? what about the DJM3000, any one tried that out yet?

Thanks again everyone!

you seem to have left out the Allen & Heath Xone 32..one of the best 3 channel mixers available.

Out of those you have pictured, the Vestax PCV-275 is the best, definitely. It has much better build and sound quality the the Pioneers.

But, I agree with k cee. The A&H Xone 32 is a fantastic mixer, and isn't a lot more than the ones you mentioned.

Yeah, i guess you are right. i had left out allen and heath, and Rane, because of the high prices.

for those 2, there is

this one here:

Xone32


damn, not that it matters, but that is one UGLY mixer.

and at $800.. is it worth it?
I can almost get the DJM500 for that.

are the VCF filters cooler than all the stuff on the DJM500?

The vestax 275 is a lot cheaper $489.99

and the Rane ones

Rane MP44


too expensive. and it's huge..

Rane MP22z


says it's 6 channels.. but i only see 2 volume faders. i want at least 3 at the same time.

i think it's best to leave the Rane's to the oakies of this world.

Thanks DJTJ.. the vestax sounds better, will last longer, and is cheaper than the pioneers? in that case, there is no contest.

I really respect your opinion, i have been lurking for awhile around here, and you are always the one to bring in the no nonsense straight answers..

thanks for being a great resource to people around here.

BTW JohnSmith, www.123dj.com has the Vestax PCV 275 for $389. If you don't like there service have someone price match them.

___________________
Evil is an art and I'm friggin' Picasso!! ~Veldrid