Pioneer DJ Reveals CDJ-2000NXS2 + DJM-900NXS2

At last, final details have emerged from Pioneer DJ on their two new flagship models of media player and mixer. Yep, it’s still a CDJ, but now they have touchscreens, MIDI input, and FLAC support. The DJM-900NXS has EQ-specific FX controls, a 64-bit mixing processor, and an independent standalone Send/Return. Learn more inside:

Pioneer CDJ-2000NXS2: Touchscreen, FLAC Support, 96/24 Soundcard

Pioneer has done a a solid job of taking some of the most requested features and putting them into the new CDJ-2000NXS2. The best features on this new unit include:

  • Better Sound: A 96 kHz/24-bit sound card is built into the unit, with a 32-bit D/A converter and improved digital out to really give the best possible sound for this high-end CDJ. They’ve even separated the power supply to reduce noise issues.
  • Better Sound File Support: FLAC and ALAC support, at last!

CDJ-2000NXS2's new color touch screen showing Track Filter

  • Color Touch Screen: a 7-inch touch screen like on the XDJ-1000s. You can use it to trigger a new track filter mod to filter by metadata, type in a search on the QWERTY keyboard, and more.
  • 8 Color Coded Hot Cues: They’ve increased the Hot Cue section to four buttons (two banks) and color-coded them to match what you have set up in Rekordbox. They can also be named in Rekordbox!

CDJ2000NXS2-and-DDJ-SP1-midi-support

  • MIDI control: Finally the DDJ-SP1 has a use in a pro setup – it can be connected to a CDJ setup to control up to 4 CDJ-2000NXS2s with Pro DJ Link activated. This means quicker cue, loop, slip, and browsing  and MUCH BETTER pads to play cue points with than CDJ users have ever had. Now all we need is Midi Fighter support…..
  • Fractional Quantize: allowing you to change what level of beat quantization you use – between 1/8, 1/4, 1/2
  • Pro DJ Link Update: An improved Phase Meter with two modes, beatgrids now accurate to the microsecond, and a quantized beat jump. The press release only mentions beat jump for 1 beat forward or backward – we’re hoping this isn’t the case and that 4/8/16/32 are also options.
  • Rekordbox DJ HID control: coming soon
  • 3 position playback lever: Slip Reverse, Forward, Reverse

What we still think is missing:

  • The hot cue buttons still feel misplaced, up in the top left of the unit. We were hoping they might take center stage like on the DDJ lineup.
  • there’s still a CD slot on the unit – we understand that Pioneer wants to continue to have a player that works for everyone, but do CDJ/DJM users really still use CDs if given the option? Are DJs paying money for a feature (and extra weight) that goes unused?

DJM-900 NXS: 64-bit mixing, Send/Return, New EQ-Based FX, 2 USB Ports

The DJM-900NXS2 is here, and yes, we know that there’s been a leaked photo that we haven’t posted that has been all over the web. Here are the confirmed features:

  • Better onboard digital sound: a 64-bit mixing processor, enhanced dithering technology, and a low-jitter clock – all deliver a warm, natural analog sound. There’s a 96 kHz/24-bit sound card and direct digital connection, as well as a new power supply designed to eliminate extra noise.
  • Improved analog input: Pioneer has a new phono amp circuit, plus a new signal GND terminal to easily attach ground wires from analog turntables.

EQ-fader-curve-DJM-900NXS2

  • EQ, Fader, Clip control improvements: Improved channel fader curves: the three curves have been fine-tuned for more precision and control, while the EQ curves now have more precision across the highs, mids and lows. There’s a more accurate clip indicator, paired with a redesigned gain structure ensures meters don’t go into the red too early.

send-return-fx-djm-900nxs2

  • An independent Send/Return FX loop – you no longer need to use up Beat FX to send and return an external effector. This makes a lot of sense when using something like the RMX series. Can be used with 1/4″ jacks or via USB, and brought back into the mixer as insert FX or as AUX input. InterApp support means you can use FX/Instrument apps on your iPad – for example the virtual RMX-1000 app.
  • 6 Sound Color FX: New Sweep: replaces Gate/Comp. A new parameter knob alters different parameters for each effect, and the Sound Color FX have bigger knobs for more fine control.
  • 14 Beat FX: New FX: Ping Pong, Vinyl Brake, Helix, Pitch, improved Reverb; Bigger X-Pad with OLED screen.

eq-based-fx-djm-900nxs2

  • Beat FX Applied To Low/Mid/Highs: three buttons allow you to select what frequency range to apply these effects to.
  • New I/O: Two USB ports, 4 Phono Inputs (meaning there will be no DJM-900SRT2), and DVS support
  • Better build quality: The new Magvel Fader (as seen on the DJM-S9 mixer) is a highly responsive magnetic crossfader designed for smooth operation and superb durability. There’s also Gold-plated RCAs on the rear of the mixer.
  • 2 headphone plugs: ¼-inch stereo jack and 3.5mm MiniPin

Simplified Pro DJ Link Connection

simple-pro-dj-link

This is an obvious feature, but Pioneer have finally made it way easier to get HID support working between a full DJM/CDJ NX2 setup and a laptop. Of course, this might only work with Rekordbox DJ for a while, but the pain of aggregating CDJs and hoping that the soundcards worked was always a pain. Skip past all of that and simply plug a single USB cable into the setup and you can access all of the CDJs and mixers.

Both the CDJ-2000NXS2 and DJM-900NXS2 can now both be ordered in the DJTT Store. All sales support more great articles, videos, and artist interviews! The MSRP is $2,199, but final street price might be lower than that (closer to $1,999, if the last models are any indication). (Sadly, Pioneer confirmed that that is also the street price. That’s more than half of a new Technics SL-1200G/GAE turntable!)

GetyourCDJon_nowship_FB

 

Comments
Get DJTT love in your inbox
Drop your email address here, we'll send you news, tutorials, and special offers once a week.
Unsubscribe at any time. we won't sell your data, ever.