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Ever since Grandmaster Flash laid his hands on the Wheels of Steel, the Technics 1200 has been the only way to manhandle your wax. Despite vinyl's near-death experience in the 1990s, turntables were still industry standard for DJs. The fact that punters preferred the warmth and depth of vinyl may have been one factor, but it's more likely nobody used CD decks because they were mostly terrible.
Pioneer's release of the CDJ-1000 in 2001 changed all that. An effective platter and jogging mechanism let DJs cue with the same sort of sensitivity they'd become accustomed to on a turntable, while a waveform display gave them a spatial representation of music similar to the grooves on a record. Combined with one of Pioneer's exceptionally useful DJM series mixers, the brand became the gold standard for DJs.
Über-clubs and dingy bars everywhere installed them, and a pair was within reach of spotty bedroom bangers looking to keep their neighbours fluorescent with rage.
In 2010, however, it's the CD that's drawing its last gasp. Digital audio files are a compelling alternative: crate diggers have easy access to obscure tracks; files are easy to catalogue, organise, search and manipulate; they don't weigh anything; you can't scratch them; and you're free to include music or mixes you've made yourself.
Mixing software combined with a MIDI controller certainly became on option for DJs attached to their laptops, but there were still serious limitations. Pioneer's CDJ-2000 has few.
Released earlier this year the CDJ-2000 is the rightful heir to the CDJ-1000. It's unashamedly top-of-the-range at the wincingly steep price of $3999.95 (and remember, you'll need two). It's hard to believe anything's worth that much money, but the CDJ-2000 makes a good argument to relinquish a kidney.
It's compatible with all the variants of CD and DVD via the disk drive, and has two USB ports and an SD card slot. Along with your standard MP3 files, the AAC, WAV and AIFF codecs are all recognised by the CDJ.
Files can be navigated via a simple branched folder system on a full-colour 6.1-inch screen that displays wave data, song information, cover art and so on. Flicking back and forth between albums or playlists is performed with one incredibly streamlined dial that even something as unevolved as myself could comprehend.
In practice, this means DJs can simply plug a portable drive, USB stick or (most impressively) their damn iPod into the device and simply have at it. What's even better is its ability to chain a second, third and fourth CDJ for access to the same drive.
In the past, turntables always trumped CD decks because of the ability to simply pick up the needle and drop it at a specific point in the track. The CDJ has come up with a solution in the 'Needle Search/Needle Drop' system, a metallic band that runs along the top of the deck. Running a finger along the ribbon scans through the selected track and begins play at the point where your finger is lifted, mirroring the kind of physicality that just works on vinyl.
Easily operable looping capabilities are available on the deck itself, which frankly is surprising given that Pioneer manufactures a mixer that does that very thing.
For more advanced musicians, the device is also a capable MIDI controller, which is plug-and-play compatible with programs like Serato, Final Scratch, Ableton, Mixvibes Cross and Pioneer's own rekordbox software.
The platter, however, is still the weakest link, particularly for those who've grown up with vinyl. It's just not as tactile or intuitive as using a 1200, which perhaps has something to do with its weight.
All the bells and whistles in the world would be useless if the thing sounded terrible, but a Wolfson DAC processor and an inbuilt 24-bit/48kHz soundcard ensure that's not the case. The improved DAC and new hybrid operation circuitry make the signal-to-noise ratio in the CDJ-2000 far better than that of the CDJ-1000MK3.
The skinny is that these decks are wonderful and will do pretty much anything you want them to do if you've got the coin – so take care of that kidney.
TIM GREY
Pioneer CDJ-2000 – Specifications
Compatible Media: CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-R-DL, USB memory devices, SD card
Compatible Files: MP3, AAC, WAV (16/24-bit), AIFF (16/24-bit)
Frequency Range: 4Hz-20kHz
Signal-to-noise Ratio: 115dB or higher
Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.0018%
Audio Output terminals: 1 RCA, 1 coaxial
Audio Output Voltage: 2.0 Vrms
Power Supply: 220-240V (50Hz/60Hz)
Power Consumption: 28W
Dimensions: 320 x 405.7 x 106.4mm (W/H/D)
Weight: 4.6kg
http://www.tone.co.nz/reviews/pioneer-cdj-2000-digital-turntable-review
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