Why Pioneer before Allen & Heath?

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Why Pioneer before Allen & Heath?
Posted on: 09.11.2013 by Anja Ursprung
Hi,

Does anyone here prefer Pioneer before Allen & Heath mixers (you have to tried booth to have a valid opinion) effects aside?

I have big problems to understand why, as I believe Allen & Heath is superior the pioneer.
Hellen Mindrup
15.11.2013
Originally Posted by 031999
Fair enough, how could I forget
Old age?
Lannie Kutay
15.11.2013
Originally Posted by deevey
*cough* 4D *cough*
Fair enough, how could I forget
Rolanda Clodfelder
15.11.2013
I like the xone mixers but they never implemented and good midi control options.
*cough* 4D *cough*
Lannie Kutay
14.11.2013
i use both a DJM-T1 and a XONE 22 on occasion.

IF YOU PLAN ON USING TRAKTOR, GET A T1!!! (yes i was yelling sorry )

I like the xone mixers but they never implemented and good midi control options.

DJM-T1=
-Built in 3 chanel soundcard (2 stereo in 1 stereo out)
-Amazing midi control, with great shift layer
-ALOT of headroom

the only other mixer even similar is a Z2....

if i could rewire the internals of the T1 with some sweet XONE analogue signal-path, i would do it though.
Antone Kazim
14.11.2013
Originally Posted by oddworld_audio
Likewise, I had a Pio 500 and 600 but went with the Denon DNX1600, the Traktor certified soundcard was what originally got me interested. A quick play at my local store and I was won over.
Similarly, I was close to pulling the trigger on either a DJM700 or 800 when I got the chance to have a play on an x1600 and ended up doing a deal on it there and then once I'd finished playing! I prefer the faders to any Pioneer mixer I've used, it's built like a tank and I have a lot of love for the matrix input. I'm finally going to be making use of the Trakor certification shortly too, which has saved me having to buy a seperate interface.

I'd love to have a play on one of the top A&H models though (I've only tried the 22), I've experienced most mixers in the past (I am a complete gear whore!) but the top A&H models are like the one that got away...
Nadia Shelmadine
13.11.2013
I'd take Pioneer DJM-T1, DJM707, DJM909, 900NXS, 900SRT over any Allen & Heath. I don't use effects.
Kenda Raedel
13.11.2013
Originally Posted by Kwal
2000 >

Touch screen bro
The Touchscreen definitely seems cool.
Hellen Mindrup
14.11.2013
Originally Posted by Nicadraus
Pioneer > A&H. I never liked A&H to be honest. Pioneer have (almost) always made better and DJ friendly layout and very sturdy as well. The DJM-900 nexus is the best mixer at the moment. Even much better than the DJM-2000.
2000 >

Touch screen bro
Lawana Mileto
14.11.2013
At the end of the day it's all just personal opinion.

Some like Pioneer, some like A&H, all for different reasons, and that is why there is choice on the market, and always will be.
Osvaldo Newhall
13.11.2013
Pioneer > A&H. I never liked A&H to be honest. Pioneer have (almost) always made better and DJ friendly layout and very sturdy as well. The DJM-900 nexus is the best mixer at the moment. Even much better than the DJM-2000.
Brunilda Kora
13.11.2013
Originally Posted by mrdorianjames
I love the matrix input selector.
No doubt - that IS a cool feature.
Kenda Raedel
13.11.2013
Originally Posted by Patch
Before I could afford to choose between Denon/A&H/Pio, I went with a Behringer DDM4K and was extremely happy. (
Brunilda Kora
13.11.2013
Before I could afford to choose between Denon/A&H/Pio, I went with a Behringer DDM4K and was extremely happy. (
Genoveva Bopp
13.11.2013
Originally Posted by SirReal
FWIW, I went with Denon over both Allen & Heath and Pioneer and I'm very happy with my decision.
Likewise, I had a Pio 500 and 600 but went with the Denon DNX1600, the Traktor certified soundcard was what originally got me interested. A quick play at my local store and I was won over.
Latoria Kavulich
13.11.2013
Originally Posted by LoopCat
People believeing a bit too hard about all of this. Go to store and demo the two mixers. Find the one you prefer and pull the trigger. Pioneer and Allen and Heath are both popular in clubs. Generally Allen and Heath are popular in the serious Techno/House clubs and festivals and Pioneer dominate everywhere else.
exactly
Ming Devis
13.11.2013
People believeing a bit too hard about all of this. Go to store and demo the two mixers. Find the one you prefer and pull the trigger. Pioneer and Allen and Heath are both popular in clubs. Generally Allen and Heath are popular in the serious Techno/House clubs and festivals and Pioneer dominate everywhere else.
Nancey Inderlied
12.11.2013
Originally Posted by makar1
This pretty much sums up the difference in "quality" between Xones and new DJMs
http://www.djcommunity s.com/community s/showt...her-end-mixers

You might not like the FX or filters on the 900, but I find it hard to believe that it is noticeably less than transparent when playing back a track unaltered.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

Everyone knows that the analogue ______ has more "warmth" and the digital ______ sounds more cold. I don't know what those mean, how they apply to a sound colour, or what causes them, but people keep saying it, so it must mean something! Add in the more "airy" sound of the the iLive industry standard super FX I've never actually heard, and you can totally see why the analogue DB4 is WORLDS superior to the poor quality DJM. Just don't let them hit the red! The sound quality literally goes out the window the second the meter hits that red light!

And you can't even compare the two when playing burned out 60db-DR vinyl copies of 80's house music made by some guy who's now dead. The analogue mixer just had so much more warmth and life! The digital one sounded absolutely terrible, because it's digital, and someone told me that's bad even though I don't understand why. But the analogue sounded so warm someone said! Then someone else started talking about digital mixers using compression and oversampling to replicate the best parts of analogue sound without rounding off the signal into oblivion, but I didn't understand what he was saying, and he said digital mixers are good, so he must be wrong!
Letitia Sehlhorst
12.11.2013
I've played on various different Pioneer models and the xone 62. I don't have any extended experience on the other models. The xone certainly has a warmer sound and the extra EQ band can be nice to have, (also the filters completely shit all over the Pioneer) but I would generally advise people to go for Pioneer simply because more venues will have that.
Alphonso Deitchman
12.11.2013
This pretty much sums up the difference in "quality" between Xones and new DJMs
http://www.djcommunity s.com/community s/showt...her-end-mixers

You might not like the FX or filters on the 900, but I find it hard to believe that it is noticeably less than transparent when playing back a track unaltered.
Edwardo Rothenberger
12.11.2013
I was a sound engineer for 22 years doing recording and mastering.

I bought the Xone 92 recently. I had a try of the Pioneer Nexus DJM 900, and for approximately
Judi Sissel
12.11.2013
Im just gonna go back to the GD lobby and wait for the beatmatch vs. sync thread to pop up now...
Alphonso Deitchman
12.11.2013
Originally Posted by FilthyDave
The numbers are only part of the story. We listen with our ears and an A-B comparison over the same system will tell you much more.

Just this Saturday gone I had the Orb play over my Funktion One rig
Alex Patterson was on a Pioneer the rest of the evening s DJ's were through an Allen & Heath

There was a marked difference in favour of the A&H
So not only did you know beforehand which mixer was being used when, you also had different music being played? That seems like a pretty pointless comparison.

I seriously doubt you'll hear any sound quality difference between the digital Xones and DJMs on a PA system, and the analogue mixers only add colouration which is just personal preference rather than "quality".

DJMs are also extremely hard to clip, the 900 having a full 19dB of headroom above the 0dB point. Even the old DJM 600 has way more headroom than you'd ever need.

Hank Guidas
12.11.2013
Settle this in a cage fight.
Narcisa Hughie
12.11.2013
Originally Posted by makar1
The DJM 900 has a higher dynamic range than the DB2 (107 vs 104 dB) and its sound card operates at 96k vs the 48k of the DB2. The DJM Master Output has a much higher maximum, and the sound card drivers actually work properly with the DJM.

In what way are the converters of the DB series better?
The numbers are only part of the story. We listen with our ears and an A-B comparison over the same system will tell you much more.

Just this Saturday gone I had the Orb play over my Funktion One rig
Alex Patterson was on a Pioneer the rest of the evening s DJ's were through an Allen & Heath

There was a marked difference in favour of the A&H
Nancey Inderlied
12.11.2013
Originally Posted by makar1
The DJM 900 has a higher dynamic range than the DB2 (107 vs 104 dB) and its sound card operates at 96k vs the 48k of the DB2. The DJM Master Output has a much higher maximum, and the sound card drivers actually work properly with the DJM.

In what way are the converters of the DB series better?
About 90% of that post was straight up wrong, so it's probably not worth picking apart the marketing-speak here...
Alphonso Deitchman
12.11.2013
The DJM 900 has a higher dynamic range than the DB2 (107 vs 104 dB) and its sound card operates at 96k vs the 48k of the DB2. The DJM Master Output has a much higher maximum, and the sound card drivers actually work properly with the DJM.

In what way are the converters of the DB series better?
Narcisa Hughie
12.11.2013
Allen & Heath vs Pioneer:

From a Sound Engineers perspective;

Allen & Heath are all analogue based apart from the DB2 and DB4
Pioneer for the same reason as the DB2 & DB4 are all digital as they use digital effects and need to convert before processing

The AD/DA converters in Allen & Heath DB2 & DB4 are much better than those in Pioneer mixers as they are derived from the iLive series of pro mixing desks

The effects in the DB2 & DB4 are better sounding than the Pioneers as again they are derived from the iLive's + extras specfic to DJ'ing

For all intents and purposes it is practically impossible to clip an Allen & Heath and even when pushed hard they retain their 'openness' and have a 'warm' sound

Pioneer sound f**king awful when driven hard. The sound closes up and detail turns to mush


From a Repair Tech's perspective;

Allen & Heath are fully repairable down to component level if needed and are constructed using modular boards (ie you can swap a single channel strip if needed without much effort)

Pioneer are all surface mount components which are a pain to repair to component level. Board swapping is possible but if a channel goes down you have to swap a full board which does all the channels on the mixer.

Early Pioneers are essentially bin-able items if they go wrong

From a DJ's perspective;

4 eq's gives you more control over the sound but can be a pain if you like to quickly swap the basslines over

If you don't use Traktor and need effects Pioneer give a cheaper means of getting them with their entry level mixers but A&H sound much better at the higher end

If you need connectivity to CDJ's and Recordbox then Pioneer obviously offer this

If you scratch the Allen & Heath xfader is much better


In summary;

Unless you cannot afford the higher end but need an FX unit Allen & Heath crap all over Pioneer
Brunilda Kora
12.11.2013
Jebus Christ I'm bored of A&H v. Pioneer.

It is EVEN MORE BORING than Mac v. Win.
Lawana Mileto
12.11.2013
Personally I prefer A&H, why? The sound quality, they've got that warmth, they're filters are beaut.
At the end of the day though, it's all down to personal preference, I believe genre you play also plays a huge part.

I play House and Techno, for me all I want is good eq's, nice line faders and filter, A&H deliver all of those.

At home I use a Xone 22, my mate has a Xone 4D, have played on a 92, 46, 32, to be honest love them all.

I have played a lot on pioneers, although not the new nexus line, so won't comment on them. But to be honest I've never been a massive fan, not overly keen on the eq's, filters, for me A&H sound better.
Ming Devis
11.11.2013
Much prefer the Xone faders
Hellen Mindrup
11.11.2013
Are the line fader curves on the Xone 22 similar to a 92?? On my 22 they aren't sharp at all, they're about the same as any 900 I've felt but a tad bit longer, which works for me since I introduce my tracks slowly as I mix….
Branden Wentler
11.11.2013
Xone:92 and XoneB4 are not even comparable to lump into a comparison with Pioneer's latest offering in the Nexus line.
I've owned both and the build quality, work flow between the 92 and DB4 is huge. What kills me is the lack of a proper Send/Return. The built-in FX on the DB4 are fantastic but if I had to purchase again today I'd probably go with the Pioneer for versatility. The DB4 in terms of FX are better suited to long mix TechHouse and Techno. If I still used Traktor on a regular basis for playing out I wouldn't really get too bothered about it. But, since i'm playing CDJ and lug my mixer with me, in addition to the type of music I'm inclined to play for the locals, a Pioneer set up would be mo' bettuh.
Still, I can't quite bother myself with selling the A&H just yet.
Hipolito Scionti
11.11.2013
Originally Posted by No Left Turn
There are many things about A&H mixers that I don't like and drive me crazy. The layout of them, in general, don't make any sense to me. They're OK for basic mixing with just the EQ and faders, but once you go off to the sides of the mixer it's just a hot mess.

Personally, I don't like or need 2-bands of mid EQ. I know they have some of their smaller mixers have single band mid EQ, but still. The extra long faders suck especially with how sharp the volume curve is on the line faders. I'd be less annoyed by this if the volume curve was more of a balanced curve or maybe more linear.

People generally say that A&H mixers are built like tanks, but they have some of the cheapest buttons and knobs I've ever felt on any mixer so I'm a little confused by this statement. Maybe they feel cheap but are still super durable, I don't know.

Every time I use one, I try to see what it is about them that people seem to love so much but I'm just not seeing it.
+1

I believe they're "cooler" and perhaps do sound "warmer" but actually I just believe there are always too many niggles with em. Headphone cue on the 92 is pure annoying and agree 100% with the line fader curve... why isnt it adjustable??

New Pioneer DJM series, particularly the 900 just deliver for me... a bit more "soulless" maybe... but usability, sound quality, and functionality all spot on.
Meg Reinoehl
11.11.2013
There are many things about A&H mixers that I don't like and drive me crazy. The layout of them, in general, don't make any sense to me. They're OK for basic mixing with just the EQ and faders, but once you go off to the sides of the mixer it's just a hot mess.

Personally, I don't like or need 2-bands of mid EQ. I know they have some of their smaller mixers have single band mid EQ, but still. The extra long faders suck especially with how sharp the volume curve is on the line faders. I'd be less annoyed by this if the volume curve was more of a balanced curve or maybe more linear.

People generally say that A&H mixers are built like tanks, but they have some of the cheapest buttons and knobs I've ever felt on any mixer so I'm a little confused by this statement. Maybe they feel cheap but are still super durable, I don't know.

Every time I use one, I try to see what it is about them that people seem to love so much but I'm just not seeing it.
Palma Hanslip
11.11.2013
Pioneer for me.

Wanted the DB4 but the layout of the EQ knobs and the longer faders put me off a little. But sound quality and effects were a huge pro, the thing that made me go off the DB4 was no Send/Return. I also hate 4 Band EQ from previous A&H mixers i've used on regular basis.

I bought the DJM900 Nexus because it had Send/Return for my RMX1000, Traktor Certified for my vinyl timecode, effects were quite simple, familiar layout and like the fader lengths..
Judi Sissel
12.11.2013
Originally Posted by Kwal
I want to get a K2 myself... Did you map it yourself or do you use someone else's template?
I enjoyed mapping it myself. I can't recommend the "Xtrmeme Mapping" app for OSx enough - makes things a lot easier to manage. Got any questions give me a shout.
Hellen Mindrup
12.11.2013
Originally Posted by DarioJ
I switched from the X1(mk1) to an K2 (secondhand) and love it.

I can not answer the original question as my view is biased.
I want to get a K2 myself... Did you map it yourself or do you use someone else's template?
Judi Sissel
12.11.2013
I switched from the X1(mk1) to an K2 (secondhand) and love it.

I can not answer the original question as my view is biased.
Ciara Cuttill
11.11.2013
Originally Posted by synthet1c
I wouldn't be scared of buying one second hand, they are built like a tank and if you need to replace any of the faders or knobs all of them can be sourced relatively easily.
^^ this!!
Jonathan Chiuchiolo
11.11.2013
I wouldn't be scared of buying one second hand, they are built like a tank and if you need to replace any of the faders or knobs all of them can be sourced relatively easily.

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