Gemini CDJ 700 vs. Pioneer CDJ 850

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Gemini CDJ 700 vs. Pioneer CDJ 850
Posted on: 11.07.2012 by Molly Moszer
I'm getting pretty close to finally just making the jump to CDJ's but I want to be sure I'm making an informed decision before I purchase. That being said I've probably narrowed it down to either the Gemini CDJ-700's or the Pioneer CDJ 850 but I'm not really sure which one to get. I'm sort of biased towards Pioneer because I feel like it's more brand name and I've heard the build quality is a little better but I'm not sure I really want to pay for the hefty price boost associated with it. Does anyone here have experience with one or both of the two that can tell me their thoughts on the differences/similarities between the two? Thanks a ton!
Erika Zayac
12.07.2012
Originally Posted by Louie_V
The point of those decks is to look like a pioneer cdj, not to work like one. Try to set the cue and the hot cues (then delete/reset them and do it again) on the gemini then come back and we'll talk.

(to me) its not about them being knock offs of the pioneers, its about them being totally $h!TTy knock offs.

There are decks that work similarly to the pioneers (when it comes to activating the cue,hot cues, and loops, etc.). A lot of companies make their gear so it can translate to the industry standard, but some dont, gemini is one that doesn't. Trust me, as someone who rocks numark decks, i can definitely care less about the brand, but more about how it works and how it can translate my workflow to other gear that i may have to encounter at gigs.

Note: last time i used a CDJ-700 was with the RTM firmware, some improvements may have been made, but i honestly doubt it.
Good input about the CUE issue, didnt believe about that since Iv never heard it mentioned in any of the reviews which Iv read. Id rather trust opinions from users than to go buy company/vender/youtube reviews. Glad you pointed that issue out about the cue, gnna try and test these out at guitar center for an hour or so and see how it goes.
Erika Zayac
12.07.2012
Originally Posted by Louie_V
definitely would go for the CDJ-850's. I was a beta tester for the Gemini CDJ-700 and lets just say, if you ever want to play in a club with pioneer cdj's then the Gemini CDJ-700 would be counter intuitive and will get you used to a work flow that does not translate to the pioneer workflow.

oh, and don't even believe about it if your a scratch dj, the gemini's have simulated scratch (no vinyl mode)
Really? I thought the whole point of these decks was to pretty much mimic the pioneer decks so that when you step in you are ready to go as the layout and all is pretty much the same.

Well with regards to that argument then I guess any CDJ that is not pioneer is gnna be countering when you step in the club right? No point in getting anything else your saying as it will be drastically different when you step in front of Pioneers?
Rolanda Clodfelder
11.07.2012
Originally Posted by bobalandi
I appreciate the response and I'm already kind of biased to agree with you but do you have any good reasons in terms of the two controllers? I'm trying to make an educated decision based on more than just the brand names.
If I was bringing the decks to Gigs OR was dependent on Reckordbox for touring huge gigs for insane amounts of money I would deffo go for Pioneer (although at that stage i'd be sponsored anyhow and get them free).

BUT for just home usage/practice and using USB sticks and CD's I'd would defiantly go for Gemini's, I could not for the life of me justify the extra $1500+ for 2x Pioneer 900's (better things to spend money on), the 850's lack some of the nicer and to me more essential features (slip mode/quantize) ... and the Gemini's Features lie somewhere more between the 900+2000 territory than the 850.

Just for the record Pioneer's do crash as well (I have had CDJ crash during gigs when reading from USB sticks and MP3 CD's - in one case it just died mid track).


Good review here - and virtually the only bad points were: Heavier Wheel, crappy effects (which pio's don't have anyhow). And Lack of a headphone output (weird point and makes no-sense).

Ironic that Gemini have been making DJ gear ALOT longer than Pioneer.
Molly Moszer
11.07.2012
Originally Posted by djpaulie
Gemini-No, Pioneer-Yes
I appreciate the response and I'm already kind of biased to agree with you but do you have any good reasons in terms of the two controllers? I'm trying to make an educated decision based on more than just the brand names.
Yukiko Beauvil
12.07.2012		How about CDJ 350's? Anyone has any experience on it?
Erika Zayac
12.07.2012
Originally Posted by Louie_V
The point of those decks is to look like a pioneer cdj, not to work like one. Try to set the cue and the hot cues (then delete/reset them and do it again) on the gemini then come back and we'll talk.

(to me) its not about them being knock offs of the pioneers, its about them being totally $h!TTy knock offs.

There are decks that work similarly to the pioneers (when it comes to activating the cue,hot cues, and loops, etc.). A lot of companies make their gear so it can translate to the industry standard, but some dont, gemini is one that doesn't. Trust me, as someone who rocks numark decks, i can definitely care less about the brand, but more about how it works and how it can translate my workflow to other gear that i may have to encounter at gigs.

Note: last time i used a CDJ-700 was with the RTM firmware, some improvements may have been made, but i honestly doubt it.
Good input about the CUE issue, didnt believe about that since Iv never heard it mentioned in any of the reviews which Iv read. Id rather trust opinions from users than to go buy company/vender/youtube reviews. Glad you pointed that issue out about the cue, gnna try and test these out at guitar center for an hour or so and see how it goes.
Shantae Faile
12.07.2012		The point of those decks is to look like a pioneer cdj, not to work like one. Try to set the cue and the hot cues (then delete/reset them and do it again) on the gemini then come back and we'll talk.

(to me) its not about them being knock offs of the pioneers, its about them being totally $h!TTy knock offs.

There are decks that work similarly to the pioneers (when it comes to activating the cue,hot cues, and loops, etc.). A lot of companies make their gear so it can translate to the industry standard, but some dont, gemini is one that doesn't. Trust me, as someone who rocks numark decks, i can definitely care less about the brand, but more about how it works and how it can translate my workflow to other gear that i may have to encounter at gigs.

Note: last time i used a CDJ-700 was with the RTM firmware, some improvements may have been made, but i honestly doubt it.
Erich Vallabhaneni
12.07.2012		I believe the best thing is to do research, and find which is gonna fit your style better. Everyone on here is going to have a different opinion, so it all comes down to what will fit your flow.
Erika Zayac
12.07.2012
Originally Posted by Louie_V
definitely would go for the CDJ-850's. I was a beta tester for the Gemini CDJ-700 and lets just say, if you ever want to play in a club with pioneer cdj's then the Gemini CDJ-700 would be counter intuitive and will get you used to a work flow that does not translate to the pioneer workflow.

oh, and don't even believe about it if your a scratch dj, the gemini's have simulated scratch (no vinyl mode)
Really? I thought the whole point of these decks was to pretty much mimic the pioneer decks so that when you step in you are ready to go as the layout and all is pretty much the same.

Well with regards to that argument then I guess any CDJ that is not pioneer is gnna be countering when you step in the club right? No point in getting anything else your saying as it will be drastically different when you step in front of Pioneers?
Celine Surico
12.07.2012		CDJ-350s are also a good compromise as those work with RekordBox. So if you ever have a bigger gig and need to bring USB sticks to gig, everything is ready. Seems Pioneer USB CDJs is the next norm with clubs.
Shantae Faile
12.07.2012		definitely would go for the CDJ-850's. I was a beta tester for the Gemini CDJ-700 and lets just say, if you ever want to play in a club with pioneer cdj's then the Gemini CDJ-700 would be counter intuitive and will get you used to a work flow that does not translate to the pioneer workflow.

oh, and don't even believe about it if your a scratch dj, the gemini's have simulated scratch (no vinyl mode)
Nancey Inderlied
11.07.2012		People really undermine the whole "build quality" thing. I'm really not sure how the Gemini's get certified for "home use" while the Pioneers are built for "reliable use." I've said this multiple times, and I'll say it again: if you're buying players for "features" and not "usability," media players probably aren't for you.

While the Gemini's might have comparative "features" with the zomg touch screen and the ability to play back tracks on USB media, the Pioneers absolutely destroy them with minor details like "having a fairly spacious screen that doesn't look like total ass" and "having file organization, waveform and cue loading, and a workflow that doesn't make a 90's CD deck look good." But it depends on how usable you want the players to be, it's not just "reliability vs features over cost."

That being said, if you're comfortable with a completely shit layout and ergonomics, the Numark players offer a fairly solid platform at a pretty reasonable price too. The "feel of CDJs" bullshit is one of the most mind-numbingly stupid arguments in DJ culture.
Rolanda Clodfelder
11.07.2012
Originally Posted by bobalandi
I appreciate the response and I'm already kind of biased to agree with you but do you have any good reasons in terms of the two controllers? I'm trying to make an educated decision based on more than just the brand names.
If I was bringing the decks to Gigs OR was dependent on Reckordbox for touring huge gigs for insane amounts of money I would deffo go for Pioneer (although at that stage i'd be sponsored anyhow and get them free).

BUT for just home usage/practice and using USB sticks and CD's I'd would defiantly go for Gemini's, I could not for the life of me justify the extra $1500+ for 2x Pioneer 900's (better things to spend money on), the 850's lack some of the nicer and to me more essential features (slip mode/quantize) ... and the Gemini's Features lie somewhere more between the 900+2000 territory than the 850.

Just for the record Pioneer's do crash as well (I have had CDJ crash during gigs when reading from USB sticks and MP3 CD's - in one case it just died mid track).


Good review here - and virtually the only bad points were: Heavier Wheel, crappy effects (which pio's don't have anyhow). And Lack of a headphone output (weird point and makes no-sense).

Ironic that Gemini have been making DJ gear ALOT longer than Pioneer.
Molly Moszer
11.07.2012
Originally Posted by djpaulie
Gemini-No, Pioneer-Yes
I appreciate the response and I'm already kind of biased to agree with you but do you have any good reasons in terms of the two controllers? I'm trying to make an educated decision based on more than just the brand names.
Zetta Radlinger
11.07.2012		Gemini-No, Pioneer-Yes
Erika Zayac
11.07.2012		Honestly though I guess for those of us that are going to be using this strictly at home the "crashing at times" issue isnt that big of a deal.

I am only opting for this set just because it mimics the pioneer setup. Does anyone on this board own a pair of these and can give an actual review? Not even bothering with all the biased vendor reviews which say this product is great.
Molly Moszer
11.07.2012		Yeah, seeing that really worried me. I've looked a little more into it and seen some other reports of crashing. What does "at times mean"?
Erika Zayac
11.07.2012		I too am interested as Iv been debating between the 700's and a set of Pioneers. Yea what is this crashing business all about
Era Roka
11.07.2012		Crash?!
Erich Vallabhaneni
11.07.2012		Rekordbox with the 850 is a great tool, but the 700's are touch screen. And the 700's crash at times
Molly Moszer
11.07.2012		Ok, thanks. Is there anything you can tell me about the functionality differences between the two? I've read most of the specs but theres probably something I missed so is there anything major that you find different about the two?
Erich Vallabhaneni
11.07.2012		I say Gemini for home use, Pioneer if you ever wanna take them out anywhere. I like the Gemini 700's, but like you stated the build quality is considerably lower. The pioneer would hold up better to moving around and such. I like the 700's myself
Molly Moszer
11.07.2012
Originally Posted by Otacon
are you gonna be carrying them around to gigs?
Currently no, I'll still probably be using my S2, but if I do decide to take them to gigs I'll probably get a flight case.
Erich Vallabhaneni
11.07.2012		are you gonna be carrying them around to gigs?

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