Which cd DECKS???? Turntables / CD Decks Discuss Which cd DECKS???? in the DJ Equipment Forum forums; Im 18 have been djing for about 3 years with vynil and would like to try cd. I was wondering if any one hadd any recomendations. Im looking to spend ...

[currieboy]

Im 18 have been djing for about 3 years with vynil and would like to try cd.
I was wondering if any one hadd any recomendations. Im looking to spend under £200 per deck.
I was thinking GEMINI CDJ 02 or KAM KCDJ 130 or KOOL SOUND CDJ 350 or GEMINI ICDJ
or CITRONIC MPCDS 3 or GEMINI CFX 20 or KAM KCDJ 200 FX or TASCAM CD DJ 1 / TTM 1 CONTROLLER

for me the KOOL or tascam ones stand out.

any advice really apreciated

james

[Paulie_p]

i would save up a bit more and go for pioneer or denon.

[DJShades]

I have to say I agree with Paulie P. I personally wouldn't touch anything with KAM, Gemini or Tascam (and especially Numark) on it.

Why not look on eBay for some bargains... I know chances are they wont be new but for just a little more wedge (like £470 for a pair of, what look like very well looked after, Pioneer CDJ200s) you could end up with something much better than 'cheap' decks.

You may think "What can the difference with a CD player be?" but like the belt driven vinyl decks vs direct drive decks the quality of the CD mechanism is all important too. However theres also other important factors like the amount of oversampling (anti-shock/scratched CD buffer), the accuracy of the software (for CD cueing/hot-starts) and button reaction time.

Cheap decks can often trip over scratched CDs, or CDs burnt at too high a speed, their cueing can be inaccurate (never mind their reaction times to buttons being pressed). While they initially may start of fine it doesn't take long before things to start going wrong... and then your into a never ending cycle of replace/repair with the shop/manufacturer (and if they failed in the first place chances are there just going to fail again. Trust me I know... a very small place I DJ at (just for the love of it!) has some shite Numark combined CD Decks/Mixer. They've only been open for 8 months and gone through three peices of shit that I know of!)

Denons and Pioneers go on forever and forever... well almost! A club I used to work at had to replace a Denon twin CD player after three years of service but then that was used a minimum of 4 nights a weeks and often up to 12 nights in a row!!

Anyway, enough of the preaching. Sorry for the long post but I hope this has helped!

Shades

[fil devious]

just got me a cdj 200 cant wait till it arrives!

[Reece Duncan]

Whats wrong with Numark?? Ive had Numark equipment for years, and have used other peoples also, it just works. Any issues are sorted out straight away by their excellent customer service dept. i even had a free upgrade. I'd go for a pair of axis's. Or save some more money and go for the Pioneer CDJ 200's. (Not a big Denon fan myself)

[littlepete]

ive got a pair of the CITRONIC MPCDS 3. They seem to be alright so far, ive only had them about 2-3 months but they seem pretty decent.

[DJShades]

Perhaps I'm just being a snob then? Perhaps you're all right? I've had far too many bad experiences with 'cheap' CD players though and tend to avoid them like the plague.

I'd still only go for a Pioneer CDJ200 as a bare minimum these days though.

[littlepete]

yeh but im on a budget, if i could id go pioneer anyday. Things arnt looking to good atm either, seem to be loosing interest in DJing and rather just listen to music.

[DJShades]

Originally Posted by littlepete

yeh but im on a budget, if i could id go pioneer anyday.

I understand that most people are on some sort of budget but personally I'd rather save up that little bit more, for a little bit longer and have something that little bit better.

Noooooooo. Don't lose the faith Pete! I gave up DJing twice (because of two different girls!) and that was such a huuuuge mistake! Don't do it!!

[currieboy]

thanks for your help i would love 2 be able 2 affor pioneers but i just cant. i have kinda came 2 the conclusion of the KOOL SOUND CDJ 350. Any one have these/seen them advice on them/ the whole topic.
thanks alot
james

[fil devious]

Originally Posted by Reece Duncan

Whats wrong with Numark?? Ive had Numark equipment for years, and have used other peoples also, it just works. Any issues are sorted out straight away by their excellent customer service dept. i even had a free upgrade. I'd go for a pair of axis's. Or save some more money and go for the Pioneer CDJ 200's. (Not a big Denon fan myself)

just got a pinoeer cdj 200, excellent little cd deck for sure reece

[DSjM]

Originally Posted by DJShades

Perhaps I'm just being a snob then? Perhaps you're all right? I've had far too many bad experiences with 'cheap' CD players though and tend to avoid them like the plague.

I'd still only go for a Pioneer CDJ200 as a bare minimum these days though.

Too right.

i made the mistake of buying cheap equipment when i first started. Bought a couple of gemini decks thinking it was a bargain. only when i upgraded to technics, i realised i had wasted months of practice playing with cheap equipment.

i'd imagine it would be the same with cdj's? if you get cheap equipment, you will regret it later on.

[fil devious]

Originally Posted by DSjM

Too right.

i made the mistake of buying cheap equipment when i first started. Bought a couple of gemini decks thinking it was a bargain. only when i upgraded to technics, i realised i had wasted months of practice playing with cheap equipment.

i'd imagine it would be the same with cdj's? if you get cheap equipment, you will regret it later on.

yes to right mate, i was after a cd deck & seeing that the pioneer cdj 800s/1000s were a little out of my price range i opted for the cdj 200 which is a pretty nice deck, 3 efx on board to. i went on e bay & got a grade b cdj 200 saving a bit of dosh free p & p aswell.

[currieboy]

Which Kool sound cd decks are newer? the cdj 180s or the cdj 350s?
also which are better?
also top loading or fron loading?
thanks for help

[Reece Duncan]

does it matter which one is newer? you go for the better model, which ever that may be, depending on specs, value for money etc. you need to try the deck before you buy it really

[DJShades]

Originally Posted by DSjM

when i upgraded to technics, i realised i had wasted months of practice playing with cheap equipment.

Ahh, in the case of vinyl those months weren't really wasted. I learnt to mix vinyl on Technics which kind of spoilt me. The first time I encountered belt-driven decks I was far, far to heavy handed and looked like I'd never DJ'd before in my life! Learning to mix on cheap decks means that should you be unfortunate enough to encounter them in a professional capacity (but God only knows who who be stupid enough to put belt-driven decks in a club or bar!) then at least you'll be able to mix with them! I on the other hand would be stuffed!

With CD players its different, as there is no physical interaction with the media (i.e the CD) its all down to the componants and their quality. Some cheap CD players leave a lot to be desired. As with most things in life the old saying of "You get what you pay for" stands true for CD players just as it does for most things.

[Reece Duncan]

Originally Posted by DJShades

Ahh, in the case of vinyl those months weren't really wasted. I learnt to mix vinyl on Technics which kind of spoilt me. The first time I encountered belt-driven decks I was far, far to heavy handed and looked like I'd never DJ'd before in my life! Learning to mix on cheap decks means that should you be unfortunate enough to encounter them in a professional capacity (but God only knows who who be stupid enough to put belt-driven decks in a club or bar!) then at least you'll be able to mix with them! I on the other hand would be stuffed!

With CD players its different, as there is no physical interaction with the media (i.e the CD) its all down to the componants and their quality. Some cheap CD players leave a lot to be desired. As with most things in life the old saying of "You get what you pay for" stands true for CD players just as it does for most things.

Beautifully said matey

[tOM]

i've always prefered cdj=100's to cdj-200's, but i think pioneer all the way

and rees numark gear is crap, whatever situation you're in you're best of plumping for as close to industry standard as you can get

[Reece Duncan]

Originally Posted by tOM

i've always prefered cdj=100's to cdj-200's, but i think pioneer all the way

and rees numark gear is crap, whatever situation you're in you're best of plumping for as close to industry standard as you can get

You cant say Numark gear is crap, is better than alot on the market and there customer service is 2nd to none, alongside there excellent prices, im not comparing to pioneer, i would use cdj1000's over anything given the choice in clubs, im simply saying that for the market its aimed at, theres no better around.

[tOM]

Originally Posted by Reece Duncan

You cant say Numark gear is crap,

numark gear is crap