DJ equipment reviews: DJ CD players

Welcome to another one of my DJ equipment reviews. This article is on the increasingly popular DJ CD players.

When I got my first set of turntables in 1999 I thought that CD players were only used by lame DJs.

The reason why I thought this is because the first CD players designed for DJs (or CDJs as I like to call them) were useless for mixing on. Also if you were a Hip Hop DJ there is no possibility of scratching. So I decided that CDJs were a waste of time.

However the times they are a changing and us DJs have to stay on top of technological advancements.

The new range of DJ CD players from Pioneer and Denon are just as good as turntables for mixing on and also have all the benefits of CDs such as having lots of tracks on one disc.

I still think that the best dance music comes out on record but who knows what will happen in the future. Perhaps CDs will eventually replace records. If you're a new DJ I bet you are still deciding whether to get record players or CD players.

I can't make that decision for you, sorry. I'm currently looking to get one CD player to add to my setup so I can be more flexible. So I recommend both.

Lets take a look at the current range of DJ CD players and I'll give you my 2 cents. Pioneer is really the best brand for DJ CD players. They have been doing it the longest and their products are reliable. Reliability is very important when you're moving your gear around a lot.

The best DJ CD player money can buy

Pioneer CDJ-1000MK3 CD/MP3 Player

The Pioneer CDJ-1000 MK3 features the same robust build, polished look, and clear layout as previous CDJs. But the subtle revisions add more intuitive features, make it easier to transport music, and improve track info: refinements that make cueing, looping, scratching, and stretching a track easier than ever. With full MP3 support including VBR files, intelligent features, such as the direct folder search button, you can quickly access files within folders on the disc for intuitive, fast cueing. A total wide tempo range (+70% to 100%) also gives greater control than other models. An instant reverse feature is controlled with a toggle switch and can be used immediately within any track without having to stop or start. Along with multimedia cards, SD cards are now also compatible with the CDJ-1000 MK3 so that hot cues, hot loop points, and WAV display data can be easily stored and loaded. The removable memory card can also be used in any CDJ-1000, so once you've stored your favorite cue and loop points they're stored for life. The CDJ-1000 MK3 also has a feature that allows you to duplicate memory cards. The display of the MK3 has been improved to give more accurate display of memory points within the track. The CDJ-1000 MK3's 7" jogdial has been improved so you can quickly and easily alter the resistance of the jog wheel to tailor it to your individual style. The jogdial also features a new metallic...

I have used this CD player a few times and it is amazing. Just as easy to mix as vinyl. The Pioneer CDJ-1000 MK3 features the same great build, latest look, and easy-to-understand layout as previous CDJs. But the latest updates have added more intuitive features, the refinements make cueing, looping, scratching, and stretching a track easier than ever.

With full MP3 support including VBR files, intelligent features, such as the direct folder search button, you can quickly access files within folders on the disc for intuitive, fast cueing. A total wide tempo range (+70% to 100%) also gives greater control than other models. An instant reverse feature is controlled with a toggle switch and can be used immediately within any track without having to stop or start.

Along with multimedia cards, SD cards are now also compatible with the CDJ-1000 MK3 so that hot cues, hot loop points, and WAV display data can be easily stored and loaded.

The removable memory card can also be used in any CDJ-1000, so once you've stored your favorite cue and loop points they're stored for life. The CDJ-1000 MK3 also has a feature that allows you to duplicate memory cards.

The display of the MK3 has been improved to give more accurate display of memory points within the track. The CDJ-1000 MK3's 7" jogdial has been improved so you can quickly and easily alter the resistance of the jog wheel to tailor it to your individual style.

Let me assure you if you buy this unit you will have months worth of fun working out all the neat tricks it does.

Unfortunately this is an expensive unit and you could get two good turntables for the price of one Pioneer CDJ-1000 MK3.

A more reasonable alternative for the Beginner

Pioneer CDJ-200 Pro CD Player

The Pioneer CDJ-200 Pro CD Player is packed with features that will make any DJ drool! Open up a new remix world with the digital jog break function, complete with a large jog dial that you can operate in time with the music to create original sound effects. Pitch bend changes the music tempo depending on the speed and direction the jog dial is rotated. Frame search moves the pause position in frame units when the jog dial is rotated in pause mode. A high-precision slider allows for easy tempo adjustment. Master tempo control maintains the same sound pitch while changing the music's tempo. Cue functions let you control when the music starts and from what point. Realtime seamless looping simplifies the setting and canceling of loops. Slot loading makes quick disc changes a snap. Does not support VBR MP3s.

I've used this model only once but I recommend it because you can do good mixes on it. It is really the perfect CDJ for starting out. You will be able to learn to mix on it and it will have all of Pioneers build quality. A couple of years ago these were the top of the line.

Pitch bend changes the music tempo depending on the speed and direction the jog dial is rotated. Frame search moves the pause position in frame units when the jog dial is rotated in pause mode. A high-precision slider allows for easy tempo adjustment. Master tempo control maintains the same sound pitch while changing the music's tempo.

Cue functions let you control when the music starts and from what point. Realtime seamless looping simplifies the setting and canceling of loops. Slot loading makes quick disc changes a snap.

If you're interested in having a browse through some