"Behringer DJX700: Better than a sharp stick in the eye."
Feature:
Gee, it came jam packed with features, in the traditional Behringer way. Its simply a blatant copy of the Pioneer DJM600, made cheaper. The problem is, cheaper components add reliability issues, so the effects on my unit are kaput. done. dead. terminated. no more. buried in my back yard.
See "quality" below for detail....
The BPM counters, well they don't count. The "surround" is really just some kind of expander.
The best feature on this thing: the inputs. No shortage of inputs. Inputs for miles. Or kilometers if your in the rest of the world. Also theres an efects send / return, which is useful if you, like me, are mourning the loss of your internal effects. Oh and it has a lot of esoteric blinky lights. Thats a feature, right? Perfect to amuse your local raver.
Quality:
My father always beat into me "You get what you pay for." I hate it when he's right. For starters the BPM counters are more like BPM guessers. If you play anything faster then 160BPM, like drum and bass, forget about it. Besides, anyone getting into this type of gear shouldn't even look at the counters - I put duct tape over mine ;) The unit is not plastic, but the steel they used for the main chassis is questionable thin, and Ive found more rigid plastic. The aluminum top plate is reasonable and the silk printing on it seems pretty durable. Now for a sad story about the effects Get your Kleenex out like your going to watch Beaches with Bette Middler. Really, its not the effects fault at all. The digital effects processor sub-board which is mounted under the main mixing board is mounted RIGHT OVER the power supply transformer, which gets VERY HOT. Overly hot. It was simply a bystander and died before its time, tragically, and without friends. I don't know if the transformer is defective or not, but it heats everything in the vicinity to uncomfortable temperatures, including all the RCA inputs on the left side. The bottom of the unit is too hot to touch after a long night. Then theres the faders... they get sticky.. Unfortunately unlike the Pioneer this thing is a copy of, the faders are directly soldered to the main board and replacement is not gonna happen unless you have an extensive knowledge of electronics and a pretty pimp variable temp soldering iron. The crossfader, on the other hand, is just like any other mixer out there and is pretty simple to replace with micro screwdrivers. Anyone that has one out of warranty: if you have some concept of electronics, I suggest moving the power supply to an external box. It shouldn't be that hard, and will probably buy a lot more life out of this thing. Moral: the transformer is a cruel, horrible, hot tempered bastard. Much like my father, without the drink.
Value:
Everyone knows Behringer is cheap, er, I mean "inexpensive". I really think they've started to slip lately. They have the potential to be a lot of bang for the buck, but you lose that value point if the unit consistently fails right around the time the warranty runs out... Planned obsolescence is a growing trend in products manufactured in China. Unfortunately, Behringer seems to be going in that direction.
Desirability:
Oh man, I can't afford a Pioneer, but I really want one. Oh wait, this one looks just like a DJM 600, but its $900 cheaper (1/6 the price, literally)... Thats the hook. This thing looks like a gift from above at the music store when compared to the DJM to any DJ that can barely afford to buy socks and ramen noodles. I spent all my money on rent and turntables, and my rent was late anyway. So as you see the "I want it" factor climbs dramatically, as the money factor slides. Its not quite like buying a Rolex in Tijuana, but its pretty close.
Sound:
The sound is generally good, but at the top end theres a little noise that bleeds through into the PA, even with no sources plugged in. The noise gets much worse if you turn on the "surround" feature. The EQ cut buttons tend to pop periodically too, so I stay away from them on large PAs. Otherwise, its pretty average for a mixer. Better sound quality then an AM radio at least.
Ease of Use:
The layout, like the Pioneer DJM600, is perfect. Two turn tables and two CD mixers are an ideal setup for this unit and can all be used concurrently. Theres tons of line in options, in fact I do believe there is one more line in then the DJM600. Everything is in a very logical place, and the EQ knobs are nice and big and smooth. Everyone likes big, smooth knobs.
Support:
I'm not sure about Behrindgers support, as my mixer is long out of warranty. I'll find out soon when I attempt to order a replacement digital effects processor board. I'm betting that they're not going to bother sending me one. Its not common to be able to get internal replacement parts from manufacturers and their web site give the DC two step when it comes to sourcing parts. I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
Overall:
Oh Behringer! Are you listening? I know you mean well by supplying our grubby little DJ hands with affordable products, but how much more quality can we trade off before its too much?
So in the end, I grudgingly have to give this monster a pretty low score, and I feel bad for that, because the potential is great for this product. I don't want to have to worry about my equipment becoming self aware in the middle of a show and refuse to work because it is tired. In the end, I would recommend saving a little more money, forgoing the Behringer Instant Gratification bug, and buy something that will last a little longer. In any case, this thing still works for me, but I'll be looking for something a little sturdier in the meantime. And FYI, Behringer EuroPower amps are a totally different story, and you can't go wrong there. Built like Panzer tanks, I tell you. But for the mixer, I give it a really strong "meh" rating, slightly above a long uncomfortable sigh.
Submitted: 8/17/2007
Style of Music: Electro House, Drum and Bass, New Wave, Breaks
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"EXTREMELY good value! High quality, tons of features, low price!!!"
Feature:
Wow. Tons of features. Kill switches... Beat counters... Phono/Aux switchable inputs... Effects galore... There are so many possibilities with this mixer.
Quality:
The mixer has a very comfortable feel, is built tough and looks great. The faders will last you a long time.
Value:
INCREDIBLE value for it's price. There are so many features and is built to last. You pay little and get A LOT!
Desirability:
Although this mixer is a great value, it doesnt seem to be widely used by professional DJs. Cosmetically speaking, this mixer looks GREAT!
Sound:
The sound quality is good. It isn't perfect, but it definately isn't bad. It could be better.
Support:
My only complaint is that if you want the manufacturer's warranty, you need to send in the warranty form within 14 days of your purchase, otherwise there is no warranty.
Overall:
I can't think of another mixer that has this many features and is of this quality for the same price. Great job Behringer!
Submitted: 7/26/2004
Style of Music: Trance, Hard Trance
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