CDJ-800MK2: Serious Gear for the Serious DJ

If you want be taken seriously as a professional DJ you're going to need the skills, obviously, but you're also going to need the gear to match. No matter where your music-destiny takes you, the Pioneer CDJ-800MK2 is up to the task. Since their introduction in the mid-90s with the CDJ-500, models from Pioneer's CDJ line have been used so often by so many of the world's top DJs that the name "CDJ" has almost become shorthand for "CD deck." The CDJ-800MK2 was designed as an affordable alternative to the flagship CDJ-1000MK3, but these silver bullets can still easily hold their own in a professional setting. In other words, when you show up to your next gig with a pair of CDJ-800MK2's in tow, everyone will know you mean business.

Beyond pure name recognition, the CDJ-800MK2 has the features, effects and fidelity that'll get your skills noticed. Any CD player can play music, but to call this deck a "CD Player" would be an insult. The CDJ-800MK2 is more an instrument than a mere implement, and no matter whether you're used to CD decks or vinyl turntables, the intuitive layout and responsive feel will be instantly familiar.

CDJ-800MK2: Vinyl Feel Without The Vinyl Noise

Any serious turntablist knows how important feel is to their art. A big part of the appeal of spinning vinyl is the intimate connection between your hands and the music stored on those grooved and groovy discs. Unfortunately, the vinyl medium has its fair share… read more of drawbacks. Delicate hardware like needles and tonearms, and noisy phono connectors that are susceptible to ground hum can be major headache-inducers. Then there's the records themselves, which are a pain to store and transport safely, and wear out quickly anyway, even under normal use. CDJ-800MK2's eliminate all those problems while recreating the tactile experience of scratching on LP platters. At the literal and figurative center of the CDJ's design is its 7.5" jog-wheel. With the deck in "Vinyl Mode" you can interact with this jog wheel the same way you would a spinning record: your cut, cue, scratch, nudge, fast-forward and reverse moves are all read with laser-accuracy. You can even set stops and starts to ramp up or down, and playback can be stopped on a dime by pressing down on the top of the wheel. Just about any move you can do on a vinyl turntable can be performed on a CDJ-800MK2, and in pristine, CD-quality sound. The Mark 2 CDJ-800 has been updated with metallic play and cue buttons and a metallic pitch slider to further emulate the feel of the best turntables.

CDJ-800MK2's Got Digital Looping and Beat Slicing Built Right In

High-fidelity and reliable media aren't the only benefits digital audio and the CDJ-800MK2 have to offer. Integrated real-time looping is a breeze, thanks to the onboard memory and simple controls on the CDJ-800; loop in- and out-points can be adjusted during playback, and everything can be digitally locked to tempo, an impossibility with analog vinyl decks. Four dedicated buttons will effortlessly create one-, two-, four-, or eight-beat loops, and in conjunction with the jog wheel, you can gradually shorten the length of a loop in beat-synched increments, creating awesome stutter and granular effects. With the CDJ-800MK2, all these advanced turntablist techniques will be at your fingertips; no additional sampling gear required.

CDJ-800MK2 Got Your Back

Pioneer CDJ-800MK2s boast a lot of features that'll help you impress club audiences and promoters, but they also boast features that'll keep you from ever leaving a bad impression, too. Not only can the CDJ-800MK2 play MP3s off data CD-Rs, it can even display ID3 track information like artist and track name right on the built-in LCD display, so you'll never cue-up the wrong track again. Additionally, auto-buffering anti-skip memory and an oil-dampened, vibration-absorbing shock mounting help ensure that playback never stops unless you want it to. You'll only perform better knowing these safety features negate the possibility of potentially embarrassing situations that might keep you from booking the gig next time.

Every DJ strives to maintain a perfect balance between artistry and professionalism. The Pioneer CDJ-800MK2 is the one CD Deck that most perfectly embodies that philosophy, and is the one piece of gear that, no matter how big you get, will always keep pace. read less