CD Players

International DJ Magazine (April 2006) Pioneer CDJ-1000Mk3 & CDJ-800Mk2

If want to spin CDs and MP3s but are yet to get the kit, then Pioneer's latest launch will be of high interest. Read on as DJ Lurch tests the next generation of CDJs.

With a surprising lack of fanfare Pioneer have announced the arrival of the CDJ-1000MK3 and the Mk2 version of its more compact sibling, the CDJ-800, with the most significant improvement on each being that they are both now MP3 compatible. Although an obvious and, let's face it, necessary move for Pioneer, it is still a major step forward for the company, for before this launch their only products capable of MP3 playback were the feature-light CDJ-200 and niche DMP-555, and with the majority of their competitors offering advanced MP3-enabled DJ products there was a danger that what have for some time been industry standards were beginning to look dated.

The MP3 facilities on both machines are excellent. With the same level of accuracy when cueing and scratching as with CD, while their dedicated MP3 folder search buttons allow for the rapid location of files, which is very much in keeping with the intuitive user-friendly layout of the CDJ family. Of great importance when using MP3s is the quality and detail of the display screen and on each model this area has been improved, with the resolution having been doubled and multi-colored and fluorescent lighting put in place. Full MP3 track data is shown, including Kbps rate, while the wave data on the 1000 and playing address details on both are extended so that an entire track length can be seen at a glance - all taking the pain out of the search, cue and mix process so you can concentrate on being creative.

Let's close in on the CDJ-1000Mk3 for a moment. It's a unit that maintains its predecessor's robust build, sleek looks and streamlined layout, and among its new features is a jog adjust dial, allowing you to incrementally alter the tension of the scratch and search jog wheel. To give you a rough benchmark, the tension on the Mk2 feels close to the midpoint between the 'light' and 'heavy' options. In operation, the light option is good for pitch bend and search in CDJ mode, while the heavy setting is best suited for scratching in vinyl mode. Also new in the jog wheel department is a metallic 'non-slip' finish, its fluorescent display screen has been raised to increase brightness, the cue marker is now larger and new 45 degree marks assist in measuring scratch moves.

Also new on this model is a hot loop feature which is similar to the familiar hot cue function that shares the same buttons, lets you store up to three loops per track for on-the-fly remixing. A handful of minor improvements fit further feathers in the Mk3's cap, such as its compatibility with SO as well as multimedia cards (and a flip-down flap that now covers their slot), gold-plated RCA connections, a resume play feature (so the deck will restart from the same point if a disc is accidentally ejected), and a backlight for the reloop button. While purely aesthetic, the switch to a silver pitch adjustment slider is also a nice touch.

Moving on to the CDJ-800Mk2, in addition to its MP3 capabilities and improved display screen, this unit shares many of the same features as the 1000, including resume play and the backlit reloop button, though perhaps more important are the identical finish to the jog wheel and enhancements on its dedicated display. In terms of the feel of the 800's jog wheel, this has been further refined to resemble that of the CDJ-1000Mk2, and is an improvement on the slightly loose feel of that on the original 800. Other new features include an auto beat loop via the seamless loop-in button and although, like the new CDJ-1000, the changes on this Mk2 800 are subtle (MP3 support aside), they definitely make it a better product than the original.

TIME TO UPGRADE?

Of course, there are bound to be DJs who are happy to stick solely with CD, and if that is the case then the improvements and additions on these new models are unlikely to entice users of other products or encourage owners of the superseded Pioneer units to upgrade. However, considering the increasing availability and relatively affordability of MP3s, for those going digital for the first time these new Pioneer players offer a more future-proof and hence more viable option than their predecessors, and whether you intend to use MP3 exclusively or simply as a convenient combination with CD, are also a more DJ-friendly option than the other MP3-enabled units in their range.

On the other hand, for existing CDJ users who have shied away from MP3 for the simple reason that they didn't want to forego the tactility and intuitive layout of their CDJ-1000 and 800, then this launch is going to be big news. Although, for 1000 users in particular, upgrading your set-up will be an expensive undertaking, and for all but professional DJs (who can claim back the purchase against tax) this will be a major hurdle. As such the 800Mk2 could well prove the more popular attraction, and neither would it be a surprise if a growing trade in secondhand 1000Mk2s emerged as DJs tried to recoup some of their original investment before splashing out on the Mk3s.

So, despite Pioneer having left it late to revise the CDJ-1000 and CDJ-800 to cater for MP3, they have done so without detracting from the powerful simplicity of these products, which is what made them so good in the first place and provided them with such long-lasting popularity. Considering their reputation in the field, there's little doubt that the Pioneer brand is strong enough to claw back any lost ground. It looks like the industry standard is back for good.

FEATURES

CDJ-1000Mk3

• Plays CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MP3 CD-ROMs
• MP3 folder search buttons
• MP3 track data displayed
• Turntable-emulating jog wheel with adjustable tension
• Seamless loop with reloop and loop-out adjust
• Three hot cues and hot loops
• Pitch control of +/- 6, 10, 16 or 100
• Master tempo
• Adjustable start/brake speeds
• Reverse play
• Cue/loop memory
• Digital out
• Multimedia/SO Card memo facility
• Legato link for connecting other Pioneer gear

CDJ-800Mk2

• Plays CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MP3 CD-ROMs
• MP3 folder search buttons
• MP3 track data displayed
• Turntable emulating jog wheel
• Seamless loop with reloop and loop-out adjust
• Auto-beat loop feature
• Pitch control of +/- 10 or 100
• Master Tempo
• Adjustable start/brake speeds
• Reverse play
• Quick return scratch feature
• Cue/loop memory
• Digital out
• Legato link for connecting other Pioneer gear

VERDICT

With this MP3 upgrade, Pioneer's CDJ family could re-conquer the DJ booth.

ALTERNATIVES

Both these products face a fair amount of competition, the closest rival to the CDJ-1000Mk3 being the latest flagship player from Denon, the DN-S3500, while their DN-S5000 model and the Technics SL-DZ1200 are also in the frame. Alternatives to the CDJ-800MK2 include the new Stanton C.304 and, albeit with smaller jog dials, the Vestax CDX-05 and American Audio Pro Scratch 1, while NUMARK's full-size iCDX digital deck pitches in somewhere between the two.