The DJ Toolbox - DJ Equipment Reviews and News

Over the years since its release in 2001 the CDJ1000 has been updated twice, and has risen to become an industry standard. It’s used by the world’s most renowned DJs, and has been installed by top clubs across the globe. But, are they really worth the sizable outlay that buying a pair entails? That is the question I intend to answer with this review.

There’s no doubting that the release of the CDJ1000 was a true landmark in the development of DJ technology. For the first time many formerly staunch vinyl purists were lured into the previously unknown world of CD mixing by this new player that could emulate the feel of a record, while also providing the benefit of some pretty impressive digital trickery. And, of course, the advantage to the globetrotter of not having to lug a large box of records through the airport – or risk losing them altogether – is immense.

Suddenly vinyl was not the only viable option for the serious spinner, and as more-and-more big name DJs – like Paul Van Dyk and Erick Morillo – began to weave CDs into their sets, the format quickly gained acceptance and credibility. The CDJ1000 was not the only single CD deck on the market though, in fact the competition was fierce, so Pioneer’s achievement in creating the ‘Technics 1200’ of the CD world is considerable.

But why has this CD deck been more successful than any other? What is it that people love about it, and what are its faults?

What people like

This list is actually pretty long, so I’ve decided to break it up into several sections.

Vinyl emulation

In the centre of the CDJ1000 sits its jog dial. This is about the size of a 7” record and allows you to control the play back of the current track. If you select CDJ mode the player functions without its touch sensitivity features. In vinyl mode the player is designed to act like a record deck and you can stop, cue, pitch bend and scratch the track with the dial to your heart’s content. The reliability of this hands-on interaction is one of the key things that has made the CDJ1000 so successful. DJs of all kinds can craft mixes in a very similar fashion to playing vinyl, and turntablists can perform advanced scratch techniques without fear of delays or skipping.

But in order to mix effectively with a record you not only need the ability to manipulate it manually, you also need the visual cues given by its grooves to recognise when the next break in the track is coming, and how much time you have left before it finishes. To address this, the CDJ1000 includes a visual display which interprets the track in the form of a sound wave, letting you see what’s coming next.

You also need to be able to adjust the tempo accurately and consistently. Here again the CDJ1000 excels – you can choose from several different tempo control ranges, allowing you to make either very fine alternations or dramatic increases and decreases to the bpm.

Digital effects

It’s not just the player’s ability to emulate a record deck that has won it so much support, it’s the combination of these functions with features made possible only by the advent of digital technology.

The CDJ1000 allows you to set 3 hot cue points in each track, and you can then jump instantly to any one of them by using the appropriate button. This feature saves time when mixing and can also be employed to creative effect, whether by reordering song sections or playing short snippets of audio in the manner of a sampler.

Similarly, you can set up and fine tune loop-in and loop-out points, allowing you to continuously play a portion of the current track. This can be used to extend the length of a track, re-edit it on-the-fly and, if you hit the reloop button while the loop is playing, it will instantly start again from the beginning enabling you to employ more sampler style effects.

The CDJ1000 also comes with a built in memory card slot. This gives you the opportunity to set up and store both cue and loop points for all your CDs in advance, giving you more time to concentrate on other aspects of your performance when playing live.

The master tempo feature makes changing a tracks speed without changing its pitch possible. So, if you have two tracks in matching or complementary keys, but when you alter the bpm of one to get it in time with the other the mix no longer sounds right, you can use master tempo to correct the problem.

Sound quality

While some audiophiles and vinyl lovers will never be satisfied with the sound of CDs compared to records, the CDJ1000 does a solid job of producing decent quality audio. It uses special converters that add extra harmonics to the signal, and boost the frequency response giving you a more ‘analog-like’ sound.

Build quality

The CDJ1000 is not a small or light piece of equipment, but with a 320 x 370 mm footprint and weighing in at 4.2 kg it’s not excessively large or heavy. The dimensions mean that although there are many different buttons on the facia it doesn’t feel too cramped. The build quality is also very good, and the player boasts high quality faders and buttons along with a sturdy outer casing.

The CDJ1000 Mk3’s enhanced features

The player’s latest incarnation is the CDJ1000 Mk3, and this newest version includes several enhanced features. One of the key improvements is support for Mp3 playback, removing the need for the previously time consuming conversion to CD audio format, and making it possible for you to store many more tracks on each CD. A wide range of bit rates can be used and you still have the ability to make both large and very small tempo adjustments when using Mp3s.

Next up is the new fast search facility, allowing you to scan through hundreds of songs quickly and efficiently. Once you’ve found the track you’re looking for the CDJ1000 Mk3 also reads it faster, minimising those small delays that can sometimes end up being a big irritation.

The newest version of the player now also comes with support for the very popular SD memory card standard. So you can store all your cue and loop points on these handy little cards.

Another important improvement is the increased sensitivity of the jog dial giving you even more subtle influence over your mixes. There is also a new control that allows you to adjust its resistance, so that you can customise the response exactly to your liking.

The display on the CDJ1000 mk3 is significantly brighter and the resolution of the wave display has been increased from 50 to 100 dots, meaning that it’s easier to see where you are in the song and what’s coming next.

What people don’t like

This is a much shorter list. One of the main gripes people have with the CDJ1000 is its lack of a motorized platter. The jog dial itself does not spin when the track is playing, so feedback is limited and the feel is looser than playing with vinyl on a record deck.

The digital display can also take some getting used to for DJs who have been working with vinyl in the past. Although this becomes less of an issue with regular practice, it’s not to everyone’s liking. Making larger bpm adjustment with the master tempo feature switched on can also lead to a loss of sound quality.

Finally, the main problem that many people have with the CDJ1000 is its price. The cost of the players put them out of many people’s reach, or at least mean that they will have to save up for a frustratingly long period of time before they can afford to buy a pair.

Verdict

There is no doubting that the CDJ1000 is something special. It has won a place in the arsenal of a great many well respected DJs, and in the booths of top clubs in countries around the world. Its list of effects is considerably shorter than some of the competition, but one of the key things that ultimately makes the player so successful is that it’s user friendly, enabling DJs to work with it in an intuitive way.

Mixing CDs with vinyl can be done very effectively with careful control of EQ levels. So, if you intend to play in clubs, whether you’re a DJ that already uses CDs in your set, you want to start adding them, or you’re looking to switch completely to this format, in my opinion there’s no better player to choose. When you arrive at the venue this is the piece of equipment that you are most likely to find waiting for you, so being an experienced user will stand you in good stead and allow you to concentrate on the important business of giving a great performance to the crowd.

It’s true to say that the price of the CDJ1000 is high, and if Pioneer could find a way to lower it a bit without compromising on quality then this would really help to put it within the reach of many more people. (Of course, if you’re prepared to sacrifice some features, its little brother the CDJ800 is a more affordable option.)

But, with its great build quality and rock solid reliability, I do think that you get what you pay for with the CDJ1000. So, if you can find a way to afford a set, in my opinion they will prove to be an excellent long-term investment in your future as a successful DJ.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

If the price were to drop a little on this product then I would not hesitate to give it the full five stars.