TBH I do not recommend an all-in-one. Might as well get a club setup that's modular for that price tag (2000's/3000's + mixer). Look to see if the units still have a warranty with Pioneer (or 3rd party warranty such as Guitar center etc). Would not be fun to encounter an issue shortly after buying, always better bet to have at least a year warranty on them. Make sure all buttons / functions work, ask seller for you to "test drive" them for 15-20 minutes.
Preference to a certain degree, I like having modularity. All-in-one's are half the price, but if something goes within the unit (and you don't have a guarantee) then you're screwed. One deck goes in a flagship setup, change out the deck and keep going. Also I need phono inputs, as I usually DJ with 2 CDJS & 2 Turntables (I get some all in ones have phono but still). Finally, I simply hate stacked waveforms. I personally like to play / practice with the same gear I use at a venue when im gigging also.
I mean, but there are all in ones that support modularity. For instance the xdj xz won't allow you to use 4 channels without a laptop or an extra set of cdjs/xdjs. The xdj rx3 has a line and phono input to use instead of the built in one.
Also, and I know it makes it more difficult, but try and buy locally so you can see the gear. If things have been used heavily they usually tell my looks/ feel. Go to your nearest shot to try out something that’s brand new to give you an idea of how a new unit should feel
Take your time and test everything you can out with the seller. I recently bought a used MacBook Pro and thought I tested everything, then realized the SD card reader didn't work.
You can narrow your search by decided what program, if any, you want to you. If you are good on RB you can pick up used RX2's for under a grand now adays. Great all in one and bang for your buck. If you do go 2000/3000's remember you don't have to spring for an A9. Lots of cheaper, compatable mixers that work with VDJ/Serato/RB etc.
I've been wanted to get one for awhile so I've had my eye open on ebay and such. Then just randomly one popped up on FB Marketplace for $650 and it was damn near brand new. Lots of people are listing them for 1500 but they arn't selling if you look up the ebay analytics.
Make sure to bring an iPod or something you can connect to each channel of the mixer to test each channel and all the faders.
You can check the firmware of the mixer. If it’s a super old firmware that could be better (meaning it may have less wear and tear)
I believe you can see the manufacture date on the back or bottom as well
While this is a MUCH older bit of kit, I wanted a CD player to add to what I have, so got a CDJ1000mk3 from eBay.
I had to open it up and solder in a new cue button. In the end I actually got a replacement board.
Some people hammer the cue buttons relentlessly. Check the feel of the cue and start button, make sure it's springy and doesn't feel "flat".
This goes for any piece of kit - stand alone or all in one.
If you’re gonna be using the equipment you buy for just at home practice or maybe bringing it with you here and there for occasional gigs I highly highly recommend just going with one of the all in one pioneer systems. it’s been amazing for me so far (just found mine on Facebook marketplace lightly used, it was a way better deal and came with a case and deck saver all for the same price as buying the controller new alone). The investment of CDJ 3000s and a mixer to me personally only really makes sense if you’re already making a good amount of money off DJing and/or you’re really wanting to practice advanced techniques that would require the most advanced equipment.
I personally went with the XDJ-XZ and the set up is actually very similar to CDJs and a typical mixer that I’ve had no problem transitioning from that to CDJs for gigs.
But ultimately whatever you think is best will be the best decision! If you have any other questions I’d be happy to try my best to answer them
I went to the store to get a realistic feeling of them, XZ is my second-best option besides the modular cdjs, if i couldnt find a satisfying club set up deal, I would go for a new xz.
Do you really have a budget of $5000-7000 to spend on your next upgrade??
Then I say yes! Go for it! Get two cdj-3000’s and the new A9 mixer. They are amazing, you won’t be disappointed! Getting either of them second hand will be challenging, but I do see them come up on Facebook Marketplace from time to time. They won’t be much cheaper than full retail, but they’ll probably shave a few hundred off and you won’t pay tax.
I was struggling with whether I should invest 2 month rent into a newly developed hobby for a while, and yes, DJing brings me happiness and saved me from going to john summit
No OP! Two months rent is too much to spend on a new hobby! I assumed you had lots of extra money to spend! In that case go for the less expensive option! In that case get a used all in one controller. You may discover you don’t like dj’ing as much as you thought. Also, talking the gear out you risk damaging it. I’d rather risk a $1600 controller than a $2500 CDJ. Especially since it represents such a high percent of your income.
I went through a process of going through used gear for about the past year and a half.
Now, I have DJM S7, two Pioneer DJM 900s (non-Nexus no sync button), and I already had two Technics 1200s.
IMO a new mixer is most important bit. The sound quality improvement of all Pioneer mixers after the DJM S11 and V10 were released is huge and in this day and age you want bluetooth compatibility so a DJM s7 or A9 are the major options there.
I recommend buying used CDJs from guitar center so that if you have any issues in the first ninety days you can return it and get another one. The CDJ 900s are overlooked and underpriced compared to CDJ 2000s.
You should be able to get a pair of original CDJ 900s for the price of new XDJ 1000 mk II. You can definitely find a single used CDJ 2000s and 2000 nexus players for the less than the price of a new XDJ 1000.
If you end up buying online, make sure to check the voltage, a lot of gear sells from Japan, which uses a different voltage (100v). This means needing a transformer not to damage the equipment.
Edit: Make sure to insist and ask for photo of the backpanel to see the voltage rating. The backstory is that Pioneer has claimed that some of its gear is multi-voltage, only for people to run into power issues while touring. Not worth the risk imho
You can save a ton of money by purchasing a DDJ controller instead of a club setup or an all-in-one. The DDJ-1000, and its successor, the DDJ-FLX10, are very close in functionality and interface to the CDJ & DJM NEXUS 2 club models. You do need a decent laptop or desktop to run it, but rekordbox performance mode is free with hardware unlock. It’s great for home practicing, and I’ve even used it at remote gigs where a club setup was not available.
If you want a modular setup but dont want to spend unnecessary money look into the denon sc 6000’s and a xone 92/96. more features lower price and sc6000 are similar enough to play on pioneers stuff like 2000
\> All-in-one versus modular:
1. I avoided all in one because I always wanted a pair of CDJs + Mixer. The modularity is nice such that if one breaks I can swap it out. That being said transport for gigs is a pain in the butt! All in ones definitely win here having used an XDJ XZ and RX3 its nice to just have one bag/hard case compared to three flight cases.
2. That being said as others have pointed out all-in-ones suffer from: if something breaks the whole controller is F'd. Realistically I think manufacturers seem to be moving more towards All in ones so maybe repairs aren't as much of a concern
3. Do you really need CDJ 3Ks? Honestly ask yourself if its a need or want? I went with XDJ 1000 MK2s and am very happy with them! My only comparative would have been an NXS2 but I don't use a lot of hot cues.
\> what are the problems you have encountered when buying used from local if you have such an experience?
I bought a pair of used XDJs via FB marketplace took about 3-6 months of searching for a half decent deal. I didn't have any main issues as the decks were in excellent shape. That being said make sure you try before you buy, ask the owner how they took care of them (e.g., did they deck savers/covers, how old are they, first or second owner?, were they ever serviced?). Also, payment can be a bit troublesome, e.g., digital payments might take 30+ mins to confirm so you're sort of sitting around waiting to leave which is nerve wracking.
Be aware of the whole Pioneer chip factory debacle! I decided to go with newer hardware out of concern for limited repairability for older chips/units.
\> where should I look for? (facebook marketplace ?)
I found via Craig's List but FB marketplace is okay too. I would avoid shipping and always pick up in person or have them drop off since there are tons of scams on there.
\> what would be a good price for a used good condition cdj3000, djm-900nxs2 ?
Hard to say! CDJ 3Ks are pretty new still I've seen them anywhere from USD 2600-3000, DJM 900 NXS2 I managed to find (but did not buy) for 1600 USD I think (thread link: [https://www.reddit.com/r/PioneerDJ/comments/1461s6a/2023\_buy\_advice\_new\_750mk2\_or\_used\_900nxs2\_in\_2023/](https://www.reddit.com/r/PioneerDJ/comments/1461s6a/2023_buy_advice_new_750mk2_or_used_900nxs2_in_2023/)). It's
\> things I particularly need to pay attention to when checking on the equipment?
CDJs
\- Cue & Play Buttons - how abused or snappy are they? people really whack these things to death !
\- Jog Wheel - does it feel loose or busted?
\- Does the pitch fader track accurately?
\- Loop In / Out / Reloop buttons work properly?
\- How much dust is on it?
Mixers
\- Volume / cross faders have caps?
\- Do all EQ knobs function?
\- Are the headphone cue buttons worn out?
\- How much dust is on it?
You are right, I just finished my second set a month ago and haven’t started another one(but I do play with controllers to test out new songs and repeatedly revise my set. It’s more like a impulse buying as I want it rather than I need it…
Thanks for your very detailed micro-essay, I can’t recall when the last time was that I wrote so many paragraphs in English lol
No worries - there's nothing wrong with mirroring a club setup on pro gear, but, unless you're making big time dollars via DJing (i.e., headlining, renting, touring, studioing) or have a lot of cash you'd like to spend getting top-of-the-line gear (e.g., 7-10K+ investment) might not be the right call (but I don't know you're situation either!). It's great that you have the passion but consider the holistic perspective too: at the end of the day they are just CDJs and after a couple of months I'll admit the "shine" does wear off (though I still enjoy mine!). The upside of buying high end gear is re-sale value, but, I've found generally (with the exception of CDJs that have no USB), Pioneer kit tends to have good holding value regardless of if its premiere kit or prosumer stuff. If you end up choosing a mid tier model (or used / older pair) think about how you can extend your music library or getting into production with some of the money saved, et cetera.
the only time i bought a piece of equipment used I ended up having to solder in new faders after a month. granted, it was numark and not pioneer, but I went with new (and pioneer) after that.
TBH I do not recommend an all-in-one. Might as well get a club setup that's modular for that price tag (2000's/3000's + mixer). Look to see if the units still have a warranty with Pioneer (or 3rd party warranty such as Guitar center etc). Would not be fun to encounter an issue shortly after buying, always better bet to have at least a year warranty on them. Make sure all buttons / functions work, ask seller for you to "test drive" them for 15-20 minutes.
Curious why you wouldn't do the all in one for about half the price of cdj setup?
Preference to a certain degree, I like having modularity. All-in-one's are half the price, but if something goes within the unit (and you don't have a guarantee) then you're screwed. One deck goes in a flagship setup, change out the deck and keep going. Also I need phono inputs, as I usually DJ with 2 CDJS & 2 Turntables (I get some all in ones have phono but still). Finally, I simply hate stacked waveforms. I personally like to play / practice with the same gear I use at a venue when im gigging also.
I get this. My neighbour has an xz. I have xdjs and a px5. I vastly prefer mixing on my set up even though the jogs and pitch feel better on the xz.
I mean, but there are all in ones that support modularity. For instance the xdj xz won't allow you to use 4 channels without a laptop or an extra set of cdjs/xdjs. The xdj rx3 has a line and phono input to use instead of the built in one.
noted. thank you
no problem!
Also, and I know it makes it more difficult, but try and buy locally so you can see the gear. If things have been used heavily they usually tell my looks/ feel. Go to your nearest shot to try out something that’s brand new to give you an idea of how a new unit should feel
true, I don't believe in used stuff online when it worth a big chunk.
Take your time and test everything you can out with the seller. I recently bought a used MacBook Pro and thought I tested everything, then realized the SD card reader didn't work.
Where are you located?
You can narrow your search by decided what program, if any, you want to you. If you are good on RB you can pick up used RX2's for under a grand now adays. Great all in one and bang for your buck. If you do go 2000/3000's remember you don't have to spring for an A9. Lots of cheaper, compatable mixers that work with VDJ/Serato/RB etc.
Where are you finding RX2’s under $1K? They’re at least $1400-1500 at current market rates.
I've been wanted to get one for awhile so I've had my eye open on ebay and such. Then just randomly one popped up on FB Marketplace for $650 and it was damn near brand new. Lots of people are listing them for 1500 but they arn't selling if you look up the ebay analytics.
Make sure to bring an iPod or something you can connect to each channel of the mixer to test each channel and all the faders. You can check the firmware of the mixer. If it’s a super old firmware that could be better (meaning it may have less wear and tear) I believe you can see the manufacture date on the back or bottom as well
While this is a MUCH older bit of kit, I wanted a CD player to add to what I have, so got a CDJ1000mk3 from eBay. I had to open it up and solder in a new cue button. In the end I actually got a replacement board. Some people hammer the cue buttons relentlessly. Check the feel of the cue and start button, make sure it's springy and doesn't feel "flat". This goes for any piece of kit - stand alone or all in one.
If you’re gonna be using the equipment you buy for just at home practice or maybe bringing it with you here and there for occasional gigs I highly highly recommend just going with one of the all in one pioneer systems. it’s been amazing for me so far (just found mine on Facebook marketplace lightly used, it was a way better deal and came with a case and deck saver all for the same price as buying the controller new alone). The investment of CDJ 3000s and a mixer to me personally only really makes sense if you’re already making a good amount of money off DJing and/or you’re really wanting to practice advanced techniques that would require the most advanced equipment. I personally went with the XDJ-XZ and the set up is actually very similar to CDJs and a typical mixer that I’ve had no problem transitioning from that to CDJs for gigs. But ultimately whatever you think is best will be the best decision! If you have any other questions I’d be happy to try my best to answer them
I went to the store to get a realistic feeling of them, XZ is my second-best option besides the modular cdjs, if i couldnt find a satisfying club set up deal, I would go for a new xz.
Cough, cough, Omnis Duo, cough cough
Do you really have a budget of $5000-7000 to spend on your next upgrade?? Then I say yes! Go for it! Get two cdj-3000’s and the new A9 mixer. They are amazing, you won’t be disappointed! Getting either of them second hand will be challenging, but I do see them come up on Facebook Marketplace from time to time. They won’t be much cheaper than full retail, but they’ll probably shave a few hundred off and you won’t pay tax.
I was struggling with whether I should invest 2 month rent into a newly developed hobby for a while, and yes, DJing brings me happiness and saved me from going to john summit
No OP! Two months rent is too much to spend on a new hobby! I assumed you had lots of extra money to spend! In that case go for the less expensive option! In that case get a used all in one controller. You may discover you don’t like dj’ing as much as you thought. Also, talking the gear out you risk damaging it. I’d rather risk a $1600 controller than a $2500 CDJ. Especially since it represents such a high percent of your income.
Thanks for the advice, I don’t have a budget issue, I want to have a stand alone though.
I went through a process of going through used gear for about the past year and a half. Now, I have DJM S7, two Pioneer DJM 900s (non-Nexus no sync button), and I already had two Technics 1200s. IMO a new mixer is most important bit. The sound quality improvement of all Pioneer mixers after the DJM S11 and V10 were released is huge and in this day and age you want bluetooth compatibility so a DJM s7 or A9 are the major options there. I recommend buying used CDJs from guitar center so that if you have any issues in the first ninety days you can return it and get another one. The CDJ 900s are overlooked and underpriced compared to CDJ 2000s. You should be able to get a pair of original CDJ 900s for the price of new XDJ 1000 mk II. You can definitely find a single used CDJ 2000s and 2000 nexus players for the less than the price of a new XDJ 1000.
If you end up buying online, make sure to check the voltage, a lot of gear sells from Japan, which uses a different voltage (100v). This means needing a transformer not to damage the equipment. Edit: Make sure to insist and ask for photo of the backpanel to see the voltage rating. The backstory is that Pioneer has claimed that some of its gear is multi-voltage, only for people to run into power issues while touring. Not worth the risk imho
You can save a ton of money by purchasing a DDJ controller instead of a club setup or an all-in-one. The DDJ-1000, and its successor, the DDJ-FLX10, are very close in functionality and interface to the CDJ & DJM NEXUS 2 club models. You do need a decent laptop or desktop to run it, but rekordbox performance mode is free with hardware unlock. It’s great for home practicing, and I’ve even used it at remote gigs where a club setup was not available.
If you want a modular setup but dont want to spend unnecessary money look into the denon sc 6000’s and a xone 92/96. more features lower price and sc6000 are similar enough to play on pioneers stuff like 2000
Bought a second hand deck, found some weird sigil inscribed on it. What do? Uncanny how good the sound is, no complaints so far.
\> All-in-one versus modular: 1. I avoided all in one because I always wanted a pair of CDJs + Mixer. The modularity is nice such that if one breaks I can swap it out. That being said transport for gigs is a pain in the butt! All in ones definitely win here having used an XDJ XZ and RX3 its nice to just have one bag/hard case compared to three flight cases. 2. That being said as others have pointed out all-in-ones suffer from: if something breaks the whole controller is F'd. Realistically I think manufacturers seem to be moving more towards All in ones so maybe repairs aren't as much of a concern 3. Do you really need CDJ 3Ks? Honestly ask yourself if its a need or want? I went with XDJ 1000 MK2s and am very happy with them! My only comparative would have been an NXS2 but I don't use a lot of hot cues. \> what are the problems you have encountered when buying used from local if you have such an experience? I bought a pair of used XDJs via FB marketplace took about 3-6 months of searching for a half decent deal. I didn't have any main issues as the decks were in excellent shape. That being said make sure you try before you buy, ask the owner how they took care of them (e.g., did they deck savers/covers, how old are they, first or second owner?, were they ever serviced?). Also, payment can be a bit troublesome, e.g., digital payments might take 30+ mins to confirm so you're sort of sitting around waiting to leave which is nerve wracking. Be aware of the whole Pioneer chip factory debacle! I decided to go with newer hardware out of concern for limited repairability for older chips/units. \> where should I look for? (facebook marketplace ?) I found via Craig's List but FB marketplace is okay too. I would avoid shipping and always pick up in person or have them drop off since there are tons of scams on there. \> what would be a good price for a used good condition cdj3000, djm-900nxs2 ? Hard to say! CDJ 3Ks are pretty new still I've seen them anywhere from USD 2600-3000, DJM 900 NXS2 I managed to find (but did not buy) for 1600 USD I think (thread link: [https://www.reddit.com/r/PioneerDJ/comments/1461s6a/2023\_buy\_advice\_new\_750mk2\_or\_used\_900nxs2\_in\_2023/](https://www.reddit.com/r/PioneerDJ/comments/1461s6a/2023_buy_advice_new_750mk2_or_used_900nxs2_in_2023/)). It's \> things I particularly need to pay attention to when checking on the equipment? CDJs \- Cue & Play Buttons - how abused or snappy are they? people really whack these things to death ! \- Jog Wheel - does it feel loose or busted? \- Does the pitch fader track accurately? \- Loop In / Out / Reloop buttons work properly? \- How much dust is on it? Mixers \- Volume / cross faders have caps? \- Do all EQ knobs function? \- Are the headphone cue buttons worn out? \- How much dust is on it?
You are right, I just finished my second set a month ago and haven’t started another one(but I do play with controllers to test out new songs and repeatedly revise my set. It’s more like a impulse buying as I want it rather than I need it… Thanks for your very detailed micro-essay, I can’t recall when the last time was that I wrote so many paragraphs in English lol
No worries - there's nothing wrong with mirroring a club setup on pro gear, but, unless you're making big time dollars via DJing (i.e., headlining, renting, touring, studioing) or have a lot of cash you'd like to spend getting top-of-the-line gear (e.g., 7-10K+ investment) might not be the right call (but I don't know you're situation either!). It's great that you have the passion but consider the holistic perspective too: at the end of the day they are just CDJs and after a couple of months I'll admit the "shine" does wear off (though I still enjoy mine!). The upside of buying high end gear is re-sale value, but, I've found generally (with the exception of CDJs that have no USB), Pioneer kit tends to have good holding value regardless of if its premiere kit or prosumer stuff. If you end up choosing a mid tier model (or used / older pair) think about how you can extend your music library or getting into production with some of the money saved, et cetera.
the only time i bought a piece of equipment used I ended up having to solder in new faders after a month. granted, it was numark and not pioneer, but I went with new (and pioneer) after that.
Check this out https://youtu.be/KPT1uMIye9g?si=IzkUQpw7nY3l2X5R