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This article has surfaced some of my current frustrations with the DJ Mixer landscape. I've been DJ'ing (mostly mixing at home) for 20 years now. Started with a

This article has surfaced some of my current frustrations with the DJ Mixer landscape. I've been DJ'ing (mostly mixing at home) for 20 years now. Started with a cheap Gemini, and got a Pioneer DJM-300 shortly after I used that DJM-300 from probably 99-2014. It was an absolute tank. Aside from two crossfader replacements, it didn't have any issues. If the RCA's didn't get smashed in as result of a drop, I'd probably still use it. Since then, it seems like anything under $1000 is going to have extremely poor quality potentiometers and channel faders. Even with big names like Pioneer, their low end mixers are almost guaranteed to have scratchy pots and faders in under a year. And, brands like Numark will have scratchy pots in two months. Which, is hard for me to understand. I built two mixers for my eurorack modular setup probably 5 years ago, and used alpha pots (which are considered cheap, and cost $1/piece). No scratchy pots at all; and they get considerably more usage than my DJ setup. I've been passively looking for something to diy, but none of the offerings are aimed at a 3-band EQ DJ setup. I'll probably break open my current mixer and replace all the pots, but it's sad that I need to do such a thing. Especially considering the retail cost of parts will be $10.

vibrolax 8y ago
For my application (guitar amps), Alpha pots definitely belong in rare category of components that are both cheap and good. The problem with manufactured gear is that pots and switches are often not readily available for DIY.
enneff 8y ago
I own an Allen and Heath Xone analog mixer and it has wonderful build quality and was quite cheap (sub $500). Much better than many of the cheap mixers I’ve used I’ve the years. A&H have a deserved reputation for great build quality.
dds-dds 8y ago
Just on the off-chance my long search for the right mixer helps anyone else: I own the Formula One FF-4000, which can be switched from fader to rotary by just a few screws and then swapping the board. (Provided you bought the optional board). (1) The sound is beautiful, the EQ/Filter is extremely smooth, though some prefer more bite to their EQ's (a la Technics SH-EX1200), this EQ is quite transparent. The build quality is high and solid, the pots feel weighty in a good way, plus I find the FX routing to be intuitive and flexible (which is one of my bugbears about DJ mixers). Yeah OK, they're not as cool as the DJM-400;) but for my setup it's a joy to work with. They build to order, so it can be a few weeks wait, well it was for me. Luckily I live close by their workshop and got chance to go in to check on the build. Oh, they also make a 6 channel version too. (1) https://www.funktion-one.com/products/ff4000-dj-mixer/ https://www.funktion-one.com/products/ff4000-dj-mixer/

vibrolax 8y ago

For my application (guitar amps), Alpha pots definitely belong in rare category of components that are both cheap and good. The problem with manufactured gear is that pots and switches are often not readily available for DIY.

enneff 8y ago

I own an Allen and Heath Xone analog mixer and it has wonderful build quality and was quite cheap (sub $500). Much better than many of the cheap mixers I’ve used I’ve the years. A&H have a deserved reputation for great build quality.

dds-dds 8y ago

Just on the off-chance my long search for the right mixer helps anyone else: I own the Formula One FF-4000, which can be switched from fader to rotary by just a few screws and then swapping the board. (Provided you bought the optional board). (1) The sound is beautiful, the EQ/Filter is extremely smooth, though some prefer more bite to their EQ's (a la Technics SH-EX1200), this EQ is quite transparent. The build quality is high and solid, the pots feel weighty in a good way, plus I find the FX routing to be intuitive and flexible (which is one of my bugbears about DJ mixers). Yeah OK, they're not as cool as the DJM-400;) but for my setup it's a joy to work with. They build to order, so it can be a few weeks wait, well it was for me. Luckily I live close by their workshop and got chance to go in to check on the build. Oh, they also make a 6 channel version too. (1) https://www.funktion-one.com/products/ff4000-dj-mixer/ https://www.funktion-one.com/products/ff4000-dj-mixer/