Pioneer DDJ-SX3 Review - How Does the New 4-Channel Controller Perform?
The DDJ-SX3 is the latest four-channel controller from Pioneer for Serato DJ Pro. It's more evolution than revolution, and it offers even more power in the DDJ-SX form factor with three microphone inputs, two USB ports, standalone Sound Color FX effects, and button control. The only thing we wanted to see on it were the displays for the jog wheels. Nevertheless, it's the ultimate Pioneer DJ controller with four channels for the current Serato DJ Pro feature set.
First Impressions / Setup
It's been six years since the original DDJ-SX controller changed the landscape of digital DJing. Back then, it was considered massive and huge – smaller controllers like the Vestax VCI-300 and the Traktor Kontrol S4 were dominating the scene, with portability and form factor taking precedence. These compromises (along with the general novelty of digital DJing) led to controllers being labeled as "toys".
The DDJ-SX changed the DJ controller paradigm by being large, fully featured, and professional. Club and pro DJs now had a set of gear they could take to gigs, and mobile DJs had a reliable unit that included the inputs and outputs they needed for performing.
Fast forward to today: DJ controllers are more powerful than ever, even found in DJ setups, and they're also much larger (see DDJ-RZX and Numark NS7III). This is the landscape in which Pioneer DJ has released its latest controller: the DDJ-SX3 is the third iteration of the DDJ-SX, and it retains most of what DJs love about it while throwing in a few innovations.
The controller now has three microphone inputs and a built-in Sound Color FX, similar to those found in Pioneer DJ mixers or flagship controllers like the DDJ-SZ2. The mixer section gets a new gray finish, and the sampler volume control is now a knob instead of a fader. The crossfader is no longer replaceable.
On the back, there are XLR and RCA master outputs, 6.3" booth outputs, four pairs of RCA line inputs, two of which are switchable, a combo TRS microphone input, an XLR microphone input, two USB sockets for connecting up to two laptops, a power socket, and a power switch.
On the front panel of the unit, there are 6.3mm and 3.5mm headphone jacks, a headphone volume control, a headphone mix control, a crossfader curve control, and a 6.3mm jack microphone input with level control and on/off switch.
The DDJ-SX3 comes with Serato DJ Pro and a range of expansions: Serato Pitch 'n Time DJ and Serato Flip are included. It's also Serato DVS ready, meaning you can use it with turntables and timecode vinyl by purchasing the Serato DVS upgrade.
Three Microphone Inputs
The biggest innovation of the DDJ-SX3 is its microphone inputs. Pioneer DJ has added a total of three microphone jacks: a combo TRS input and an XLR input on the back of the unit, and a 6.3mm jack on the front. The first two microphone inputs can be routed to channels 3 and 4 of the mixer, allowing you to adjust the EQ and apply Sound Color FX to them.
It's unlikely you'll use all three microphone inputs simultaneously, although mobile DJs will appreciate the flexibility they offer.
Sound Color FX Effects
Sound Color FX effects are built into the device. These are typically found on Pioneer DJM mixers and more expensive DDJ controllers, but four of them are finally featured in the DDJ-SX series: Echo, Jet, Noise, and Filter. They function and sound as expected and have the added advantage of being usable independently, allowing you to apply them to any audio signal across the four channels.
Mixer
The DDJ-SX3 is equipped with a standalone four-channel mixer, allowing you to use it even without a connected laptop to route audio signals (whether line, phono, or microphone signals). The Sound Color FX also works independently.
Each of the four mixer channels now has an input switch matrix, allowing access to one of the two USB ports (for DJ transitions/B2B sets), phono/line inputs for channels 1 and 2, and microphone inputs 1 and 2 for channels 3 and 4.
Layout Optimizations
While the DDJ-SX3 looks almost identical to its predecessor DDJ-SX2, there are a few subtle differences: the sampler volume is now a button instead of a volume control (presumably to make room for the Sound Color FX). The headphone mix control has been placed next to the headphone output jacks and volume control on the front panel of the device.
Another change is the key-shifting controls, which have replaced the grid adjust and slide buttons on both decks. This means that Pioneer DJ (and Serato in a broader sense) aims to focus on performance-based harmonic mixing, as opposed to grid tweaking, which is still possible via the computer's keyboard and mouse. This is also reflected in the ability to access Pitch Play on the performance pads, which was not available at the time of the introduction of the DDJ-SX2.
Conclusion
For those in search of a new four-channel controller that offers the best and latest features of Serato DJ Pro while also providing the input and output connectivity necessary for the most demanding and professional performances, then the DDJ-SX3 is the right choice.
Those who are already DDJ-SX2 owners won't find much new here to switch to the new controller, although owners of older or less powerful Pioneer DJ controllers like the DDJ-SB and DDJ-SR will be pleased to know that a fantastic controller like the DDJ-SX3 has become even better and thus represents an upgrade option.
It wouldn't have hurt to upgrade the jogwheels on the DDJ-SX3 and provide it with at least On-Jog Display like on the DDJ-1000.
Nevertheless, the DDJ-SX3 remains a high-quality controller that offers enough options to delight Serato DJ Pro users. While some may lament the lack of playful innovation, the DDJ-SX3 is simply Pioneer DJ refining a well-crafted feature set and setting it nearly to perfection. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a new Serato DJ Pro controller.