Pioneer XDJ-XZ in the test - What is the new standalone controller flagship capable of?

Pioneer DJ's new flagship controller XDJ-XZ brings the look, workflow and features of the CDJ-2000, DDJ-1000 and DJM-900 NXS2 under the umbrella of a compact standalone DJ controller tailored for Rekordbox DJ.

A firmware upgrade makes it compatible with Serato DJ Pro. The DJ controller plays tracks stored on USB sticks, external hard drives or laptops, which can optionally be managed in Rekordbox.

However, it also works entirely without these sources, for example, when using external playback devices such as CDJs or turntables. In short, an all-rounder that also offers something new? Find out here in our test report.

A controller has a harder time

Pioneer DJ units can be seen in every club. DJs swear by the Nexus2 generation of the CDJ-2000 and DJM-900, and the PLX-1000 has also replaced many discarded turntables. DJ controllers, on the other hand, have a hard time establishing themselves in the professional segment. The choice is simply too big, every DJ is looking for something different, so there is hardly a rental company that includes them in its portfolio.

It's a shame, really, because they offer and can do everything that their big colleagues from the clubs can do, and usually at a fraction of the price!

The exterior first

XDJ-XZ Controller Top ViewWhen you stand in front of the controller for the first time, you are quite surprised. This thing is huge!

Imagine gluing two CDJ-2000s and a DJM-900 mixer together and then adding a bit more in depth: That's the XDJ-XZ. Some will love it, others won't be able to cope with the size and its weight of 13 kg.

All in all, however, it can be said that the controller is still quite portable, as it is only one complete device that needs to be transported. The dimensions of 878 x 466 x 118 mm are not a big hurdle and the XDJ-XZ should find a place on every table or desk. Especially with an XDJ-XZ flight case, the DJ controller can definitely be described as portable enough.

The single, 7-inch central touchscreen - the same one found on systems like the XDJ-RX and XDJ-RX2 - somehow seems a little undersized in this new, oversized environment. Sure. After a short period of getting used to it, you get along well with it. Nevertheless, we would have wished for something bigger from Pioneer.

We couldn't find any conspicuous features in the workmanship or the haptic impression. As we have come to expect from Pioneer, everything is of the highest standard and the controller feels like a valuable piece of hardware made from a single mould.

Now that we have checked the exterior values, let's continue with the not insignificant interior values:

The Decks

Jog-Wheels des Pioneer XDJ-XZ ControllersThe decks feel almost exactly like those of Pioneer's high-end CDJs. The jog wheels are the same size and build quality. Virtually all the controls are located where you would find them on professional equipment. This is a theme that runs through the entire unit: It just feels like you're using a professional unit.

The controller has a knob to adjust the resistance of the jog wheels to your own needs. You can also adjust how fast the track stops when you press the play/pause button.

Loop, track search, search, slip and tempo/pitch controls all work exactly as you would expect. There are no surprises to be found here.

The central on-jog displays, while not as well equipped as on the Nexus 2 units, can display artwork, cues, rotation, vinyl mode and various other settings.

Performance Pads

Performance Pads des XDJ-XZPads have become mandatory for any DJ controller. In the case of the XDJ XZ, they are located directly under the decks. They are RGB illuminated and offer hot cue, beat loop, slip loop and beat jump - but no advanced functions like slicer or sampler.

They are most often used as hot cues. The usual hot cue buttons found on CDJs are not present in this layout.

Mixer and effects section

xdj-xz mixer sektionNo flagship controller would be complete without a comprehensive mixer section. Here, the XZ offers a fully featured club-style mixer section.

Four channels, six sound colour FX, 14 beat FX, an X-pad for creative beat FX manipulation, three-band FX frequency selection (to decide which parts of the frequency range the effects act on) - in short, the XDJ has a heap of high-quality features and a layout and operation that will be familiar to any Pioneer user.

There's an input selector for channel 3 and 4 that lets you switch to laptop, line or phono.

There are a few things to note here, though: We couldn't see any way to replace the crossfader. And there are no hardware settings for mono split, crossfader curve or line fader curve - although the latter are fortunately available via the utility menu.

The 7-inch Touchscreen

Display des XDJ-XZ ControllersDisplay of the XDJ-XZ controllerIt's a 7-inch touchscreen, with the same plastic surface used on previous units. Yes, the technology is tried and tested, no, it's not cutting edge - anyone used to using a smartphone or tablet will get straight to grips with this.

There is no multi-touch function, so zooming in and out of waveforms is not possible; instead it is done by turning the encoder on the right.

Likewise, the refresh rate is not as high as that of current smartphones and the low resolution also contributes to that "old-gen" feeling. Here, Pioneer should perhaps think about upgrading the technology to the current state of display technology in its next devices.

But this "older" technology also has advantages, especially in the DJ sector, where reliability is important. This technology works, and it works well, as demonstrated in the XDJ line of stand-alone units.

The screens display full waveforms for each deck, as well as cue point information. Also visible is elapsed time and other status information. Basic information about the Beat FX settings can also be read.

The on-screen Qwerty keyboard for searching is a little small and therefore a little fiddly, but it works, and Pioneer DJ's powerful track search filter options are all on board. There's also a handy shortcut button for accessing some frequently used functions.

Microphone inputs

Mikrofoneingänge des ControllersTo make a long story short: Two microphone channels with XLR/jack combo jack, with talkover, three-band EQ, hardware-controlled feedback reduction with two "strength" settings ("light" and "heavy") offer everything the professional DJ needs.

There is no separate microphone effect for e.g. reverb, but it is possible to route the microphone channel through the beat effect to take advantage of the full range of effects here. All in all, the microphone channels stand out as particularly successful in this controller.

Inputs/outputs of the controller

On the front we find 6.3 and 3.5 mm heaphone output jacks. On the top right of the unit are the two USB inputs (moved from one on the left, one on the right on earlier XDJ systems).

On the back there are three Link Ethernet-like jacks for adding CDJs to channels 3 and 4 and for expansion;

A third USB port comes for PC/Mac output.

XDJ-XZ Ausgänge RückseiteOutputs on the rear panel include a 6.3mm Booth output (jack), an XLR master output, and an RCA master output.

Enough choice, therefore, to output the sound of the controller to the respective environment.

XDJ-XZ Eingänge des ControllersThe most important inputs are available on the back:

2x line and 2x phono inputs (cinch) each with ground port and an AUX input (cinch) offer inputs for turntables, media players or other sources.

The controller can convince with a well-equipped connectivity. You should be able to connect and output pretty much everything that comes up in everyday DJ life.

The sound

Yes, this point is also not insignificant, if not the most important criterion. But here, as with all Pioneer devices, you shouldn't expect an outlier with the XDJ-XZ. With the 64-bit digital sound processor, the controller delivers a really powerful and high-resolution sound, once again meeting the club standard.

Who is the controller for?

The XDJ-XZ is aimed at professional, mobile DJs who want to DJ standalone and are looking for a well-equipped all-in-one controller and don't want or can afford to lug around a whole NXS setup.

Smaller venues that don't want to install a full CDJ and DJM setup are also perfectly served here. For a little over 2,000 euros, you get something that works practically like a Nexus 2 setup but costs only a fraction of that and that any DJ can handle, whether they work with Rekordbox or Serato DJ (and probably soon with Virtual DJ...) on a laptop or prefer to DJ standalone with USB.

But the XDJ-XZ is also ideally suited for any home setup. Be it for practising or preparing sets. Thanks to the NXS layout and the similar workflow, you get a perfectly equipped replacement for the big NXS setup.

Conclusion

The Pioneer XDJ-XZ is a very comprehensively equipped DJ controller that does not make any mistakes or failures. If you compare it to a Denon Prime 4, for example, the technology may be a little older, but it has been tried and tested for years in clubs all over the world. The fact that this controller can work with both Rekordbox and Serato and offers inputs for turntables and CDJs makes it incredibly flexible.

Whether standalone or with your favourite software, there is probably no more sophisticated controller currently available that is as flexible in its application possibilities as the XDJ-XZ.

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