Pioneer DJ XDJ-1000 MK2 in the product overview

The XDJ-1000 MK2 has been around for quite some time now, and it is still a favourite in several categories of DJ Media Players. As the first generation (which had the same layout but lacked some functionality) was launched in 2014, it is steadily approaching 10 years in business, and it has earned a well-deserved reputation, being a highly flexible media player that bridges the gap between a premium home setup and a decent club setup.

When it comes to DJ media players, Pioneer DJ remains the number one choice with nearly 30 years of experience in clubs, and although Denon DJ has comfortably caught up and even pushed further in terms of technology, its reputation and reliability still makes it hard for DJs and venues to look in other directions.

The position of the XDJ-1000 MK2 in the current DJ line-up is perhaps even more interesting now than it was when it was launched, as it is no longer the big brother to the CDJ-2000NXS2, but the new CDJ-3000 and, as we know, the XDJ-1000 MK2 was more in competition with the earlier Nexus2 player.

So currently, there are 3 newer generation media players from Pioneer DJ:

Pioneer DJ Mediaplayers Overview

... and that made the line-up much more balanced, because the CDJ-2000NXS2 had a lot more in common with the XDJs, leaving many people in a dilemma as to whether it was worth buying the top-end NXS2 at all, or whether the XDJ was enough.

XDJ is the code name for standalone digital players without CD drives, and although the CDJ-3000 joined the club by dropping the CD Player, it still remained a CDJ as a distinction for the high-end club player.

You probably already know the technical features, and by this time you may be familiar with the workflow as well, but we'll highlight the most important ones:

  • Large 206 mm club standard jog wheel
  • 7 inch touchscreen
  • Rekordbox and Traktor PRO 3 compatibility
  • External Power Supply
  • Beat Jump
  • Pro DJ Link (you can connect it to any other Pioneer DJ media player that also has Pro DJ Link)
  • Analogue and digital outputs
  • USB connection to computer
  • Most of the buttons are missing compared to the CDJ, most functions (Media Source, Hot Cue, Loop, Browse, Sync) are accessible from the display
  • However, the physical buttons that have been retained are Track Search/Search, Reverse, Loop In/Out, Reloop, Quantize, Time Mode, Vinyl Speed Adjust (knob), Vinyl Mode, Pitch Range, Master Tempo, USB Stop, Browse (knob), Back, Tag Track, Track Filter, Short Cut and of course the CUE + Play buttons

XDJ-1000 MK2 - TopView

Trade-offs compared to the CDJ-3000:

  • Standard jog wheel; the new CDJ has a new generation jog wheel that is more finely controllable
  • 9 inch display with lower resolution instead of 7 inch display
  • No display on the jog wheel
  • Lack of illuminated ring on the jog wheel
  • Lack of Instant Loop buttons (4/8)
  • Lack of Touch Cue (you cannot listen to a track by touching the waveform)
  • Lack of physical buttons for frequently used functions
  • Lack of Cloud Direct Play
  • Lack of built-in power supply
  • Less robust build compared to CDJ, but still gives a fully professional feel

Advantages over the XDJ-700:

  • Club standard 206 mm jog wheel instead of 138 mm
  • Physical Quantize button
  • Professional look and layout

Basically, all three players fulfill the needs of most DJs, the question is perhaps less relevant from a technical point of view than from an environmental one.

The XDJ-1000 MK2 is currently a golden middle path when it comes to buying a DJ media player. In a home setup it perfectly creates a club feel, in a club it will hold up comfortably as long as the DJ's rider doesn't include CDJs and as long as you don't forget the power supply at home.

The most important thing to keep in mind is what exactly you plan to do with the player in the long run. Who will play on it, where and how much? As long as it's not going to be heavily used every weekend in clubs, and the line-ups don’t consist of DJs who expect a CDJ, it's perfectly fine and the CDJ-3000 is not absolutely necessary. 

Pioneer DJ XDJ-1000MK2 Liveset With DJM-750MK2

The functionality rammed onto the display is not as convenient as if it were separate physical buttons, but it's perfectly usable and the touchscreen is very responsive and the so-called digital buttons are well sized, we never hit something we did not want. It doesn't have the tank-like CDJ build quality, but it can take some carrying around and frequent usage without a problem, the materials are of good quality, you can hear no creaks or squeaks.

It also raises the question of whether we can get away with an XDJ-700, as the only significant trade-off is the size of the jog wheel. The answer is simple enough: it depends our budget. We've used both players side by side and the small jog wheel is also very responsive and intuitive, so there's very little logical reason to go for the XDJ-1000 MK2; the exception is if you scratch on the jog wheel, where although Pioneer has worked all its magic, the small jog wheel is still impractical for heavy scratching.

Emotionally, however, there are several arguments in its favour.

When you can be a little flexible with your budget, you'll always have a bug in your ear about the large jog wheels and the club layout. Let's be very honest and admit it, even if we just play music at home for ourselves, most of the time we imagine ourselves in the club and the professional look of DJ equipment can really elevate our mood and motivation for mixing, and glorify our sweet spot at home. We all want to experience a similar workflow to the big guys, we like to bring more movement into the mixing with the big jog wheels and they just look fantastic on the desk.

To walk over from the XDJ-1000 MK2 to a higher end CDJ-2000NXS2 or CDJ-3000 setup will be second nature, Pioneer DJ always does a perfect job at this, even the lower end gear gets as much of a club layout as possible. 

The XDJ-1000 MK2 can be a perfect choice if you don't need a CDJ, but want a professional player in both functionality and layout and last but not least you can get 2 players for the price of a single CDJ.