The second instalment of our 10 Best series enters the world of mixers. Whether you’re DJing in the club or the bedroom, the functionality of your mixer is vital and the Juno experts have pored over the key features and specifications of each of our 10 favourites (across a range of prices), assessing both cosmetic and practical factors. EQs, effects, inputs, outputs, MIDI, USB connectivity – we’ve got it all covered. Read on to discover our recommendations for the best mixers on the market…

Behringer DDM4000

Fully loaded and very impressive for the price, Behringer’s DDM4000 has similar features and functions of the top end Pioneer mixers at a fraction of the cost. Among the highlights are two assignable FX engines, 2-bank beat controlled sampler, EQ kills on each channel and MIDI control capabilities. Phono and line inputs on each of the four fader channels, along with the two XLR mic inputs, ensure excellent connectivity to all your DJ equipment. XLR outputs for the main mix, an S/PDIF digital out, RCA tape out and master output A & B provide all the outputs for different zones or monitoring that you’ll ever need. The main output has a large, detailed 22 segment VU meter and an Ultramizer button, which essentially processes the signal to ensure maximum volume without digital distortion. The two assignable digital FX engines sound fantastic and the large LCD panel makes using the effects (flanger, phaser, delay, echo, reverb, pitch shift, bitcrusher, pan), and filters (LP, BP, HP, manual or LFO synced) a breeze.

The sampler section’s two banks have a total recording time of 32 seconds, and any of the four fader channels or mic inputs can be sampled from. Samples can be played back in three modes: beat controlled loop, single shot or reverse. The faders, knobs and buttons can also be used to control DJ software via MIDI (connectable via MIDI in, out and thru sockets on the back panel).

Specifications
Channels	4
EQ type	3-band
EQ range	Infinite / +12dB with Kill buttons
Inputs	4 x phono/line (RCA), 2 Mic (XLR)
Outputs	1 x master (XLR), 1 x master (RCA), 1 x Booth (RCA), 1 x Tape (RCA) 1 x S/PDIF
Digital I/O	Digital out S/PDIF
Sampler	Yes
Digital/Analogue	Digital (32 bit)
Features
Effects	Yes
BPM counters	Yes
MIDI	Yes
Audio Interface	No
USB	No
Crossfader Curve	Yes

Pioneer DJM-350

The DJM-350 is Pioneer’s entry level 2-channel mixer with built in effects, an extra mic/aux channel and a nifty USB recording feature. Its hefty weight and compact size certainly impress, and the simplistic, uncluttered layout is very intuitive, making it suitable for experienced DJs and beginners alike. The high quality faders and rotary pots have nice a smooth action and the channel faders have a level of resistance that you’d find on a top quality studio mixer.

The impressive audio quality comes courtesy of the built in 48 kHz/24bit digital signal processor (DSP), which also drives the master channel’s effects (gate, jet, crush and filter). These effects are great fun to use and easy to get your head around, with only four buttons to push and a single rotary pot for controlling the level/depth of the effect. But the standout feature of this mixer is the USB recorder, which allows you to plug in a USB storage device and record uncompressed audio with track markers. It’s great for being able to burn your DJ mix straight to CD without having to edit it first. If you’re looking for an uncomplicated 2-channel mixer, this is well worth considering.

Specifications
Channels	2
EQ type	3-band
EQ range	Infinite / +9dB
Inputs	2 x phono/line (RCA), 1 x Mic (TRS), 1 x Aux (RCA)
Outputs	2 x master (RCA)
Digital I/O	No
Sampler	Yes
Digital/Analogue	Digital (24bit)
Features
Effects	Yes
BPM counters	No
MIDI	No
Audio Interface	No
USB	Yes- (USB record)
Crossfader Curve	Yes

Rane TTM 56S

Small and compact, and with ample room around the controls and fader section, the Rane TTM 56S is ultimately an updated version of the TTM 56 with all of the controls moved onto the top of the unit. Being slightly bigger than the TTM 56 means the TTM56S has a more spacious layout with room to manoeuvre, making it perfect for demanding scratch DJs. The TTM 56S is a 2-channel scratch mixer with four phono/line inputs, a ¼” Mic input, a Flex FX send/return with dry/wet adjustment, an AUX in/out, a magnetic crossfader with curve control and reverse, 3-band EQ with kill switches, 10 segment LED VU meters with peak hold and an internal switching mode power supply which automatically adjusts the voltage for use anywhere in the world.

The channel faders and the non-contact magnetic crossfader are all light and loose with very little sideways movement. The two channel faders and crossfader all have a detailed fader-type curve control as well as a reverse switch. The buttons and switches are solid and robust and the rotary knobs are full in size with a durable rubber coating making it easy to pull off fast action tweaks without slipping off or missing the knobs altogether. Monitoring through headphones is easily done with a switch to select master or cue and a slider to choose between channel 1 or 2. The headphone output is very strong and you won’t have a problem driving any cans off it in even the loudest environment.

The standard DJ friendly layout shouldn’t take much getting used to, with the only really visibly different feature being the FlexFX section. FlexFX lets you to route the post fader sound to an external effects unit and back again with an on/off switch and a dry/wet fader to adjust the amount of the effect. The sturdy, hard wearing construction of this mixer as well as the high quality faders, switches and knobs make the TTM 56S a frontrunner. The only feature missing is the lack of XLR master outputs on the back but having said that, the sound quality even over the RCA outputs is fantastic.

Specifications
Channels	2
EQ type	3-band
EQ range	Off / +6dB
Inputs	2 x phono/line (RCA), 1 x Mic (TRS), 1 x FX (TRS), 1 x AUX (RCA)
Outputs	1 x master (RCA/TRS), 1 x AUX (RCA), 1 x FX (TRS)
Digital I/O	No
Sampler	No
Digital/Analogue	Analogue
Features
Effects	No
BPM counters	No
MIDI	No
Audio Interface	No
USB	No
Crossfader Curve	Yes

Allen & Heath Xone:42

Straight of the box, it’s clear that the Allen & Heath Xone:42 means business, with its reassuring weight and rock-solid build quality. Simply laid out and with plenty of room around the controls, everything is exactly where you’d expect it to be. No matter where you are in the world, the internal switch-mode power supply will select the correct voltage for you, and if you do happen to blow a fuse, replacing it is easily done at the back of the mixer.

Featuring four dual stereo channels (channels 1 & 4 have line/phono inputs and channels 2 & 3 have line/line inputs), an XLR microphone input with its own 2-band EQ and level control and two headphone outputs (one 6.3mm jack and one 3.5mm jack), the Xone:42 has all bases covered. It also features a built-in 2X2 USB audio interface that can send a stereo signal to a computer and back to the mixer. This could be used for digital effects, to play audio from a laptop or record your sets.

The user-friendly VCF filter is renowned for its unique sound and the added X-FX control button lets you send a signal to an external effects unit and return through the VCF filter for even more effects possibilities. While there may be other mixers with many more modern features for a similar price, the high quality rubberized knobs and faders, gold-plated input connections, user-replaceable parts, top notch analogue sound and tank like build quality give this mixer the edge.

Specifications
Channels	4
EQ type	3-band
EQ range	Infinite / +6dB
Inputs	2 x phono (RCA), 6 x line (RCA), FX return (RCA), USB
Outputs	1 x master (XLR), 1 xFX send (RCA), Booth (RCA), Record (RCA), USB
Digital I/O	USB
Sampler	No
Digital/Analogue	Analogue
Features
Effects	Yes
BPM counters	No
MIDI	No
Audio Interface	No
USB	No
Crossfader Curve	Yes

Rodec Scratchbox

Designed in Belgium by Rodec to be the best in its class, by all accounts the rock-solid Scratchbox took years of research and development before finally being released, and the attention to detail, quality and features are testament to this (it even ships with a padded backpack style case allowing safe transport to your gigs with space for accessories). It is a 2-channel battle style mixer with 3-band EQ faders, an Infinium Profader crossfader with curve control and reverse switch and Tokyo Ko-on Denpa (TKD) channel faders. You’ll also fine curve control and reverse switches, a 10-segment LED VU meter, FX inserts, signal flow routing, professional XLR, balanced TRS and RCA outputs, a separate XLR Mic input, fader-style L/R balance on each channel and just about every button, switch and knob function you can think of.

The top panel, as expected, is well laid out with loads of room around the main controls, and the sliver/black anodised paint finish ensures high contrasting visibility and long-term durability. The Profader is super smooth and loose with a good solid action and very little lateral movement. A screw-in magnet lets you adjust the crossfader resistance to your liking and almost every function on this mixer has some sort of adjustment allowing you to tweak to your preference. Rodec have also made this mixer easily modifiable to fit other aftermarket pieces such as other faders & an even their optional S/PDIF in/out.

The front of the unit, with its two protective handles, has three switches and three rotary pots for setting the curves and reversing the channel and crossfader along with 3.5mm and 6.3mm headphone output sockets. The rear hides the power switch out of harms way and all the inputs and output options are logically laid out and clearly marked to avoid any confusion and making them visible in dark environments. In terms of sound quality, this mixer is clean and powerful with no digital stepping and even the fading has an analog sound to it. There is loads of headroom even when cranked to the max ensure the master and headphone outputs are solid and strong, making this ideal for scratch DJs looking for the best.

Specifications
Channels	2
EQ type	3-band (fader style with kill switches)
EQ range	-21dB / +10dB
Inputs	3 x phono/line (RCA), 1 x Mic (XLR), 1 x FX insert (TRS)
Outputs	1 x master (RCA), 2 x Master (XLR), 1 x Master (TRS)
Digital I/O	Optional
Sampler	No
Digital/Analogue	Digital (24bit)
Features
Effects	No
BPM counters	No
MIDI	No
Audio Interface	No
USB	No
Crossfader Curve	Yes (both fader channels & crossfader)

Ecler Nuo 2.0

Boasting features that most other companies don’t seem to bother with on their 2-channel models, Ecler’s Nuo 2.0 is an impressive little mixer. With an XLR and RCA output on the master plus a booth output (something not often found on a 2-channel mixer these days), this mixer is ideal for professional or home use.

Although strictly speaking this is a 2-channel mixer, it features a third channel (switchable between mic and line) that’s useful for connecting a microphone, iPod, CD player or other sound source without interfering with the two main channels. The Nuo 2.0’s isolator, which consists of three kill switches for the hi, mid and low of the EQ section, is an highly effective kill – as are the EQ knobs when turned fully counter-clockwise.

An FX send is also included on each of the two channels which are great for those wishing to spice up their sets by adding an external effects unit such as a Kaoss Pad or something similar.  Build quality-wise, it’s extremely rugged, and all the knobs, faders, switches and buttons feel smooth and sturdy and the mixer in general has a weighty solid construction. The faceplate itself has a very sleek brushed aluminium texture and the mixer oozes quality.

Metering on the Nuo 2.0 comes in the form of three very detailed 12-point LED meters – a welcome surprise for a 2-channel mixer. The uncluttered layout along with the ability to swap the crossfader for an eternal one, adjust the curve of the crossfader and faders as well as having reverse switches for the faders and crossfader, make this mixer perfect for scratch DJs.

Specifications
Channels	2
EQ type	3-band
EQ range	Infinite / +10dB
Inputs	1 x micro/line (RCA/TRS), 2 x phono (RCA), 3 x line (RCA), FX return (RCA)
Outputs	1 x master (XLR), 1 x booth (RCA), 1 x master (RCA), 1 x FX send (RCA)
Digital I/O	No
Sampler	No
Digital/Analogue	Analogue
Features
Effects	Yes
BPM counters	No
MIDI	No
Audio Interface	No
USB	No
Crossfader Curve	Yes

Pioneer DJM 2000

This is it folks: the mothership. The Pioneer DJM 2000 is the most forward-thinking digital DJ mixing console that the industry has seen yet.  Designed in collaboration with a handpicked elite of world class DJs, the DJM 2000 offers automated integration with Pioneer’s newest CDJ 2000 & CDJ 900 players, alongside an impressive list of features. The most notable innovation is the 5.8-inch multitouch screen enabling Pioneer’s EFX-1000 and additional new remix effects to be manipulated at the stroke of a fingertip. Another key feature is the LAN hub that enables up to four CD players to communicate with each other. Combine this with Pioneers new database & set management system Rekordbox, and the possibilities are endless.

As you’d expect from Pioneer, the basic features are entirely functional, including the four audio channels and one mic channel. Input terminals are 6xCD/Line alongside two phonos plus a very handy 4x digital coaxial in. Output terminals are 2x Master Out and 1x Digital Out. The sample rate has been increased to 96kHz and harmonic distortion has been reduced to less than 0.004% in total.

As you’d expect, this kind of functionality comes at a serious price, but if you’re pursuing the cutting-edge of DJ technology and money is no object, you’ve found your mixer.

Specifications
Channels	4
EQ type	Switching 3-Band EQ/Isolator
EQ range	-26dB / +6dB
Inputs	2 x phono/line (RCA), 1 x Mic (TRS), 4 x Digital Coaxial
Outputs	2 x master (RCA/XLR), 1 x Booth
Digital I/O	Yes
Sampler	Yes
Digital/Analogue	Digital (32bit)
Features
Effects	Yes
BPM counters	Yes
MIDI	Yes
Audio Interface	Yes
USB	Yes
Crossfader Curve	Yes

Numark M2

The Numark M2 replaces the older Numark DM1050 and is an ideal scratch mixer for beginners and pros alike. It features two input channels with 3-band rotary EQ’s on each, master channel and PFL metering via attractive 6-segment LEDs, a separate mic channel with its own EQ section, a replaceable crossfader with slope control and a nifty CF mode button that reverses the crossfader position instantly. The cue section on the M2 is simple and effective, using only one short fader to select the PFL.

The build quality is solid and its attractive grey/black colour scheme will fit nicely in any DJ booth whilst still being visible in dark conditions. The pots and faders feel solid in use and are of a good standard for a mixer in this class. The uncluttered and simplistic layout helps prevent against hitting the wrong control during a frenetic scratching set.

The inputs and outputs on the rear of the mixer are all standard RCA terminals and each input channel is switchable between line and phono. The mixer is powered by an external AC adapter, which helps to keep the weight down and avoids the onboard noise that an internally housed transformer generates. A crossfader slope switch is a handy feature, and two settings (smooth or sharp slope) are available. It would have been nice to have more options with the slope setting on the crossfader and XLR or balanced TRS jacks on the master output.

Specifications
Channels	2
EQ type	3-band
EQ range	-12 dB / +12dB
Inputs	2 x phono/line (RCA), 1 x Mic (TRS)
Outputs	1 x master (RCA), 1 x record (RCA)
Digital I/O	No
Sampler	No
Digital/Analogue	Analogue
Features
Effects	No
BPM counters	No
MIDI	No
Audio Interface	No
USB	No
Crossfader Curve	No

Vestax PMC-280

With 4-channels, 16 digital effects, 7-segment VU metering, powerful 3-band EQs and XLR or RCA on the two master outputs, the PMC-280 is well built mixer that oozes quality. The logical layout makes navigation easy, while the matte black finish and high contrast white print on the faceplate ensure good visibility.

The rubber coated rotary pots are detailed with an aluminium base, giving them a fantastic weighty feel and smooth action – perfect for accurate tweaking. The faders offer a reassuring amount of resistance with an exceptional glide, making smooth mixes or extreme scratching techniques a breeze. The PCV crossfader’s slope switch offers two curve patterns for different mixing styles and works well, though a finer control over the slopes would have been nice.

The effects section is positioned at the top of the mixer’s faceplate and offers 16 different FX types (including delay, echo, reverb, flanger, ring mod, pitch shifter and auto pan) powered by a 24bit 96kHz DSP. The sound quality is crisp and fat, and unlike some other mixers, there isn’t a noticeable increase in overall volume when the FX is switched on. The parameters are easily controlled with two rotary pots and can be synced to tempo through a tap button. The monitor section features one rotary pot for headphone volume and one for cue/master mix, while push buttons for each cue channel keeps things simple. Overall, a very impressive mixer from Vestax, with ample features, great effects, fat EQs and fantastic sound quality to boot.

Specifications
Channels	4
EQ type	3-band
EQ range	Infinite / +6dB
Inputs	4 x phono/line (RCA), 2 x Mic (TRS)
Outputs	1 x master (XLR), 1 x Master (RCA), 1 x Booth (RCA)
Digital I/O	No
Sampler	No
Digital/Analogue	Digital (24bit)
Features
Effects	Yes
BPM counters	No
MIDI	No
Audio Interface	No
USB	Yes (optional)
Crossfader Curve	Yes

Denon DN-X1700

Denon’s flagship mixer is a solid, weighty piece of kit with an insanely rugged construction and lavish feature set. The main features include four mixing channels, detailed VU meters (16 segment LED for the four channels, 24 segment for the master), two independent effects banks with 12 effects (including delay, echo, trans, flanger, filter, phaser, reverb and loop), two mic inputs, a booth output (jack), master outputs (XLR & RCA), a record output, a large detailed 3.5 inch TFT Color Display, four Digital inputs, a digital output, a MIDI out (DIN plug), two USB sockets and a 24 bit 96kHz USB2.0 audio interface with 4in/4out.

With a nice, uncluttered layout, grippy rubberized knobs, crisp and clear digital sound, great digital effects, an effects send/return (for plugging in an external effects unit), MIDI mapability and an ingenious matrix input assignment, the DN-X1700 is a seriously well thought-out mixer with some cutting edge features. The channel faders and crossfader are extremely smooth, and the ability to change the contour of the channel faders and crossfader, as well as the ability to change the stiffness of the crossfader (via a small removable rubber bung on the front of the mixer), make this mixer stand out from the crowd. The comprehensive mic section features inputs on both XLR & jack and has a 2-band EQ, ducking and the ability to add FX.

The 3-band EQ (low, mid, high) sounds cracking, and if the EQ knobs are turned fully counter-clockwise, provide complete kill. The whole fader panel comes off for quick and easy replacement of the faders without having to take off the whole faceplate, and is a rather nice touch Denon have added. All in all, it’s really hard to find fault with this mixer.

Specifications
Channels	4
EQ type	3-band
EQ range	Infinite / +6dB
Inputs	4 x phono/line (RCA), 4 x S/PDIF, 2 x Mic (XLR/TRS), USB
Outputs	1 x Master (XLR), 1 x Master (RCA), 1 x Record (RCA), 1 x S/PDIF, 1 x FX send (TRS)
Digital I/O	Yes
Sampler	No
Digital/Analogue	Digital (32 bit)
Features
Effects	Yes
BPM counters	Yes
MIDI	Yes
Audio Interface	Yes
USB	Yes
Crossfader Curve	Yes