NEW! Denon DJ SC6000 & X1850 PRIME (vs. Pioneer CDJ/DJM)

Watch the deep dive intro on The DJ Hookup:
⏯ • Denon DJ SC6000, SC600...
Denon DJ is coming at us again with some great additions to their PRIME series, which already has been making waves in the industry for the past few years. In this video, we'll compare the SC6000 PRIME vs. the Pioneer CDJ-2000NXS2, and the X1850 PRIME vs. the Pioneer DJM-900NXS2.
Let me just start by saying how exciting it is to see Denon going so hard with this. They’re providing more value than their competitors, they’re giving pause to controller DJs who previously couldn’t see the appeal to standalone hardware, and they are proving that they listen to their customers by continually adding features even 2+ years after launch.
The SC6000 is Denon DJ’s new flagship multiplayer. You’ll immediately notice two major changes: the up-sized 10.1” high-res touch screen, and the jog wheel which is also about a half-inch bigger than the previous one. There are a few minor cosmetic changes, but for the most part, you’ll be familiar with what’s going on here, as far as layout.
One of the major changes is less obvious, but a pretty big deal. Like the PRIME 4, the SC6000 now has space for an internal hard drive. That’s right, each player has a SATA drive bay.

[@tenjisaga]

As an owner of industry standard pioneer gear for the past 10 years, I'm absolutely shocked that I've not been able to upgrade in almost four years. I've had one eye on the SC5000's but wasn't convinced enough to leave the Pioneer ecosystem. Thanks to this review (fantastic job btw), I've decided to make the switch for the 6000's. I'm sure there's a good reason why Pioneer have taken so long to release an update, but I'm not waiting around forever. I'm selling my four year old NXS2 setup while they're still the top of the food chain and will still have money left over after switching to Denons... Sorry Pioneer, I held out for as long as I could.

[@robinghosh2109]

Todd Gibson how do you like the 6000? Did you go 6000M or 6000? I think I want to pick up a pair of the 6000’s paired with a Xone 96. Seems like Denon is just killing it with cutting edge features.

[@tenjisaga]

@@robinghosh2109 100% recommend. I left Pioneer after almost 15 years of devotion and haven't looked back, even with the release of the "revolutionary" CDJ3000 which is just a copycat of the SC6000 missing half the features. Also almost half the price. Only the blind Pioneer fans will purchase the 3000.

[@DJPOPAAL]

Denon's soundcard quality is wayyyyyyy, better than Pioneers.

[@Silkmaster4200]

DJPOPA AL I like Pioneer frequency 4hz-40khz. More range. Especially the low ends. Denon still killing it.

[@AtommHD]

Yep. I agree..

[@53gimmig35]

@@Silkmaster4200 Haven't heard of a system that goes lower than 20hz but sure lol.

[@boothbuster]

Nathan Burt I know right - as if anyone could tell the difference between any player deck’s output... it’s all modern digital to analog, you think they’re using converters from 1995?

[@zahiralibhai8444]

Silkmaster4200 unless youre a dog can you hear down to 4HZ and then up to 40,000 Hz

[@wez130]

Sure, comparing a brand new Denon to 4 year old Pioneer is one way to look at it, another way to look at it is, the 4 year old Pioneer is still nearly 3x the price of the Denon system, and for what? Older tech? I'm happy with my SC5000M's and wouldn't look twice at Pioneer any more, they have been left way too far behind, with unrealistic prices in comparison. Pioneer are just like Apple, they rely on their fanboys, and just like Apple, there will always be Pioneer fanboys who are too blinkered to see that the competition is exceeding them!

[@superstardjhussein9835]

True that. I wouldn't be surprised when pioneer releases it's new cdjs with less innovative features but 3x price, something like the new release technics turntables MK7

[@touristinfo6947]

Yep

[@BlueHawk80]

@Wex I am Apple + Denon, too :) Actually Apple makes decent products, but they also have some flaws since Tim Cook. However, Win10? Ugh... dunno.

[@BlueHawk80]

8 months layer, the comparison is fair again. But Pioneer still sucks. Their newest "dimension" CDJ is a fuckin joke!

[@artisteo]

Just ordered mine!

[@DutchFreeman]

I've been using Pioneer gear for over 20 years, but recently changed to Denon sc6000, and I don't regret it at all.

[@AvenueCrew]

Love your work as always. If I had the money, I would go for a hybrid system. Denon decks and the Pioneer mixer.

[@PassionateDJ]

I bet you aren't the only one. Dat ethernet hub, though.... Thanks for watching and the kind words :)

[@chadnliz2k11]

I run the 5000's with Rane 72, love it!

[@deiwar2994]

I know you did this review 8 months ago but your comparison is the best I have seen. After all the confusing options in picking a modern DJ system. Your review confirmed to me. I am going with a Pioneer XDJ-XZ and Denon SC6000 attached. The only thing lacking is playing CDs. In your opinion in terms of preparing music is it best to use Serato DJ or Rekordbox DJ or Engine? I don't want too much going back and forth with USB and conversions of playlist, etc. THANK YOU VERY MUCH

[@PassionateDJ]

Wow, thanks, glad to be helpful!

[@lelito33]

Denons kill with this machines not only Pioneer, the others manufacturers too, Denon is showing the future of the Djs!... I'm a Rekordbox user and have Pioneer at home, but in a future not so far for sure I will move to Denon!

[@djerniet350]

Denon sound quality is much better, i have both denon and pioneer.

[@AtommHD]

I've compared Denon with Pioneer and agree the Denon's have a better audio converter with more detailed mid and cleaner and transparent bottom end.

[@chadnliz2k11]

Great video. I'm sure Pioneer will come out with something interesting, it's just a confusing question of when?

[@BlueHawk80]

*coughs* something very interesting indeed ;-)

[@chadnliz2k11]

@@BlueHawk80 are you not entertained? Lol

[@BlueHawk80]

@@chadnliz2k11 More than entertained and amused actually :-) Lol

[@dictabeat]

Pioneer had a good run but DENON clearly has the upper hand and I hope they become the new club standard

[@bigbadjojo4863]

hey the pioneer still supports CDs, but has any one tried using an external optical drive?

[@chrisperpina6326]

The headphones conector jack has lost its colour on the denon mixer

[@piurtv]

Yes, it's comparing brand new gear with several years old gear... However, since the Pioneer setup is still, despite being several years old, more expensive than this brand new Denon setup, I think comparing both is legit !

[@chrisperpina6326]

Taktor Advanced HID?

[@househeadspeakz]

I know this is 6 months ago but I just saw it on 7.26.2020. @wez130 made a valid point Pioneer is still the industry standard of DJ equipment but for how long. The more I read and research on Denon DJ, the more I understand what they are trying to do. For the most part, they are catering to controller users and making it easier for them to transition to stand-alone DJ equipment. I understand it completely for I am not an Apple user. I prefer Andriod. I am not a Mac user. I prefer the PC. I didn't learn from a turntable, I learn from a controller. The Denon DJ system is controller-based CDJs. I like that. Even though I learn from Rekordbox and love it, I can't afford their stand alone. Even the RX2 is still pricey compare to the Prine 4. Pioneer's XZ was a waste in my opinion. For the asking price, it should have been a 4 channel controller stand-alone like the Prime 4. They made it a 2 channel stand alone like the Prime 2. Even with The XDJ CDJs, you still get more bang for your buck with the Denon and you don't have the give up Rekordbox. I will be don't more research on this.

[@BlueHawk80]

And look where we are today. Even their newest CDJ is a massive disappointment and got *even more* expensive. Denon all the way!

[@djbobrokk723]

I’m not interested into ’dj gears war’ but why in any review or comparison is ever overshadowed that CDJs has a CD slot? IMHO is a very valuable plus, it give another (strong & real) way to play at full quality..

[@PassionateDJ]

Not really sure what you mean by "overshadowed", but this is very directly addressed during the section at 6:44. 🤷‍♂️

[@djbobrokk723]

@@PassionateDJ bypassed, not talkin about..

[@proverbialwhatever]

I honestly think CD functionality, whilst useful for some (I know a couple of mobile peers that prefer to use their old CDJ350s) - is a poor return on investment for what you get in this day and age. As flash drives get faster and cheaper with greater storage, the real estate/cost that an optical drive adds to a unit makes no sense when the focus will move to operating systems that can read/analyse USB drives that can store more data than a CD holding WAV/FLAC files.

[@AndreJHoward]

He literally talked about it. Plus I haven't seen a single DJ in the last year play out with CDs. (And I'm an original vinyl guy who loves physical media) That ship has sailed man, flash drives are just a much better option for so many reasons.

[@DeeDee-lo5lr]

Why it takes 2 to 3 seconds to load the songs????? The faders feel cheap compared to pioneer

[@ImpactSpace]

Those giant displays look ridiculous, making the whole unit less balanced than the SC5000 players. But yeah, nice stuff, hopefully going to kick Pioneer's butt.

[@DjDiablo75]

sono passati due anni da questo video e nei festival di tutto il mondo nei club in europa continuo a vedere Pioneer.......i denon li vedo solo in scialbi streaming da casa........ Io stesso sono possessore sfortunatamente dello stesso setup mostrato in questo video( sc6000 è mixer 1850) e spero di separarmene il piu presto possibile....

[@brianmccloskey8575]

Those sc6000s shit all over the cdjs as for a mixer I'd much rather have an Allen and heath along with the sc6000s or even a model 1

[@DeeDee-lo5lr]

I have this set. To be honest I was way happier with my ddj sz The feel of it was much better on my pioneer. Regret selling it. If anyone want it. Hit me up. U can have it at good price still have the original boxes. I paid $4589. That’s with NY sale tax. Make me an offer

[@chrisperpina6326]

The knobs on the denon mixer are plastic

[@JustinAzeiMusic]

Realy?

[@boothbuster]

IMHO, Pioneer just feels better... I don’t want to depend on touch gestures under pressure. Reverse slip lever is useful. Pioneer shortcuts for fast scrubbing with jog wheel and fast forward button are useful, does a Denon do all that in terms of shortcuts (such as scrolling through list via jog wheel)? And if you add XP2 then you get even more pads... and can put them above the decks. I wouldn’t want pads down there at the bottom.

[@DanielleKingdjdinosaur]

no competition .Denon is cheaper ,faster, better ,cooler.

[@djblack7079]

I had Denton and pioneers the dentist sound better I'm going back and buy me a backup they are both too good mixer

[@k9chance250]

Denon makes nice gear Ive had both Denon Prime software has been killing them for the last 15 yrs, They have to lower their prices to many years of failed software very few serious Djs are going to pay 5k for a unreliable software set up, so its really not a debate Pioneer shit just works lol. bottom line if your a mobile DJ go for it I would love to have the Prime 4 for mobility it the best controller for that your a resident DJ in a spot with other DJs don't fool yourself go pioneer some spots wont let u near the booth with any other gear even some of Pioneer's smaller controller are getting much praise in the bars/ clubs cause they are flawless it will be years before Pioneer sales fall, decades of robust gear never dies that old technology works thats why they dont have to answer to anyone out there.

[@kingwata1]

You are stuck in a bubble. Better jump ship or else you will be left behind. Denon is killing it

[@cd78]

Mate you are talking absolute bollocks

[@seanmorgan6749]

First of all Denon and Pioneer NOT! even on the same page. Anyone who came from turntables won't even look at pioneer. All this industry standard stuff is BULLSHIT industry standard was a moving platter and DENON has ruled that category for years. Also all these so called DJs djing with 4 pioneers lined up next to each other and only using 2 is hilarious....DENON wins in this section to 2 players = 4 decks save yourself some space and money go with DENON and live the life of a true DJ. Think about it if you really care for this craft and you came from vinyl this is the only choice...not a chunk of FISHER OVER PRICE plastic pioneer gear. So let's be realistic let's make a moving platter the industry standard with the perks of Wifi, multi decks in one, 3USB ports, 1SD and wait for it .....a 1TB internal HD... AND NO COMPUTER OR LAPTOP that's industry standard to me.

[@Silkmaster4200]

SEAN MORGAN Turntables only lol Band other gears or nightclubs be strict jk lol. Have a set turntables in the club for new dj’s pass qualify beatmixing on the mic and effects. Be no computer etc.. If the dj fails on the turntables. They are band for life time. Make sure train ur ears. If not u never be in that club. If i was a club owner that’s what i do. Keep it real dj. New Prime SC6000 be in the club. Turntables just testing for qualification.