Pioneer DJM-A9 = Better Sound Quality for All | DJ Mixer Review

[@IcemanTheDj]

I got it a few days ago and I'm blown away! Sounds so good that now I use it as main audio interface in my studio!

[@nickloss2377]

Had to replace the level/depth potentiometer in the Beat FX section on an A9 last week...So I had to take the mixer apart for the first time. I can confirm that the "centre lock" for the colorFX potentiometer is actually a hilariously chintzy plastic mechanism that is all one piece across all channels. So for instance, you wont be able to damage the lock mechanism for any channel alone. Since it is one plastic mechanism, you will be damaging to lock mechanism across all channels. But on the other hand, since it is only 1 extremely large plastic assembly, it makes it very simple to replace that part yourself without any soldering needed. Although if buying that part from an official Pioneer DJ supplier you will have to pay an extremely inflated and morally unjustifiable premium price (it's PioneerDJ afterall), but can save on installation labour by doing it yourself with relative ease. (you can also remove the assembly completely if you just hate having that 'centre lock' as being an option. ALSO TIP: taking a pic of the knobs before disassembly is not as helpful as you might think when it comes to reassembly after taking it apart. the A9 has many different sized knobs that weren't on the nexus or nexus2 DJM900s. Keep track of where everything goes with a labelling system...you'll thank me later! uhgg what a pain

[@tuneroneff]

Thank you so much for sharing. Are up fathers replaceable???? (No welding need it ????. Im devating if i should get it vase on quality and ease acces to be repair. Thank you for the info.

[@Gereamia]

the v10 is better ?

[@nickloss2377]

those DAC and ADC chips are next level! the improved sound quality is unmistakable. those improvements alone make this mixer a true upgrade from the djm900 nxs2. everything else that has been added or that has changed in this new iteration is unremarkable tbh. The sound quality improvement with these 2 chips are the real stars of the show.

[@sidekick8740]

I like these reviews, I buy DJ gear based on the clear and understandable reviews from this channel, and I'm keen to keep all the comments positive and constructive........ (I am using a Model 1 at home and an A9 at events - both fabulous in their own ways)

[@PassionateDJ]

Thanks so much! Using a Model 1 and an A9? Sounds like you are all set! Don’t forget to use The DJ Hookup when buying based on these reviews. They made it happen! Cheers :)

[@xsm5525]

I'd get it if it wasn't for the fact they took off pitch and vinyl brake for the beat FX, I enjoyed those! so I'm still gonna use the NXS2 / 750 mkII

[@mixx_factory]

I havent seen this as being industry standard. People just did not pick these unit up as much as i thought. I see the v10 more than this

[@khaliber]

I mean, the V10s been out for a few years already. While the A9 has only been out for around half a year. Obviously, you're gonna see the V10 more.

[@mixx_factory]

​@khaliber that could be the reason. That being the case, do you think its gonna be hard for people who are already acclimated to the V10 switching over ? And is there a path in which pioneer realising a 4channel v10 like play differently did ?

[@PassionateDJ]

Our resident "industry guy", Tony, mentioned something about this. He said their backline company has like 6 of these sitting in boxes, because DJs have been unwilling to update their riders from the 900NXS2 due to not having experience on them yet. It's kinda surprising, but if I think about it, this always seems to happen with a new "major" mixer release. Headliners need them to be proven (and to have put hands on them) before they change their rider requirements.

[@qwertySnowy]

Seems like more people are gearing towards the v10 model one style, more versatile. If u learn on the v10 is it easy to go back to club standard? A9 etc

[@Techy1210]

I see the V10 as more suited to people who prefer to sculp the sound through eq'ing and a bit more edging towards an Allen & Health, where as the A9 is more of a traditional 900 series type mixer, geared towards the effects side of things being more easily accessible. Even tho both can pretty much do the same job.

[@Techy1210]

Thanks, nice review. Although I was half expecting a little more in-depth review of the sound quality, given the title. How would you say the sound stacks up compared to something offered by Allen & Health? New owner here, just purchased yesterday and very excited to get my hands on it! I know it's not a major feature, but i really think the effects channel nob being changed to buttons will really help someone like myself. I regularly change between the 2 decks individually, as well as the Master, and I've lost count the amount of times I've quickly decided to change the channel with the nob at the last second, only to find i'd accidentally put it on the wrong channel - in theory, the numbered buttons should eradicate this issue for me! :)

[@PassionateDJ]

Thx for the thoughtful comment. Good point on the FX buttons... the more I used it, the more I appreciated them being there. Both for ease of use, and obvious-ness of what was engaged. Re: comparing the sound quality to A&H mixers and talking more about how it sounds. Unfortunately this is a bit tricky... all I can tell you is that it sounded great in this room, and that others commented on how it sounded great. But, my studio is not a fully sound-treated environment, nor a night club. And I rarely have these mixers in the room at the same time, to be able to directly A/B test them. That said - maybe a video about this specifically would be a good idea!

[@upstarter]

I kind of felt like you set up this review with the centerpiece being the sound quality of the mixer, since as you pointed out, it doesn’t have too much going on past the next series, etc., but you really didn’t go into it. I was really hoping you would go into, tell a difference between channel layering.

[@DJJumpdancer]

I just got my a9 and I noticed that the mic cant be cranked up to max anymore without getting a weird noise while talking. On my Old DJM 900 Nexus this wasnt an Issue with the same Mic.

[@DJJumpdancer]

firmware is the newest one I updated it right before using it for the first time

[@mickeydj.official]

D/A is ES9026PRO not ES9028PRO

[@Aesop101]

How do u update firmware on A9?

[@subaquaticencountersofthed8515]

Pioneer has a really good guide. You must use a smaller sized USB drive. FAT32 format.. but I formatted several.larger capacity disks that way and it read none of them. As soon as I plugged in a FAT32 32gb drive.. boom. Easy.

[@RC75]

You are just reading from the website. You can’t even tell how it really sounds without telling what pioneer already said.

[@PassionateDJ]

If you have a way to properly demonstrate sound quality over the internet in a useful way, I’m all ears. Thanks for watching!

[@AlexAlcyone]

nobody cares about specs, but spent best part of an hour looking for a video where we can just hear a high quality recording w/prores codec and have someone run through the EQs and filters. Still looking......