Pioneer XDJ XZ vs Denon Prime 4 - Which one is right for you?
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- Опубликовано: 13 окт 2024
- When Pioneer DJ recently released their latest all in one unit the XDJ XZ everyone wanted to know how it stacked up against the Denon DJ Prime 4. However these two units have been deisgned with a different end goal in mind. Holland is here to break down the differences to help you make a better purchasing decision. Let us know in the comments which one you would prefer to own!
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It's worth nothing that Denon regularly release new software updates that add new features and Pioneer don't really release much more than bug fixes for theirs.
So a Prime 4 which was bought 4 years ago and kept up with the free software updates will be far more advanced than one shown in this video while an XDJ XZ bought 4 years ago will still be basically the same 4 year old unit.
The amount of features added to Denon gear in the past couple of years alone is just mindblowing. Built-in soundswitch capability, built in sampler, built-in touch effects and so on. Stems support currently in Beta and on the way.
The Prime 4 is insane. I'm so glad that I have invested in a unit. I'm super happy with it.🔥
My arriving Dec 6
Thoughts on yo Prime 4 now?
I could not be more happier right now. It's a superb unit for serious DJ's
Had mine for a few weeks now and I'm very happy with it. To be honest I was looking for an XZ but I'm now glad none were available. Now that Denon have made numerous software updates the Prime thing is great compared to 2 years ago. The introduction of jog sensitivity was a big one for me as my friends SC5000's I hated when they first came out at version 1, literally couldn't mix on em. Spent the last 2 years telling him he'd bought Betamax decks haha, now I've joined him. Put a 500gb ssd in it too so no usb messing about for me from now on.
DJ D'Angelo Hendricks do u have a InstaGram? I’d like to share tips...got my P4 yesterday! @ItsMrEverything on the Gram
I think it boils down to one simple fact. Prime 4 is the evolution of the controller. Pioneer has faith that the have the foothold on the market, and they are counting on market loyalty. They saw what Denon put out and could have held out and matched the competition. But they are waiting to see what we the consumers want. If Denon's profit shares jump, they will follow with a few more tricks. But ultimately, we as consumers win big. Denon is clearly the winner, but the race is far from over. I don't have either, but my next purchase would be the Denon, or wait for Pioneer's follow up.
Denon released the SC6000 so Pioneer made a shitty overprised copy of it called cdj 3000 and really it still can‘t keep up with the SC6000.
I would guess Pioneer is more like "let's reuse this component and not invest much in R&D to cut the costs and maximize our margins". Brand new RX3 is another example of this. Seems to be working. I'd rather put my money in Denon's hardware as I feel I'm getting much more value for my money and mostly I like what it has to offer.
If Denon bring us a Prime 4+ with full size jogs Pioneer might as well give in.
Pioneer are always scared to bring us an all singing all dancing unit as it would harm the sales of the over priced club gear.
agree!!!!!!!
That's common sense though, what would be the point in having flagship club gear if a £2000 controller can do it all. The benefit of xdj is that you get a transferable feel to the systems you'll find in club, therefore no adjustment period.
or motorised jogs aaaah
They basically shot themselves in the foot with the RX3. Many venues I've played at are replacing CDJs with the RX3
I love the Prime 4 but when you arrive at a venue that has Pioneer, muscle memory is a factor. No time to check if you are pressing the right button. Guess the answer is to buy both 💰💰
Muscle memory for the first then minutes..after that you get use to what ever it is, if you are pro
Yup buy both
That’s what I did
hahahaha
If you are too stupid to make a quick switchover from a Pioneer to a Denon (that also reads RB sticks btw) then you shouldn't DJ at all, man.
I would love to see an updated comparison between the newer Prime 4+ and the same XZ. I know which one looks better on paper, but having this breakdown verbally is super helpful.
You brought up quality of Pioneer vs Denon but my experience owning many products including the flagship units from both companies is many times the Denon are better built. In the case of these players the Prime 4 uses all metal pots and is a very sturdy unit. The XZ although has fantastic build quality doesn't have quick swap faders and uses a combination of metal and less durable plastic pots. I think your review was pretty unbiased but I think this needed to be shared.
Thanks for your valuable input!
Any view on sound quality? I believe the Pioneer controller takes the (improved) sound card from the NXS2 mixer. The older Pioneer mixers sucked in sound quality imho while the newest ones are said to sound better, but haven't tested side to side. Also no comparison to the Denon.
Good point! But Pioneer fanboys ignore that and say Denon is for bedroomers. Brainwashed idoits they are.
@@maartensayshello5075 Apparently this unit does *not* include the NXS2 mixer soundcard. The sound quality has identical specs to the DDJ-1000, which merely sounds 'ok' a la DJM700
This makes sense, since the cost of the NXS2 mixer alone is basically the same as the cost of the XZ. The cost savings had to come from somewhere...
No way, the feel on the prime literally feels like a toy, it's tiny and plastic
Denon lost in the joggs fight , but wins in all the rest , all the rest .
And if you really want to scratch , buy then some real turntables , not a controller.
Have u seen the new 6000 series players being shown at NAMM this week? Looks sweet!
In mixer pioneer taks all day long in fx pioneer all day long
The mixer pioneer all the way.
How about Rane 70 and 72 ? Need your advice Thanks
Effects, and behind the beer (in a Club)
The Prime 4 is awesome to play on. I got started practicing on a Denon duel deck CD players. But for me now it's Pioneer, because it's been road tested and can take a beating. My friend had 2 Pioneer CDJ-700 that worked great for years, used almost every weekend for over 10 years. You become club standard, by being reliable.
Dont lie 700 come out in 2015 idiot
"Use this video to decide which one to buy but this is not a buyer's guide." LMAO
Sherwin Bajao bias I think he means
oops! our bad! Wrong choice of words... We basically mean... this is NOT a definitive answer on which you SHOULD buy... but hopefully all the info you need to make an informed decision! Thanks for watching
@@djlawrencejames everyone knew what u meant
Denon for DJs that never play out live on Pioneer gear. Gives you so much more.
For the price Prime4. Also Prime4 is a game changer - more advanced than anything that's currently out in the market - it's perfect for the wedding DJ. You can set hot cues, fix beat grids, make playlists, on the fly. Wifi enabled makes it real easy to use Tidal. The only downside are the small platters and the Engine Prime software.
Thanks a lot for your introduction 🙂
I'm already bought the XDJ-XZ 🙂 This week will arrive 😁 I CAN NOT WAIT 🤗 Will be fun for sure 😎
How's the xz?:)
You made the right choice. Gonna do the same. 👌
Unfortunately it's out of stock everywhere. Should have bought it earlier. Im going for the rx2. Is almost the same thing, but cheaper
@@hibitsounds9755 its so annoying, been searching and searching.
Xdj xz is a joke compared with the prime 4. Cost less and more innovative with the big screen
FYI: It seems most of the Pioneer DJ products are unavailable at the time of this comment. I've had the XDJ-XZ in backorder status for 3 months now. I'm going to have to try the Prime 4 for now until I can save up for a full standard CDJ setup.
I've been looking at buying a couple of Pioneer CDJ's and a mixer to play around with at home. Then I saw this Denon Prime 4!! I really wanted a Pioneer set-up but this Denon just seems to have everything I need [and then some] for what I'm using it for.
I’m lucky enough to own both these units, I’m not entirely sure comparing like for like is a good idea, the Pioneer is not aimed at being better than the Prime 4 it’s sole purpose is to recreate the Nexus 2 experience to act as a stepping stone to club gear the same screen, navigation etc the Denon on the other hand is an exercise in what’s possible and technically is a beast that the Pioneer can’t match apart from the obvious technical specs it’s much better made than the Pioneer and the sound quality blows the Pioneer out the water I love both if I had to sell one and keep the other it would be tough but I’d keep the Denon
Also gotta take sound quality into consideration and that’s where the Prime 4 has the pioneer beat. I have both Prime 4 and MCX 8000 and the output is way crisper than the pioneers.
The XDJ XZ use a better soundcard (like DJM 750 mk2). It sounds better for me, as any other Pioneer Controller. Only the DJM 900 mk2 is bit better, my opinion.
i have both myself
Denon has 93 SNR, Pioneer 114 SNR.
@@DJANDY777 SNR =/= sound quality.
@@m-stat9 Actually dynamic range is sq over snr. Snr is signal to noise ratio . The difference is what is audible in filtering out noise by electrical interference. Snr does have its role dont get me wrong. But dynamic range is actual sq which is why i would never buy a pioneer simply because high res audio. Your sq is only as good as your source. If i have superior audio with a 500mb song vs you 40mb song thats dynamic range man its the same comparision of wave vs mp3.
I own a pioneer xdj xz. I'm a dj since 2004 and started using pioneer equipment since 2008. to be honest, it doesn't matter what you use. It's a preference. And I always played on pioneer set up's. So for me it's an easy pick. But that doesn't mean that the Denon is less than the Pioneer. They are both really good products. Good to see that there is a rival for Pioneer. keeps things interesting
I think I totally agree with his final conclusion. If you play at home the answer is Denon. In the club the answer is Pioneer.
Noooooooo, denon is much better. Prime 4 rulezzzzzz pioneer sucks
Same brainwashed marketing victim. Denons are just as good for the clubs. Stop defending the overpriced monopolist.
Denons work just as well in clubs. They read RB sticks, they are made of metal, they have water-sealed PCBs. Time to end that club vs bedroom nonsense, its propaganda, nothing more.
More accurate would be.
If you aspire to play in a club, get the Pioneers.
If you're actually out DJing weddings, parties bars and the likes, you'll be taking the prime 4 with you and actually doing it.
Denon seems to get what today's DJ wants in terms of reliability, durability, ease of use... They don't have a lot to lose unlike pioneer who is probably hesitant to throw all the gold in 1 basket. I think they'll respond with an improved unit sooner than later, making the jog wheel, fx engine and screen functionality better. Software can always be tweaked, so look out for a plus version soon.
Looked at both of these but not being able to use 4 decks on the Pioneer unless you connect a Laptop is unforgivable.
Denon looks seriously amazing apart from the vastly inferior Jogs.
Considering i could use another Laptop i could pick up the DDJ1000 + Decent Laptop for the same price as the XZ
I can't believe this is even a question it's a murder scene where the pioneer gets dumped in trash bags scattered in the forest
Little harsh, but I do agree. Denon is changing the game.
hahaahaah
Hahaha true Denon is pushing the game for a stand-alone units. People care about hearing their favorite songs in great quality as fast as possible. The Denon wins in the department.
The only thing the xz had that was better is the jog wheel haha
@@bboymac84 , indeed...I ❤ my Denon Prime 4. It sounds great :-).
I'll take the technology than looks... I've played with both and the Prime 4 is definitely my way to go.. absolutely versatile. I don't need my laptop unless Im adding sounds to my mix. Both controllers do an awesome job.
I am sorry but you sound biased and not objective at all in this comparison you started off good and at the end made it sound like the Prime 4 was a toy you play with at home while the Pioneer is the big stuff you use in live performances. Nothing can be further from the truth. The pioneer is simply living on old glory cause the and the prime 4 brings in modern innovation to DJing that any real DJ would appreciate.
DJ Flowtunes they always use the same excuse pioneer is the industry standard.....but it is only a matter of time for Denon
LOVE my Prime 4!! The ONLY thing I dislike about it, is their choice of built in streaming service. Tidal sucks! If it had Spotify built in, it would be 110% perfect.
I can assure you that they working on it. It's just a matter of time.
I go with the Xdj with this one, the prime feels like a toy, the jog wheels are too loose for me, and the only real thing that I wish that the Xdj had from the prime would be the screen size and of course the weight. But in all honesty I feel like the guys who are going to buy this prime are going to be looking at the screen too often and beat matching by eye rather than by ear. For me it's the Xdj xz, I just wish pioneer had made it a true stand alone but hey we can't have it all our own way
I like more Denon but the jog wheels looks childish so will go for Pioneer.
A key feature for me came with the last update, ableton Link syncing for all the Denon players. That’s a game changer for every live act
For those of you who will want to use a laptop with these systems please remember that the Denon Prime 4 can only be used in “controller mode” or “usb mode” at a time. The Pioneer will be able to use a USB at the same time as a laptop. So if you’re a laptop dj that wants a USB as a back up then the Pioneer is the unit for you if you want a seamless set.
MC7000, and add an SC player as backup/streaming , into an input ... ? That is my plan anyways, add a player to my controller/Serato setup...
And for those of us who want to totally get rid of the laptop the Prime 4 analayses raw music files and saves cues and loops etc etc straight to a usb stick. No computer needed
Steven Maneri and for those of us that play music videos this will not be an option for awhile. We must have a laptop.
Patrick Butler Entertainment right but that wasn’t the point of your original comment . If video is your thing , the Prime 4 has a better display with a better processor . If I had to guess which unit would possibly show your videos in the built in screen itself . It’s the Prime 4 all the way . In fact Demon is working with VirtualDJ on this right now
Steven Maneri I know. I love my prime 4. It’s a great controller. Just wish it could do Serato and USB flash drive at the same time.
Just got the XZ today. Its a beaut out of the box. Can't wait to test drive it this weekend. Cheers for the vid
Oof
Hmm have fun with that ancient screen and limited CPU :/
@@ImpactSpace it's perfect for my needs. That's all I wanted
Thank you, this video helped me to decide which one to get.
This is like Lamborghini Vs Bugatti
wait!! which one is Bugatti lol
😂😂 prime 4 is a Bugatti
@@muxima2004 Absolutely right!!
i felt the build quality if the denon felt way nicer, thicker, heavier than the pioneer. yes the jogs are smaller. but it depends how and what you mix. the tension can be adjusted inside the settings. pioneer just works. they all do. and both units work great with vdj. (i hate rb). one thing you didnt mention, and most important is sound quality.
Bro I already have the Prime 4. Best purchase that I have made in a long time.
The only thing pioneer beats denon is the posibility to connect external cdjs and sync them with the ethernet ports and maybe the mechanical jogs. But then, these all in one controller aren't meant to be portable? Also I really doubt that someone who has the money to buy 2 cdjs will buy the xz instead of the 900 mixer (or even buy another 2 cdjs and the mixer). I can't see the pioneer suitable for anyone, only thinking about fanboys. Just because is pioneer is like saying just because is an iPhone they will buy it. Hoping Denon to replace pioneer in dj booths
It’s a hell of a lot cheaper to get an xz than a 2000 nexus setup - hell, its even cheaper than a nexus 900 or xdj1000 setup. There is a market for the XZ - it’s for anyone wanting to practise at home on laptop-free club standard kit in order to be able to step into a booth in the club with full confidence. Put simply, if you want to DJ out and about on your own kit (whether you’re a mobile DJ, resident in a smaller bar or party enthusiast) then the denon is the way to go. But for anyone hoping to perfect their trade in the bedroom and take their skills to the clubs on the weekend the pioneer is and will remain the best option until DJs, bars and venues worldwide decide to deviate from the current industry standard.
What ? I bought it because it is 1/3 of an entire nxs2 setup and it has the same features
@@ct1296 I completely agree with you but then, you are saying that pioneer is the industry standard. There is no "real" reason to buy the pioneer other than because is the industry standard. Back in the 80`s I think, denon was what pioneer is today. And as I said before, pioneer is lacking of real innovation. It's about time for denon to be the industry standard if pioneer is going to continue that way.
(edit): why then, pioneer does a 4 channel mixer if adding 2 cdjs (to use all 4 mixer capabilities) cost more than the double of the sz?
@@tharken1269 the thing is, pioneer is not as innovative (or even nothing) compared to denon, this is the perfect example. Denon launch the prime 4 with all of this features (4 channels for 4 decks fully stand alone including analyse tracks) then after pioneer launch the sz trying to imitate the prime 4 but with much more less specs. Because they know they are in almost monopoly and people will buy it just because of that. You buy it for the reason you are telling me, but then you should know that pioneer is getting behind denon. The "industry standard" is made by the consumers, so if you keep buying pioneer just because is pioneer nothing is going to change and there is a lot missing from denon
Barbero1999 I completely agree. I think one of the biggest current issues is the lack of depth in the Denon back-catalogue. Right now if you’re a DJ or a small bar looking for CDJs on a budget, by far the best option is to go for second hand pioneer kit. Because of this generations of DJs are being fed into this cycle of Pioneer dominance and I think it’s gonna continue for another 5/10 years until either the current denon equipment drops in price enough to become a feasible entry point for first-time CDJ buyers or Denon makes an attempt to put out a budget-friendly CDJ on their own accord
I'm a Denon user I have the MCX8000 however i do like the work space on the Pioneer better the Denon sounds much cleaner
Just for the premium feel & build quality I'd buy XDJ-XZ anytime. Other features and technological andvancements do matter but when you're in the zone, in the middle of a set, I don't care unless I can load my track ;)
Just my opinion. Love for Pioneer DJ and appreciation for Denon DJ. A healthy competion is in the air.
From what i am seeing on the ground as a DJ, is that Bars & clubs taking notice of Denon DJ. My own local town now has 2 bars with Prime4's. Would be interesting to know why they made that move. Was it their preference, or did their DJ's request that change.
I noticed that too. More and more clubs go for Denon instead of Pioneer.
@@maus3454 One of the biggest clubs in the UK, Ministry of Sound now has 2 sets of SC5000's.
Most big clubs around the world are sponsored by manufacturers so there's really no "club going for"
Prime 4 all that way!! Technology is Technology.....
Not alwats. There's also quality too
For me the jogs are the biggest factor and how much fun one has on a unit. on the right deck (pioneer) you can use the software and use it all over the world , also you can also use it on the denon. prime software is a joke for the most part, Rekordbox music management is way better. Prime 4 is a great solution for a mobile DJ. XZ is great and should be everywhere in the near future bar, club, etc. cheaper for them and anyone can use it.
I'm passing up on both units. I think both Pioneer and Denon can make improvements on their products. Pioneer needs to improve their screen, enable wifi, and make this a true 4-channel stand-alone mixer. Denon needs to work on their mixer effects, job wheels, and main EQ out. As usual, there isn't a single product that has all the bells and whistles, so I'll wait another year.
sounds like you'll never be buying a system. you'll just keep waiting for the next best thing but there is no such thing.
What Mikee said ☝🏽
Denon is continue improving and updating.
Right now the industry standard is pioneer so I’m staying with it until the next thing is the official industry standard everyones using.
But this is how you make a new industry standard. Denon deserves it. We as buyers have the power to change that.
I’ve played on the DDJ 1000SRT and I have to say that I do like those jog wheels better than the Denon. But in technology, Denon won the race by a mile and therefore got my sale over pioneer. I was an avid pioneer user and went to the dark side. Sorry guys but Denons winning the race right now…
Pioneer playing catch up with prime 4. Denon wins this one
Exactly! The XZ is overpriced trash. That tiny ancient screen is awful, the loop and memory buttons outdated, the CPU and RAM very limited. Also no SD, SSD and WIFI, no full track buffering and on-board analysis. You can't use 4 decks or even do longer beat jumps than 8. What a joke! 🤦♂️
forums.pioneerdj.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360055224552-XDJ-XZ-max-8-beat-beat-jump-Why-
thanks mate for this, i debated with myself what i should get next but now im sure its gonna be the denon!
Prime 4 so far, even Pioneer is still present in all clubs and I using their CDJs every weekend... Denon right now is faraway from any Pioneer device!
In terms of features: Denon. All the way
In terms of sortware:
Rekordbox.
Denon would clean up if they fix their software. Imagine if they could even use the beat grid information from your rekordbox analized music. I would jump on board.
Kere Amohau that the only I won’t buy the prime 4 there beat grid on there software is nowhere like reckordbox..
I tried to the beat grid on engine and my bpm’s where no were near rekordbox ..
So that’s why I will never get prime
Recordbox is better than Engine Prime...for now. Software is the easy part. It will get there.
I'm pretty sure you can... I think you can import stuff from rekordbox serato and traktor and it migrates your cues n grids over too....
Well this comment aged well.
Seems like Denon has been paying attention.
I checked the new version of Engine DJ and it does indeed import the beat grid information from Rekordbox.
The prime 4 is a beast I would suggest you buy two, I've got one but I'm going to buy another one, just in case. I've been playing on the sb3 for years, my DJ enjoyment changed when I got the prime 4, what an amazing piece of kit
My situation exactly. Currently on an SB3 for the last few years and been looking to get the Prime 4 very soon
@@nartnayr What’s stopping you from getting it ?
@@PowerzChannel Waiting for any of the resale sites to restock. Other than that, waiting on a good deal to pop up on ebay lol
I think you can link SC5000's into the Prime4 and have them on the display. Ive seen it done @ MoS recently. They probably just used a simple network switch into the 1 rear Ethernet port.
Yes Paul, Its True :)
Playing out vs at home.... I would much rather play out on the same gear, or very similar gear as I use at home for practice and for mobile gigs.... thankfully there aren't any venues in my area using installed Pioneer systems, so playing out is always on my own kit.... if I were ever to play out in a place with some gear already in the booth, they'd have to have room for me to place my setup in the booth and plug into their mixer...if not, well, im not the DJ for them...
I do mostly mobile work, so for now I'm happy with my Serato/MC7000 setup, and looking to add one Denon Prime player to that...
Someday I may move to a standalone like the Prime 4, but not anytime soon. Nice to see lots of progress happening though, by the time I make the switch, the standalone systems will he truly top end kit...
2020 gonna be rockin!
I'm doing my research before buy this devices and I'm leaning towards denon
It's clear to see that there is an element of 'Pioneer elitism' in the comments, just like you get Apple fanboys vs Android. Android is miles ahead of Apple in their software these days, but Apple fanboys will swear different! The same applies here, Denon is making waves lately with both their hardware, and even their software is catching that of Recordbox now (admittedly, not as good as recordbox yet). The Prime 4 is way ahead of Pioneers offering here in every single way but the platters, how anyone can argue different astounds me! It's the same story with the Denon SC5000's vs the CDJ2000 Nexus, as mentioned, you can get 2x SC5000's or even the M's and the X1800 mixer for the price of a single Nexus, yet the SC5000's are miles ahead technologically than the Nexus at less than half the price! Yet people buy into the Pioneer 'industry standard' excuse at double the price. Great marketing Pioneer! I've been using a Numark NVii mk2 for the last 9 months as i begin my DJ journey, and in the last 6 weeks i've been looking to upgrade, i've done a hell of a lot of research, i've watched countless YT videos, visited many stores and i've just taken delivery of my SC5000M's, the motorized platter sold me as i was brought up on vinyl, and honestly, it feels just like using vinyl. I cannot think of a single way that the Nexus's are better than these except for the software, but even that's getting better.
Keep up the good work Denon
I love both Android and Apple, and I love both Pioneer and Denon. But I would choose Pioneer and Apple, they are just more reliable for my purposes. It kinda sucks that I have to wait a year or two for Apple and Pioneer to catch up with the newest features, but at least they will be more refined when they come out.
Just as a funny note to add to this: I'm fairly certain the prime 4 UI is based on bare bones android. The UI elements are very similar, lots of devices even printers and stuff do this.
Pioneer braindead fanboys will eventually learn and accept the facts. 🙏
Most ppl have made an issue out of Denons small jog wheels but for me, I put the Prime 4 though it’s paces and I am able to cut and scratch just the same. I’d take the unit anywhere and rock out on it. I have noticed the SC500M’s which I’ve recently purchased have a totally different sounding algorithm when cutting and scratching and one for some reason freezes on me at times (firmware glitch) but hey, the freedom of lugging around a laptop was my goal so mission accomplished.
I honestly believe part of the issue is heat and file formats causing the freeze up. I run a similar hdsp for zapco in car audio and it has the same issue but when i swapped to wave from flac my issues went away. cpu power on decompressing music takes time which takes cpu which it might not take alot but if your board is doing alot it might make it happen that and heat> but I mod my electronics personally with better cooling in general. I just want to know what dac the prime 4 uses
@@Trunks9us Since I updated to 2.0.1 I haven’t noticed any freezing on the Prime 4 and I can’t speak for the SC5000M’s anymore because I returned them so I can replace them with the 6000M’s. I came across a forum thread that says the Prime 4 uses AK4413EQ as the 4 Channel DAC if this is helpful?
@@DjSmoothNY You must of meant 4493 eq because the 4413 would be so old like 90s i assume from me searching and trying to find a release date just knowing the dacs already as I prefer ess9038 pro was my hope but i figured it was to much to assume that. its too bad the 4493 isnt bad just dated some the flagship currently is the 4499 they are prob just running two since chips is all. its pretty normal.
@@Trunks9us I honestly couldn’t tell you. I hardly use E.Q. Took that info from one of the forum replies so he could be wrong. The unit overall is really badass and I’ve only had it just over a month. I just wish it had a compressor/limiter to balance out low/high digital files during playback.
£18.99!! Take my money Pioneer!!
Denon is top
What about the Prime Go vs the like a pioneer RR or maybe RX2
denon prime is the 1
Pioneer just remade a controller with the same technology as their previous controllers. No they don't win. The Prime 4 is unlike anything Denon has ever put out or anyone else for that matter. The screen alone constitutes that.
You wouldn't find this Denon controller in the club's it looks to cheap. Keep that Denon in your bedroom tucked away under your bed 😂
@@clintz7147 it is made of aluminum you idiot
@@kollegessig
Now now don't get your knickers in a twist. Still looks cheap and taki. 👍 Actually it looks like something your find on a Star Trek enterprise 🙈
@@clintz7147 since when has aluminum been cheaper than plastic??
@@kollegessig This is we're pioneer is smart they don't need fancy material for there controller the name says it all. No company is ever going to top pioneer (facts)👊
I thought about the old coin flip, watched so many videos and the prime 4 wins most of the time, if the pioneer deck had a different name on it, but was 100% the same in quality everyone would go for the prime 4, j know what im going to do 💰💰💰
It is now possible to switch decks using the SHIFT button when
operating DJ software on XDJ XZ (firmware update 1.12)
Everyone says dennon is better, but what I think is that Dennon only wins with the technology on the screen. But why should you need that, better and bigger jogs is much more important. And pioneer has better effects and a better overall feeling. See waveforms and scrolling in ur tracks is the only thing u have to do on ur screen.
i`ve been playing for about a year on the denon prime 4, and its a hell of a machine perfect sound, effects, etc, but the software sucks, i have sold it and now i have the pioneer xdj xz, and believe me i not negative about the prime 4 it`s a good piece but for home and the standard is pioneer and it will remane for a long time. Denon has got a lot of work to do.
Spot on review pal! I just demo'd both these units and i gotta say the Denon software pisses on the Pioneers no contest, but it came down to exactly what you said the Denon feels flimsy and the jog wheels are a joke.
Basically Denon is Apple OSX smooth like butter and Samsung is pretty much Pioneer.
Loving the debate on this!
DENON HAS GREAT QUALITY CONSTRUCTION IT MAD OF METAL!!!! LMAO
I really like the Prime 4 but hate the fact they dont support Traktor software plus there is no DVS out of box (must use computers for that). I stick to my S4mk3
Thank you for a great comparison. Do you think Denon will come out with a large, mechanical jog wheel?
xdj-xz if you have the pioneer ecosystem. prime 4 if you want a tool for mixing music.
this debate is similar of what i read of IOS vs android... this isn't a war, this is more about of what do you NEED and for what.
As a beginner, I look at both these decks and think "Oh shit, I'll never learn all that".
Dont let that put you off mate. I started off on a simple 2ch pioneer controller and it's still imo a good controller. However I recently purchased denon sc5000 and x1800 mixer simply because like most pioneer xdj/cdjs were to expensive for me. And with denon doing a promo on buy two sc5000 get the x1800 mixer for free ....it was a no brainer.
@@theblackesthat7833 Yep, i took advantage of that offer and collected my SC5000M's today :D (Mixer is still out of the country though :()
Don't worry about all *that shit. Learn your tunes, how to mix them, how to program them and how to read what the floor wants to hear. That's the "hardest" part and what ultimately separates you from the pack.
I'm getting there, beatmatching by ear and a couple of 1 hour sessions and I've already made some huge improvements and enjoying every minute :) Cheers guys. BTW I'm using a DDJ 400. I know almost every part of it, even the over complicated sampler.
@@DJ-Daz Nice one :D
Great video, I prefer the XZ myself.
I trust your opinion very!
When it comes to controller I go for pioneer.
What about the nxs2000 and sc5000...
I am in a big confusion at this moment to buy nxs2000 or sc5000? What do you recommend! Thank you
A Pioneer fanboy will tell you the 2000nxs. A person concerned with features and raw ability will tell you Denon. A person who doesn't have the skillset to bounce between different types of DJ setups will tell you Pioneer. You can buy two SC5000 and their 1800 mixer for less than one single 2000nxs. Game over
@@DJChristo3lektric What a lovely motivation, man you get the end 🔚
But what make me smile now, i was juat watching your Videos from couple of days :))
Thanks for taking the time.
Cheers 🍻
I have a Xone96 and two SC5000 players. It's a wonderful setup!
Great video. I was choosing between the XZ and Prime 4 then an entire SC6000 / x1850 combo in the end. For me, standing in front of both XZ / P4 units and playing for a while - it’s obviously all about how you feel when you are playing. And in the end I kept coming back to the XZ (also because of the added bonus of Master Eq to tame and tweak a venue Sound System). I’m an intermediate level DJ and run my own events. I definitely wouldn’t be throwing a prime 4 up there for guest DJs to play on but an XZ I would (and have very successfully with a VOID sound system)
For practicality also - you can move the XZ around but you do need a carry case (Swift) or as a minimum if loading in the car, a decksaver. I’ve played some nice beach sets on it and the size / quality of everything is awesome in the flesh. P4 Screen / SSD bay would have been better but I didn’t “need” any of this as I play my best sets when I prepare my playlists with the rekordbox workflow anyway. They would be “nice to have” even if the screens are basically from 2010.
Hats off to denon though, in the current climate I couldn’t justify the extra £2000 for a full Denon setup and the P4 on features alone is unreal. The next person might prefer playing on that form factor I just can’t get away with the size / feel of the knobs faders and jogs. The multi zone play thing is unsung and awesome for small multi room venue installations. I’d like to see the P4 Mk2take on a bigger form factor and feel “full sized”. Denon are coming!
I'm A DJ at home here I never ever owned a Denon DJ product ever so I would go for more then likely the Denon one more do to the screen size
Reads rekordbox usb
Record mix on usb
Read internal ssd
4 channel standalone (only one consolle to control 4 channel)
Armonic mixing
Sampler using the 8 cue button
Zone out playing other music genre
Display your logo on decks
Internal Wifi and bluetooth
Playlist on the fly
Internal autoanalysis of song
And whatever do you need at right price ...
Denon is Much cheaper with more channels too. I also like the design & color! Only advantage Pioneer has it's the extra effects which I want =/
“This isn’t a bias guide”
“I’d much rather see these in the booth than these”
Having used both, the only area the pioneer is better is the larger jogwheels
Prime 4 rinses it in every other area
I'm not so sure about this thing from what I have been reading. 2023 and it is already dis- continued. I will stick with my trusty reliable badass MCX 8000! What a shame about the Prime 4 & Prime 4+. I may still buy one just for kicks!
Would you really take the XDJ XZ anywhere though? I feel as though it would be better to keep at home or in your studio to just mimic a club set up.
The inner me says get the pioneer for resell purposes but the prime seems to be a better unit
Legitimately just had this discussion. I'm so torn.......
Ahhh... comparisons of controllers I can't afford. RUclips at its finest!
ok, should people check with you your budgets before making a review video?
Are either of these controllers compatible with traktor? Would make for a solid standalone/controller mix. If your laptop plays up with in my opinion the best dj software out there you still have the 2 channel for pioneer or 4 channel for denon USB standalone backup.
Any view on sound quality? I believe the Pioneer controller takes the (improved) sound card from the NXS2 mixer. The older Pioneer mixers sucked in sound quality imho while the newest ones are said to sound better, but haven't tested side to side. Also no comparison to the Denon.
I would have 2 go with the Pioneer if i ever bought a controller, i have 2 cdj 900 nexus and 2 cdj NX2s, but i bought the new Denon 6000ms, cuz i thought they would feel like 12s, and didn't like them, so I sold them in 2 months
THANKS FOR THE REVIEW
Why can’t the prime 4 have the cdj jog wheels I would buy it right now just the mechanical feel
Denon seem quite set on the capacitive jog wheels. Many of us in the office would prefer a mechanical jog wheel but these are more reliable over time. The rival XDJ RX2 has the same style jog wheels too remember.
Yeah But I love the Prime 4 it has so much more to offer. I can see how it would last longer but it would be a great option if you could choose
Denon prime 4 where are you? 👇🏼
Pioneer cannot keep up...lol
Finally 🤣😂😭😭
Dakotta Elfine Backs it takes a time, while pioneer is a massive company which is dominating all over the world Denon is already doing way better than pioneer, and you already can see Heldens, Tiesto, Laidback Luke these guys already only playing on denon.
On my deck stand under a deck saver inside a flight case 😎
I'm so torn! I really don't know which one to get. I'm just going to have to flip a coin lol
Buy denon prime 4. Its really amazing. Worth your money!!!
Same here. I have been researching for many weeks already and I don't come to a conclusion. Already ordered the XZ few weeks ago (cannot be shipped yet) but still not decided finally... Hopefully there comes a new piece of gear in the next weeks that's saving me this decision.
If ppl buy the pionner for the cdj pro style..they should think that after three years the new cdjs should be around the corner now, probably with a new way and look !!
Does anyone know when the Beatport Link will be available on the Denon Prime 4 ?
Pioneer are like Apple and Denon are like Samsung
Apple sucks
@@thedjkay Nah
Thanks 👍 Denon rocks 🪨
@@thedjkaySamsung even worse 😂
Tbh, this is starting to feel like the iOS-android discussion. Yes denon (and android) have awesome features and are more complex, but pioneer (and iOS) just are the standard and look and feel way more refined and professional. You will always have 2 sides with completely different preferences
Whats better for beat juggling ? And scraching theres no review of this topic
denon prime 4 rules!!!!, point to point no comparison, the truth is most pro dj have been force to love pioneer do to that is what clubs and events buy, if the denon prime 4 would have come out at the same time as cdjs every one would be using denon.
Would rather play on the Pioneer gear all day long. That being said, I wish they were as generous and envelope pushing about feature set as Denon is.
Please, nice try, but please let someone with the background of using hardware only make the comparison, for once. I did buy the Prime 4 after thoroughly reading and watching every available review about the unit for months, and I've never gone from hyper excited to extremely disappointed so fast in my entire 51 year on this earth. Why don't you mention the stuff that really matters for many of us?
1. The Prime 4 has no CDJ-mode with stutter. An absolutely must when setting cue points on the fly in a loud environment. You only get the importance of his if you've been using it for ages like me.
2. The effects are all disabled for external devices, except for the filter, on the Prime 4. For anyone who get the Prime 4 to be the center piece were you connect the gear you already have, like CDJ's and turntables, this is more important than just about anything else this unit can do.
3. The screen itself was huge disappointment. After all the hype I was expecting something great, and it was not. The screen itself is, but not the utilization of it. The browse mode only contained 6 rows of text, so large it had to scroll to show the whole file name. It's comparable with the first CDJ-2000, and I expected something similar to what I have when I use an iPad with Remotebox controlling my XDJ-R1. While using the unit going in to browse mode, it's like being blind folded compared to what you can see on the much smaller screen on the Pioneer units. ...and there's more.
4. In the utility and settings you expect to find all the stuff you don't have buttons for, especially newly added options, like how to switch between wave form modes. But no, not Denon. They think it is better to invent key combos for you to find out instead of using the settings menu on that big screen. Pinching the wave forms... who the f... does that anyway.
5. Free spinning heavy one piece of metal jog wheels where there's no correlation between the movement of the jog to what happens with the track. Worst jog I've ever touched since the first one came out in the mid 90's. My personal opinion of course.
6. Stuff sticking out on the front of the unit. This is a very Deep unit, so who at Denon thought it was a good idea to have a knob sticking out. I'm short and can't reach to the back without tilting the back end towards me, and I almost broke that knob before realizing it was there while connecting it to the master out cables.
7. Softare Engine Prime. It's so bad it's no wonder Denon made the unit compatible with almost all other major DJ software's. It sounds really good until you want to update your library, which most of us do every week. I spend at most 10 minutes doing an update, to three different external SSD's in Rekordbox, and it has never faulted, not once since I started using it in 2013. You're gonna need some more time using Engine Prime and do expect thing to go wrong now and then, because it will.
I hope this helps some of you making the right choice for you. I'm not saying the Prime 4 is bad for everyone, especially if you have a controller background, but for me it was a really expensive brick, and a learning experience that didn't come cheap.
1. Why would u need stutter when you have visible wave forms? I set cues on the fly (for non prepped music which is rare) and it works fine for me
2. Haven't tested that feature yet but it's not a game breaker
3. You can adjust the screen resolution for waveforms and list info so that's a false claim
4. This is complete misinformation. There is no key combos to do what your suggesting
5. You can also edit the jog wheel controls in menu. Why your free spinning a jog wheel for anything other than a reload 🤷♂️
6. I can't think of a mixer I've owed ever that didn't have x fader curve knob at the front. It sits in my flight case fine and had never been an issue. I can easily reach from the front to the back and the knobs have never got in my way. Don't tilt the unit to plug stuff in like a neanderthal. Go round the back or swing the unit to one side. That's how stuff gets broken
7. Engine prime software does suck. Simple. But they have made some tweaks that means jumping from platform to platform is as easy as it can be. I mean you can drag and drop your entire crate collection from serato traktor or rekordbox straight into engine prime. Which is very handy.
Please try and be more accurate when slandering something that I don't think you have actually used properly....
@@superlazy3355 I set my cue's on the fly and they need to be on the exact frame every time as I often start tracks with faders engaged. Vinyl mode or using the wave form is not my game, I use my ears. That's how work the fastest and with most precision and I've done the same since 1994. Not gonna use something less precise and something that takes longer time now. I'm not only uses beats for cue points, but also vocals and other sounds and not always on the one. Believe me I've used all other ways and this is my choice. 2. What is or not a game breaker for me and others is not for you to decide 3. That adjustment wasn't there when I had it and according to Denon support.
4. How do you switch between waveform modes unless using a key combo. I had to use shift+view, but please enlighten the world if there's a new way. 5. Misunderstood. The jog itself is too heavy and spins too freely. Sorry, engelska är inte mitt första språkval. Vi kan ta det på Svenska om det blir lättare för dig. 6. It's because you're not a club DJ or you're a scratch DJ or a controller DJ. Just who I told wouldn't understand... and you didn 't. I use stand-alone 4 channels mixers and occasionally I use Pioneer 250-450 2 ch mixers. Never seen knobs on the front of any other club mixer either for that matter. 7. I'm not slandering and only reporting stuff no one other have talked about in reviews that could have saved me from buying that piece of sh** from the start... and then you wouldn't have me writing this. Would you rather more people with my preferences buy that brick and write about the Prime 4 as I do? Get all that there is out about the hardware and let other people make their own decisions. I use Pioneer hardware everywhere and there's never any surprises because everything just work as expected, and it works works works, for me every time of the at least 17-18 gigs I do per month.
@@dj-peterofficial2753 well you're assumptions are wrong... I do scratch.. I do play out frequently (tho not 17-18 times a month) and half your points don't make sense... Why would the stutter matter if your cueing? Its the same process as cueing? And why would you want stutter with fader up? Also I watched a video of you mixing and lol, your are definitely not the most efficient mixer imo! I don't use the jog wheels to jog like you do. I use the pitch faders and have done since I was using my 1200s way back in the day. That's just my way of doing it though.... I'm not trying to influence your decision, by all means pay over the odds for half the equipment. Its the exact reason I've never invested into pioneer.. Nothing they sell is good value for money yet the prime 4 for me is. However its not fair for you as the club dj who HAS to use pioneer equipment to put incorrect information up like its a fact.
All that you said about starting with faders up is waffle because you do all your cues with fader down. For a 'club' DJ you don't sound like your pushing much out there creativity wise... I use the prime 4 to flair and chirp music dropped into the mix so PLEASE don't try to tell me about who I am as a dj 👍
@@superlazy3355 As I said, Scratch DJ, who always uses vinyl mode anyway, or Controller DJ, as many of those, including Pioneers Rekordbox DJ, don't have CDJ-mode. This is why I started the whole comment by saying, please let someone with only hardware background for once make the review/comparison... or you won't get it. Here we are, and you don't get it.
I played real vinyl the first 10 years as a DJ and I know everything about how the vinyl mode works on a CDJ/Controller, and it is very much not the same. I decided back in 2001 how I will play, when vinyl mode first appeared. I don't question why DJ's use vinyl mode, please don't question the way I play. I rarely play hip hop or anything related. I'm a house DJ if anything, and I play commercial club music. Scratching will never happen in a set I play.
Of course I don't leave the pause with stutter on when I raise the faders. Don't you even know how pause with stutter works? And still question me why I use it? I SET the cue on the fly using the stutter mode, then raising the fader to start the new track with some or full volume. No time for adjustments, it has to be timed, which I can do if the cue is on the right frame. The stutter enhances the volume of the frame that stutters, which means I can clearly hear the first frame of even very silent sounds, like the start of a vocal, even if there's background sounds. Cuing in vinyl mode, going back and forth with the jog, will never take you to that exact frame, and the same frame, every time. And no, I don't use set lists or playlist with prepared tracks ever. I decide in the moment which tracks to play and how to mix them together. I can't predict that with all the different gigs i do.
I'm just back from 8 days on a 24 hour party cruiser that takes +2000 people, and tomorrow I'm going to Gothenburg, Swedens 3rd largest City to play on a big corporate event. A 3 hour drive and I still don't know if they want me to play a lounge set or a full on party set for 25 year olds, 50 year olds, or for all ages. I'll probably find out when I get there. They assume I'll fix it on those terms, and I usually do, as long as the gear works as usual with no surprises, so I can put all my focus on the music and the guests, and none on the tech. The days of playing around and practicing for new routines are long gone for me. Now there's only time for execution and performance, as it is for most DJ who do it full time without being famous. It's also the reason the gear can't change in how it work on a basic level and why we stick to what we know works, all the time. Denon didn't have to remove what's been there for decades, but they did, which clearly tells me that it's not the pro's of today they aim for, but the pro's of tomorrow with a different background in gear than me. No stutter mode was the only really decisive part. The rest i could have learned or get used to while using the unit even if i still think they could have done so much better, and they should have had it done by release.
All of this I have communicated to Jay Cunningham, the Denon brand manager who reached out to me when I still had the Prime 4, expressing those concerns. They really show interest in their customers and listens to what we think about their products. Ill give them that, but they kinda should've done that before releasing the unit. So, when I see reviews or comparisons that still don't mention what gave me a bad experience, I'll continue to comment about it.
@@superlazy3355 ....... Like your response , i just bought 2 prime 4 a month ago , updated it to the 1.3.3 version , were you have joggs weight capabilities just like the pioneer 1000srt , and the scratching is much easier , ofcourse side wave forms , and wifi which is amazing , plus the prime 4 works with serato , which gives you tons of possibilties like DVS etc... Analyze songs in 10 seconds , by his own . Great machine , simply the best , i' m doing weddings mobile dj night's with it , and always bring the second prime 4 as a backup .
This fight , of who's the best will never end , you know , iPhone vs Galaxy , Fifa vs Pes , Pioneer vs Denon , Messi vs Cristiano.
I'm going with Denon .
Take care .
No way I would buy a Denon. Plug in two cdjs and I can play on the same setup standalone that I play on the club. This is perfect for this of us who have external CDJ3000s. And more compact, less hookup. I love it. But I guess not all are using on that fashion, have fun with whatever you have. They are both great. No need to shit on others, everyone has different wants and needs. I couldn't stand using two players to switch between 1usb and four tracks. Plug in the extra great like it's made to do....
Prime 4 all the way love it...Denon going to change the game for ever...
Well i'm completely confused now. My mind was made up with the xz until seeing a few videos about the prime 4. Still I feel that I want the xz because in reality I won't be using 4 channels at the same time, unless having vinyl decks plugged in. But I do really want to be able to stream music, that being said beat port link isn't compatibile with the prime either is it?? I do like how the prime can analyse tracks automatically though. Ahhhhhh why can't I just have both.. I wonder when the next releases will come around. May buy a ddj1000 and wait at this rate. Has anyone bought the xz or the prime and wished they don't the opposite??? Any replys are helpful thanks :)
Prime 4 owner here, been using the unit for about a year and I have zero regrets after ditching my previous Pioneer set up. The advantages Denon offers to all DJ's surpass whatever Pioneer tried to achieve with the XZ. Most importantly, Denon liberated us from having to use a laptop; and if you still prefer using Serato, the option is still there. Same with streaming, you got integration with Tidal, but it's also been officially announced that Beatport Link is coming to the Prime 4; so no problems in that regard. Honestly speaking, I actually like Denon's built and form factor compared to Pioneer's unit since the Prime 4 is made of metal instead of plastic like the XZ. I admit that I made a huge leap of faith when I decided to get my Prime 4; but this console has proven me time and time again that purchasing it was an excellent decision. (Pardon my English since it's not my native language.)
@@davsdf1 Hey! I went with the xz against my better judgement that had been leaning towards the prime 4. I'm really happy I did, I think it's really a case of what you need and currently the xz is perfect for me. I love the feel of the unit and the jog wheels mimic what I've used before so this transfer was easy. I appreciate the denon in many ways is the better controller but for me the xz just had the aesthetic wow factor as well which I want to bring to any small events that I put on. Thanks for the reply all the same :)
@ZD Boardz Crew I have the xz man, it's great. I think I prefer the durability of the xdj1000's, the jogs feel a lot better the xz feels a bit more plasticky, this being said the features are decent, beat pad ect that you'd be used too from the prime. I'm still only an average dj so in no way use the kit to it's full potential.
i don't really need a fancy display.. this is not my tablet or smartphone.. I don't need to play games. I have to work with this player.. in my opinion the XDJs display is way enough.
also, I don't really like the overall design ob Denon Products... Pioneer looks way cleaner
You don’t need a fancy display? Yet your using your laptop. Lmao
Idiot, lol. Defending far outdated technology for high prices. 'Dont need to play games'. Well then have fun with your pathetic resistive, 20fps Pioneer screen. 🤦♂️
Appreciate this video, thank you.
So the main difference is platers, fx EQ and main EQ.