As Pioneer DJ makes their transition to full rekordbox workflow, thus they’re filling in the gaps in their controller and table top player range. We’ve seen the higher end XDJ-1000 (review here) appear, but rather than aim higher it’s the more affordable end of the range that gets a slot filled. The all new XDJ-700 is the next player that hammers another nail in the coffin of CD, and continues the shift towards an entirely digital workflow.
You know how this works — their words first:
Digitally versatile: meet the XDJ-700 – the compact digital player that punches above its weight
13th October 2015: Pioneer DJ is launching its most compact, portable and flexible digital player yet: the slimline XDJ-700 rekordbox™-ready player with a touch screen, Pro DJ Link and many performance features inherited from its bigger brother, the XDJ-1000.
The XDJ-700 offers DJs and venues unparalleled set-up possibilities. Its compact size and removable stand means it’s perfect for even the smallest booth or home set-up. It’s the first player at this price to feature Pro DJ Link – so DJs can share one source with up to four players or laptops. Tracks can be loaded via USB or Wi-Fi to give DJs even more choice.
The XDJ-700 is packed with features from the XDJ-1000, including Hot Cues, Auto Loops, Slip Mode and Beat Sync. The large, full-colour LCD screen gives DJs intuitive access to all the player’s features and faster browsing through a QWERTY keyboard word search. DJs can prepare their sets in rekordbox (Mac/PC) or the rekordbox app (iOS/Android) and the screen will display crucial information including wave display, Beat Countdown, Phase Meter and Key Analysis Indicator.
The XDJ-700 is available from December 2015 at an SRP of €699, including VAT.
Find out more https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/product/player/xdj-700/black/overview
Watch the video https://youtu.be/4xPteW07WWI
KEY FEATURES OF THE XDJ-700
1. Large full-colour LCD touch screen and fast track selection
A 7-inch, full-colour touch screen gives DJs intuitive control of the player’s features, while the three windows – browse, play and perform – stop the screen getting overcrowded.
Browsing is effortless; DJs can choose to scroll using the rotary dial or call up the QWERTY keyboard to do a keyword search.
2. Pro-DJ features inherited from top-flight players
The XDJ-700 boasts all the same features of the XDJ-1000, many of which are inherited from the flagship CDJ-2000NXS.
- Auto loops and Hot Cues: instantly triggers loops and cues DJs have set in
- Quantize: snaps loops and cues to the beat
- Beat Sync: matches the BPM of connected players to the beat of the master
- Slip Mode: silently continues track playback during a loop, reverse or scratch and brings the music back at the right point when the DJ exits the
3. rekordbox-ready to give access to more features and enhanced track information
DJs can analyse their tracks in rekordbox and the XDJ-700’s large touch screen will display:
- Wave display with Wave Zoom: zoom x5 for precision loops and
- Beat Countdown: mark key points on a track and player will count down from up to 64 bars
- Phase Meter: shows the position of the beat in the bar so DJs can compare the phase of each player with the master deck at a glance.
- Key Analysis Indicator: a traffic light system shows which rekordbox tracks are in a compatible musical key with the master
- Active Loop: DJs can set an Active Loop at the end of tracks to ensure they’re never caught unprepared
4. Pro DJ Link for enhanced flexibility and scope
Pro DJ Link means that DJs can connect up to four players or laptops via a LAN cable and share one source between them. rekordbox information can be shared across all four pieces of hardware, including the Beat Count, Phase Meter, Beat Sync and Key Analysis.
5. Load and browse music using Wi-Fi or USB connection
In addition to USB keys, DJs can load rekordbox-ready music from PCs, laptops and smartphones using a USB or Wi-Fii connection. They simply connect a device running rekordbox (PC/Mac) or the rekordbox app (iOS/Android) to the XDJ-700 and then browse and load tracks from the device’s screen. Devices connected via USB will even be charged during performance.6. Compact design and removable stand
Pioneer DJ’s slimmest player yet, the XDJ-700 has been designed with the small booth or home set-up in mind. The unit measures just 238 x 308 x 106 mm (W x D x H). Plus the stand can easily be removed, reducing the height to 79 mm – helping it to fit into even smaller spaces.7. Other features
- USB-HID control of rekordbox dj
- Fully MIDI compatible
- My Settings instantly loads DJs’ preferred rekordbox settings
XDJ-700 SPECIFICATIONS
Playable media iPhone/iPod touch, Android phone, etc.
USB storage devices (flash memory/HDD, etc.) Computers (Mac/Windows PC)Playable file MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF
(rekordbox™ for iPhone: MP3 and AAC only)USB storage support file systems FAT, FAT32, HFS+ Frequency response 4 Hz ～ 20 kHz S/N ratio 115 dB or more Total harmonic distortion 0.003% or less USB ports USB A port x 1, USB B port x 1 Audio output ports AUDIO OUT (RCA) x 1 Other ports LAN (100Base-TX) x 1 Audio output voltage 2.0 Vrms (1 kHz) AC adapter AC 100V 50/60 Hz, DC 12V Max external dimension (W x D x H) 238 x 307.8 x 106.3 mm (with stand)
238 x 307.8 x 78.8 mm (without stand)Weight 2.0 kg (with stand),1.7 kg (without stand) REKORDBOX SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Compatible OS (Windows) Windows 10 / Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 / Windows 8 Pro / Windows 8.1 Pro (32/64bit, the latest service pack) Windows® 7 Home Premium / Professional / Ultimate (32/64bit, the latest service pack)
Intel® Processer Dual Core 2.0 GHz or higher 4GB or more of RAMCompatible OS (Mac) Mac OS X 10.10, 10.9, 10.8 (Updated to the latest version) Intel® Processer Dual Core 2.0 GHz or higher 4 GB or more of RAM
Hard Drive 250MB or more of free space (not including space for storing music files, etc.) Sound Audio output to speakers, headphones, etc. (internal or external audio device) USB port A USB port is used to connect a controller or a mixer, and export track files to a USB storage device such as a flash drive and a hard disk drive Playable music file MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, FLAC Internet connection An internet connection is needed to create a rekordbox user account and to download and activate the software Display resolution 1280 × 768 or greater i A wireless router is required to connect via Wi-Fi
WHAT IS THE XDJ-700?
It’s a unit that will steadily relegate CD to the legacy range. The XDJ-100 started it, and now the lower end is doing the same. At first glance, you’d be forgiven to wonder what the differences between this and the XDJ-1000 are. The XDJ-700 appears to be an exercise in trimming the fat. Without a CD drive, the unit can be thinner, and it is. But should you wish for it to be the same height as your mixer, Pioneer DJ provides a stand. But the overall dimensions are smaller too, which thanks to no CD and touch screen is more than possible. This does mean that an obvious casualty of this scaling down is the trademark CDJ jogwheel. And some of the less essential features have been removed to hit the price point too.
What surprises me is just how fully featured the XDJ-700 seems to be. My DJ style is a long way from complex, but I’m looking at what the touch screen, and rekordbox features bring, and it’s a lot. So I’m going to ask the question of CDJ users — is the XDJ-700 enough? Is this smaller wheel OK for most users? Or do you just like having huge units in front of you because it feels pro?
The demo video certainly shows a solid performance with all the rekordbox bells and whistles. What high-end features do you consider to be essential that aren’t catered for in the video’s setup?
Summing up, the Pioneer DJ XDJ-700 will set you back €699/$699 (TBC)/£519 and is available in December 2015.
GALLERY
no scratching in the video… I wonder how the platters perform
these look nice. also, almost no one skratches in real life.
Perfect unit for mobile and small venue djs.
No more computer….no more serato or tractor and no more annoying cd! ..just a lot of fun without computer.
If ppl that are using cdj350 (a lot) will complain about some…is mean that I don’t understand nothing of dj world. Is a compact , fully equipped, standalone unit that I think is really versatile.
If u buy a controller u still need a good computer. So said this is also not expensive.
This might be the first Pioneer device I buy. I don’t need fancy features, just a standalone device which can play digital files.
This might be the first Pioneer device I buy. I don’t need fancy features, just a standalone device which can play digital files.
Great price. I still use CD’s though
Interesting that the height of the unit has changed, does this presage the introduction of slimmer mixers too?
I had that thought in my original piece. The issue with that is the size of connectors. If you look at the back of an average mixer, it’s connector madness. And XLRs, jacks, and RCAs are bulky standards that are unlikely to change.
I once saw a prototype mixer with the back panel laid out flat desk style, and was left speechless at how thin the mixer was. Sadly, I don’t see the depth of mixers changing unless new mini or even micro connectors are devised or some connections are dispensed with. It’s annoying because a lot of mixers are pretty much hollow and could be half the depth that they are.
You might want to specify that the mixer wasn’t Pioneer, lol. And, to be fair, the company did release a couple pics. I think it’s both of our dream mixer.
where can we see the pics?
The pics that I know of went up on DJ-lab.de. It was a Vestax mixer from around 2011? It was dreamed of as a Traktor mixer. It was pretty rad, but never made it past the stage of two functional and one cosmetic prototype.
http://dj-lab.de/wp-content/uploads/IMG_8153.jpg
Boom.
coming from the IT industry, I am always stunned at the size of the jacks used in the music biz – XLRs, MIDI and even jacks are all WAY too large compared to what they need to be and despite note being a mechanical engineer/industrial designer I can’t imagine that ruggedness is a valid excuse. I guess one potential solution would be an octopus cable or two coming out of the back of the mixer? More Kickstarter fodder! ;-)
oh I can assure you, audio cables and connectors in the pro audio scene are ABUSED. XLR is beefy because its absolutely needs to be.
Thanks Dirk – I kinda assumed that, but surely there is a way to make them rugged AND smaller? Perhaps an industrial designer (cough-cough) might have a POV?
Plugs and cables developed almost organically over the years. Why is a guitar / mic cable so thick, it carries close to nothing voltage? Well, there is the tangle-ability, a thicker cable will not tangle as easily as a thinner one. Then the obvious robustness of a thicker cable.
XLR, ask a roadie if they would like a smaller XLR. No, never. You must be able to get a positive grip, reach in between gear, in the dark, and plug, or unplug it. Ergonomics! Fit for purpose. It applies to all devices, a USB plug could be made much much smaller, but you’d need to use tweezers to plug it in or pull on the cable to pull it out.
Its also about standards that have developed over decades. All of these connectors are pretty standard fare and will work on gear bought today and gear bought 30 years ago. That being said there is always room for new standards, but it would take something that is markedly better and it would need to get industry-wide acceptance. One connection that could make mixers and players smaller would be mini to mini as audio output. A mini cable can carry an unbalanced stereo signal just like a stereo RCA connection and it is significantly smaller and widely available.
Okay, so I’ll ask the other more obvious question, how long do I have to put off buying my next set of CDJs? I am tired of waiting to order the XDJ 2000/CDJ-3000 or whatever it will be!
new Flagship model CDJ Jan/Fen 2016 and will still have CD drive. Should have been around August but i guess they need to squeeze in RB4, the new controllers that work with RB and these babies beforehand.
new Flagship model CDJ Jan/Fen 2016 and will still have CD drive. Should have been around August but i guess they need to squeeze in RB4, the new controllers that work with RB and these babies beforehand.
I Pioneer needs a be a tester in Australia I am always available! :-)
Where do you get this info from? Not saying you’re wrong, I’m interested :)
Jacks and RCA are not bulky. XLR obviously is. This is a “budget” product. No reason why they can’t make a thinner mixer without XLR for the “budget” customer.
Also with the USB or Ethernet connection on the back, why not make a little breakout box type of product that has more connections such as XLR. All these products are 100% digital signals anyways up until the DAC before the ports.
Well… touch is still a no go sorry :/
ok, so why not make a player like this that is the interface, display, and computer running a single deck dvs. you already have the link tech, so linking players could still give you sync. and no, i don’t have a real explanation why i’m so obsessed with single tt dvs, but i know there is something there. part of it, is i’m able to focus more when all the info on the screen is related to one deck, and I like having to mix by ear.
plug a tt into it, you get hotcue 1 and 2 on play and cue, all the other buttons work the same. use the pitch on the player if that simplifies keeping good timecode signal.
So in certain settings you have dvs, but you could also take it out alone.
you’d be making a standalone dvs box, with screen, which also happened to have a jog and buttons :) I think this is a better approach to get those turntable customers you’re after, better at least than a rekordbox tt, which i just don’t see you guys building to the right level of quality.
Looks like I’ll have to separate the CDJs in my studio. I think my NXS got freaky with my daughter’s 350s when no one was looking and these things popped out.
These will sell like hotcakes because they’re from Pioneer and lots think that computers should be eliminated. I see these as great second/backup pairs for those who already have CDJ-2000s or XDJ-1000s. For new DJs, why go with these over a controller (like the DDJ-SR/-SX2/-SZ) or all-in-ones (like the XDJ-RX)?
If you already have a mixer or a Traktor Kontrol S8 here is your add on jog wheels. Also the touch screen will allow faster browsing of your music which is not possible on the XDJ-RX.
What??? The XDJ-RX doesn’t have a touchscreen? Sigh.
That is correct. Using the XDJ-RX is just like operating the menus on a CDJ-900 or CDJ-2000. No touch screen scrolling via the turn encoder and using the back button.
Assuming Pioneer release HID firmware for Traktor?
Believe it or not you could run two of these in “Thru” mode using Rekordbox and continue to run Traktor using the S8. It’s one option.
I like big platters and I cannot lie.
So is it actually able to play FLAC files, or not? It doesn’t list such in the XDJ-700 specs, but then it’s listed in Rekordbox system requirements.
It looks like rekordbox on your laptop will but FLAC on USB devices won’t.
It looks like rekordbox on your laptop will but FLAC on USB devices won’t.
Seems surprising to me, but then again I suspect WAV and MP3 are a great deal more popular for most people. I would have gone with a guess of “oh, trying to keep the price point lower” but the XDJ-1000 is also unable to read FLAC files from USB.
I just don’t understand PioDJ’s reluctance to support FLAC….soooo frustrating!!!
Can’t believe it either.. “Multi” Player? Yeah, right.
Thumbs up from me, except for the external PSU.
Only thing missing for me is Pioneer signature light in centre of jogs giving you track position
The never add those features on their “budget” or intro players. Even though $699 from any other brand would be the pro model, but’s that’s a whole other story. But I have to admit coming from Pioneer and for $699 it has a lot of great features.
Woops, just saw a comment about external, psu. Hope it’s not a huge brick. Will fully read the article now.
I agree with you , but in these times Pioneer should look pass that and make it a signature feature in all their CDJ and Controller.
Look at the DDJ SB and the DDJ SR in all the reviews its the option that people most talk about.
They could at least put lights in the outer rim like how the SZ has light inside the Jogs and outer rim.
I agree with you as well, but Pio will never do that, knowing them and their pricing vs features. They leave out specific features to attract consumer to the “pro” model, while giving you a piece of the action with the intro or mid level item.
A lot of companies do this, in their defense. However, they OD on it.
Most companies will make an intro and pro model only and skip all the in betweens with stepladder prince rangers vs features.
I feel like it’s just a way to justify high prices. I bought my first pair of Techs like 12-13 years ago and there was no cheaper model with features vs crazy expensive model a ton of features. It was just $399 a pop and you’re off to do your thing. I did, however have a pair of stantons and they did that whole thing, but even the pro model was less than your most expensive tech, which wasn’t much at all.
I disagree. My CDJ-400’s have them.
CJ-400s are discontinued. I had them too, and guess what they got replaced with.. The 350s, and they do not light up at all.
I am fully aware of these facts. The 400’s are the grandfather’s of the current line of CDJ’s whivh you pretty much pointed out. They were the first CDJ’s to have USB ports. You would have thought they would have introduced that feature on a full sized CDJ deck prior to the 900’s and 2000’s however they didn’t. Reagrdless they still could have included the display since the 400’s had one and it wouldn’t have been a big deal to do so.
Agreed.
Would the onscreen wav not provide enough track position information than a circle that spins around or in the center of the jog wheel? I see the usefulness of the track position light and lcd circle on older units without full color wav layouts available. But I personally don’t see a need for it on hardware like this. Just like I don’t see the point of controllers with lcd displays that require a computer to function. Doesn’t make sense to me. But I’m sure It make sense to some people.
Still no FLAC and ALAC support? Hello, is this Pioneer DJ HQ? 2015 calling.
Look at the bottom of the press release specifications –>
Playable music file: MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, FLAC
Unbelievable, these “Multi” Player XDJs still not supporting FLAC/ALAC (but RB4 does). Pretty useless.
Agreed! It’s a big FAIL! It’s not 2006 anymore.
decent bit of kit, if you are starting up now then a pair of these is absolute gold dust, I’ve just about enough room to have a CDJ350 as a third deck on my table so I’m now sorted to get one of these as a third deck
When you compare the price to CDJ 350’s and what you get for the money this unit will sell really well.
Looking at the video it looked likes its only got 3 hot cues? Not brilliant for this price point. Touch screens are great inventions, a month into owning a pair of D2’s I’m totally sold on them but having physical buttons you can easily press in a dark venue is mega important – soon easy to make mistakes if everything is on a multifunction menu driven screen.
I have a queation: does anybody use the manual loop buttons? Why pioneer dj still put them on the units, when you have auto loop function?
I’m totally interested in this piece of gear and will probably make it my upgrade. I’m currently using 2 V7s and have been since they were released a few years ago. numark doesn’t seem to have any future plans to make a upgrade to the V7s so it’s time to switch manufactures. i don’t care for all in one units personally unless they are the compact ones like the wego model that are backpack friendly. Spending $1,000 – $2,000 on a all in one just seems ridiculous because if a platter fader button or knob gets damaged you cannot just replace the section with the broken part quickly and might need to replace the whole unit depending on the situation. That’s why I stick with the cheaper all in ones. Yes there should always be a manual loop option because sometimes software won’t auto grab the section properly and you will need to do it yourself. The in and out buttons allow users to fix the beginning and end of a loop too. So yes having them still available is great. Some of us don’t allow the software to do all the work.
I can’t get the iPhone/iPad to work as a storage medium for my tunes. Isn’t it supposed to allow me to prepare and store my tracks in the rekordbox app? I plug it in and it just says ‘No USB’.