Like London buses, you wait years for black turntables to come around the corner (the Mixars LTA and STA missed the Worxlab rotation) and then two appear at the same time. Yesterday it was the new Technics SL-1210 MK7, and today out of nowhere comes Reloop’s bid for turntable dominance with the next level RP-8000 MK2. All those bells and whistles you’d hoped for on the MK7 are most definitely in place on the 8000 MK2.
The usual extensive words from Reloop follow:
RELOOP RP-8000 MK2
THE MOST ADVANCED DJ TURNTABLE EVER MADE.
Muenster, 08th January 2019
HIGHLIGHTS:
- The most advanced DJ turntable ever made, developed in close collaboration with renowned international turntable musicians
- Designed for Serato DJ Pro: Control 7 new colour-coded performance modes
– Platter Play mode: Performance pads can be used to control the speed of the platter to enable melodic and musical live performances
DJ JFB (3 x UK DMC Champion)
„Platter Play is a real game changer, because it enables DJs to play the turntable actually like a real instrument, finally!”
DJ Angelo (International Turntablist)
“It’s a turntable that has everything I’m looking for!”
DJ Flip (World Scratch Champion)
“It’s my favourite turntable I’ve ever used!”
With the RP-8000 MK2, we present the most advanced turntable of all time, developed in close cooperation with renowned international turntable artists. This turntable is designed for a seamless integration with Serato DJ Pro, offering the possibility of controlling up to 7 different performance modes via the pad section. And thanks to the unique Platter Play mode, the pads can be used to control the platter’s rotation speed to create melodies and authentic musical performances. The RP-8000 MK2 represents the perfect balance of a first-class professional turntable and an innovative musical instrument.
Pad section with 7 New Performance Modes:
Developed for application with Serato DJ Pro, and thanks to the seamless plug-and-play integration, the RP-8000 MK2 in a DVS setup offers unparalleled creative possibilities. The 8 large pads with RGB illumination can control over 7 different performance modes (Cue, Sampler, Saved Loops, Pitch Play, Loop, Loop Roll, Slicer), as well as 2 user modes, which can be custom assigned with individual preferred functions. Furthermore, by using the multi encoder it is possible to browse tracks directly from the turntable unit itself, and load them instantly to the respective deck. Thanks to its MIDI compatibility, the RP-8000 MK2 can communicate with every MIDI compatible DJ software – this way, an additional controller for performance modes is not necessary.
Platter Play – Creative Platter Pitch Control:
Platter Play mode allows users to control the platter’s pitch via the performance pads, opening up new possibilities for musical live performances and turning the RP-8000 MK2 into a legitimate musical instrument. A total of 22 scales and 34 notes are at your disposal with an option to create up to 9 user-defined scales. The two speed select buttons can be used for pitch bending in Platter Play mode and also to respectively increase or decrease the audio material’s pitch in steps of one half-tone. Furthermore, the platter’s speed can also be controlled via an external MIDI keyboard.
Powerful Motor with Extensive Adjustment Possibilities:
The fine-tuned, quartz-driven motor with digital pitch correction operates at a starting torque of 2.8kg/cm, which can be adjusted up to a maximum of 4.5kg/cm. This makes the RP-8000 MK2 an extremely smooth running turntable. Also, the turntable break speed (platter stop) can be adjusted from 0.2 – 6 seconds and the precision-machined, heavy die-cast aluminium platter is lined with vibration-reducing rubber to eliminate unwanted vibrations and resonance.
Balanced S-Shaped Tone Arm with Upgraded Tone Arm Base:
The RP-8000 MK2 features a statically balanced S-shaped tone arm with hydraulic lift and anti- skating mechanism. The newly developed tone arm base provides improved stability and adjustable height/vertical tracking angle (VTA). The low-resonance tone arm comes with a universal connection for pick-up cartridge systems (SME).
High-Resolution Pitch Section with Digital Fader:
By using the high-resolution pitch fader, you can adjust the platter speed in the classic turntable pitch range +/-8%. The RP-8000 MK2 is also cable of a wider, DJ-friendly +/- 16% pitch range and a massive +/-50% ultra-pitch, allowing for increased creativity when manipulating and mixing records. If quartz lock is active, the platter speed will remain unaffected by the fader position and will spin at zero pitch (0%).
Fully equipped – Real Time LC Display, Reverse Function and Smart USB Connection:
Besides all creative improvements, the RP-8000 MK2 has everything a DJ turntable should be equipped with. A digital LC display shows information regarding pitch, BPM, deck assignment, scales and notes, elapsed/remaining time of current track, as well as firmware settings. In Serato DJ Pro, it is possible, for example, to show the current BPM value of a track, in order to exactly match your tracks without the need to look at your computer monitor. The smart USB connection is particularly sophisticated and can connect up to 4 turntables together via USB. The single units assign themselves automatically and constantly, so that only one turntable needs to be connected to a computer via USB. The newly developed aluminium LED target light in unibody design is freely moveable to enable you to find the stylus position in dark surroundings. The target light is also removable and easily replaceable. By using the buttons on the RP-8000 MK2’s top panel, you can switch between the three motor speeds (33 1/3, 45 & 78 rpm). Dedicated buttons for forward and reverse mode allow for further creativity in your mix.
High-Quality Connections and Integrated Phono Pre-Amp:
Thanks to the recessed rear connection panel, the RP-8000 MK2 can easily be mounted in a flight case and seamlessly positioned next to other DJ gear. Due to the additional output, the turntable can be connected to 2 mixers simultaneously, also allowing an easy switch from DVS to vinyl. An optional ground terminal offers additional protection in club environments. All cable connections (RCA/mains) are detachable and easy to exchange, which also helps with transport and storage.
Sturdy Casing Construction:
By using a combination of metal, rubber and synthetic materials, the RP-8000 MK2’s housing is more reinforced and heavier than ever before. This results in a turntable that is extremely resistant to vibrations caused by heavy bass sounds, and its shock-absorbing feet help to further improve this isolation. The surface is coated with a scratch-resistant high-quality deep black metallic finish.
Features
NEW in the MK2 version:
- The most advanced DJ turntable ever made, developed in close collaboration with renowned international turntable musicians
- Designed for Serato DJ Pro: Control 7 new RGB colour-coded performance modes
- Platter Play: In this mode, the performance pads can be used to control the speed of the platter to enable melodic and more musical live performances
- Extra large, highly responsive performance pads with multi-colour LEDs
- 22 scales are available with the option to create up to 9 custom scales
- Pitch bending function via speed select buttons in Platter Play mode
- Reworked control section: More streamlined multi-encoder and intuitive mode section
- First of its kind: Independent pad modes (when used in conjunction with the ELITE mixer)
- Rigid chassis construction with an even heavier design with additional reinforcements out of metal, rubber and moulding compound for high vibration damping and isolation
- More powerful starting torque (adjustable from 2.8 – 4.5 kg/cm)
- Fine-tuned motor control for further optimization of wow and flutter and rotation
- Newly-developed, height-adjustable MK2 tone arm base (VTA)
- Particularly lightweight and rigid satin aluminium material used for tone arm
- Adjustable pitch scale for precise adjustments
- Additional output: The turntable can be connected to two mixers at the same time and also allows easy switching from DVS to vinyl
- Optional ground terminal offers additional protection in complex club & studio environments
- Easily replaceable, freely rotatable LED needle light in new unibody aluminium design
- High-quality and hard-wearing deep black, metallic finish
- Quartz driven hybrid turntable instrument with upper-torque direct drive
- Takes your DJ performances to a new level of creativity and musicality
- MIDI compatible control section consists of multi-encoder, 8 large LED pads, three layers with 7 performance modes (cue, sampler, saved loops, pitch play, loop, loop roll, slicer) and 2 user modes
Digital LC display for pitch, BPM, scale, key, deck assignment and firmware settings
- Seamlessly combines a powerful musical instrument and a world class professional DJ turntable
- Adjustable stop time (0.2 – 6 sec.)
- Precise motor control with 3 speeds (33 1/3, 45 & 78 RPM)
- Precision manufactured, die cast aluminium turntable
- Rubber inlays reduce vibrations and background noise
- Statically balanced, universal S-shaped tone arm with hydraulic lift and anti-skating mechanism
- Universal connection for pick-up systems (SME)
- High-resolution pitch fader (0.02 % resolution)
– Pitch range +/-8 %, +/-16 %, +/-50 % (Ultra Pitch) Quartz lock
- Reverse function: Switch for forward and reverse operation
- Smart USB link for up to 4 turntables
- Auto deck-assign feature when linked
- Recessed connection cavity for easy installation in cases & seamless adjustment
- Phono and line out (no grounding required)
- Removable mains and RCA cables
- Safety mains switch
- Shock-absorbing feet insulate against vibrations
- Incl. turntable, slipmat, LED needle light, counterweight, phono RCA cable with grounding, USB cable, power cord, operating instructions
Technical details
Turntable:
- Type: direct-drive turntable
- Drive: quartz driven upper-torque direct drive
- Motor: 16-pole, 3-phase, brushless motor
- Turntable speeds: 3 speeds, manual (33 1/3, 45, 78 RPM)
- Starting torque: 2.8 – 4.5 kg/cm (adjustable)
- Adjustable stop time (0.2 – 6 sec.)
- Start-up time / change to RPM: < 0.2 sec
- Wow and flutter: 0.01% WRMS*
- S/N ratio: > 55 dB (DIN-B)
- Brake system: electronic brake
Platter:
- Material: die cast aluminium
- Diameter: 332 mm
- Weight: approx. 1.5 kg
Tone arm:
- Type: universal, static balanced, S-shaped
- Effective length: 230 mm
- Overhang: 15 mm
- Tracking error range: < 3°
- VTA setting range: 0 – 6 mm
- Usable weight of pick-ups: 3.5 ~ 8.5 g (incl. headshell 13 ~ 18 g)
- Anti-skating range: 0 – 3 g
- Effective tone arm mass: 30 g
Connections:
- 1x PHONO/1x LINE out (gold-plated), 1x GND earth connection
General:
– Power supply: AC 115/230 V, 60/50 Hz (EU/US), AC 100 V, 50/60 Hz (JP)
- Power consumption: 17 W
– Dimensions: 458 (w) x 354 (d) x 144,6 (h) mm
- Weight: approx. 11.8 kg
Accessories included:
- Turntable, slipmat, LED needle light, counterweight, phono RCA cable with grounding, USB cable, power cord, operating instructions
MSRP: 599,99 € | US$ 699,99 | £525.00
Available: end of January 2019
Cutting through the words
…because there are lots of them, what we have here is the updated RP-8000, the updates largely being based around interoperability with Serato DJ Pro. The new pad modes bring standard controller features (loops, cues, samples, slice etc) to the RP-8000 MK2. You can now load tracks directly from the deck, and with the display you can see important track information like BPM.
Platter play is a new feature for Vestax and Serato, giving it tone play features much like the old Vestax Controller One, albeit not quite as in-depth though. That was a real musician’s piece. The one thing to bear in mind is that this will directly control the rotation speed, thus playing notes will be subject to the weight of the platter and won’t be instant. You can also use an external keyboard to do the same thing too, which is especially useful if you’re more at home pressing keys rather than buttons.
Basically, Reloop raided the Vestax playbook and brought those niche features that Vestax users loved and put them inside a Reloop turntable. And in the absence of Vestax who did it first, I welcome it.
For me, it’s a real merging of controller workflows into a turntable, which is a good thing. I loved the original RP-8000, and this looks to bring even more flexibility, especially with Serato DJ Pro. Time will tell if you can use this with other software. I hope that you can, and will get popcorn in to read comments if you can’t.
CAT AMONGST THE PIGEONS
Having seen the Technics SL-1210 MK7 launched, and shortly after get notification of the RP-8000 MK2, I could not help but smirk to myself about the timing. Deliberate on Reloop’s part? Perhaps, but it comes at a time when the Technics fan voice is a tad more muted than it once was. The biggest issue seems to be pitch, specifically 50% range. Because of the preponderance of Vestax PDX and superOEM decks in the market that have had 50% pitch for well over a decade now, it has become more or less a standard feature, and is especially popular with turntablists. And then there’s all the other stuff that we know all too well that DJs have come to know and love.
So here we are, with the industry favourite Technics going nose to nose with Reloop from different ends of the scale for the hearts, minds, and wallets of DJs everywhere with what on the face of it are just black turntables, but in reality entirely different beasts. There is no winner here, but the comparisons will doubtlessly appear. More features/less money (Reloop) vs fewer features/more money (Technics) is an easy on paper battle to win, but it doesn’t work for everyone. For me, they’re chalk and cheese — apples and oranges — and have different customers. Reloop just became this decade’s equivalent of the old Vestax vs Technics online battle that nobody ever won, and will be boring to read all over again.
I’m also glad to see that it bucks the trend of dumbing down turntables that I spoke about previously. Reloop and Serato have gone pretty dick out of the table with this setup (not to mention the Elite mixer seen in the pics and video — more on that this afternoon apparently), and have laid down the gauntlet to others in the industry that I hope one of them picks up (looks at Denon DJ and Rane).
Summing up
The RP-8000 MK2 will cost €599/$699/£525 and will be available at the end of January.
GALLERY
Reloop´s New turntable + Mixer (elite) = Big “Hanpin” Buffet.
No value and/or Quality = just Buttons in a copycat´s sauce.
Elite Mixer 1210 Euro..in 6 month will be 999..then 799..
Buy less,Buy better!
Pioneer (and Rane and Technics ) is real quality + innovation.
While I have an opinion about Reloop, too (as a former owner of their stuff), I’d hesitate to say that Technics has innovation.
I’ve had horrible experiences with Reloop. My TM8, the jog wheel on one side stopped working and when I got it back, a month later the crossfader went out. The fader went out after the warranty period so I never ended up fixing it. Instead I got a Mixon 4. After 10 months a jog wheel went out on that too. I sold it before anything else could go wrong. After those two experiences I’ve decided to never purchase any Reloop gear ever again.
Had the RM-2000pro mixer in the late nineties.
Crossfader was unusable after a week – and I don’t even scratch.
Also had the RP-4000MKII (the “original” one that came out 2000).
It’s the cheaper Hanpin model – not the super OEM – and was shitty, too.
After so many years on the market the super OEM platform is mature and the new -8000 might be good.
Still wouldn’t buy it as I have no use for all those features.
But it seems to tick almost all the boxes and has all the features that people have been wanting for years.
I have never seriously considered Reloop for mixers. Even now with all their announcements, I still don’t.
Albeit, I have stories about Rane mixers so old they aren’t even featured on their archived products page now, and no, they are not good stories. That said, I still think Rane (past tense, pre-inMusic acquisition) made better sounding mixers than Allen & Heath. I used XONE:92s at two employers and they were, to my ears and playing styles, inferior to Rane. The MODEL 1 OTOH, hits all the right boxes for me except for affordability: it is made in the UK again, they jettisoned vendor proprietary DACs and they even ditched Allen & Heath for branding and embraced the adverb, which Apple has rued for decades.
Allen & Heath also “borrowed” the dual cueing from the MODEL 1 in the 96, and purportedly, removed the audible popping on some of the 92s past g.f.d. “features” that made me hate their gear in the past.
I still won’t be buying a 96.
For turntables? I’ve owned four Reloops and have no major complaints. Albeit, ALL of them, were 8000 models, two S tonearm, two straight tonearm. I never shelled out for their lower end options. That seems like a bad investment.
I still own three Technics SL-1200s of various iterations and used my dad’s SL-1200MK2 a lot too before I owned my own. No one is allowed to touch them though because they’re all vintage now and to me, priceless.
Which is a terrible characteristic for an instrument which is often shared, as routinely done via DJ set handoffs.
I don’t care if people use the Reloops, they are still being manufactured, and even if they were to break, it won’t cost me $1200 to buy a new one.
Whatever….
Hanpin can and does make great gear.
They put the $ where the customer wants it. Reloop leans a little heavy in their spending on the outside aesthetics.
Personally, i`d prefer to see the $ spent inside the device, with zero soldered connections(all connectors),
Larger wires with less resistance, inner chassis/frame, etc. Etc…
Reloop has taken over where Vestax left off. For that, I am happy. These will be my next pair in the collection, after I get the new mk7’s.
When you consider a certain fretless fader wielding dj has been using a MK1 8000 the last year or so and the inclusion of scale controls in the MK2 etc…. I think its pretty safe to assume we’ll be soon be seeing the scale features of this deck being aped at Namm :)
First thing first, kudos to Reloop for listening to an artist they sponsor (assuming that was the case), its great to finally a see a return of platter speed/scale control built into a brand new turntable. The anti bells and whistles lobby will in no doubt be quick to poke fun but in a world of manufacturers all doing the same thing over an over you gotta applaud Reloop for including niche features.
If I was a Serato user (and didn’t have post xmas based bank account) I’d already be searching for the pre order option, the integration looks dope!
Considering how tightly Serato and Reloop have clearly worked on this deck I’d guess that native support to replicate software features to Traktor may be a dream to far.
The pricing is great and after 10+ years I’ve finally got an option to replace my PDX 3000. Without Traktor native support it’ll be down to how flexible they’ve implemented midi I/O as to wether I buy my first brand new deck in what feels like a bloody eternity, the only other things I’d like to of seen on this deck is a pitch bend jog stick like C1 and a straight tone arm. Aside from that Im super intrigued to learn how they’ve implemented the scale stuff and octave up/down.
wow….
no marketing hype build up just a drop and a heavy one.
this plastic behemoth looks hungry.
reloop marketing team is great. they must be djs
DJ JFB (3 x UK DMC Champion)
„Platter Play is a real game changer, because it enables DJs to play the turntable actually like a real instrument, finally!”
Arkaei (5x IDA World finalist, can’t scratch for shit)
“I don’t know dude, the Vestax PDX3000 came out over a decade ago and did this… also have you heard of the Vestax Controller One and what DJ Woody has been doing with it for years and years? Just saying.”
In all seriousness: it’s great to see another turntable that will do what Vestax’ final flagships did, and have buttons mapped to that functionality embedded into the chassis. It’s no C1, but it’s also about 5x cheaper than a used C1 on eBay. Good going, Reloop. I could potentially want one some day. The 1210mk7 is of no interest to me at all.
the rp8000mk2 is the ford model T/ VW Käfer for turntablism.
JFB´s quote is still quite correct because the PDX3000 doesn´t offer this without external gear and is about as hard to find as a C1. And the C1 itself is just a “myth” to the majority of turntablists, the majority has never seen one in real life and most likely never will just because they´re rare af. Even though the technical possibility to use the turntable as a real instrument has been around for more than a decade it´s only now that it becomes commercially available for anyone interested and that is the real “game changer”.
Oh hell… Let the madness begin.
Bazinga! This with phase will be the perfect unit for turntablist, allow them even using regular analog vinyl for latency-free scratching if Phase/DVS isn’t enough. Also seems cheap due the technics release lol
Summing up the last 24 hours would be like:
Technics brought a knife to a gunfight.
This is a turntable MOAB.
The closest thing to a Controller One since…. the Controller One. I´m interested in trying it out. For maximum overload you could try to add a Button Box to it since apparently the platter is MIDI capable. Quick sample switching and instant platter play, not the worst option actually (that is if you don´t have a mixer with dedicated Cue buttons).
Reloop has gone quite a way. From being synanomous for cheap and crappy equipment about 15 years ago to offending hardcore traditionalists with a simple announcement these days is quite impressive.
“Out of nowhere”. Not really, it was the last in the lineup with no Mk2 badge. So, it was the key moment to announce it, the same day as Technics.
I have never spent alot of time using Serato (NI guy personally), but it is kind of disappointing that so many companies that produce all of this kit remain so linked to specific software companies. You would think that more open source projects would be welcomed. I guess any midi can be remapped, but the plug and play market is crucial.
Yeah, they are all MIDI mapped.
What do you think really happens underneath the brand names and code facades anyway?
I guarantee you, they aren’t reinventing their own proprietary protocols that aren’t MIDI or OSC. It’s USB, you can debug it yourself if you know how to sniff USB. This isn’t a place where I expect to find other packet sniffers though.
I wonder why they chose to only print the pad mode buttons rotated by 90 degrees.
Does that make any sense?
Edit:
I also wonder if they used their inside knowledge as a retailer (Reloop belongs to Elevator, a german DJ Store) to adjust the look of the RP-8000MK2 last minute.
It looks very similar to the Technics MK7:
Black start/stop and speed buttons, black tone arm.
Reloop have pretty much departed from the color scheme they had for ages – black turntables always had silver buttons and tone arm.
Even the recently released 7000MK2 still has that.
Must be more than a coincidence.
Per the “only print the pad mode buttons rotated by 90 degrees.”
Because of battle style setups, obviously.
The previous model RP-8000 turntables had dual stop/start buttons (where the pads are now, there used to be another stop/start. Whereas Technics has retained its 45 adapter, for all the people who <3 45 and Trump supporters who like quantum entanglement I suppose?)
I think the implication is that they are using some “insider trading” level of market chicanery?
Is that how I am supposed to read this?
LOL
You also completely missed the RP-7000MK2 GLD which, has GOLD, not “silver”.
They release renderings of a turntable a day after the new Technics is revealed and those renderings completely depart from their previous color schemes (I know about the gold) and look very much like what the new Technics will be. Is that just “luck” or “same taste”?
Maybe Reloop is capable of an overnight scramble?
I doubt it. Certainly not with the polish shown in the videos unless they have gurus making their videos and rendering engines to keep up.
More likely they had those products prepped and ready to go before NAMM, and saw the announcement as an opportunity to take some of the wind out of Technics sales, and rep their own brand. I can see them pushing forward a product announcement launch if ready, I don’t see them producing polished prototype videos and products overnight, or even with a lot of forewarning.
Your “inside knowledge” reads to me, like an allegation of violation of intellectual property. Moreover, I have NO IDEA what the possible patent or copyright violation would be, and given that I have already professionally worked as an expert tech in multinational conglomerates suing each other in similar realms (more like Apple and Samsung levels) I have an idea of what those kinds of allegations look like, when they have merit. Yours do not.
In particular, “insider trading” is restricted to the SEC. You seem to be mixing up your realms of what would even be a violation. Civil court levels probably if actually merited, criminal court definitively not. SEC type “insider” dealings? You seem like you have an axe to grind from here.
That is the sort of thing that, should be challenged in a court of law by attorneys. Not by folks on fora on websites.
I already hate courts, and attorneys and that isn’t the sort of thing either of us, given that I am employed by no one from Reloop or Technics, would even need to further.
Seems like way too much brand loyalty to me.
Almost all turntables marketed to DJs now look like 1200s, and given that the SL-1200 is from the 1970s, who cares? Do you still wear bellbottoms? More than that, would you be upset if you saw tailors selling bellbottoms who were not (whoever the hell invented bellbottoms)? I wouldn’t.
Folks fixated on actual pioneers, would do well to stop looking at brand names, and start looking at the folks who actually design and build products.
Marketing departments are anathema.
My 2 150s, both had tonearm problems
These reloop decks are always at the GC outlet in san ysidro
Now, if you took the tonearm completely off, turned the deck back sideways, put in a 3d printed tonearm in the top left corner, moved the buttons to by the pitch fader into a spread out grid with arcade buttons, and then installed a button box, you`d have something
These will eventually skip when the needle gets near the center, so might as well go shorter tonearm and just forfeit that center part of the record anyways
All tonearms, have tonearm problems.
Linear tracking tonearms were the 1980s high tech, and useless for turntablists.
ELP is all laser optical pickup, no manipulatable tonearm either.
Both of those, are more advanced than tonearms, which are pre-1970s technology.
We don’t get the best of the best, because it’s vinyl, apparently everyone thinks it’s passable to crank out crap to market decade after decade, and what really rubs me the wrong way: charges more for less. Well, some vendors.
Some tonearms are better than others.
All tonearms, have tonearm problems.
I’m probably jumping late on this discussion board but i was this close on buying two rane 12’s but decided to buy 2 rp 8000 mk2’s instead. Probably the best decision i’ve made. Now the numark scratch mixer i just shelled out? ugh… i knew i shouldve gotten the djs9 or the 72 instead… And the reloop elite? No toggle paddles Nooooooooo
Does it have key lock?