Allen & Heath Xone:43C INTRODUCTION
LINK: Allen & Heath | PRICE: $999/€1090/£749 | MANUAL: PDF
Allen & Heath is world-renowned for their great sounding analogue mixers and the juicy filters that usually come built into them. My earliest encounter with them was my friend’s Xone:32 over 10 years ago. The first in the Xone series was the Xone:464, a more DJ friendly version of the gear Allen & Heath was famous for: studio and live mixing desks. I personally own an ageing Xone:62, which while far from the perfect mixer, is the sturdiest and the best I’ve ever owned.
In recent years, Allen & Heath has been slowly launching a new generation of Xone mixers, starting with the Xone:23 and 23C, a two channel lineup, with the 23C sporting an audio interface and a copy of Mixvibes Cross LE. Now, the company has brought out a four channel club mixer to match. How does the Allen & Heath Xone:43C stack up compared to its parentage, as well as the competition?
IN A NUTSHELL
The Xone:43C a 4+1 analogue club mixer with built-in audio interface that’s Serato DJ DVS ready. The Xone:43C is sister to the 43, which is the sequel to the popular four channel mixer, the Xone:42.
Allen & Heath BUILD AND LAYOUT
Like all Allen & Heath club mixers, the Xone:43C is very well built. My standard quick test to work out build quality is what I call the ‘knob wobble’, where you twiddle the controls to see if there’s any give. Usually, sturdy parts are screwed into the face plate, not just the internal circuit board. With the 43C, everything is fixed in place. You see a lot of complaints online and at expo booths about the Chinese-made gear, but if anything, this mixer is better built than my ageing Xone:62. On top of that, the rounded chassis is very sturdy, and has a lot less sharp edges to catch on your clothing or cables when you’re moving past it.
The layout is generally as you’d expect from a club mixer, with the four channel faders taking centre stage, microphone and headphone controls on the left, and master output controls on the right along with your filter. Mark, with his twitchy design spirit, was happy to see that all the channel strips (including the rear panel) line up, with nothing off-centre. It is a nicely balanced mixer.
When the Xone:23 first arrived, the two channel mixer sported a brand new look. Gone were the greys and silvers of older mixers with a black, red and orange colour scheme along with a unique shaped faceplate. We had a discussion at DJWORX HQ (OK, well on our Slack channel, anyway) and all agreed it was a striking change that modernised the brand. Having given the Xone:43C a go in a near-club environment (my friend has a dark, strobe-and-smoke-filled garage with a huge PA), the darker scheme is definitely not good for dark environments. There just isn’t enough contrast on the mixer to see what you’re doing in the dark. The channel faders are black, with red marker lines on, so it can be hard to see what your volumes are set at with a glance.
On top of that, the VU meter LEDs are not very clear. In the dark, there’s bleed between the different level indicators making the level at which each light is peaking ambiguous. Previously, the VU meters were much more individually defined since they were actually individual LEDs poking through the faceplate. Speaking of VU indicators, the AUX/MIC channel lacks any sort of peak volume indication outside of the master output. If you’re hoping to use the channel as an extra input for your music, you may find it a bit of a guess. The AUX channel does have gain control, a two-band EQ to keep things under control and can be fed through to the headphone cue. This is all pretty standard on four-channel club mixers, but worth being aware of.
As is inevitably a question that’s asked during mixer or controller reviews, yes, the Xone:43C cross fader is Innofader compatible. While the built-in one is not a fancy-pants scratch fader, it feels fairly loose and responsive. To the right of the crossfader is a three-point switch to change your fader curve between dipped, dipless and fast cut.
Along with the expected USB port to connect your audio interface, the Xone:43C also supports Allen & Heath’s proprietary X:LINK connection via an ethernet port on the rear. This allows you daisy chain controllers such as the K1 or K2 to the audio interface, to send control data and power. You might not have less cables generally, but you’ll have less USB cables plugged into your laptop.
As an aside, I really wish all the creators of all these systems like X:LINK would open them up for general use. When they’re only available on one manufacturer’s hardware, it ends up fading into obscurity when no one uses it. I get why they do it: companies think that it encourages lock-in, but what actually happens most of the time is users end up with extra stuff on their hardware they never get to use. It’s particularly frustrating when something like this is fairly useful and practical.
Xone 43C EQ, EFFECTS, AND FILTER
One thing you’re guaranteed to get when you buy from Allen & Heath is their tried and tested filter. The one on the Xone:43C comes with three settings: high-pass (HPF), band-pass (BPF) and low-pass (LPF). Along with these, there’s also a fourth setting for X:FX, the Xone effects system for send/return on outboard effects units.
First, let’s talk about the filter. Unlike a lot of modern mixers and controllers that have a high/low pass filter on each channel, Xone mixers tend to have one analogue filter that is assigned to channels, meaning you can’t individually tweak channel audio. The payoff is that it’s a very nice sounding filter. There’s lots of punch, you have the different pass types and you can tweak the resonance from MILD to WILD.
The downside is that there are still the same issues with the filter as there have been since the Xone series came out. First, there’s a noticeable crackle in the audio when you press the button to activate the filter on a channel. This can be subtle and not a huge issue, but at times (particularly if you’re quickly pressing the button) it’s unavoidable. The second problem is that when the FILTER button is activated, there’s a change in the audio output, almost like the filter amplifies the sound. Even with the filter frequency disabled, you get a meatier audio output that only stops when you turn off the filter button. Neither of these things is the end of the world, but after 15 years of Xone mixers, it’s disappointing they haven’t been addressed.
It can also be a bit confusing when using the frequency sweep control pot, particularly since the HPF and LPF operate from opposite sides. If you’re using the low-pass filter, and quickly change to a high-pass filter, you need to turn off the filter on the channel, reverse the sweep knob then reactivate the filter on the channel before you can use it.
The 43C uses the standard three band EQ, much like its predecessor. One thing Allen & Heath became famous for with the Xone:62 and 92 was the use of the rather unique four-band EQ, which allows for finer control of audio on each channel. This idea didn’t continue through to the 42 and 32, and it looks like it’s shelved for the more expected hi/mid/low. Personally, I prefer the flexibility of four EQs, but it suits my style of mixing and music genres much more.
If you squint hard enough at the EQ section, you’ll notice the EQs claim to be infinite. Most mixers tend to have a maximum cutoff of around 26 dB, but infinite EQ across the bands kills the whole sound. In testing though, you can still hear a faint sound of the music with all the pots turned all the way down. This really isn’t much of an issue, but this is Allen & Heath we’re talking about! With companies like this, the devil is in the details.
There are four prominent centre-click pots below the EQs that operate the wet/dry for the X:FX loops. On many mixers, this would be where the channel filters sit, but for some reason, Allen & Heath have devoted prime real estate to a feature that isn’t nearly as widely used. Yes, outboard effects units still exist. Yes it’s good to have the feature on a club mixer, but right in the middle of the front panel? It’s not even like the company make their own effects unit (although, now that you mention it… it could be interesting to see the effects engine on from the DB4 as its own hardware).
OWNERS’ EXPERIENCE
I’ve now started looking at the wider picture regarding how manufacturers interact with potential customers and gear owners via their websites and overall brand. While not the be-all and end-all, it’s still an important part of the user experience, particularly if there’s a problem. With Allen & Heath, we definitely have a certain pedigree the brand must live up to.
While the website isn’t the most expansive in the world of electronics, the support sections do the job: there’s somewhere to download your drivers and manuals as well as a knowledgebase. I just really wish that A&H would capitalise on their fan base and have a community area for DJs and producers that like and use their gear. Not just that, but use their strengths! They’re a company famous for great audio quality and mighty hardware. A community area that give people somewhere to show that off would be great.
INS AND OUT
Ins:
- 3.5mm and 1/4″ headphone outputs
- 5 x stereo RCA line-level inputs
- 4 x stereo RCA phono-level inputs
- XLR microphone in
- USB connection
- AC IEC mains in
- X:FX return
Outs:
- Stereo XLR Master outs
- Stereo RCA record out
- Stereo RCA booth out
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- 6.35mm (1/4”) headphone jack
- X-link ethernet
- X:FX send
Allen and Heath Xone:43C IN USE
Mixer
Feeding audio through this mixer is as straightforward as selecting the right source. Digital audio on each channel comes from the USB selection on the switch, but there’s also the usual phono and line-in. You have to remember that this is essentially a Xone:43 with an added audio interface, so all that changes is the additional routing option.
Apart from the issues with the filter, the huge X:FX knob taking up real estate and the dark colour scheme, the layout is classic, tried and tested and eminently useable. Everything feels where it should be while you mix, even if visual precision can be difficult. I did notice that the channel faders seem to be shorter than older Allen & Heath mixers, though. Judging by the pictures (and my 62) they’ve gone from a 60mm fader to a 45mm one, probably to save money, which is a bit of a shame as the longer faders give better control over the volume of the channel audio.
I ran some vinyl audio through the mixer and managed to hear a very slight hum in the background that I haven’t heard on my own mixer. Apart from that, analogue audio sounds as you’d expect, with no real surprises.
Audio interface
Since I started DJing digitally, I’ve always had an outboard audio interface along with a mixer as part of my setup, and never really considered the need for a mixer with one built in. Most of the time, the extra cable never bothered me. Having used the Xone:43C for a couple of weeks, both with Traktor and Serato, I can certainly see the convenience of the setup. I mean, I’m not going to run out and replace my current mixer/Audio8, as both are built like tanks and will hopefully last a long time.
The audio interface is really loud. When in USB mode, channel gain trims need to be turned down very low to ensure the VU meters don’t redline, which is quite useful in giving you headroom for quieter tracks, a big difference from the line and phono modes.
If you’re a Mac user, you also need to make sure you have installed the device drivers from the Allen & Heath website to ensure everything works properly. I got curious as to why the OS X built-in CoreAudio drivers weren’t enough so I contacted a rep at the company and this is what they said, in case you’re wondering:
The Drivers for Mac use the hardware as the master clock for synchronising audio streams which is more stable than a computer generated clock, this provides very low jitter due to FMC™(Fixed-Master-Clock) technology. It also bypasses CoreAudio and uses the HAL plugin so you do not get any unnecessary sample rate conversion or the need for any clock recovery.
This, in English, basically means the device drivers are much more reliable and have lower overhead since they have closer access to the hardware. I’d also imagine it would have some code to play nicer with Serato.
Serato DJ Club Kit
As mentioned, the Xone:43C comes with an audio interface which is “Serato DJ and Club Kit upgrade ready”. This means that although there’s no software bundled with the mixer, you can buy a handy kit that includes both the full Serato software and the DVS expansion pack for $170 (there’s often a special offer on though – Ed), saving you a few pennies. The Club Kit is designed as a “one-stop-shop” for gigging DJs so they have the confidence that their software setup is as plug-and-play as can be with common club mixers (hence the name).
WOULDN’T IT BE NICE IF…
I’ve already gone through the list of issues I feel prevent this from truly feeling like the best of Allen & Heath, and hopefully the criticism is taken as constructive. Below are a couple of extra ideas that occurred to me during the course of the review. There’s nothing radical, just some wishes.
A while ago, I’d have said that this is a pipe dream, but with the release of Serato DJ 1.77 the Rane MP2015 has both Serato and NI integration. As it stands, this whole segregation nonsense is artificial and bad for consumers. There’s no technical reason why it can’t happen, and choice means everyone wins and would encourage both software companies to up their game to attract users. (This isn’t a dig at the 43c or A&H, but more of a comment about the industry in general — Ed.)
Longer channel faders. Bring back the 60mm sliders of yesteryear. They’re much more precise and allow for smoother volume transitions. Xone club mixers were basically designed for House and Techno, which tends to have a lot of long blends in between tracks. We need those longer faders back!
RATINGS
Quality
Everyone complains about their Chinese-built mixers, but the 43C feels top-notch. No wobbly bits and feels like it could survive a fall down a flight of stairs.
Features
Disappointingly minimal MIDI features, but you get a decent audio interface and Allen & Heath X:LINK. It’s a solid club mixer as well.
Value
At £800, this slots in with the best four channel mixers. For that, you get a great sounding filter (bar the crackle) and the audio interface.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Some of the changes from the older Xone models I struggle to agree with, but overall this mixer is a good four channel club mixer. I admit I’ve been extra hard on the Xone:43C as it’s not just another mixer. It’s Allen & Heath. We expect the best from them because that’s what they gave us for so many years. It’s just a bit disappointing to see them lose a little of the magic that made them great. But that’s a story for another time.
If you’re a Serato user, the choice between this or a Pioneer mixer is a tough one. Personally, I’d pick this as I prefer the Allen & Heath heritage and I’ve never particularly got on with Pioneer gear. This mixer is made for Serato DJ and DVS. It’s plug-n-play, integrated and the vinyl control is responsive out of the box. It’s also got analogue audio in the chain, which is always nice.
If you’re a Traktor user, the Xone:43C works great with Traktor Pro 2 (as I tried, with two X1s), gives you less equipment to worry about and looks great with Native Instruments gear. We can just hope that NI can find it in their hearts to get DVS officially working with the mixer. If that happens, this’ll be a complete package for a reasonable price.
As a mixer in its own right, it sits firmly in the upper middle of the pack, but other than the Allen & Heath brand and the decent audio interface, the 43C struggles to stand out in ways its ancestors managed to. This is definitely a well built slow evolution of the Xone family, rather than the maverick hits that the 92 and DB4 were able to be. Here’s to hoping they take on board the issues and release a Xone:93C, and that I get to review it.
THE XONE:43C — A SECOND OPINION FROM MARK SETTLE
Much to Dan’s consternation, I casually left the 43C in assorted places around the Worxlab. For Dan, a self confessed Allen & Heath fan, this was some sort of sacrilege. The only real fanboyism I’ve had in the DJ scene has been with Vestax, so to me the 43C is just another mixer. Don’t get me wrong, I love Allen & Heath — I love that they’re a British (or for their benefit Cornish) company, and that they’ve created iconic DJ gear. So my opinion of the 43C isn’t the same as Dan’s. I’m looking at the mixer without a reviewer’s magnifying glass and simply as a casual user of many mixers before it.
My less detailed opinion is that the Xone:43C is a solid mixer. It’s not A&H of old, nor is it a DB2 or DB4. But does fit nicely into their mid-range offerings. To me, it’s a four channel box, filters, and an audio interface. In this respect, it is unremarkable in the market place. What makes it stand out is the Serato DVS compatibility, the proprietary X:Link that lets it hook up to other A&H devices like the K1 and K2, and the X:FX per channel effects send. In this respect, I really like it.
From a fader perspective, the Xone:43C is OK, but the 4mm crossfader lag and lack of curves knobs and reverses makes it less than ideal for scratchers, but you can at least drop a custom mini Innofader into it. I do wish that the line faders were 60mm. It’s not like there wasn’t the room. And the minimal MIDI implementation hardly seems worth it. MIDI linefaders but no crossfader, and a bunch of buttons with no EQ controls is odd. But this is only an issue if you want to use the 43C as a controller.
Niggles aside, there’s a huge amount going for the Xone:43C. And at the price, it’s a very solid option for the four channel market. And with the Serato DJ compatibility, the Xone:43C becomes a compelling product.
XONE:43C GALLERY
I just got it & I love it, I have a DB4, but wanted a mixer I could scratch with (the DB4 has a horrrrrrrrible crossfader, even with an innofader installed there’s a wierd delay thign going on) I have a Pioneer RMX-1000 & this is the perfect mixer for that…. also note that you can’t buy any innofader with this mixer. I bought an innofader pro2, but they switched some of the wiring so I had to send it in to get it wired for this mixer. If you don’t want to do that make sure to buy the specific innofader for this mixer…. p/s I hate the corny orange colors
That’s very ironic, on their older mixers you could swap an Innofader without any problem, now they put the “innofader compatible” logo on it but you cannot fit an Inno without rewiring. Only their own mini overpriced Xone fader.
Shame on A&H for not being honest to their own customers
In my defence, I don’t ever scratch, and as a club mixer, this is less than ideal for scratching. Anyone that seriously wants to learn to scratch, or is seasoned, has plenty of better options. This review doesn’t need an in-depth analysis of the product’s scratch capabilities any more than the S9 would for club installs.
with inno it has a very sharp cut, i know i tried it, like an on/off switch, but with the original fader its hard to pull off decent cuts and yes of course 4 channel mixers are always club mixers in the first place
I don’t understand why the mentality that there should be a difference between a “club” mixer & a “scratch” mixer… there’s plenty of DJ’s who mix in clubs & need a good crossfader
thats why i complained about the stock fader (s)
Agreed. Good Xfaders should be standard in high tiered mixers. Thats why I love Rane mixers.
Conversely, I’d be perfectly happy never to see a crossfader again on club mixers. I’d rather gear be specialist for their needs. I’ve seen people complain that there’s no crossfader on the MP2015 which is just full on /facepalm.
Why mutilate something that works? Some mixing styles need the use of a xfader. It just feels weird to not have xfader in a standard club mixer, unless is a highly specialized one of course (like the beautiful MP2015). I can understand cheap xfader mounted on cheap mixers, but it is disappointing to expend more than 1000€ and get low quality faders/xfader.
It’s a club mixer that can scratch a bit, not a scratch mixer. I covered the A&H specific mini innofader in great detail in the Xone:23 review, because as a two channel mixer the likely audience would ask such questions.
The 43C however is club focussed. Working with DVS doesn’t make it a scratch mixer, thus the faders got the attention they deserved.
It should say “Xone Innofader” compatible wich is a different fader that wont work in any other mixer besides the new Xones.
The Xone:23 is bar/small club focussed imo, the upfaders are non-swapable/replaceable but for the price it’s a decent mixer.
A new updated Xone:02 with black faceplate would be nice, maybe one day
I talked to A&H at length about this…we were about to support the Xone:23 and 43 with a special wire adapter for the Innofader Pro2 and Innofader PNP. But even with the adapter cable, it didn’t work because these mixers are only designed to work with 10k crossfaders. All of our Innofader retail models are 50k except the mini Innofader PNP S which is used on the A&H Xone Innofader.
Because of this glitch, we stopped shipping the adapter cable. Instead, we ask customers to either get a custom part from us with the adapter cable and 10k fix, or send in their part for modding if they already bought one.
I’ve talked with A&H about this at length, and clearly the 10k/50k issue was based on a mistaken assumption they made that all Innofaders are 10k based on the mini they used. No intentional deception on their part CutSelekta…I know from talking with them directly. They’re actually working with us going forward to fix this issue.
Mark Settle yes looks like we are fending for ourselves nowadays…Inno Pro2 is in your lab somewhere waiting for your attention :) But I can assure you we get plenty of requests for Innofaders in four channel mixers. There’s a reason A&H uses the Innofader Compatible logo ;)
i don’t understand why the mini had to be 10k? they just got the faderbody without the printplate underneath i assume and attached their own electronics to it.
Let’s hope they will fix it and allowing regular Pro2’s to be compatible, then this mixer will be one of my current favs
@CutSelekta – the mini Innofader PNP S is designed as a solder replacement, and I found from looking around that most soldered-in faders are 10k while most replaceable faders are 50k. A&H used the mini Innofader PNP S on their own board.
The PNP S is different from our standard PNP P model. PNP S has solder pins and is 10k. The PNP P is 50k and has an added voltage regulator and polarity test circuit.
And as Sandeep Kumar said, I can customize your Pro2 upon request to make it work for a Xone:43. No biggie.
I still don’t understand why mixers above the $1,000USD price point don’t have better crossfaders, sure not everyone uses them, but it’s hard or expensive to add
“There are four prominent centre-click pots below the EQs that operate the wet/dry for the X:FX loops. On many mixers, this would be where the channel filters sit, but for some reason, Allen & Heath have devoted prime real estate to a feature that isn’t nearly as widely used. Yes, outboard effects units still exist. Yes it’s good to have the feature on a club mixer, but right in the middle of the front panel? It’s not even like the company make their own effects unit (although, now that you mention it… it could be interesting to see the effects engine on from the DB4 as its own hardware).”
IMO the fx send sits where they should have always been.
This is where they are in the chain (after the eqs)
I always though on the xone 92 that it’s weird that the aux 1 and aux 2 are placed at the top…
I dream of a RMX like device built from the fx engines of the db4 and 2 for 3 years now. I almost bought the db2 3 years ago but after reading many complains with drivers and stability I went with a DJM-850. I never ever had any problem with it but the sound is not as good in my opinion. A&H should really improve their stability, and latency with their soundcards… I read recently they still have problems with the DB2 and especially my MBP is in their list so I’m glad I went with pioneer.
I’m sure though, an FX unit would sell like hot cakes.
Many DJs using the club install mixer would show with this and plug it in the send/return
There’s more and more djs using boss pedals for delays and reverb.(at least in techno…)
And their most popular model is definitely the 92 with is ready for an FX UNIT
THANKS!
Let’s face it. A&H lost in DJ market long time ago. Exactly with their last analog mixer. Everything since analog era is questionable at best and problematic for sure. Now Pioneer with Nexus2 mixer just destroyed everything on the market. To be honest A&H is not a value competitor. they tried and failed. Plus they shoved they don’t really care about DJ section of their business. PR is horrible. Development is minimal. They are on the exit in my opinion. Either they will show something groundbreaking soon or nobody will care (and should care) about them.
@mikefunk:disqus
Hey
Thanks a lot for that comment – really helpful!
Which mixer you mean when saying ‘AH lost it with their last analog mixer’ please?
Do you mean 62 or maybe 92? And also: this mixer reviewed here (43C) is analog (architecture inside/no DAC to process sound) right? So it is not that ‘analog mixers era’ is over is it?
I read this review now (of 43C) and I am shocked how many things are not as good on this mixer.
Everyone tells me ‘buy AH as they have such a good analog sound’ but I don’t know which one to choose. Let’s see:
-23C is only 2 channel and probably has similar issues to 43C
-db2 and db4 are expensive and I just found out they have stability issues + it turns out they are AH’s digital mixers and not analog
-62/92- they are not that expensive now (not on db4 level) and I think they are analog (I can’t find that info anywhere) but they are so old now….
-42 predecessor to 43C – maybe this one would be good? I’m sure that this mixer is analog
I won’t even mention I am not a fan of AH’s mixers layout/visual appeal (I am sorry to say this but: they seem a bit like a toy in comparison with Pioneer) and prefer Pioneer in that respect (I know it is not important but nevertheless you keep looking at the mixer a lot so….. :) ). So what else is out there: Pioneer DJMs: ultra expensive at $2000 for a mixer and they are all digital. Rane? They are also all digital and expensive + I am not a fan of the physical appeal (desing/visuals/colors/feel).
I am seriously looking at XDJ-RX now as it gives me the ability to learn rekordbox ecosystem at home and when I show at the club (eventually) I will be able to use ‘club setup’ (which most of the time is Pioneer’s djm/cdj) quite easily. The thing stopping me from buying it is that I would like to have 4 channels and the fear that its successor is just around the corner. Also the mixer in this unit is digital for sure so when I hook up 1200s and listen to vinyl records I would lose the analog sound quality of it right? (plus there will never be DVS support with xdjrx as I have just found out).
What I am looking to achieve is really flexible home setup that will give me:
-full analog setup (analog mixer + analog records played on 1200s) to casually listen vinyl records when I am not mixing (although would like to learn mixing on vinyl+1200s with time too)
-fully digital setup to use DJ software (SeratoDJ! I am not a fan of Traktor)
-DVS to control my music as it’s all in mp3s (I want to start buying analog vinyl records too though)
-ability to learn rekordbox ecosystem in order to be prepared to play in clubs in the longer future
I know I will not be able to get all of the above in one setup but hey…it’s best to start with most demanding approach and see what’s out there. Generally I am torn if should go modular (and then which mixer to get as I know I want 1200s as players) or all-in-one controller (XDJ-RX being the best contender).
As far as modular I was thinking about something like this
-43C to give me that full analog sound (although after reading this review I am really disappointed with this mixer and don’t know what other alternative analog mixer I should consider)
-2x1200s (or maybe one 1200 and one xdi-1000 so that I can get used to rekordbox, which is so important for me)
-xone K1 controller
-Serato club kit upgrade (to get SeratoDJ and DVS)
As far as all-in-one setup I am thinking about pretty much only xdj-rx as there is nothing else out there (Denon’s mxc8000 is looking promising but has nothing to do with rekordbox which is a big draw for me). I am even considering getting SL2 interface for it to give me Serato DJ and DVS compatibility by hooking it up to XDJ-RXs (phono inputs) – as xdj-rx on its own will never support SeratoDJ and will never support DVS (not even ‘rekordbox one’) and these two things are something I would like to have. The only thing with this is that a (4 channel) successor to the xdjrx may be around the corner (as it has a been a year since xdjrx introduction, really? what are they doing there? :D ) and also the fact I would lose that full analog sound listening capability as the sound would get ‘digitized’ in the xdj-rx’s standalone mixer mode (which is digital from the outset).
In the end though: can one hear the difference in sound quality of and analog mixer vs digital mixer when the music is provided by a analog vinyl record played on 1200s???
Please help!
Thanks so much.
that thing with the swapping from high pass to low is a killer, why they insist on making something so fiddly that should be so simple is beyond me. we can talk all day about sound quality etc but at least Pioneer know how to make the DJs life easier with layouts
I barely use the crossfader anymore (not a scratch guy) – It wouldn’t even bother me if it was removed, I find it gets in the way most times.
Also another note – the XLINK feature is bull … they have only come out with one product i(K1/K2 are the same – sound card) n the 4 years they have announced it.
I have the 23C and because of the sound card and all that allows me to do, I really like it, especially at that price. The filter controls are insane. I don’t mind the coloring that the filter adds when switched on and prefer to keep it on between uses (I believe high pass) because it adds a fatness to the sound. That said, the fact that I have to turn the knob the other way then press the low pass then use it… It’s plain insane. Just add another knob!!!! Oh well, I guess some things are supposed to be counterintuitive and dumb.
Hmmmm… I’m inclined to agree with most parts of this review. I bought mine last week and find it a truly fantastic mixer. There’s a few niggles that you’ve covered here so it shows what I noticed you noticed too, yet A&H still released it!
1. The light bleed on the VU LEDs is unacceptable in my opinion. Even the button LEDs (filter/cue) bleed to the next button and this makes it feel cheap. Any product tthat has multiple buttons light up due to bleed makes it seem like it’s been put together on a cheap budget. Not cool.
2. The filter pop when engaging isn’t nice at all. I noticed it the first time I used it and was shocked after reading in the manual as it states that you wouldn’t get a click due to the technology used!
3. A single green LED that peaks by turning red would have been good for the MIC/AUX channel.
4. The frequency sweep gets massivly annoying starting at either end of the sweep scale. It’s just not right in this day and age. There should be an option we can hold a few filter buttons on power up or for 10 seconds to change it so they both start on the same side. I know it’s the way they have always done it as I’ve used Xone mixers for years but just think we should be given an option (like Denon do/did with the CUE button behaviour – Classic or Pioneer way).
This filter quirk has always caught me out in a moment of creativity.
5. The big wet/dry for the FX should also have the option of having a bi-polar filter sent to it if you don’t use an FX box. Just route a filter to the FX send and return and not leave those knobs unused (they even have a centre click!).
6. Dip switches on the back for changing the sound card configuration like on a Rane/Serato SL box. You have to take the panel off to get to jumpers.
7. I don’t think it’s firmware upgradable which I feel some of these routing issues could have been fixed if it had been.
8. No up fader curve settings. I don’t really like their curve and I can’t change it in the Serato setup. It seems to burst into life when mixing at 75% and I want a curve changer as I mix with the up faders. I don’t use the crossfader for mixing but do for Serato Video… FAIL! There’s no MIDI on the crossfader meaning no video fading.
9. The little crossfader curve switch and line switches seem very cheap. Mine is very stiff and doesn’t ‘click’ properly.
Other than that I don’t regret it at all. It’s a brilliant mixer and enjoy using it. I can see why Native Instruments probably won’t ever sanction it’s use in TSP2 as it’s got a Serato logo on the faceplate. I don’t think that will change.
If only the Xone 23c was a Serato mixer too. It would be stealing market share from the small AMX style mixers and be a true entry level Serato DVS option.
As a final note, I think the £800 price quoted here is suggested retail but they are £699 (£689 from Bop DJ) and think there’s no other mixer that comes close for this price. It’s got it’s shortcomings but for under £700 it comes with a 4-channel Serato box inside. Win!
I’d give it a solid 8/10 for value.
I totally agree on filter sweep. That is I am relatively happy with X DB2 as is the ONLY A&H mixer with intuitive sweep mode. Left is low pas, right is high pass. Like everywhere else. DB2 has a lot of issues especially with MAC computers but it think is still better in every way than 43c and costs almost the same.
Funnily enough the DB2 was cheaper than the 43c around Christmas time. I saw it a few days after getting the 43c and debated doing a straight swap for the DB2 but I read too many horror stories about the DB2 build quality and the silver on the buttons so decided to keep the 43c in the end.
I do like the filter sweep but giving us an option to switch sides would be great.
Thanks for great review that goes beyond usual gear reviews…! One specific question on the x:fx knobs. Is there any purpose for them if the mixer is used without an fx unit?
For example, plus directly the RCA sends in the RCA returns and then route the return in the filter section (and pressing x:fx button).
Thanks, Patrick
: Hi, I have just recently purchased 2 D2 traktor controls with the xone 43c mixer but I seem to be having issues setting up up correctly, I was under the impression that once it was hooked up to the traktor software and lapot through usb it would work automatically but I’m finding multiple issues. I will bullet point them below and any helf would be greatly appreciated.
Thank youAgain sorry for the essay, any help would be appreciated.I am very new to mixing and learning little bits as I go so I am unsure if I am just being a moron and not connecting the correct bits or missing connections. Accord to the traktor team I spoke to though they also do not seem to understand what the issue is.: I am having issues with the frequency dials creating kill switches as when have watched vidoes on you tube when all frequency nobs are fully down it completely isolates the noise but this is not happening, I am finding that even with the fader completey down and all frequency dials down there is still sound coming through the system, also for some reason even when operating B, C and D decks faders and dials it seems to still have an effect on deck A when deck A is the only deck operating and producing sound.: when using the mixer it is not synchronising with the screen, I presume when turning the dials on the mixer it should replicate what’s being mixed on the screen dials?
Sorry for the necro, I was actually just looking back on this review for an upcoming one… The 43C doesn’t have MIDI so you won’t see any of the controls affect the software. I also talk about the EQs in my review: They claim to be kills, but I found that they don’t quite achieve that.
I know this post is kind of dead, but am really surprised nobody mentioned the really awfull upfader curve on this mixer and the inabillity to in anyway adjust that problem….having to work on it in two different places, was really inconvinient to handle.
Upfaders are sending the volume to its max, only at the last 1/2 centimeter, very clumsy and abruptly….unlike xone 42 and other a&h mixers upfaders, which were very nicely working, all their way up and down.
A big fan of their products, owned a few of them and still support this company, but really…any mixer is primarily all about —channels at work—Anybody having any tips on the stock faders and how to work smoother, please do let me know.
We’re aware of the update, but since the mixer was reviewed two and a half years ago, it’s not relevant to update it. We reviewed the product as it was at the time, and probably give a six month grace period with firmware/software changes.
Totally agree. It has really bugged me from day one and really don’t like mixing on it all that much, even though I love the mixer in general.
It was one of my points below…
“8. No up fader curve settings. I don’t really like their curve and I can’t change it in the Serato setup. It seems to burst into life when mixing at 75% and I want a curve changer as I mix with the up faders. I don’t use the crossfader for mixing but do for Serato Video… FAIL! There’s no MIDI on the crossfader meaning no video fading.”
I want the PX5 but it lacks Serato compatibility.
This mixer is Traktor Scratch Certified as of version 2.11.3. This is a bid enough development perhaps the review should be updated to reflect this in the section that discusses the Rane 2015.
Honestly, 43C support of both major pro DJ software improves the value proposition exponentially. I think that an analog alternative to Pioneer’s Nexus mixers appeals to a lot of DJs who know the sound of jacking tracks is best with an analog mixer and don’t use Pioneer’s effects.
We’re aware of the update, but since the mixer was reviewed two and a half years ago, it’s not relevant to update it. We reviewed the product as it was at the time, and probably give a six month grace period with firmware/software changes.
EDIT: and I would argue that the PX5 has far superseded the 43C as a competitor for the NXS2. This mixer always felt like a stop-gap while A&H were trying to work out what to do next. The PX5 delivered in spades.
Thanks for the Edit in your reply; I just noticed it. I really enjoy your writing.
Two reasons:
First, Serato compatibly is the primary reason that I mention the 43C and not the PX5. I presume both the 96 and PX5 will get such compatibility eventually. In North America Serato is the preferred choice of DJs and the S9 is often their preferred mixer; Guitar Center (the largest music retailer in North America by far) ‘best seller’ rankings of both mixers and controllers place Serato at the top.
Second, Traktor is still really important too so DVS compatibility with Traktor is also very important. DJs who play house parties and undergrounds want to bring a mixer than works with both Serato and Traktor.
Pioneer appears to have made DVS compatible with both major DVS software the key feature of it’s NEXUS line, which is much higher priced than both the 43C and the PX5, so by virtue of having the key feature which distinguishes the 900 Nexus and Nexus 2 from the DJM 750 mk I & II be lack of Serato compatibility then the 43C really becomes a very competitive product.
At $899, Traktor DVS is only a $99 upgrade plus you can get two X1s (and DVS with the included $50 credit) for the same price as a PX5 (~$1300). If you prefer Serato then $169 for the Club Kit plus a $149 Reloop Neon is a great combo for ~$1220 which is basically the same price as the DJM 750 mk II.
As of 2018, it’s a great value and probably a better choice for an A&H Serato DVS mixer than a DB2 for the vast majority of DJs.