https://www.facebook.com/DenonDJOfficial/videos/1714786351987598/
The back end of last week saw a somewhat extreme Denon DJ deal splashed across every corner of my social footprint, specifically the offer of buying a pair of SC5000M Primes, and getting an X1800 Prime mixer lobbed in for free. That’s a humungous 49% discount, that will either see credit cards being thrown at screens, or the usual protestations from those that bought the very same setup just last week.
But why would they have such a fire sale? It’s a bit early for Black Friday. And I’m reasonably certain that it’s not a closing-down-everything-must-go blow out. But there’s always a reason for such unbelievably good deals.
I think I may have an answer
Well Denon DJ’s ambassador Laidback Luke seems to have given us a tiny preview of new Denon DJ tackle that may or may not be heading our way at some point in the future.
Luke and his camera are somewhat prolific on social media. And as ever, he did a wrap-up video from ADE in Amsterdam, and gave us the merest glimpse of something. There’s sheets with things hiding underneath, but poking out is what looks like a player of some sort.
It looks to be in the same vein as the existing 5000 and 5000M Prime units, albeit with a stealth black paint job. And before the conspiracy theorists go off on one, that’s the X1800 Prime to the right off it. You haven’t spied anything new just out of shot, although I see more things hidden from prying eyes in the footage. No amount of image manipulation gives up anything of value.
Even money is on a NAMM announcement for whatever is lurking under these sheets. Given track records for such things, it’ll all be leaked ahead of time anyway, a subject this is driving my very next editorial.
Two possible scenarios I can think of:
-It’s a “regular” SC5000, marketed as a “new color scheme” that secretly fixes some hardware quirks under the hood (the jogs!)
-It’s a cheaper static jog unit, possibly with just one layer, or even just a midi / hid controller for popular DJ software from NZL
I hope it’s neither something capable of video nor a DJS-1000 competitor.
Both live production and video for DJs have failed too often.
Video would be a bad idea. A laptop is a much better device for that.
Denon DJ has been all about Prime for a while. Perhaps they’re pushing out more affordable units to gain some wider market share. Constantly pushing for the top end isn’t a strategy that’s likely to pan out well for them. They need to keep the lights on too, especially if Pioneer DJ does eventually deliver a response to Prime.
I guess that “fire sale” is all about keeping the lights on and selling shit loads of hardware before the next Pioneer gear drops (probably at NAMM).
It could have been way easier (and less costly!) for them.
Every at least half-honest review on the net – and tons of end users as well – have spotted Engine, amongst their firmware as the weak parts of the ecosystem.
Yet, it took them almost 3 years to fix most of that stuff that should have been fine since day one.
At least the firmware dev speed seems to be on the right track, now.
You’d think that was a bad thing, but it’s now been more time since the xdj1000 mk1 and xdj700 came out. Pioneer’s response to the lack of bug fixes or feature updates to these players is for the consumer to spend a couple Grand for new hardware. Denon, on the other hand, is regularly adding features and fixing bugs.
I’ve been scouring the FCC site again (where the SC5000 was seen to have wifi etc) but no luck. There’s a lot of InMusic stuff on there though!
“There’s a lot of InMusic stuff on there though!”
@GroovinDJ ……anything interesting?
Unfortunately, no…
Perhaps they should get their current portfolio up to snuff before releasing new products which won’t work right, their forums is plagued with users having issues. Engine is less to be desired, maybe that’s why they decided to go with Serato? Abandon Engine? — leave all previous users out in the dust?
There’s no way they’ll dump engine prime. …..but I think they realise it’s not currently fit for purpose.
Hence making the Prime gear work so well with Serato until they can get a new version of Engine prime out the door.
Something in the line of djs1000/
Never going to be releasedStandalone Maschine…?By the picture seems something with jog/platter…
If you look thoroughly, the space between the “j” and the foot of the unit is much smaller then with the 5000-units. Due to the feet, and placement beside the mixer; I assume it is a new “player”. So indeed a xdj700 version from Denon. smaller size, smaller size jogwheel and display. Hopefully also a 2 channel player… In the last shot you also see 4 wires going to (or passing by) that unit… Less expensive and more mobile. I just ordered two (if that only was possible!?). So after the S1200 we are ending up with the sc1300’s??
Given that the Denon DJ logo isn’t consistent on any Denon unit, I wouldn’t use the logo size as an indicator as to what this product is. Interestingly, two of the team thought it looked like a bigger unit than the 5000. I’ve stood in front of my 5000M with my iPhone, done several photo comparisons from the same angle, and can’t really tell one way or the other.
You are right, logo could vary in size. But at least the spacing is different. But also look at the feet then. When those are the same size; I say the unit is 4-6 cm smaller…
I think a smaller/cheaper versiion of the sc5000 .
What would make more sense would be Denon DJ’s version of Pioneer’s DJS-1000. Why make a cheaper version of the SC5000 or SC5000M? That doesn’t make sense. They are pretty inexpensive already and a great value.
IMO what is needed is a new and improved mixer. I don’t care for the X1800. I hate the poor quality knobs and long, bumpy time division strip. Also, the effects should be improved. Every one of their products has been a hit lately except the mixer.
It would make a lot of sense to release a cheaper player. Although the SC5000 is great value indeed, there’s a pretty big chunk of the total market that can’t afford to spend €1200 on a player.
A 7″ turntable with tonearm?
I’ll go with the 7 inch turntable, too (fingers crossed). I wish I hadn’t ordered my turntable…