Who would have thought that a standalone series like the XDJ would land up meaning so much to the brand that is Pioneer? The Pioneer XDJ RX3 is the latest addition to this series and leaves a lasting impression for digital djs.
Standalone controllers have taken the dj market by storm and its been one hell of journey from the Pioneer XDJ R1 to where we are now. For those of you not familiar with the R1 controller, it is the closest resemblence to a Pioneer 350 set consisting of two CDJ 350 players and a DJM 350 although the XDJ R1 had sound fx options that were far superior to that of the DJM 350. So its always been clear that you can get more value from a standalone controller than a modular setup like two cdjs and a mixer….
After a long line of RX series controllers (the longest to be exact), now at the top of the chain sits the Pioneer XDJ RX3. The RX3 is the big daddy to a very successful range of high performance standalone controllers:
Pioneer XDJ R1
Pioneer XDJ RR
Pioneer XDJ RX
Pioneer XDJ RX2
Pioneer XDJ RX3
Getting down to the nitty gritty of the controller
The RX series controllers all have smaller jog wheels making them well suited for home, studio, pubs, bars, cocktail bars and the like. The RX3 has really cool on jog displays that offers a wide scope of information available at a glance. Small pieces of information like remaining time or the break of a track can be very useful when mixing. Although the jog wheels are smaller, they have a better design than the loose ring on the platter of cdjs like the CDJ850, CDJ 900 and so on. The moulded rubber finish material offers a sleek look and solid feel. You still have the jog adjust setting available so setting the jog tension to your preference can be done in a few seconds.
The unmistakable improvement made with the RX3 is the much bigger than usual touch screen. I know on the other controllers lke the XDJ XZ and the previous RX models the screens aren’t bad, but once you get to take the RX3 for a spin…. The bigger touch screen does give you that rolls royce kind of experience if you have to compare the RX3 with its predecessors and the XDJ XZ. There is enough space for both decks’ wave forms to be displayed on a large scale. All of this while there is a plethora of other information availalble on the rest of the screen.
Mixer
With a close resemblance to the DJM 900 NXS2 mixers, the RX3 boasts an array of sound fx and sound color fx functionality. You can spark a ton of creativity while mixing and using the fx panel and sound color fx. Although it is not a 4 channel mixer, the two channels are switchable so you can flip between deck (on board) and line/phono for external inputs like a cdj or turntable.
The decks
It might be bit of a bold comparison but take a side by side look and you’ll see the RX3 and CDJ 3000 decks are very similar in many ways. This is why standalone controllers are gaining popularity. The same tech pumped into a single unit for half the price! You’ve got your hot cues, loop in and out, vinyl and cdj mode and forward reverse just like on the CDJ 3000. And then you can take a look at the jog displays and see why I say the RX3 inherits a lot from the CDJ 3000. It’s great value for money and means that djs can invest in equipment that is club standard.
Collectively between the massive screen upgrade and the elaborate mixer and decks, the RX3 is a formiddable competitor in the standalone category. The feel of the controller has improved drastically to a more solid form. The elaborate touch screen and functionality coupled to it opens to a series of quick access points to tasks that would normally take longer to do, especially in the sound fx department.
Final thoughts
The Pioneer XDJ RX3 is packed with awesome features and functions that can cater to even the most sophisticated dj. Compatible with both Rekordbox and Serato, the RX3 offers versatility to suit diffferent types of dj preferences while making no compromise. If you are looking to get behind one of these awesome machines we can assist you with a straight purchase or trade in while the finance option is available if you want to keep your capital and roll with easy monthly repayments instead.
I hope this short blog has shed some light on what the Pioneer XDJ RX3 is all about. If you have any questions you can contact me vie the whatsapp chat or pop me a mail via admin@djswopshop.co.za
Cheers
Vee
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