Recording Studio Equipment

I switched from the CDJ-1000 to the CDJ-400 (and DJM-400) last November. After using these for a year, I can happily say that I would highly recommend them to anybody interested in DJing. They are PACKED with features; things that Pioneer didn’t HAVE to include, but they did. On top of that these are compatible with Pioneer’s “DJS” DJ Software!

FEATURES:
Compact size, full of features. +/- 100% pitch adjustment & Master Tempo (allows the tempo to be sped up or slowed down while keeping track’s original pitch). CD/Vinyl Modes allowing the tracks to be “scratched” as well as switches between the onboard effects like. Seamless looping with loop effects. Multi function jog wheel scratch/break and pitch adjust, also can be used to “fast forward” through a track or CD to quickly find a what you’re looking for. USB Connectivity to your iPod, memory stick, external hard drive, or PC (via DJS software or other MIDI enabled DJ software). Reads CD and MP3 CD audio. Navigating through digital music libraries is made simple through the use of the multi-function knob. Tracks names and information highly visible on easy to read display including a visual representation of track. My favorite feature is the jog wheel illumination halo which has several different patterns that give a visual representation of the track’s movement. Also has stereo RCA and Digital Coaxial Outputs.

PROS:
AMAZING value! You get tons of features that you wouldn’t expect to find in a Pioneer player of this price. USB sticks and hard drives mean not having to bring CDs to the gig with you, and not having to rely on a computer means less of a chance for equipment failure! Very easy to use an intuitive design which takes absolutely no time to master. Smaller footprint than CDJ 800-2000, if space is an issue. Very fast track load, so you are ready to go even faster! Add custom artwork to the Jog wheel!

CONS:
Jog/Break Wheel is pressure activated for scratch mode and must be compressed several millimeters to activate it which could translate to a botched scratch if you let off of the wheel. DJS software has considerable lag (for a DJ) which makes using the PC with this piece of hardware more difficult if you want to have the perfect mix. More plastic-y feeling than I would like.

BOTTOM LINE:
If you don’t have the money for the CDJ-900, CDJ-1000, or CDJ-2000 – the CDJ-400 is a great alternative with many of the features of the players double and triple the price. What you don’t get with the CDJ-400 is the super high fidelity processors, some of the quality and tacility of the jog/break wheel and some other minor features I don’t think add up to several thousand dollars. So, save your money and buy this Pioneer CDJ-400. If you are like 90% of the DJs out there, you will be more than pleased with it!

Many places (usually DJ phedophile type) label these players as entry level professional. You WILL think differently UNLESS you DJ in clubs! In my mind, these are professional players if you dont scratch, everything is there for you.
The build quality is excellent, solid robust, and use oil damping. Trust me oil damping shock makes a different, shake these things while theyre playing, they wont skip!
Auto cue and loop is excellent, plus manual in out and loop effects make this a really excellent machine for house breaks and playing your own mixes. To do a test, I auto looped 2 tracks both 128bp, synced using the BPP and tempo functions of the players, played both players through a mixer for 15 minutes, they never missed sync! very accurate BPM and tempo. And this was AUTO loop! imagine with manual, you have even more precision.
BPM is always an issue, due to its accuracy (some BPM counters are a gimmic, ie behringer VXM mixers! )however the BPM here performs very well, the players for the quality, are at an unbelievable price.
the MP3 function is great too, get 100 tracks on a cd instead of carrying your collection to a function, in 7 cd cases (like me!)
plus they fully read MP3 tags, what more do you want?
Wah, Jet, and zip effects are really nice, as is the addition of adjusting speed and key of a track
All round great players
Ive been a DJ for 17 years, seen everything come and go, theres no surprising these players are so popular!
awesome!

I have a pair of these units and they are great, if you wont be doing any scratching, this CDJ’s have everything you need, they are sturdy and at the same time very stylish, i have been using them at clubs, bars and parties and have never had any problem with them, the only thing is that VBR mp3 have limited functions, apart from that, i would totally recommend them to any DJ, starting or professional, i have used them as long as 8 hours of continuous playtime and they perform flawlessly, plus arent as expensive as CDJ 800 or 1000.