Pioneer DJ DJM-V10 DJ Mixer Review

Lee esta reseña en Español

Pioneer has debuted the DJ DJM-V10 or as one of our editors described as “the one mixer to rule them all.” Clearly, Pioneer’s new offering, which comes in both a standard version with crossfader and a LF (Long Fader) edition with, you guessed it, longer 60mm faders and no crossfader is the Japanese concern’s black knight to go against both Allen & Heath’s and Play Differently’s top DJ mixers. So how does it stack up?

First off, we didn’t get to hang on long enough to the DJ DJM-V10 to perform one of our long-term tests with multiple reviewers for balance and objectivity. So this review only takes into consideration two evaluator’s viewpoints having only spent about a week using the product. Of the two tasked, one is a live electronic music performer who currently employs a DJ mixer in his setup and the other is strictly a DJ. With more and more live performers utilizing DJ mixers in their rigs, we thought it was appropriate to obtain this viewpoint to see what sort of impact it would have on his set. Their impressions in quotes below.

Looking at this mixer, it is obvious an immense amount of consideration was put forth into its design, functionality and versatility. Our DJ reviewer described it as the “Swiss Army knife” of DJ mixers and our live performer said something similar. What they were referring to is the sheer amount of connectivity options that the Pioneer DJ DJM-V10 provides. There is almost no peripheral you cannot connect or DJ hardware/software you can’t utilize. It’s just that versatile. Want to use RekordBox? Check. Traktor Pro? Check. Serato? Check. Your iPad? Check. Two laptops simultaneously? Check. It’s almost ridiculous just how many different sources you can connect to this mixer. With our limited time, we couldn’t test all the devices Pioneer claims to support, but the list is certainly impressive.

Pioneer’s “V” line of mixers, a new category for the company, puts the emphasis on premium components and it’s certainly evident when hauling the DJM-V10 LF out of the box. It’s big. It’s heavy. It’s substantial. In fact, this mixer is definitely going to be happiest, and so is your back, if it resides in one location, and stays there. The specs say it weighs a little over 26 lbs. but honestly, if feels like it’s 260 lbs. 

Pioneer’s attention to quality focuses on several key aspects of the DJM-V10 LF, but sound is definitely at the forefront. Pioneer installed a 32-bit SABRE 8-channel digital audio convertor with ESS Technology’s ES9016S on both the master and booth outputs with the converter’s driven in parallel to further improve the signal to noise ratio. Internally, the Pioneer provides 64-bit mixing and dithering processing. Furthermore, the master output, line/phono input, and headphones output circuit use mechanical EA2 relays from EM Devices Co. The result? Clear, detailed sound, without “any biting digital harshness,”  a “wide soundstage” and “very low-noise.”

Built just for the DJM-V10 line, and future mixer offering in the V Line, the four band EQ is completely new. The two mid-range EQs have custom curves tailored to electronic music and the Hi / Lo can act like kills. Each band is clean and soft with no jarring steps and enough subtly to melt from one source to another. A basic trim and a one knob compressor are also part of each channel strip. Although, we’ve never been impressed with this approach to compression, Pioneer’s methodology does work to address  problem tracks.

Pioneer DJ DJM-V10 LF Mixer Features:

• 64-bit mixing and dithering processing
• DVS Control: rekordbox, Serato DJ Pro, Native Instruments Traktor Pro 3
• Sampling Rate: 96 kHz
• Width: 17.23 in | Height: 4.25 in | Depth: 18.39 in | Weight: 26.24 lb
• A/D Converter: 32-bit ADC (AK5578EN/AK5574EN) VELVET SOUND technology by Asahi Kasei Electronics
• D/A Converter: 32-bit SABRE 8-channel DAC (ESS Technology’s ES9016S)
• S/N Ratio Line: 105 dB
• S/N Ratio Phono: 88 dB
• S/N Ratio Mic: 79 dB
• Six Discrete Channels
• 4 band EQ on each channel
• Independent HPF/LPF Filter on each channel
• Mic Connection: XLR / 1/4-inch Jack Combo | 1/4-inch TRS Jack
• Inputs: 6 DIGITAL (Coaxial) | 6 LINE (RCA) | 4 PHONO (RCA)
• Send/Return: 3 SEND (1/4-inch TS jack) | 3 RETURN (1/4-inch TS jack)
• Full assignable MIDI controls

• Send Effects: Short Delay, Long Delay, Dub Echo, Reverb, Two Externals (1/4-inch TS jack)
• Beat FX: Delay, Echo, Ping Pong, Spiral, Helix, Reverb, Shimmer, Flanger, Phaser, Filter, Trans, Roll, Pitch, Vinyl Brake
• LAN Connection
• MULTI I/O: 1/4-inch jack, USB (Type A)
• USB: Two USB B ports | One USB A port
• Outputs: Two MASTER (XLR, RCA) | One BOOTH (1/4 inch TRS Jack) | Four HEADPHONE MONITOR (1/4 inch Jack, mini-jack) | One REC OUT (RCA) | One DIGITAL (AES/EBU) | One MIDI (DIN)

The easiest way for electronic musicians to get their music onto Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon Music, Tidal, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pandora, Twitch & much more! Click the banner above or the Go Button to save 7% off of your signup!  GO!

Pioneer “went absolutely bananas with the effects” on the DJM-V10 LF. Apparently, the four-band EQ with a dedicated Filter on each channel wasn’t enough. They included their built-in beat-oriented effects, but added Shimmer, an Exciter that adds Brightness, and beefed up the ability to tweak the sounds even further with a touch display – think Kaoss Pad X/Y action, but with data visualization. Plus you can target Low, Mid and High Frequecies separately or jointly. “It’s absolutely sick what you can do here.” But even that wasn’t enough. Lets add a more traditional Send/Receive feature that can feed one of four built-in effects engines, as well as up to two additional sources of external effects. Crazy right? But Pioneer is still not done.  They added another LPF/HPF filter, with a dedicated resonance knob for further mayhem.

Now just look over the last two paragraphs. Think about all that rocket fuel. “That’s it take my college tuition.” But there’s even more. Pioneer then adds an Isolator Hi/Mid/Lo EQ to the Master with big, beefy knobs to go even more nutty. Pioneer has turned the DJM-V10 into a real blending machine that plays like a Stradivarius. All right. That sounds ridiculous, but that’s the best I can come up with on a looming deadline. However, our DJ tester put it this way. “For progressive DJs who are into the true art of flawless transitions, [the DJM-V10 LF] is the most fun you can have with your pants on.” DJs who are still using vinyl or DVS systems will not know what to do with themselves.  Not to mention DJs who love to use three or more channels will find all sorts of ways to get all their sources to sit in a cohesive mix with all this horsepower.

But here’s the kicker: Pioneer could have fumbled the ergonomics, badly, but they didn’t. It all works. It all makes sense. And most of all, it’s fun. Big. FUN. And while it’s rare for a mixer to be labeled “fun,” especially one at this price point, that ended up being the word most utilized to describe what Pioneer has created with the DJM-V10.

Conclusion

Clearly, the DJM-V10 is not a mixer for everyone. The cost alone will eliminate a big part of the individuals in the market for a DJ mixer. However, established DJs, and certainly DJ-centric clubs, should not be put off by the premium cost. The build quality, sound quality and sheer amount of sound sculpting tools certainly substantiate the investment. However, it’s electronic musicians who should give the DJM-V10 serious consideration. It not just the fact that Pioneer eliminated the Crossfader, and increased the throw of the faders, making it better suited as a traditional mixer. It’s more the incredible potential the mixer offers for remixing six different sources on the fly. Whether those sources are stems, or sequenced individual synths, samplers and/or drum machines, the DJM-V10’s ability to manipulate those sources with filters, EQ, effects and more make this quite a compelling proposition. Highly Recommended.

Pioneer’s DJM-V10 LF costs $3999 and is available now.

 
The Future:The one thing that we feel the DJM-V10 is missing is a compressor/limiter on the master to glue everything together. With six different channels, and a multitude of effects and filter action, things can get a tad overblown if you’re not careful. A high-quality compressor/limiter to pack everything in tight and curb any punctuation that gets too hot, would be a welcome addition. Balanced quarter-inch inputs on each of the six channels would also be on the wish list for applications beyond DJing.