Stanton SMX-501/Vestax PCV-275

[definitive]

What up everybody, I'm new here, I've heard about this site through TranceAddict as well as other venues, and I wanted to check it out.

Anyway, I was posting because I have a decision to make: I just sold my old mixer and I'm about to buy a new one. I'm trying to choose between a Vestax PCV-275 (which was what I was going to get all along) and a Stanton SMX-501. I've found both at good prices, they're both awesome looking mixers, and I'm having quite a bit of trouble deciding which to buy. I've heard awesome reviews about the Vestax, and I've heard close to nothing about the Stanton. I'm not leaning either way . . . the Vestax is a solid performer, but I like the layout and look of the Stanton as well as the level meters on each channel. Do any of you have experience with the SMX-501 or can you give me some recommendation on which to get? Thanks in advance.

 

[definitive]

I'm also interested in the Xone:02, but that looks like its more oriented toward scratching, and I do more mixing.

 

[akkilah]

I have the stanton smx-501, and although i dont have much experience with mixers, the stanton is one of the nicest ones i've used. I've used the vestax pmc-06 before, and it felt kind of cheap to me. I dont know if this is the same for the pcv-275, but i know most vestax mixers are anything but cheap, so probably not...
For the smx though, it feels very well built. It's solid, with a nice shiny blue and silver finish, and the sound quality seems very good to me. It has send and return and a seperate booth level control. The faders are also very nice, and make a satisfying metallic click when used. Also the blue power LED is damn sexy
I've had two minor problems with the mixer so far(have had it for a year and a half).
first the mixer is just ever so slightly over ten inches wide. This is a pain in the ass because when trying to put it in my battle coffin it didnt fit. Because of this i had to forcibly widen one of the walls of the mixer compartment by just one-tenth of an inch or whatever. Minor problem, but was quite frustrating at first.
the second problem which just came up is that the left channel LED meter deosnt work right anymore. It flashes but it does so half way up the meter instead of from the bottom.
The only thing that might satisfy me more right now is a rane, but i will not have enough money for that for quite some time
In conclusion i'd say it's a great mixer to have. All in all, if you plan on doing a lot of scratching(which is what i do), you may want something else. This definetley works great as a scratch mixer, but sometimes i feel my self wishing for something a little bit more simple. It is nice to have the third channel to hook all my extra sh*t up too though.
hope that helped some.

 

[dj chex]

I on the other hand owned the smx-501 too. I would advise you to avoid buying stanton mixers. My Smx-501's left leds also died, but mine were dead when i brought the mixer home. Also, the crossfader curve pot died within two days of owning the mixer. Not a good sign with any brand new products. Before the smx-501 i've owned the rm3-s which had a phono preamp die on me in the less than 6months i've owned it. Stanton also is very bad about taking care of their customers. They almost never respond to e-mails or phone calls.

Stay far, far away from stanton mixers.