Vestax PMC-55 vs Xone 62

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jimnun

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Ok I've had a Xone 62 to almost 2 years and have had lots of fun with it but I've just seen a Vestax PMC-55 for a good deal. I've always liked the look of it esp. in terms of the effect sends and other conectivity it offers. I also like the fact it has a xfader curve control.

Whats reasons are there I should keep the 62 rather than getting the 55. The only one I can see is the filters and possibly sound quality but I believe the 55 to be very good in this department too, is this right? How do the EQs compare aswell?

Thanks,

Jim.
 
Dude, I haven't used either mixer so can't give you an objective view but going from A&H to Vestax is like selling your Ferrari and buying a Volvo!
 
I was really close getting a PMC-55 about two months ago, but decided not to. The main reason was, well I loved the quality and just about everything to it, except for one thing.

The thing that bothered me was the fact the mixer is pretty crowded layout wise. Since I use the eq and faders quite alot in every single bar, lots of cuts and tricks.

Apart from that, well excluding the effects (from the Xone) I'd say it's a really good buy, but I wouldn't trade a Xone:62 for it.

Dude, if you decide to go with the Vestax, I'd be interested in buying your Xone ;)
 
hands down my favourite mixer is the 55. i hate a&h's. simply coz their layout is counterintuitive. the a&h have good sound, but the vestax isnt lagging far behind and the one we have installed has held up a lot better then the a&h (avreage build). the 55 has a sensational layout and feature set. id take it any day over any mixer in the world apart from maybe a ordec or sclat
 
Hmmm.... I play (on occasion) with both, not really the PMC55 but other models from Vestax. I've even tested the 62 (the review here at FP.com, I wrote it ;) ) but this is still just my opinion.

I don't have this religious, amen attitude towards A&H though I like it a good lot and the Xones are very, very good overall. That's a fact. But the Vestax, it's more spec'd around here than Xones and although I'm not fan of Vestax either I'd say the 55 is a top mixer to have at home and is far from disappointing at the booth of small-to-medium clubs either. Good sound, nice build, clean and smart layout.

I agree with Siv, it's a bit cramped and even more when I compare it to the DJM series which IMHO are top top in design, but you get used to it. Furthermore I found the 62 slightly less intuitive and also a bit cramped too. Not an issue for you since you own it for some time...;)

Tough call, if you are bored of your Xone then perhaps the Vestax (or any other "new" mixer for that matter :p) will boost your enthusiasm a bit... and if you liked the 55...

Likewise, I own a DJM600 for almost 3 yrs and I absolutelly love it, but recently I found some fun buying (and using) a shinny new Technics DX1200 battle rig. A basic 2-chan, simple, good sounding, tough and no frills mixer compared to the DJM but still a joy to play with, simply 'cos it's new.... :D
 
I've got used to the layout of the xone but have never really felt comfortable using it. I'm not sure exactly what it is, maybe the faders, they seem to have a slight delay so cutting and duckiing things is hard. I think it is also more studio than DJ oriented. I bought it second hand so never really tried it before but I do really like the filters and EQ on it. I just wish it also had a crossfader curve adjust (and without the delay) and a send and return aswell, and maybe line faders in a tradition DJ format.

The vestax has all of these things, i should get to try it out at the PLASA show this weekend before I decide. The send and return also really interests me as I have a number of the electrix effect boxes and also a EFX-500. Does any one know if it is the same size as the xone, it looks bigger but maybe thats cause there so much on it, i've never seem them side by side. Also how old is it?

I think a new mixer would also increase my interest, I just love getting new things to experiment with! I've thought about getting a Rane TM56 cause thats just so fun to play with but possibly doesn't have enough inputs on it, but i think thats why its fun cause its basic. The new Rane also looks cool but will probably be too much for at least a year, the 56 has come down a lot in just the last month compared to when it was realeased about a year ago.

hatti where are you located, I don't mind shipping it as long as it's insured, i'll probably stick it on ebay. I had a deck go missing in the post once which i lost out on.
 
jimnun said:
I've got used to the layout of the xone but have never really felt comfortable using it. I'm not sure exactly what it is, maybe the faders, they seem to have a slight delay so cutting and duckiing things is hard. I think it is also more studio than DJ oriented. I bought it second hand so never really tried it before but I do really like the filters and EQ on it. I just wish it also had a crossfader curve adjust (and without the delay) and a send and return aswell, and maybe line faders in a tradition DJ format.

The vestax has all of these things, i should get to try it out at the PLASA show this weekend before I decide. The send and return also really interests me as I have a number of the electrix effect boxes and also a EFX-500. Does any one know if it is the same size as the xone, it looks bigger but maybe thats cause there so much on it, i've never seem them side by side. Also how old is it?

I think a new mixer would also increase my interest, I just love getting new things to experiment with! I've thought about getting a Rane TM56 cause thats just so fun to play with but possibly doesn't have enough inputs on it, but i think thats why its fun cause its basic. The new Rane also looks cool but will probably be too much for at least a year, the 56 has come down a lot in just the last month compared to when it was realeased about a year ago.

hatti where are you located, I don't mind shipping it as long as it's insured, i'll probably stick it on ebay. I had a deck go missing in the post once which i lost out on.
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;) Ah, Jimnun, you hit the nerve right in your first sentence!!!! We ALWAYS get used to something, no matter how bad or awkward or counterintuitive it may be. My humble opinion about it is that manufacturers should try their best to come up with originally intuitive equipments, regardless of diferentials and features, not the opposite under the assumption that the consumer should "get used"...

It's not because an equipment (CD, mixer or whatever) is complex and full of features that it must also be complex in operation, o demand a degree in engineering to operate properlly. Not everyone is dumb but not everyone is willing to take a lesson in DJing or read a 100 page manual to start playing a CDJ!

Some rigs, you feel so comfortable it's like you've been born using it, others you feel alright but there's always that feeling that something could be better... I keep pimping the DJM600 exactly for those reasons, for me it's not the best sound or build but it's good enough, has lots of usefull features and tricks and has the most comfortable, intuitive, and hands-on layout. It onlymakes it all easier and faster to take full advantage of its potentials.
 
And yeah, on the topic, the faders and general feel of the Xone is vey "studio". Some like, some not. I'm a DJ and for my part prefer regular tipped faders, uncluttered surfaces, spacious knobs and buttons, smooth yet fast acting features when I'm playing. Alhtough I like rotary mixes a lot, a good lot, I consider gliding faders and xfaders and 3 band EQing as more evolved items overall... just MHO....;)
 
As an owner of a XONE:62, I can definately say the x-fader's tuned for club/trance mixing. If you spin mostly breaks, DNB, hip-hop, etc. or like doing a lot of tricks/cuts/etc... I think another mixer would be better, simply from the x-fader perspective.

I spin mostly trance now, but have been "breaking" into breaks, DNB and hip-hop. A natural inclination has been to "play around" more with the rhythmic beats. I've been thinking of picking up a seperate mixer just for this... Since I love the way the XONE:62 performas for my clubby/trance sets, but find it lacking for other genres. It's a good x-fader, just purpose built I believe.
 
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