Hi all!
Im quite happy with my Denon Prime 4+. I was a little bit frustrated at the beginning but after few months working, now I feel confident with my device.
I’m starting to do some gigs and as everyone knows, pioneer is the standard. Sometimes I’m scared to have some problems with my music from engine to RB using Lexicon… I’m wondering to sell my Denon and get an AZ… I know that Denon it’s really cool in specs but (sadly) isn’t the standard…
what can I do?
Thank you all!
I’m thinking about it too! I think I’ll sell my two Prime 4 Pluses and my Prime Go Plus! and upgrade to an xdj-az. PS: Let’s hope they don’t delete this message too, maybe it’s annoying too, or maybe the usual people will come along and criticize me with their messages that I don’t care about!! But they can comment, and I can’t!
Is the question here that you’re not confident in what you are doing or that other people think you’re using something inferior? Sorry your post is a bit confusing.
As to whether the AZ is an “upgrade” is down to you. Both platforms are quite different and offer alternative features and specs.
I know the System One is the latest and greatest with the newest features, but before that I used the Prime Go+ for quite a few gigs and never had any issues with it. You just need to spend time getting confident with the unit and the way it works.
After being a DJ for 40 years, I can quite confidently say the only people who care what gear you are using are other DJs. that’s it.
That’s weird. You have to choose, you want to upgrade, or you want the AZ? Downgrade is not an upgrade… AZ can’t do many things what prime 4 can. But prime 4 can do all what az can. I sold my pioneer gear in 2017 and bought first SC5000’s. So far I am on more and more denon gear, that I upgraded on the way. I have 4 cdj3000’s to my disposal whenever I want as well, but playing on them feels like going back to cheap, plastic toys. Not even close in tech and quality as Denon gear.
Before you seriously consider switching, make sure you can cleanly migrate your current data to Rekordbox. If you primarily use MP3s or other highly compressed formats, this can be tricky. While there are ways to correct the shifting, none of them are truly reliable.
Lexicon is currently free, so you can easily test how well your data transfers from Engine to Rekordbox. Afterward, you’ll see exactly how your cues and loops look there. !!!
I completely understand your point—I have this discussion at least once a week. In terms of quality, there are no real differences between the systems. List of functions is another theme…
The crucial question is: Do you want to DJ in different clubs? Then I would recommend Pioneer/Alpha Theta.
If you’re more mobile DJ example Weeding or occasionally perform on larger stages, then simply choose the system you like best.
Our full-time DJs also use a mix of equipment: about half use Pioneer, one uses an AZ, and the rest are split between Serato (two people) and Denon.
We’ve never had any problems with this. Our FOH/sound engineers don’t care what you connect. XLR is the default…
I think the sentence “Pioneer is the standard” is incomplete. The standard for what?
For big clubs, maybe. For superstar DJs to play on at big events, yes - but is that you? Are you playing at top clubs or festivals?
I’d say it’s certainly not the standard for the grass roots working DJs in small venues and mobile events. Choose what best meets your requirements, not what you think will elevate you to superstar status or what your DJ mates will think is cool.
Your first line sums it up - you’re quite happy with the Prime unit, so keep it.
Like the folks before me, forget about the standard. Since Alpha Theta gives zero attention to a standard layout, there is no real standard anymore. Buy an AZ and you have as many differences as you would have coming from a Denon device (i know Denon has a bit more but it does not really matter). Look at the layout of a CDJ and then look at the AZ, opus Quad etc. Only thing is the loop function (and i dont like the Alpha Theta one), but you get used to it very fast. I went the same route as you, bought some CDJs Used for a good price and sold them after a couple of months, after it did not really increased my skills on CDJs. After 2-3 sessions it got my training. Kept my sc6000 over the CDJs. Training and mixing tracks together works on every platform.
Software wise, build a underlying folder structure in your finder/explorer and leave the middle mgmt. software. If you are heavily relying on hot cues and you prepare every single bit of you set before, this becomes harder. If you are still insecure about the Lexicon way, just take you laptop with you, arrive couple min. earlier and have this backup option (recommended outside of this dicsusion anyways).
Last but not least, a good DJ should be able to play with different hardware set ups. A CDJ900, RMX3, CDJ 2000*, 3000, SC6000 or a Prime 4. Sometimes you have Xone or a Pioneer/Alpha Theta, Rane Mixer, etc. Dont get cought up by the equipment.
If your main concern is just the conversion, build a easy folder structure beneath and take a laptop with you. If it is the hardware site, an AZ will not save you from having differences.
Try SC Live 4 
I have to agree Pioneer is the Standard….
The standard for lack of support!! Hahahah lol 
Sorry I couldn’t resist!! 
It’s totally your choice you’ll lose the “fader start” in standalone mode of the Prime 4+ and the “Touch FX” going to an AZ unless you are also considering going with an OPUS QUAD as it has “Touch FX” as well..
However, with SERATO or Rekordbox on either the OPUS QUAD or the XDJ-AZ you’ll regain “crossfader start” and gain “channel fader start” (which is sorely missed on the Prime 4+ but you won’t have them in standalone.
With that said… I’ve played on all types of gear.. The main difference between the Denon and the Pioneer is that the higher end Pioneer’s have much better jog wheels..
They just do.
They’re larger, They spin better, they’re more adjustable and they sound better.. It’s just the way it is.
Everything else is about the same except Denon gives you much more beyond that adding in great forum support and ongoing feature rich updates.. 
Personally, I’ve been a heavy user of Pioneer DJ products from their early days to the Nexus, and having tested their latest Pioneer/AT products, the Denons are far superior in terms of audio quality and functionality. The built-in technology seems superior (or at least it’s being used to its full potential), it’s smooth, and the screen quality is excellent.
However, I’m really not a fan of the faders used in the Denon Prime P2, P4/P4+, and PGO players. They seem very fragile, like they’re going to break, but they haven’t! I used the P4 for five years, and they still work perfectly. (I’m not rough with it, and I don’t do more than 30 events a year.) But even if the faders wear out after two years, it’s still more cost-effective to replace them on Denon players.
As for the Pioneer/AT products, the quality is simply not there anymore. “That’s not normal, considering the price of their products!”
I tested the Opus and the AZ in the shop where I used to work, and I used the same library I use with my Prime products, and it was much less responsive and less smooth.
Once you’ve experienced the options of the Prime players, it’s very difficult to go back. There’s no standard; it’s just product placement and aggressive marketing.
If Denon had done the same thing, they would be the standard, but they didn’t take the same approach, that’s all. Standard for what? Because there are star DJs who use them, some even borrow or get the equipment for free, provided they can use the DJs’ image for their promotional campaigns.
Standard because the products appear in movies, TV series, or music videos for a few seconds; most of the time, this is called product placement. Pioneer/Atlanticist products are expensive to buy because you’re paying for what I mentioned earlier! Their products don’t innovate; they just repackage old features (except for the Opus and the Omni Duo).
You want an update for these products? Okay, but you’ll have to buy the latest model, which will cost you 200 euros more, if not more, not to mention that sometimes they add one feature but remove one or two others. lol
I’ve been using a P4 since 2019 (sold in 2025), I have a Prime Go dedicated to ceremonies, in 2023 I bought the P4+ (because the P4 is starting to show its age, although I’ve never had any problems and even the new owner is thrilled with it), then I bought a Rane Performer which I didn’t keep even though it was amazing, and then in February I bought the System One, but I still own the PGO and the P4+, it’s just that I love the vinyl feel, it reminds me of my early days with the SL.
For me, everything is stable and functional and, on top of that, the price/quality ratio is more than reasonable, knowing that with each update I feel like I have a new product without losing my investment.
Will having Pioneer/AT mixing consoles make you a better DJ? No. Will you get more gigs? No. Will your clients be grateful because you spent a fortune on gear? No. You’ll just end up spending a lot more money. Personally, with my setups… it’s a win-win situation.
I paid for functional, reliable, and high-performing products, and on top of that, they receive free feature updates and bug fixes.
My gigs go very well, and my clients haven’t thrown a fit because I don’t use Pioneer/Atlantic mixing consoles.
They don’t care, as long as the dance floor stays packed and all generations are having a good time.
My goal is to make a living from my work, not to spend more money than I earn, and I don’t care what other DJs think.
The most important thing for me is seeing the sparkle in my clients’ eyes.
Not much to add to what others have already said. Just one thing: don’t worry about the standard, as long as what you’re using works for you. If you’re adopting the standard simply for the sake of conformity, but ultimately lose out in terms of possibilities, creativity, or workflow, then it won’t be beneficial.
Yes, Denon products aren’t perfect in every respect, but overall they offer so much more than Pioneer/AT products that any return to the standard seems like a step backward to me.
I know this firsthand because I use SC6000Ms at home, LC6000s for mobile events with a laptop, and an RX3 every weekend at my club residence.
And good heavens, every time I work on this RX3, I feel so limited that it becomes frustrating. A simple example: Pioneer/AT’s archaic loop system! The Denon push encoder system for loops is a dream in comparison. Try moving a loop that’s currently playing to the previous/next bar on any Pioneer/AT gear; good luck!
Beatjump is also much simpler and more intuitive on Denon.
I much prefer working on Denon for all the little things that allow me to be more efficient and creative. Everything is more ergonomic and intuitive for me on Denon.
And if I have to go against the grain to get all these things that improve my performance and the quality of my work, then I’m very happy to be outside the norm.
Sometimes nonconformity is what makes you unique, what allows you to stand out from what others are doing because you can more easily do what others wouldn’t even dare to do.
The issue is not the hardware model! It’s the jokes on this forum! There are some who don’t want the product and the way things are going to be criticized! They think they own the forum and they think they can decide what can or can’t be written! Not to mention the bugs that haven’t been resolved for years! I always see the same two or three who attack you as soon as you write something they don’t like! So let’s put it in the forum rules that it’s forbidden to criticize anything! I don’t think there is such a rule! That’s why I want to leave in-music! They even went so far as to delete my posts! I have four Denon products and I spent a lot of money on them! I think I’ll sell them and move on to something else! Here are my reasons! I really want to see if a certain Pasha or Stu will come and criticize this message too!!!
All off-topic posts were deleted. Certainly theirs.
And to, again, state what you still don’t believe or don’t want to understand: firmware development is still active for all your devices. However, it will most likely skip 4.5 and 4.6, but going to a version after that. So, patience is a virtue. Rane System One was a big project.
Why would you want to have anything standard? Standard is another word for average. Are you a standard DJ?
If you are worried about the USB not working, use rekordbox as your main library management tool and then use lexicon to sync your rekordbox to engine.
I do this but w Serato for my main library.
is this way prime 4 working or its only me?when i wanna listen preview trck i can hear main trck anyway…live sc4 silences this …prime 4 need always like turn of main trck??if its like this its very annoying…and its more like downgrade after live sc4… i just got prime 4 and this is kinda very annoying
I think you’re responding to the wrong topic?
