AlphaTheta has dropped two new products in the last two weeks—today’s announcement being the second. Meanwhile, it’s been 3–4 years since the last Denon Prime 4+. So… where’s the Denon Prime 5+?
I just hope Denon doesn’t follow the same trend as Pioneer by removing physical knobs and buttons. Those hands-on controls are part of what makes DJing so fun.
If Denon is listening, here’s my dream controller:
10-inch touchscreen
True standalone operation
Dedicated physical stem buttons like the Pioneer DDJ-FLX10
High-gloss white finish
That would be an absolute game changer. I’d buy one in a heartbeat.
I doubt we’ll see a 5-channel unit, so will probably be some sort of successor to the Prime 4.
Both the CDJ 1500x and XDJ-AN are successors to products that was released 8 years ago.
The AN is probably the equivalent of the SC Live 2, which still seem like a far superior product - and which is still just a few years old.
There probably isn’t a direct equivalent to the CDJ 1500x, but if we just compare it to the SC6000, the 6000 still wipes the floor with the 1500, and while it starts to have a few years on its birth certificate, it’s still not nearly as old as the XDJ 1000 MK2 that the 1500x is replacing.
I’m super excited for new Engine products to come out, but I don’t find it to be urgent - current products still hold up perfectly, and I don’t think they should rush anything through, just because AT (finally) releases new products - products, that gets “mixed reviews” at best from their own fan-group.
As for your wishes:
The 7 year old Prime 4 already checks the first two points of yours, and considering the System One has dedicated stem-buttons, I’d be surprised if this wouldn’t end up being the case for the P4 successor. Then we’re just the high-gloss white finish away from changing the game
So basically what the current P4/P4+ already provide. My limited P4 is all white (looks lovely, btw).
And I rather wait a bit longer than getting a rushed product. Whatever is getting cooked, you can expect it to be good. The Rane System One already proves it.
By comparison, neither the CDJ-3000X (screwing all CDJ-3000 owners), nor the CDJ-1500X or the XDJ-AN were good releases at all.
Alfa Temu released another dumbed down device for a price of aircraft carrier… Yeah, they are doing so good, no one knows why the backlash of the dj community on their products is enourmous…
It’s not easy, but realistically right now all Denon has to do is let AlphaTemu continue its self-destruction while making small improvements to the current line. This will require at least 10 years for Denon to take over the clubs, but at least now I can see a possibility while before the 1500 and AN I couldn’t see a way.
Currently clubs that are still on CDJ 2000 nxs2 (2016) will either go for used CDJ 3000 or jump to a 3000X. So after that they won’t be buying gear for at least 10 years.
But… IF AT keeps shooting itself on the foot and release a CDJ 4000 as shitty as the 1500 or AN, then the ONLY option for professional DJ gear would be either used CDJs or Denon gear.
And this is how I can see Denon taking over the market. Long stretch, sure, but at least now I can see a realistic way of this happening.
As for my wishlist: Denon just needs to invest more in mechanical jog wheels. After buying a FLX-10 I decided I will NEVER buy DJ gear without a mechanical wheel (with tension adjust), that’s non-negotiable for me. This is the top reason I stopped using my Prime 4+ and will be selling it as soon as I can.
Denon/Engine are likely waiting for Pioneer to catch up to what Denon dropped 3-4 years ago only to drop new products that are light years ahead given the at best luke warm responses to the cdj1500x and the XDJ-AN Denon probably just smiling away like they are not ready for what we got coming
