The award catergories, and winners were as follows:
Innovative New Product: Winner Tascam TT-M1 (with Vestax CDX-05).
This is a PC-mouse like roller wheel device which flips down onto the surface of any vinyl record on a record deck and feeds the identified movements to one of two dedicated CD-decks - allowing CDs to be scratched, using ordinary records.
Other Nominees:
Ecler Nuo-4
Pioneer EFX-1000
Urei 1601S
New Single CD Player: Winner: Denon DN-S1000
Other Nominees:
Stanton C.304
Gemini CFX-30
Pioneer CDJ-200
Vestax CDX-05
All the CD players featured advanced features such as scratch control, wide pitch, effects, and MP3 playback, but the Denon DN-S1000 caught our eye with its ultra-compact size and ability to playback practically every type of CD we could think of.
Its platter is very sturdy, which makes it easy to drop tracks into the mix like you would on traditional turntables.
The Denon DN-D6000 dual CD-deck is effectively the same as two of these award winning CD-decks.
DJ Cartridge: Winner: Shure Whitelabel
Other Nominees:
Ortofon Electro
Stanton 890
Numark CS-1
Shure M447
Following our stringent testing, Shure’s Whitelabel cartridges win again.
Shure are considered the daddy of DJ cartridges, and the Whitelabel is one of the best sounding on the market.
Its ability to track a groove whilst retaining its loud and clear sound is impressive.
DJ Headphones: Winner: Technics RP DH1200
Other Nominees:
Sennheiser HD25
Pioneer HDJ-1000
Sony MDR-V700 DJ
Shure E3
Apart from its looks, the RP DH1200s won our vote for their sturdy build quality and completely adjustable design.
After trying out all the headphones, the team decided that their ability to pump out the loudest volume whilst retaining a clear, quality sound made these the best on the market.
DJ Mixer (under £800) Winner: Denon DN-X1500
Other Nominees:
Allen & Heath Xone:62
Rane Empath
Ecler Nuo-5
Pioneer DJM-600
The Denon DN-X1500 has custom features such as editable effects and variable EQ settings, and also features an input matrix system that allows any input to be routed to any channel.
Installation Mixer (over £800) Winner: Pioneer DJM-1000
Other Nominees
Allen & Heath Xone:92
Vestax PMC-500
Vestax PMC-CX
Urei 1620
Costing a cool two grand, the DJM-1000 offers exciting new features such as a Digital Link, which allows various (Pioneer) products to connect to the mixer without any loss of sound quality.
It’s also the only mixer on the market to have digital inputs on each channel, and the entire interface has the potential to be a MIDI controller too.
Scratch Mixer Winner: Pioneer DJM-909
Other Nominees:
Vestax PMC-007 Pro
Ecler Hak 360
Urei 1601S
Rane TTM-56i
The DJM-909 wins for the second year in a row for its stunning, ground-breaking effects. There’s not one, but two separate effects processors – one for each channel. There’s also some serious control over the crossfader with reverse, cut-in and curve adjustments for either side of the fader.
PA Manufacturer: Winner: Turbosound
Mackie
Martin Audio
Funktion One
Cerwin Vega
Our panel chose Turbosound for its versatility.
DJmag are scheming up new and exciting ways at testing this category, and we’ve got the potential for a ‘sound-off’ battle at London club Fabric, so watch this space!
VJ Product: Winner: Digital Stage Motion Drive
Edirol V-4
Korg Entrancer
Pioneer DVJ-X1
Resolume
Arkaoss VJ
Judging this category was hard because the nominations consisted of very different products, both hardware and software. We’re looking into expanding this category next year as this area of the industry continues to grow.
This year, the panel chose the Motion Drive software as it is one of the easiest and affordable ways to VJ.
For just a few hundred pounds and a laptop, Motion Drive has the ability to be one of the most versatile, forward thinking and tactile options for both amateur and professional VJs.
Dual CD Player: Winner: Denon DN-D4000
Other Nominees:
Tascam CDX-1700
Numark CDN-90
Gemini CFX-40
Pioneer CMX-3000
Denon are reputed by many as the leaders in CD technology.
They make the most advanced players around and this year have proved themselves in the mp3 market with the stunning DN-D4000.
It can play practically any CD or MP3 disc you put in it, and is very reliable.
Heres MikeC and I...Well...someone had to snog the bird on stage and collect the award...
MP3 Controller: Winner: Stanton FinalScratch 2
Other Nominees:
Serato Scratch
Hercules DJ Consoles
Tascam TTM-1
PCDJ Scratch
The second edition of FinalScratch has clearly kept this system at the top of people’s wish lists. It’s one of the most innovative products we’ve ever seen, as it allows DJs to carry their entire record collection on a laptop and mix and scratch with vinyl.
This new version has superior audio quality and provides the ability to utilise the full functions of Traktor’s DJ Studio 2.5.
Entry-level Mixer: Winner: Kam KCM350
Other Nominees:
Behringer DJX-700
Gemini PMX03
Numark DXM01USB
Vestax VMC-002
The KCM350 was a late entry due to its comparatively recent release, but its four channels offering 10 inputs and two individual outputs, instantly made it stand out from the crowd. All for a sweet £129.
Effects Mixer: Winner: Numark DXM09
Other Nominees:
Numark 5000FX
Ecler Nuo-5
Denon DN-X1500
Pioneer DJM-600
The DXM09 has incredible sounding effects, such as a bit crusher, tape delay and reverb. The mixer also has clean digital sound, free from crackles. Each channel is feature-packed with kill switches, peak limiting, digital faders and much more.
Lighting Product: Winner: Martin Mania SCX500
Other Nominees:
ACME IM5S
Robe Funky/Fusion
Abstract DJ Extreme
Chauvet Tiger
Martin have been the leaders in club lighting for years. The SCX500 has proved itself by providing incredible visual results, while retaining the functions, lamp-life and brightness found on much dearer lamps
DJ Effects: Winner: Pioneer EFX-1000
Other Nominees:
Pioneer EFX-500
Allen&Heath Xone VF1
Korg Kaoss Pad 2
Alesis Air FX
The EFX-1000 is a stunning reinvention of the successful EFX-500. Its new features include better sound quality, and the ability to connect to the new Pioneer DJM-1000 digital mixer. Quality build, intelligent effects, and devastating in the right hands.
Sampler/Workstation: Winner: Akai MPC4000
Other Nominees:
Korg ES1
Akai MPC1000
Radikal Spectralis
Roland MV-8000
The MPC-4000 is basically a sequencer such as Logic, or Cubase, but on a much smaller screen. It’s provides a rich acoustic and punchy sound.
Studio Software: Winner: Ableton Live
Other Nominees:
Steinberg Cubase
Apple Logic Audio
Propellerheads Reason
Fruity Loops
Ableton Live 5 has just came out and makes it one of the most versatile digital audio workstations (DAW) on the market. For just under £300 you get all the tools necessary to run a proper little studio. Ableton Live is the biggest building block in the bridge between producing and DJing and is by far the most affordable.
Best DJ/Producer School: Winner: Point Blank
Point Blank must be doing something right having won this award four years on the trot.
They’ve recently set up another training school in Bristol, and are now offering online courses.
Retailer Of The Year: Winner: Guildford Sound & Light
Guildford’s new premises are over three times the size of their previous showroom, which means customers are rarely kept waiting. More of a warehouse than a shop.