The Pioneer DJ DJM-A9 is the next generation of professional DJ mixer, designed to replace the DJM-900NXS2 as the industry standard mixer for clubs, festivals, radio stations and serious live streamers. With significant enhancements to sound quality, playability, connectivity, and the creative Beat FX capabilities of the mixer – the A9 has been built to elevate your performances.
Sound Enhancements
Utilising a high-quality 32-bit A/D converter as part of the channel input signal path, and D/A converters of the same type for both the master and booth outputs, the DJM-A9 has been optimised to produce natural-sounding, crystal-clear audio, both on the dancefloor and in the DJ booth. It goes without saying that if you’re broadcasting or livestreaming, these characteristics will translate to improved listening for your audience.
For live-streamers and broadcasters, the DJM-A9 offers phantom power – facilitating the use of a high-quality condenser microphone to capture your voice with ease. This industry first feature is combined with an impressive mic channel strip. The microphone channel offers two band EQ, three dedicated microphone FX (Echo, Pitch and Megaphone) as well as a silky-smooth mic reverb and the usual talkover functionality.
Pioneer DJ has added an additional headphone monitoring section to the DJM-A9. This allows for greater flexibility when two DJs play back 2 back. As with every other aspect of the signal path, high quality D/A converters have been used to feed the powerful headphone output amps.
For booth monitoring customisation, the A9 has two band EQ control for low and high frequencies. This allows the DJ to set the tone in the booth to suit.
Connectivity
It’s clear that the A9 has been designed as the heart of the booth, boasting an impressive range of connectivity options. As you would expect, there are the usual analogue, digital and ethernet connections. In addition, the A9 is future-proof thanks to the inclusion of both USB-B and USB-C connections to computers – whether Mac or PC, and regardless of the software platform of choice, DVS* sets are possible with both Rekordbox and Serato DJ.
There’s also wireless connectivity built-in to the DJM-A9. For audio streaming you can pair a device to the mixer using Bluetooth and then send this audio to any channel for playback and manipulation with the on-board FX. The unit has a WIFI card for connection to a local network, or to facilitate the connection of the new Stagehand application via iPad for enhanced mixer control.
Stagehand
Pioneer DJ have always equipped the booth ready DJM mixers with features to assist sound engineers who are responsible for the front of house system. The DJM-A9 takes this to the next level with the Stagehand* application integration.
Engineers can now connect to the mixer across the wireless network and take control of the booth through the A9. With options to tweak the individual channel settings and even pause track playback when the mixer is connected to the flagship CDJ-3000 media players.
This tech minimises the need for sound-engineers to enter the booth and disturb the DJ. Furthermore, for live streams, the DJ can remain the focus without the engineer getting into shot while tweaking the mixer to ensure that the sound quality for the audience is pristine.
Enhanced FX
With every DJM release, there is always the addition of a new effect or two. However, it’s not often that we witness a complete overhaul of the FX section of the DJM range. The A9 boasts a number of changes, with improvements across the entire FX section from the Sound Color FX, to the External FX routing and the Beat FX section itself.
The first major update is to the Sound Color FX, with the introduction of the new Center Lock feature. The Center Lock can be enabled/disabled using a simple switch located within the Sound Color FX selection area. With the lock enabled, fast sweeping movements from low to high/high to low will be stopped at the 12 o’clock position – preventing accidental activation of the FX beyond the midpoint.
Moving across to the Beat FX section, the colour display perfectly highlights the status of the Beat FX in a clear and concise manner that’s easy to interpret. The Xpad is now in a longer straight line – this change allows expressive changes with a simple slide of your finger, adjusting parameters for a variety of effects – for example Echo/Ping Pong replicates a tape effect when the parameters are slid. The display features lighting that corresponds to the X-Pad configuration – adding to the ease of use.
There are also three new beat effects, Mobius (this changes the frequency of the oscillator to constantly rise or fall in time with the beat. You can tweak the parameters to make the sound longer or shorter and change the waveform to alter the character of the sound), Triplet Filter (which changes the cut off frequency cyclically for the filter which is synced to the beat, based on three beats – a time signature often used to modulate liquid DnB basslines) and Triplet Roll (this records the input sound when the FX on/off button is pressed and outputs the recorded sound repeatedly according to the selected beat division – perfect for UK Garage build ups).
Finally, the new External FX routing allows you to send and return your selected channel independently. On the DJM-A9’s predecessor, send and return disabled the Beat FX section. This simple but effective update provides greater creative freedom when using external effect pedals etc. In addition, this new routing capability will enable connection of external equipment, such as a sampler, with routing through to any channel.
Boost Your Performance
To further improve the usability of the DJM-A9, Pioneer DJ has made a number of upgrades to the mixer including the use of the 3rd generation of Magvel fader. This new fader now features a number of enhancements, with reductions to both the parallel and perpendicular slack (when compared to the first generation Magvel fader used in the DJM-900NXS2) as well as a stable and smooth feeling. There’s a reassuring weighting that allows for quick cut-in and delicate adjustments and the bump stops emit a reassuring thud.
Thanks to the larger footprint, space around the EQ pots has been improved – improving playability compared to the previous DJM mixers. The fader section from the DJM-V10 has been used to allow for delicate fade in/out operations and features adjustable curves to suit mixing styles that require the ability for quick cuts.
The main features of the Pioneer DJ DJM-A9 include:
- Improved sound quality (Similar to the DJM-V10)
- Bluetooth input
- WIFI connectivity
- Dedicated MIC channel strip with Phantom Power and 4 dedicated FX
- Improvements to the channel faders
- Booth EQ
- Dual headphone cue sections
- Center lock function on sound colour FX pot
- New Beat FX including Mobius, Triplet Roll, Triplet Filter
- Improved FX assign
- Improved X-PAD
- New visual design for the X-PAD
- True Send / Return capability
*Stagehand application is due for release in mid-2023.
Input/Output Terminals
|
Inputs |
DIGITAL x 4 (coaxial) |
Outputs |
MASTER x 2 (XLR x 1, RCA x 1) |
|
USB |
USB Type-A x 1 |
|
Others |
SEND (1/4" TS jack) x 1 |
|
Frequency Response |
20 Hz – 40 kHz (LINE) |
|
S/N Ratio |
|
114 dB (USB, Digital IN) |
Total Harmonic Distortion |
0.005 % (LINE-MASTER1) |
|
Power Consumption |
46 W |
|
Maximum Dimensions (W × D × H) |
407.4 × 458.3 × 107.9 mm (with the wireless antenna 140.7 mm) / 16.4" x 18.4" x 4.25" (with the wireless antenna 5.54") |
|
Weight |
10.2 kg / 22.5 lb |
|
Accessories |
• Power cord |
|
Compatible Software |
rekordbox |
Bluetooth transmission distances are a guideline. Transmission distances may change depending on the surrounding environment.
- Enhanced sound quality, perfect for clubs, festivals, live streams and broadcast
- Remote control via the Stagehand* application
- Upgraded mic channel strip with phantom power and dedicated FX
- WIFI and Bluetooth connectivity
- New Beat FX - Mobius, Triplet Filter, Triplet Roll
- Upgraded 3rd generation Magvel crossfader