Pioneer DJM-A9

AlphaTheta Corporation announces the release of the DJM-A9 next-generation professional DJ mixer from its Pioneer DJ brand. The 4-channel unit raises the bar for club standard mixers – boasting huge upgrades compared to its predecessor, the DJM-900NXS2 – with stunningly clear sound quality, enhanced playability and connectivity, and a host of new features to help you take your performances to the next level.

You’ll sound better than ever when you perform on the DJM-A9. An ESS Technology 32-bit high-quality A/D converter is built in to the channel input section and D/A converters of the same type are featured in the master and booth output sections to produce crystal-clear, natural-sounding audio on the dancefloor and in the booth for any genre of music you play. The sound from the microphone input and headphone outputs has also been enhanced through fine-tuning and improved construction with carefully selected new components.

The DJM-A9 has also received major upgrades to the way it feels. Various elements have been tweaked to make the DJ mixer more instinctive and comfortable to play on, including increased spacing around the EQ knobs. The channel faders and the MAGVEL FADER crossfader are slicker than those on the DJM-900NXS2, enabling you to mix and scratch more smoothly. And the Sound Color FX include the world’s first Center Lock feature, which you can turn on to ensure you don’t accidentally cross over between the hi/low parameters, no matter how quickly you turn the knob.

Beat FX are more instinctive to use on the DJM-A9 thanks to the new color display and revamped X-Pad, which is now arranged horizontally for simple, sideways finger sliding. The Beat FX channel selector is now a dedicated button, enabling quicker effect routing, and the Multi I/O section has been upgraded to offer true send capabilities. In total, there are 14 Beat FX to play with, including 3 new ones.

An enhanced microphone section brings new possibilities when streaming or MCing. You can connect a condenser mic directly to the DJM-A9 for the best possible vocal sound quality thanks to the phantom power supply to the mic input, which is an industry-first feature on a DJ mixer. To dynamically change the sound of your voice, there are 3 different mic effects plus a dedicated reverb to play with.

Changing DJs or playing back-to-back is a breeze on the DJM-A9 thanks to the dual sets of USB Type-B and Type-C ports, which enable you to connect two PCs/Macs running either rekordbox or Serato DJ Pro. And the mixer’s expanded connectivity opens up new possibilities for your performances. If you want to play tracks from a mobile device, Bluetooth^®/MD input makes it easy on the DJM-A9. The audio can be routed to any channel and you can use all the mixer’s effects to change the sound.

The DJM-A9 is compatible with the forthcoming version of rekordbox, which will be available in March 2023. To use the mixer with Serato DJ Pro, you’ll need to buy a license or subscription for the software and download the latest version here. The mixer supports DVS control via either applications.

The Wi-Fi^® connectivity built in to the DJM-A9 is useful for front of house teams, who can use the new Stagehand app to remotely monitor various information from the mixer, and even control selected functions, via an iPad that’s wirelessly connected to the same LAN router as the decks. By keeping an eye on things such as level meters and track information, engineers can adjust sound system settings and troubleshoot without entering the booth or disturbing the DJ.

Stunningly clear sound quality

Your performances will sound better than ever on the DJM-A9, which takes the audio quality from the DJM-900NXS2 to another level.

This next-generation club sound comes from extensive development and fine-tuning of existing technology from previous units, plus brand-new components. The channel input section is equipped with an ESS Technology 32-bit high-quality A/D converter for crystal-clear, high-resolution sound, while the master and booth output sections employ 32-bit high-quality D/A converters from the same brand so you can experience sound from the booth monitors that’s the same as the crowd hears on the dancefloor. Even the sound quality of the microphone input and headphone outputs has been improved with carefully selected new parts and design optimization.

Evolved playability

Feel like you’re playing a musical instrument when you get your hands on the DJM-A9, which inherits the familiar layout from the DJM range but includes updated controls and components for accurate mixing and instinctive scratching.

Increased spacing around the EQ knobs gives you the room to twist your fingers, and high-grade, bright LEDs in the channel section make it easier than ever to get a visual grasp on sound levels. You can perform more dynamically thanks to the frequency response of the isolators, which have been optimized to make the most of the latest music production traits. And, with higher-quality, slicker channel faders than the DJM-900NXS2, plus the third-generation MAGVEL FADER crossfader, you can enjoy silk-smooth mixing and rapid, stable scratching.

Sound Color FX with world’s first Center Lock

Turn on the brand-new Center Lock feature and, when you’re using the popular Sound Color FX, each knob will stop turning when you reach the center position. This means you can twist the dial as quickly as you like, taking the effect right up to the maximum of the hi or down to the minimum of the low parameter, without the risk of going too far and switching to the opposite parameter. When you turn Center Lock off, the Sound Color FX knobs work in the same way as those on the DJM-900NXS2.

Newly advanced Beat FX

The Beat FX section, a long-time favorite element of the DJM series, has been significantly enhanced for the DJM-A9. A new color display helps you to quickly and accurately understand the status of the selected effect, and it features lighting that corresponds with the X-Pad’s horizontal arrangement, enabling more intuitive control with a simple finger slide. You can use the X-Pad to change the Echo and Ping Pong effects to create a unique analog tape-style sound. And, within the 14 total Beat FX, there are 3 new ones you can use to add extra variation to your performances:

• Mobius: Changes the frequency of the oscillator to constantly rise or fall in time with the beat.
• Triplet Filter: Changes the cut-off frequency cyclically for the filter according to the beat (based on 3 beats).
• Triplet Roll: Outputs the recorded sound repeatedly according to the specified beat fraction (based on 3 beats).

Even better, the channel selector is now a dedicated button, enabling you to quickly apply effects to your chosen channel.

Enhanced mic section

In response to the evolving needs DJs have when using microphones during live streams and club sets, the mic section of the DJM-A9 has been developed so you can enjoy more control and add extra creativity to your performances on the mic. The phantom powered input means you can connect a high-quality condenser mic directly to the DJM-A9, a feature never seen before on a DJ mixer. And there are 3 new microphone effects, with a dedicated reverb effect so you can change the sound of your voice and hype up the crowd with your vocals:

• Echo: Outputs a delay sound several times while attenuating it to add an echo effect.
• Pitch: Changes the pitch of the microphone sound.
• Megaphone: Changes the microphone sound so it sounds like you’re talking through a megaphone.

It’s quick and easy to turn the mic input on or off with the brand-new Push-to-Talk button when you want to grab the mic and address the audience. The audio from the mic can be excluded from the recording output if you want, so you can MC for the live crowd but record your mix without vocals.

Other features

• Support for rekordbox and Serato DJ Pro
  Choose your favorite DJ software to use with the DJM-A9, which includes support for the DVS features in both rekordbox and Serato DJ Pro.^*1
• DJM-REC app support for reliable recording
  Easily record your performances with DJM-REC for iOS/Android. This handy app enables you to share your mixes via platforms such as Mixcloud and stream in real time via services including Twitch.
• Lockable power cord^*2
  Relax in the knowledge that the lockable power cord will always stay firmly in place, even if you knock it while connecting or disconnecting other equipment from the mixer.
• Video and lighting app support
  With support for TC Supply’s ShowKontrol and the free app PRO DJ LINK Bridge, DJs, event producers, lighting designers, LJs, video creators, and VJs can produce sound and visual coordination with confidence and create shows that captivate audiences.