Denon DN-X1700 – Review
Having been released 1,5 years ago, Denon DN-X1700 still remains one of reference standards among multifunctional 4-channel mixers. We tested it to find out how it works with some important types of mixing software, and here are results of our tests.
PACKING
The mixer is supplied in a large box, inside of which it is well protected by 2 moulded pieces of polystyrene packing that assure cushioning of possible impacts during transportation. Apart from the mixer, there are USB cable for its connection to PC/MAC, power supply cable, operation manual and CD-ROM with drivers and firmware in the box.
INSTALLATION OF DRIVERS AND CONTROL PANEL
In our experience, in order to be able to use a digital product to the utmost, it is necessary to download the latest firmware for the product and ASIO drivers. Denon DN-X1700 is not an exception, and we recommend to update the firmware and ASIO drivers before configuring it with any software. The former is now available in version 1200, while the latter reached version 2.10. The operation is quite simple and goes smoothly, and in several minutes the mixer is updated and ready to fulfill its tasks. The design of ASIO drivers panel is simple and intuitive (perhaps a bit too much), considering that the only modifications allowed are those regarding setting of latency and choice of a soundcard which you are going to use in your setup (for example, I could set an integrated DN-X1700 soundcard or soundcards integrated in 2 CDJ players Denon DN-S3700 for my tests). Besides, the usual data such as the version of drivers used, sampling frequency, number of units attached, etc. is displayed on this panel.
EXTERIOR
This is a classic 12-inch mixer with dimensions of 320(W) x 357(D) x 90(H) mm. Due to its considerable weight of 7,6 kg it is not very portable, but on the other hand it makes the mixer very solid and stable when placed on a flat surface. The weight and stability of the product are due to its body with metal framework, which makes this mixer very robust and capable of enduring even serious impacts.
As for the user interface, this mixer is really well equipped: it has 38 rotary knobs (4 of which are step knobs and other 2 are push knobs), 47 buttons and 5 volume faders (one1 for each of 4 channels and a crossfader). The materials are of high quality, and none of sliders, buttons or knobs are loose, they all are fixed well in the framework of the mixer and are intended for long and intensive use.
We would also point out a big colour display of high definition which helps the user in any situation, from configuring effects and equalizer and searching in the menu to setting of faders’ curve. All in all, the display provides us with important visual and operation support in any moment. Denon has also thought about energy saving, and the display gets less bright if the mixer is not used for several minutes.
If the user interface is well equipped, we can say the same about input & out interface of the mixer, which can be found on its rear. There are a lot of connections available:
- 2 microphone inputs, their gains can be handled independently
- SEND/RETURN connections to attach the mixer to an external effects panel
- 4 LINE inputs (stereo)
- 4 PHONO inputs (stereo) - 3 audio outputs (MASTER, BOOTH, REC)
- 4 digital inputs
- 1 digital output
- FADER START connection
- 2 USB port (USB-A and USB-B)
- 5-pin MIDI connection (to send a MIDI clock signal to an external device)
INTEGRATED SOUNDCARD AND MIDI CONTROLS
Another interesting component of the mixer which puts it to a very high level indeed is its integrated soundcard which has 4 stereo inputs and 4 stereo outputs. It is possible to work independently with up to 4 software virtual decks with a soundcard of this type. But Denon didn’t stop at quantity and provided its mixer with 32-bit DAC of high quality, AKM AK4399EQ. The mixer offers signal to noise ratio equal to 100 Db and frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
High quality of the soundcard is also confirmed by very low latencies which I managed to set without any drop-out problems, called in slang “audio stutter”; in fact, even at 1ms latency the sound at the output proved to be fluid and of excellent quality. We reached these latencies using the mixer both with Traktor PRO and VirtualDj PRO.
The following video shows the rear part of the mixer and its application with Traktor PRO 1.2.5 in 4-deck mode:
Another unique feature which, perhaps, justifies the price of about 1500 Euro, is a double integrated effects section which allows to assign an effects panel to each mixer channel, to the microphone or even to the master.
Quality was the main goal in this case too, and as a result there are 11 sound effects of an excellent quality. Among them I’d like to single out BeatBreaker which breaks down a BPM value a quarter beat at a time into 16 sections. These 16 sections can be edited according to your preferences in the mixer menu, and as a result you get a new beat pattern where these 16 sections are mixed following musical metrics.
It is possible to follow musical metrics thanks to BPM COUNTER integrated to the mixer which counts beats per minute of each track and allows to perfectly synchronize effects with the track to which an effect was applied.
A small shortcoming we noticed is that it is impossible to apply 2 audio effects to one and the same channel. It would be interesting to be able to apply 2 effects to one and the same channel at the same time, thus achieving a big number of possible combinations and getting dozens of new various effects. It is possible to do this applying an effect from panel 1 to the necessary channel and an effect from panel 2 to MASTER out. This trick functions when only one channel is used and not in the phase of mixing of 2 tracks.
The double effects section is described in the video below, in which we configured the mixer with VirtualDj PRO 6.1 in MIDI mode. The first part of the video shows how it is possible to make a videomix mapping the fader as VideoCrossFader:
CONCLUSIONS
Denon DN-X1700 is a very versatile mixer which can satisfy the needs of even most demanding DJs and DiJs. It offers a series of very powerful and sometimes sophisticated features, as in case with colour display of high definition.
If you read the review up to this point, you understand very well that integrated soundcard, double effects section, MIDI control and internal components of the mixer make it one of the best products ever designed for DJs. The only shortcomings we found are that it is impossible to use the integrated soundcard in timecode systems, that you can’t use 2 panels of effects on one and the same channel and the price which makes it available not for everyone. In all the rest I would advise this mixer to most demanding DJs.
(Translated and edited by Taissia Zubova)
