5 of the Best 4-Channel Fader Mixers: Still the Heart of the Club
Top DJ mixers from Pioneer DJ, Allen & Heath, Ecler, and more.
Get hands-on with these four-channel fader mixers, the best ones on the market today.
The Best 4-Channel Fader Mixers
A lot has changed in DJing over the last 20 years, with digital pretty much upending everything we ever knew about mixing records. I mean, can we even call them records anymore? One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the mixing part: no matter the format of the music or how you’re manipulating the player, you still need something to combine the audio signals together. And that’s where the DJ mixer comes in.
Today, we’re looking at the humble four-channel fader mixer. You know, the kind that’s been holding it down in clubs since the 1970s. And while rotary mixers are more popular than ever, I’m still partial to a nice set of faders. I even still use crossfaders – I guess it’s the old school hip-hop DJ in me.
If you want a guide to rotary mixers, check here. Or if battling and scratching is your thing, read this. But if what you want is a solid selection of four-channel fader mixers, then read on.
Most of the products mentioned in this story are available at Thomann*.
The Best 4-Channel Fader Mixers: Omnitronic PM-422P
If you’re just getting started in your DJ career, you’re going to want a mixer that’s as fully loaded as possible but also won’t make you cry when you see your credit card statement. In that, the Omnitronic PM-422P fits the bill nicely.
A four-channel analog mixer, it offers a quartet of individual channels with gain control, with two of those switchable between phono and line, and there’s a three-band EQ per channel. The crossfader also has an adjustable curve. The Omnitronic PM-422P also offers a few bonus features that you might not expect at this price point, including Bluetooth and even a built-in MP3 player.
A great jumping-off point.
The Best 4-Channel Fader Mixers: Ecler NUO4.0F
Ecler is a solid mixer manufacturer from Spain offering a number of products that are great value for money. While the company has been getting lots of praise recently for its rotary mixers, it also has a long-running fader series called NUO. The latest entry, NUO4.0F, is part of this illustrious line and makes a great compromise for DJs who want top-notch features without the top-shelf price.
Available in both black and silver models, NUO4.0F is a four-channel fader mixer aimed at both club and battle DJs. Each channel has its own three-band EQ, with adjustable fader curves for both channel and cross fader. Additionally, you can reverse the crossfader and even replace it with Ecler’s special Eternal crossfader.
You might not expect analog filters at this price point, but the NUO4.0F models actually offer two of them, each with lowpass and highpass circuits with variable resonance. Get squelchy. Other useful extras include effect sends and returns with pre/post fader selection and two PFL headphone outputs designed for back-to-back sessions.
The Best 4-Channel Fader Mixers: Allen & Heath Xone:92 MK2
The list of DJ mixers that even non-DJs may be familiar with is pretty short indeed. There’s Pioneer DJ’s DJM-A9 (below) and then there’s the Allen & Heath Xone:92. When the console mixer company decided to get into the world of club mixers, it certainly knocked it out of the park with the Xone:92.
Last year, A&H unveiled Xone:92 MK2, an entry in the not-broke, don’t-fix category of model refreshes. It’s got everything you want in a top-class fader mixer, including four channels each with total kill four-band analog EQ and adjustable curves, a new mini innoFADER Pro crossfader, and of course those gorgeous multimode filters, now improved with an optimized control curve, enhanced resonance, and silent filter switching.
And, of course, the Xone:92 MK2 features that delicious all-analog Xone sound. A seriously good mixer.
The Best 4-Channel Fader Mixers: Formula Sound FF-4000
When talking about mixers, it can be easy to get hung up on fancy features and the latest technology. But sometimes, all you really need is quality sound. Formula Sound (the keyword is right there in the name) has been releasing excellent nightclub products since 1978. And, for the FF-4000 mixer, the outfit teamed up with the loudspeaker company Funktion One, a name you may know from event flyers promising “Funktion One sound.” Together, they make a formidable team – and that’s all on display in the FF-4000.
A four-channel fader mixer with assignable crossfader channels, it’s got just what you need and nothing that you don’t. With, of course, an attention to detail in the sound. The three-band EQs sound almost like filters, while the output sounds big and bold and impressive.
If you’ve always wanted the kind of sound you expect from a rotary mixer but with faders to play with, this is the mixer for you.
The Best 4-Channel Fader Mixers: Pioneer DJ DJM-A9
And so we come to the Pioneer DJ DJM-A9, the king of the four-channel fader mixers and the world club standard. An analog/digital hybrid, it’s equally at home with both old-school turntables and USB software DJing – or a mix of both, thanks to its rekordbox and Serato DJ DVS compatibility.
It’s got four channels with three-band EQs, a whole slew of Colour and Beat FX, a Magvel fader with three curve types, Bluetooth and wireless LAN, and much more. And, like the Ecler, it sports dual headphone outs but does one better with independent cue buttons, volume knobs, and mix balance knobs for each set of headphones.
Of course, all of these professional features mean that the DJM-A9 also has a professional price tag. But if you can afford it, Pioneer DJ’s top-of-the-line mixer is the one to aspire to.
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