’s hard to believe that Pioneer DJ has been producing DJ products for just 30 years. Established in Japan in 1994, the business launched its first product (the CDJ-500) and has since built an enviable line-up of professional controllers, mixers and players that are used by DJs in bars and clubs, as well at events by mobile DJs, in every corner of the world. Whilst the company has changed ownership seemingly on multiple occasions in recent years, the brand’s presence in our market feels unassailable.

Of course, they have been susceptible to all the supply issues our entire industry has suffered from, but the brand has emerged from the pandemic renewed and refreshed. I think this could be partly down to so many popular DJs (every one of whom is ultra-cool) creating videos during the periods that they could not play to clubs – have you ever noticed just how large that logo is on the back of their players? It stands out a mile away and is a brilliant example of putting your brand in people’s faces.

Whether or not this has contributed to their overall strategy, the PR is astonishing. A simple comparison of Pioneer DJ’s social media following with that of their rivals, shows that more people follow them than the rest of the world’s most popular mixer and controller manufacturers – combined. So, Pioneer DJ has a vast range of controllers which are incredibly popular, endorsed by a long line of superstar DJs – loyalty any brand would kill for. Whilst it may be an exaggeration to say they have conquered the DJ world of DJ mixers and controllers, it has been interesting watching their development, particularly outside of that market.

If you think of Pioneer DJ, you think of controllers. You may then think about their headphones. But speakers? Not so much.

Whilst the aforementioned brand loyalty makes producing a range of speakers a logical step, the overall scene of professional PA is a very different proposition. The market is dominated by huge brands who have been producing speakers for a very long time indeed. But still, with the fanbase the brand has, it makes sense to try. The XPRS (taken from the word expression) range of professional active loudspeakers was launched in 2016, and like much of Pioneer DJ’s controller range, it’s been subjected to a refresh this year.

PIONEER DJ XPRS122 & XPRS1182S ProMobile_ON STAGE_2021 st 2.qxp_Layout 1 26/01/2022 11:45 Page 1 FOR DJ’ & MOBILE ENTERTAINERS S SPEAKER, MICROPHONE & LIGHTING STANDS, CABLES & ACCESSORIES Never Go On-Stage Without Us On-Stage is available from leading music stores and online retailers. pioneer dj xprs122 & xprs1182s With a choice of two tops (10-inch Whilst I am pretty and 12-inch) and two subs (15- any genre, it’s only inch and 18-inch) the range may into dirty house not be extensive but it includes that I feel truly at the most popular sizes used by mention that we had venues and DJs.

For our test, we received a full set of the big boys, I find it really hard the 12-inch tops and 18-inch subs. big sub-heavy track And we duly put them to use in join in with the what can only be described as a I’m fully aware of fairly extreme environment – 350 looks – and in the college students at a summer ball, party, stupidly out crammed into a space which was cabs are well designed not quite big enough. made from plywood rugged black paint This summer ball also marked a thought-out design first in my career.

Whilst Steve [Pro handles in all the Mobile’s Business Development reassuringly heavy Manager] and I have messed about classic logo on the on decks together at trade shows, mesh grills, you are retailer nights and of course Pro of PA for a very Mobile Conference, this was the first time we’d ever appeared on The XPRS122 12-inch the same bill at a live event! is a two-way active a handle on the For our first ever appearance as a and one on the side, duo, the night proved to be a lot are also rigging points of fun.

Steve is known for his love Designed to work of bashment and dance (a curious range speaker and combination) and he also has a rear is quite angular knack for finding rare remixes of rubber feet so that it classic dance tracks. on the floor in two 82 happy playing upright or on its side. Housing when we get a class-D amplifier rated with a and main stage peak of 2000W and a maximum home. Did I SPL of 131db, the cabinet weighs 18inch subs? 20.2kg and measures 637mm high, 362.7mm wide and 350mm to put a great deep.

At the bottom of the cab is on and not a hi-hat point for speaker poles. crowd, though how cheesy this The amplif ier is protected case of a college with thermal limiting, a digital of place! Both compressor with digital limiting. and sturdy, The drivers consist of a 12-inch coated in a ferrite LF cone driver and a 1.75- and with well inch compression driver. Inputs features. With are a MIC/line combo, a HI-Z/line right places, a combo and a 3.5mm stereo jack feel and that (unbalanced), all with their own front of the level knobs.

There is also an XLR getting a lot out for extending the sound. reasonable price. The DSP display with a fulltop speaker functioning rotary knob controls speaker, with the volume and Let's you choose top of the cab your input settings too. You can whilst there select from a list of four factory on the top. DSP pre-sets (live, music, speech, both as a fullmonitor), select the sub setting a monitor, the as well as adjust EQ settings via and features a 4-band equaliser, and also store can be placed up to 16 of your own programmed positions – settings.

PIONEER DJ XPRS122 & XPRS1182S pioneer If you get lost in all of these when using whilst experimenting with the With a top sound, don’t worry – you can just and cleverly reset the entire system to restore handles, the factory settings. – but do remember weight! The sub we used, the XPRS118S, is quite the beast. Offering a On both class-D amplifier with a peak of limiter lights 4000W and an SPL of 130dB, this you hit the top is serious sub for serious parties.

This became a With a weight of 32.3kg and the night wore measuring 661mm wide, 535mm were keen to high and 536.5mm deep, you’ll could go, and need a good trolley or some to do this. For wheels to attach to the cabs. we seemed to It’s a good-looking unit and I’d the right side argue it’s the pick of the subs. I suspect there For the small additional cost, in the leads, why not give yourself the extra them would headroom? It’s so much better to we did hit the have it and not need it, than need frequently.

If it and not have it. have more could cope with. Covering the frequency range case for 15-inch of 40-120hz, the XPRS118S has left and right XLR jack combo When I arrived, inputs and XLR link outs. There is set up and was a volume control knob, a switch music. Having with three selectable EQ settings cabs by 3dB, (normal, extended and boost), as mids seemed well as one to select the output at wasn’t pronounced 80, 100 or 120hz.

Finally, Pioneer me. We both DJ has also included a polarity were happy switch so you can reverse the subs the sound we PIONEER DJ XPRS122 & XPRS1182S dj xprs122 & xprs1182s them in multiples. very intuitive and, on testing in hat, rubber feet an empty room, it seemed more designed recessed sound than we could need. The sub can be picked up top end in particular was very that 32.3kg of clear, clean and loud. We also found we needed to reduce the sub output of the tops, to leave speakers, there are the heavy lifting to those 18-inch which show when ferrite LF cone drivers. of their abilities. helpful feature as The XPRS2 range is a lot of sound on.

Of course, we at really good value. You could explore how far we start out by buying the tops, had the ideal setting then supplement them with a whatever reason, single sub, and when funds allow, reach the limit on purchase an additional sub for faster than the left. the full package. The full system was a difference we had is ideal for anywhere you though swapping need big sound, all the way up have proven this. And to what I’d consider the limits of limit of the tops mobile DJ work.

You’re getting anything, the subs a lot of bang for buck and, with room than the tops a seven-year warranty, peace of Perhaps this is a mind that your speakers will last versions? a long time and be repaired if anything goes wrong. Steve had already playing background I think Pioneer DJ has huge increased the top potential for further development the top end and when it comes to speakers. The too high and the sub hard-won brand loyalty is an enough for asset all by itself.

Developing new had a play until we products in the PA market is a nothat we were getting brainer, it’s going to be interesting wanted – it’s really to see how far they go. ZZ XX -- JJ DD XX JJ DD rr ee ee nn oo ii PP 83