marmite XDJ-RR. The RR was quietly ending up in bedrooms and travel bags for people who wanted a standalone like an XDJ-RX/RX2/RX3, but not for RX money. They didn’t want XDJ-XZ channel counts, 2 would do them fine! It was the gateway to navigating Rekordbox operating systems on a controller, having a genuine standalone experience but without the need to remortgage for the XZ’s and Opus-Quads of the world. It was small and able and probably the first controller of many headline DJs to this day! The trouble is, the market has moved on and the RR might has well stand for ‘Real Relic’. Since the inception of the RR, Streaming has exploded. Mobile devices now classed as legitimate DJ tools. Cloud libraries now stable and accessible. Beginner DJs expectation of the technology is to keep up with the rest of their lives, not like using some cracked soft- ware from 2014. The XDJ-AN feels like AlphaTheta has recognise that and built the controller to 2026’s think tank and their habits. Physically, its the trademark familiarity as a DJ you get to enjoy. Two decks, Two channels and a layout clearly inspired by the CDJ-3000 players and DJM mixers. AlphaTheta are the best at intentionally mak- ing this a gateway drug to train you up as quickly as physically possible to playing at higher levels, with bigger (and more expensive!) Kit. One of the biggest hurdles for new DJs has always been kit which is totally different from bedroom to club; the XDJ-AN closes this gap considerably. From the cue buttons to loop controls. Hot Cues, FX, headphones and library navigation and settings; its Before we go ‘full pro mobile magazine’ already teaching you where your hands need to be if with this, I’m going to ignore protocol you were playing on CDJ-3000s. Its all part of that natural feel across hardware!