Pioneer DJ has today announced the Opus Quad, its first ever true four-channel standalone DJ controller/system, with next-gen CPU tech powering onboard WiFi, streaming services, in-unit track analysis and more.
Go deeper: Pioneer DJ Opus Quad Review
The five-screen, full-sized unit marks a bold design shift for Pioneer DJ, with a look aimed squarely at the mobile DJ market, as well as boutique venues like lounges and bars. The unit will also appeal to the serious home DJ, although its launch price – around £/$/€3000 – marks it as a clear flagship product, which will have pro and elite, rather than mass, appeal.
The unit has full-sized CDJ-inspired jogwheels and CDJ-style hot cue pads, a pro four-channel mixer complete with Color and Beat FX, external inputs for phono/line and Bluetooth, four separate inputs for USBs, SSDs and a computer, and Pro Link support.
It also boasts a modern 10.1″ touchscreen alongside two auxiliary screens and in-jog displays, plus innovative new features including Smooth Echo (for easy open format transitions) and a useful new “hot cue to temporary cue” feature. With such features, the Opus Quad marks a new product line for Pioneer DJ, breaking with the mould of the company’s club gear.
The new controller sports curves and angles that make it seem smaller than its near 20kg bulk, with a five degree “wedge” shape for comfortable use. With brown side panels and brass-colouring on some of its knobs, its appearance is as much “piece of furniture” as it is DJ unit – something Pioneer DJ’s designers were no doubt aware of as they targeted the affluent home user, alongside the working DJ.
Read this next: Pioneer DJ Opus Quad Review
The Opus Quad also works with Rekordbox for software DJing, with Serato compatibility (unlocking Serato DJ Pro) planned for summer 2023.
First Thoughts
This is a major release for Pioneer DJ. The unit brings the company up to speed with the advances in standalone DJing made by Engine DJ, the operating system that powers Denon DJ’s Prime and SC series of products, and the Numark Mixstream standalones too.
The two main things to note here are the launch of a new product line (we expect more products that look like this, with these features and controls, different from the club gear Pioneer DJ is famous for), and the CPU-based architecture, which is the thing that will allow Pioneer DJ to roll out features for this unit and those that come after it easily, much as Engine DJ does with the aforementioned kit.
People have been wondering for years when Pioneer DJ will do this. It finally has – but the flagship product, perhaps predictably, is more expensive than anything else similar on the market by quite a large amount.
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