Numark TTX1 turntables

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djmauro

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First ,I would like to say whats up to everyone on this site. This is my first time here .I hope I can help anyone with any questions regarding all this stuff. I have over 14 years of experince in the nightclub,dj,audioenginier business. (no my heads not gassed)
I just love this crap. I love it so much its my full time job. during the week I build night clubs,at night iam in the studios
recording and on the weekends iam spinning,So i consider myself to be a jedi knight when it comes to this stuff(Iam no Yoda,I havent met him yet).I see a few jedis on this forum also so its good to have skilled people here,
i just purchased a pair of Numark TTX1 and iam gonn give a little review on them.......
I bought these boys about 3 weeks ago.
when I first opened the box i was extremely impressed with the way it was packed. The foam was in place everything was tight.
This turntable is not light it weighs just as much if not more than a tech 1200.
I immediately noticed the perforated handles at the bottom of the table to help you lift the bad boy. The bottom is made of thick sealed rubber.
I started to put the table together.....I went and got the rca wires that came with it...they too were also good thick shielded pair of wires so was the power cable. I was getting happier by the moment. located on the bottom were two rca jacks a PHONO/LINE switch a power cord out (also removeable) and a digital out.

I then put the slick future looking plater on,i proceeded to attach the tone arm .for those of you who dont know this table comes with 2 detachable tone arms. a s shape & a strait arm. I put the s shape since i mix house .
I then powered her up ,she lit up like a Christmas tree. Everything is this dope cobalt blue except for the target light.
I hit the start button ,this thing took off like it was meant for a air plane engine. I quickly noticed how smooth the pitch fader was you can dial it to go 10,20 or 50%.(nice touch)
I found the interface to be very easy to use . its features had pitch adj. key lock ,BPM counter 33, 44 and 78 rpm a quartz lock and a brake adjust. A start & stop button r located on both the top & bottom of the left side of the table. This is so you can mount them battle style & the pitch also allows you to mount it sideways by removing the 2 screws & swapping the place of the 33&44 rpm buttons(also 2 screws).
(did I mention they also give you the tool for that). The LED display automatically knows when you have changed this and the display lays itself out battle style or normal (how F_____ing cool). Playing on this thing was incredible every thought went into designing this thing they didn't leave anything out even the tone-arm height adjust was smooth and quality metal was used(it also had a good lock).The buttons were laid out perfect they dont get in the way.
They even thought of a little LED light under the table so you can see your wires in the dark(if you ever needed to change them in the dark)!!!
to sum it up.....
I love the quality and features of this table.This thing makes the Tech 1200 look & feel ancient.
I also owned & tried numerous amount of other Tables (stanton,vestax ,denon ,etc)those dont even come close.
The only complaint I had was the target light . it could be a little brighter.It also should of came with covers but everything else makes up for it.

Technics better watch out ,theirs a knew heavy hitter trying to take the thrown and I think its gonna win.
:bigeyes:
 
the only problem

the only problem is convincing everyone else that. I've been djing only for 2 years, so i am still new to this. I have spun on technics before, but i own 2 stanton str8-100's. I broke into djing just as a new generation of tables were coming about. pdx-2000, my 100's and now these from numark. And although i personally think they are all good tables (of course the stanton the bottom of that list) its gonna be hard to convince a lot of people to switch from techs. Personally i am always up to try new gear, and i think its good that numark is staying competitive and puttting out quality ****. But i just dont see the stead fast tech lovers changing over to anything else soon.. But on the other hand, there are so many young dj's out there like me, that just like the tables, are a new generation. And wont be as gung ho about technics b/c they will actaully have options. So while it will be tricky getting teh seasoned veterans to change, i dont think its completely lost. Just to add my view about technics, yes they are built like tanks, their record proves it, but i honestly believe they're becoming out dated. Now i know people will disagreee with me, but the biggest change they made in the past 10 years was a key lock? now i heard they're coming out with a new tech in japan, and soon in america, but the only feature on that was a pitch bend? (correct me if i;m wrong, i;m really not sure) ok i;m rambling. Bascailly i believe that its good to see some real competition to the techs, and although some may disagree, it is possible to build an equal if not better version of a table then a technic, and whether the numark / vestax has done it, its a damn good start.
 
I think people are too comfortable with the 1200's. They trash other tables too fast. The pdx's are very good tables, so are the x1's and they bring new things to the table. If DJ's don't try new tables/ gear Then there will never be any real comp for the 1200's and some good tables will die out and Technics won't have to improve the 1200's.
 
and plus they were 549 for a pair on ebay :D
 
TTx1 (as i have said in other posts) is a damn good table and does not deserve all the negativity that it was receiving, feature wise they blow 12s out of the water (as much as it pains me to say it!). I got mine at Christmas and I just got them broke in at a party on Friday, they performed flawlessly. I’ve yet to play on a better table for scratching (including PDX2ks), even with plain Ortofon Pros they wont skip, and I can scratch fast as lightning! :o)

oku
 
well put Pace,
Here is the major problem with technics and this is what i have always heard from dealers & distributors (dont know if its true or not ,but it makes alot of sense)
The demand for a new 1200 has been in the asking since I can remember.
.Technics is never going to come out with a new model, why?
because the people at panasonic (they manufacture technics) say that the market is too small to start redesigining a turntable that only sell to 5% of the market.
Think about it,why would a huge company waste their time and money into redesiging something for such a small dj market. ,in fact they almost discontinued the table a few times!!
The only upgrades been in all these years is a stupid quartz lock and an even dumber needle/cartage holder.(oh yea ,the improved on/off swith)They still wont even put removable RCAs on.(I think digital outs are important on table.I use it all the time to sample something into my computer.Is it really that hard to put it on a table?).

You see, it didn't really coast them anything to do that to the table because its the same chassis ,same assembly line.Get it!
Everything these days is going digital.
I see a pro CD player coming out before a new 1200 does.
Numark & all these other companies only design for the DJ market .Thats why their always listening.
If technics doesn't want to step up to the plate,let someone else try. I think Numark did an outstanding job on this table.Its going in on all my club installs and ill recommend it to anybody who ask me which is better. i have waited too long for technics.
 
I have a set of x1's and I don't have a problem with them. I've spun 12's and 2k's and just thought i'd try something new. Numark did a good job with the design and the overall sturdiness of the x1's (they weigh a ton), and performance wise I don't see how anyone can claim that 12's blow them away There may be some small things that might need to be improved on but for a new table its damn good. The only question left to be answered doesn't have anything to do with what the tables can do, but will they last as long as 12's. Right now 12's are the standard but If people give these tables a fair shot you might see a change.
 
I am going to reveal which school I am in about this, but why are digital inputs on a turntable such a good thing? We have all speant a lot of time making everything analog, and when you have to go into digital, wouldn't you rather do it with a high quality A/D converter instead of some extra part on a Turntable?
-Peasant Nikon
 
well, were not talking apogee converters here...what DJ, studio, etc. will use an onboard turntable digital output ? NONE....but how many DJ's would hook a set of cables up to anything they could to digitally record, etc. ? the question is not about digital vs. analog here. what is tight is that i can digitally record or monitor my sample or scratch to any such digital device and-its on !....For example; say iam working on a project on my powerbook & i want to record a quick sample of something. I just walk over to the turntable ,plug the digital out (using a digital coax cable), plug it (digitally) into my soundcard on my powerbook .hit record and......bang!!! its done ,I can continue working. At a 44.1k sampling rate (the standard quality), and its pretty damn good. If your concerned about quality, their are plenty of plug-ins these days to warm up the signal.(a_ha !)
Somehow, one way or another you will find some kind of use for that output. I think every device should have a digital out.matter of fact, 90% of all new devices have some sort of digital output. a line level output (even digital) is cleaner, and usually sounds better.
who knows, maybe in the near future we will be able to connect to peoples brains using digital outputs........ahahahahhah:monkey:
 
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Are the digital outputs limited to 16/44.1 on the TTX1? The next digital recorder I shell out for is going to be 24/96 for sure. I understand what you mean about running a digital connection directly into the sound card, but what I am saying is that in order to have a digital out on a turntable, the analog phono signal has to be changed into a digital line inside the turntable, right? I believe that would mean that you have to have both a phono amp and a A/D converter. I know that you have to go digital for most recordings, but isn't that better done on a high quality phono amp and A/D converter that are seperated from the turntable? Please let me know if I am incorrect about this, because I do not know as much about it as I would like...
-Peasant Nikon
 
Technics and innovtion

Mauro, i'm totally with ya on this. DJing is not necesarily meant for the "big" companies (ie, Panasonic). The one thing i don't understand is, since essentiall they've been making the same TT for over ten years, why hasn't the priced dropped? honestly, I can see shelling out $500 for a Vestax or TTx1 (digital outs, all kinds of displays, ptich faders that are adjustable, etc.) Maybe Techs would see a surge in sales if they cut the price.
 
They don't have to drop the price because people that love the 12's take them how they are and think that they're worth the it even though there hasn't been any real improvments made in 20 years.
 
I reacently purchased a brand new M3D at GC. It can be hard at times to decide on equipment. The only reason why i DIDN'T buy the TTX was b/c over the next year i assumed the price of it will drop like other new products. for example: STR8-100 price after introduction $450 price after 6 months: $300, now: $250 after rebate. the price and value of the 1200s will remain about the same b/c people are obsessed w/ it. I would love to get a ttx to replace my str8-100 that cost me $150 but i can wait...:victory:
 
They haven't gone down in price because they think their the only ones on the block with a quality product. My past experiences with technics has always been a problem.Their always snotty & conceded. I tried to open myself up as a dealer for my company once,and they told me panasonic doesnt deal with small companies!!
I was like,what everrrrrrrrr.
:rolleyes:
so I guess they think their s*it dont stink. Maybe they will finally drop in price since the competition is heating up.



to answer Peasant Nikon question.
The answer is yes, it would be better to record analog out into a a/d converter, but! the point I am trying to make here is that its great to see DJ gear thinking ahead .Like it or not DJs are always going to be around . its gonna be how we expand ourselves. Its good to know you have options .Most people,DJs, or home studios reading this forum dont have a A/D converter .
Its all about convenience and expandability. digital outs on units are very flexible.
Its not any better to record it that way, but its not a bad thing either(see what i am saying).Look all I am saying is whatever is more convenient for the average person here. Its not gonna stop you from making that hit song.get it?
I own tons of analog gear including a 2" tape machine. I never use the thing.
Its too time consuming to set it up.YEA it will sound better than digital, but in the long run, you can always fix it in the mix. Its all what you like to use.
 
djmauro said:
They haven't gone down in price because they think their the only ones on the block with a quality product.
*I do not think that is necessarily true. It comes down to simple demand economics. People are willing to pay that much for 1200s just the way they are, so there is no corporate reason for them to upgrade or drop prices (I agree a little more 1200 innovation would be nice too…).



the point I am trying to make here is that its great to see DJ gear thinking ahead .Like it or not DJs are always going to be around .
*I think it is nice too, although in my opinion, affordable pro-tools and the beatmatching CD players may one day make a joke out of all of the time we put into learning how to mix. I realize I am going into DJ survivalist mode, but I do not like product ploys that include blurbs like “no need to hire a DJ.”

digital outs on units are very flexible. Its not any better to record it that way, but its not a bad thing either(see what i am saying).Look all I am saying is whatever is more convenient for the average person here. Its not gonna stop you from making that hit song.get it?
*I could not agree with you more about this. Most music is done in digital nowadays anyway. My friend was telling me about the irony of this last night. I just feel like the fewer times you do the A/D/A thing, the better.
 
it's all a matter of comfort.....

when I drive my 2000 Mitsubishi Galant to/from work, I know exactly what to expect from the steering, acceleration, transmission, tires, etc....

If, for some reason, I had to drive my friends car to work, things would feel different.....noticably.

The point is, people have been "driving" 1200's for so long, it's become very comfortable. Besides; 1200's have been around for nearly 30 YEARS. That's called DEPENDABILITY. A turntable is designed to do ONE THING: SPIN A RECORD at a given speed.

Gimmicks like reverse, 16% pitch, and LCD screens are over-rated and clutter up a perfectly good table. And as far as torque, on the TTX1 that's STARTUP torque; i.e. - pressing the START button. What matters more is WOW/FLUTTER (accuracy); which no table on the market has come close to competing with Technics on.

When a company makes a table as brick-****-house sturdy, trustworthy, and as accurate as a 1200, I'll definitely consider it; until then, the 12's will remain in my coffin.
 
The point is, people have been "driving" 1200's for so long, it's become very comfortable. Besides; 1200's have been around for nearly 30 YEARS. That's called DEPENDABILITY. A turntable is designed to do ONE THING: SPIN A RECORD at a given speed.

and this is what i meant when i said that there are people out there that will bash other tables, not b/c they are less quality, but b/c they just are used to techs... not to be an *** sik_breakz.
but ok u spin a record on a turntable... but as a dj u do things with that spinning record. and by having more options as to how u can spin that record u can do more as a dj. personally i
wouldn't use the bpm monitor.. or whatever, but thats me, and i;m sure a lot of people do find a need for it, and therefore its a good feature.. And its not adding bells and whistles.. it updating something that needed to be updated 10 years in the making. and what makes u so quick to say that vestax or the new numark wont be dependable, given numark doesn't have the greatest track record, but dont jump to conclusions. and ok their wow and flutter may be not as accurate, but just b/c its not a tech it doesn't mean in 4 years they're gonna break down. it just pisses me off when i hear people bash other gear, b/c its not what their used to.
If, for some reason, I had to drive my friends car to work, things would feel different.....noticably.
ok it would feel different, but so would driving a mercedes s-500 and then switching to a bmw 740il. they feel different but one is not neccesary better then the other. but if the reason u dont like other tables is b/c of comfort and the fact that its not what u use personally, dont say its not a quality product.

again sik breakz i;m not directing this at u personally... just my opinion on the entire matter
 
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Just a question. How come people refer to any feature on a table that is not on the 12's as a gimmick. I see this a companies trying to give DJ's more tools to work with and to expand their creativity. isn't that what DJing/Tablism is all about? If you are mixing at a party you might not need 50% pitch blend, but a scratch DJ may be able to use it for a new sound or effect. same with the revearse. The BPM counter and tone are are there for those who might just need them. The 12's have a rock solid reputation and have lasted for a very long time no one can deny that, but they should not be treated like there is no other viable alternative. Technics has ignored peoples request to improve the 12's not because they are perfect but because the DJ market is not a big deal to them. By shutting down any and all challengers without a fair shot technics does't have to improve anything because they know that people are being blindly loyal and not demanding that they improve. Companies like Numark Vestax Stanton and Gemeni are "DJ" companies and they are actually (for better or worse) trying to provide DJ's with other tools to expand the art form. Why trash companies that are trying to improve your passion?
The X1's are new on the market, they may not be absolutely perfect but they are a damn good start. If people would give them and the pdx2k's some support DJ's will get better options quality and prices because thats what competition does.
After 20+ years why don't we want something new?
 
pase i couldn't agree more


ps fuc the bucs
 
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