Pioneer XDJ-700 vs XDJ-1000MK2
Pioneer DJ is a brand that has been at the pinnacle of the DJ world for the last few decades now, and they still remain on top despite the fierce competition from opposing brands. In the mid-2000s, world-class DJs began to ditch their turntables for CDJs because of all of those added benefits, like producing a track in the morning, burning a CD in the afternoon, and playing out the track at a gig in the night.
Pioneers line of XDJ media players aims to remove the ‘burn to CD’ aspect from a DJs life by removing the CD player from their CDJ device and allowing playback from either a USB thumb drive or laptop. In general, the industry is beginning to move away from physical CDs, and are opting in on digital media. Also, the lack of a CD player means that you eliminate the stress of damaging the CD player and high maintenance costs.
The XDJ line of Pioneer DJ media players still maintains the actual feel and love that DJs have for Pioneer CDJs without feeling like DJ controllers. You can beatmatch old school style on proper hardware while searching and browsing tracks on a 7-inch screen the same way you would on a laptop running DJ software.
The XDJ-700 and 1000MK2 can be seen as an combination of classic Pioneer CDJ hardware with modern DJ software and controller capabilities. That’s why these devices come highly recommended for controller DJs who wish to dive into using CDJs. However, which player is the right one for you?
Side-By-Side Comparison
| Pioneer XDJ-700 | Pioneer XDJ-1000MK2 | |
|---|---|---|
 |
 | |
| Compatible Media | iOS Rekordbox, Android, USB flash drive, Mac (OS X 10.8-10.10), Windows (version 7 or later) | USB flash, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows PC |
| Compatible Files | WAV, MP3, AIFF, AAC | WAV, AIFF, MP3, AAC, ALAC, FLAC, iOS Rekordbox (MP3, AAC) |
| Analog Outputs | 1 x Dual RCA Stereo | 1 x Dual RCA Stereo |
| Digital Outputs | 1 x Coax (S/PDIF) | |
| USB | 1 x Type A, 1 x Type B | 1 x Type A, 1 x Type B |
| Other I/O | 1 x RJ-45 LAN (connect up to 4 players/laptops) | 1 x RJ-45 LAN |
| Height | 4.17" | 4.3" |
| Width | 9.37" | 12.01" |
| Depth | 12.13" | 15.06" |
| Weight | 4.41 lbs. | 8.16 lbs. |
| Check Prices | Amazon Guitar Center | Amazon Guitar Center |
Both the XDJ-700 and the XDJ-1000MK2 have 7-inch color touch screens which can be used to view track info, search and browse music, and to activate performance functions.
There is a massive difference in design and build quality. The XDJ-1000MK2 maintains a familiar Pioneer flagship design, while the XDJ-700 has a more simplistic stripped down design. The XDJ-700 is almost half the weight of the XDJ-1000MK2 and it is smaller in size, which makes it more portable for mobile Djs.
Both players have support for multiple digital formats which can be played via a USB drive, laptop, and even smartphones and tablets. However, the XDJ-1000MK2 can play high-res audio such as FLAC and ALAC files.
The XDJ-1000MK2 goes for around $1200, while the XDJ-700 is around $700, almost half the price. The XDJ-1000MK2 is more suited for club owners that are looking for high-end DJ gear or producers that want proper DJ hardware for a large studio setup. The XDJ-700 is a more affordable option for club owners and DJs that are not yet ready to invest too much in a premium setup, but still want solid DJ hardware.
Pioneer XDJ-1000MK2
The XDJ-1000MK2 has the qualities of a modern flagship Pioneer CDJ such as the excellent CDJ-2000NXS2. It’s a massive fully-featured DJ media player that looks like it belongs on the main stage of a music festival. However, Pioneer has stripped down the features of this player to make the device affordable.
The XDJ-1000MK2 is the second iteration of the original XDJ-1000, a popular media player with a 7-inch screen and large jog wheels. The mark 2 version maintains most of the qualities of the original, such as that gorgeous touch screen, and now includes some excellent new features that drastically improve track selection.
The older XDJ-1000 model relied only on the use of a browser knob and a few buttons to navigate through music. This made scrolling through large libraries of music difficult. The simple browse knob was meant more for browsing limited tracks that would fit onto a CD and not 8 gigabytes of tunes in multiple folders on a USB thumb drive.
Now, the XDJ-1000MK2 has a built-in search function and on-screen keyboard. This means that you can simply type in the song or artist name into the search bar and the player will locate the track for you. You can also rate or tag your songs if you wish to sort them further or you can load up tracks according to key.
Another welcomed upgrade on the XDJ-1000MK2 is the addition of FLAC and ALAC playback. This means that you can produce mixes using high-resolution (lossless compressed) audio. High res audio such as FLAC files makes a huge difference when playing out at venues with high-quality sound systems.
XDJ-1000MK2 Pros
A High-Quality Pioneer DJ Media Player with Touch Screen Functionality. The XDJ-1000MK2 has the look and feel of a high-end Pioneer CDJ and comes in at almost half the price. The touch screen, with its drastically improved track search feature, will increase track selection productivity.
FLAC and ALAC File Support. The ability to play high-resolution audio is a massive bonus for those who wish to record high-quality DJ sets and those looking to get the most out of high-end sound systems.
Pioineer XDJ-700
The XDJ-700 is a stripped-down, smaller version of the XDJ-1000MK2. The build quality isn’t as premium as the 1000MK2 (it is made mostly out of plastic), and it is much smaller, which means less room to work with.
While the XDJ-1000MK2 is similar to the CDJ-2000NX2, the XDJ-700 is more reminiscent of the old CDJ-350 with few features beyond scratching, looping and pitchshifting.
That being said, the plastic build and smaller size make for a compact and light package which is ideal for mobile DJs. Transporting two XDJ-700s to a gig is simple and straightforward. Setting up the players in a cramped DJ booth is made more accessible due to the players’ compact size.
The smaller form factor doesn’t feel cramped as well, as Pioneer has removed all unnecessary buttons and have left only the basic essentials which are neatly laid out around a smaller basic jog wheel (without a display in the center). Pioneer still manages to maintain most of the player’s features within the 7-inch touchscreen.
The touchscreen is the star of the show here. It features a responsive user interface that allows you to beat mash, loop, and play hot cues. These touch functions will take some getting used to, but they are pretty effective when used correctly.
The XDJ-700 also features track search via a touchscreen keyboard, making it easier to browse extensive music libraries that are located on a USB drive. You also have the option to load music directly from your laptop to the player. This is done using Pioneer’s Rekordbox software.
It might not make sense to use a laptop as your primary source of music (as a controller would be a better option here), but the XDJ-700s compact size makes it an ideal player for a home or bedroom setup. If your setup is located in your bedroom, then you could hook up your laptop to the XDJ-700 to practice and prepare your sets.
Once your playlist is ready, you can then transfer the music to a USB thumb drive and play without the laptop. Tracks that are prepared in the Rekordbox software will maintain beat grids and cue points when transferred over to a USB drive.
XDJ-700 Pros
Light and Compact Design. The XDJ-700 is ideal for home and bedroom setups. Its low-key minimal design is sleek and can blend into most home setups, especially if accompanied by a DJM-450 mixer.
Feature Rich Touch Screen. The XDJ-700 may seem simplistic, but the bulk of its features is wrapped up inside of its 7-inch screen. Not only does the screen display crucial track information, but it can be used to activate additional performance features.
Conclusion
Both the XDJ-700 and the XDJ-1000MK2 serve a similar purpose, to assist modern DJs in transitioning over from a DJ controller to a CDJ smoothly. The modern search and track management functionalities that are built into the players mean that DJs with extensive digital libraries can easily get going on either of these XDJ players.
Why would you turn in a perfectly good DJ controller for a pair of XDJs? You probably want to play out at larger gigs and festivals that use Pioneer hardware. If this is the case and you can afford to splash out on expensive DJ gear, then you should consider the XDJ-1000MK2. However, purchasing two units and a mixer will be a very costly affair, and you will require plenty of room to set up. The XDJ-1000MK2 is also ideal for club owners looking for a high-end Pioneer setup.
If you just need a decent home set up to practice on, then the XDJ-700 should suit your needs. The player is light and compact and should be ideal for a desk set up in your bedroom. If you do have an odd gig that requires you to bring your own DJ gear, then you won’t have much trouble transporting your decks to the venue.
