Intro

It’s a big deal whenever Pioneer DJ releases a new mixer, but that’s especially true when they upgrade the so-called industry standard. The DJM-A9 features multiple improvements over its predecessor, and raises the bar for club-standard mixers. Though, while it’s clearly a better piece of hardware, the mixer is also very familiar. In many ways, it’s the same old DJM club mixer that we’ve loved for decades.

Sound Quality

The big story with the DJM-A9 is its newfound focus on sound quality. The A9 inherits the audio circuitry from the earlier-released DJM-V10. The V10 costs almost a grand more than the A9. While neither mixer is cheap, it’s nice to know that we can get the best quality Pioneer DJ has to offer in the standard 4-channel offering.

Inside the A9 are two high-end chips made by ESS Technology: the ES9842PRO and the ES9028PRO. The first chip, the analog-to-digital converter, brings in crystal clear 32-bit audio with a very flat noise floor. The second chip converts the signal back from digital to analog, with impressive Dynamic Range (DNR) and extremely low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) levels. It’s hard to describe sound quality in a series of numbers and specs. Suffice it to say, these ESS converters are used in all sorts of audiophile-grade gear. Pioneer DJ also says they’ve made improvements to the mic inputs, the faders, and in other areas. The short version is: the A9 sounds very nice, producing crisp, clear, and well-rounded sound.

Changes From DJM-900NXS2

The A9 brings iterative changes to the iconic DJM lineup. Here are the things that have been added:

● There are three new Beat FX, called Mobius, Triplet Filter, and Triplet Roll. Also, the channel select knob for your FX is now a set of buttons.
● The A9 includes USB C, in addition to the old style, bringing it into the modern era.
● There’s a new feature for the Sound Color FX, called Center Lock, which stops your twisting action at the 12 o’clock position.
● There’s a larger, and hugely improved color screen, which helps you to quickly and accurately understand the status of the selected effect. It works in conjunction with the more streamlined X-pad, allowing you to control FX with the slide of a finger.
● My favorite new feature of the A9 is the dual cue system, which allows DJs using two different sets of headphones to monitor independent sources.
● We now have Bluetooth as an input source. It’s very easy to use, with a button right on top of the mixer, and a Bluetooth icon next to each source knob.
● Finally, the DJM-A9 is compatible with Stagehand, the brand new remote management app for front of house teams.

Features & Layout

The DJM-A9 looks very much like the mixer it’s replacing, and you’d be forgiven for not noticing at a glance that it’s something new. That said, it’s a good deal larger than most other Pioneer mixers. Unlike some of its competitors, the A9’s design is very straightforward. One look at the mixer, and you know everything that’s going on. The DJM design philosophy hasn’t changed much over the years, and that’s because the layout makes sense, and is familiar. Build quality is everything you expect from a top-end Pioneer DJ mixer. All of the knobs, sliders, and switches inspire confidence. Though, as much as I like the new Center Lock feature on the Sound Color FX, the feeling of resistance did make me uncomfortable.

The A9 features higher-quality channel faders, plus a third-generation MAGVEL FADER crossfader which makes for rapid, accurate scratching. The new Dual Cue system is lovely. It includes separate cue buttons, volume knobs, and balance knobs for each set of headphones, making it easy for 2 DJs to cue up and monitor independent sources. The mixer is both rekordbox and Serato-ready (DVS with subscription), which is an easy way to get a high-quality digital connection to the mixer if you don’t have something like CDJ-3000s with a digital coax output.

Ports & Connections

The back of the mixer indeed looks quite familiar too. There are 4 line inputs, and 4 phono inputs (so you could connect 4 turntables if you wanted). You have the typical XLR and RCA main outputs, a ¼” booth output, and a record output. There’s a full set of digital coax inputs, as well as a main output, to gain full advantage of that 32-bit circuitry. They even went all-out with the mic inputs. The phantom-powered input means you can connect a high-quality condenser mic directly to the DJM-A9, which is something I’ve never seen on a DJ mixer. There are 3 independent mic FX, plus a reverb, so you can modify your vocals without taking up a Beat FX slot. There is a rather precarious Bluetooth/Wi-Fi antenna that dangles off the back of the unit. I would recommend disconnecting this and putting it aside for home use if it’s not being used. My biggest complaint about the mixer might be its lack of a built-in Ethernet hub. There is a single jack here, but without a hub, you still have to include an external one for most setups.

Stagehand

Stagehand is an iPad app that enables you to keep an eye on tons of information, and remotely adjust settings on DJM-A9 and CDJ-3000s that are networked together. The purpose of this is for sound engineers to be able to remotely control the setup. This makes it easier to do stuff like sound check, without having to walk back and forth to the stage. At a large-scale festival, this could save TONS of walking. Also, you can see and fix potential problems (such as a disabled limiter, too hot of a signal, etc.)
Essentially, this is a sneaky way for sound engineers to do their job without hovering over a DJ’s shoulder. There’s a slider that says Live Mode, which will keep the admin from making changes while the live DJ is actually performing. So as a performer, I have mixed feelings about this. I mean, I definitely see the benefits, but there is a weird “big brother is watching” vibe to this. Still, I think it’s an overall good thing that really solidifies this as a piece of pro-level equipment.

Be warned: once you’re on the same network together, the Stagehand app just starts working. No username and password, no PIN or two-way authentication, it didn’t even ask if I was sure. It just started working. So, let me just be very clear here: do NOT connect your DJM-A9 to the public Wi-Fi network at a venue. I repeat. Do not give open access to your whole DJ setup to a crowd of idiots! The only security I could find in place here involves you having a SEPARATE and SECURE network for such things.

Wrap Up

The Pioneer DJM-A9 is a worthy successor to the DJM-900NXS2, though not a revolutionary one. Essentially, they’ve taken the audio guts of the V10, shoved it into this new mixer, and added some little tweaks to bring it into the modern era. The price point is rather steep for many home users, which is always the case with flagship Pioneer DJ gear. That being said, the “industry standard” mixer for festival and club installations just got a major sound quality upgrade. Personally, I can only see that as a good thing. For a deeper dive into the DJM-A9, please watch the video above!

Your Turn

We put a lot of love into these reviews to serve you, our friends, and the global community of DJs.

If you found this useful, please support by

• Sharing this post on your socials (or texting it to another DJ who’ll benefit)
• Leaving a comment below with what you’re most excited about the Pioneer DJ DJM-A9 (or why it’s still not what you’re looking for)
• Subscribing to the Passionate DJ Podcast
• And if you are looking to pick up one of the Pioneer DJ DJM-A9 (or any other gear), consider purchasing from The DJ Hookup, who makes this possible. Ask us for the below-advertised pricing and we’ll be happy to hook you up!