Allen & Heath Xone 62 Mixer

...is readily available from the Allen & Heath website. This review is a comparison between the Xone:62 and other sub-£800 mixers.


Background

I have never owned a Xone:62, but have had extensive use of one through four years of djing at club nights. I currently own the Xone:32 which is its little brother if you like - instead of having six channels it only has three. Apart from this characteristic, they are pretty ...
...why clubs have begun installing Allen & Heath mixers into their systems.

The built in effects unit is also superb. The VCF filter is by far the best effect which has been included in any mixer over the past ten years. It makes the Pioneers built in effects unit look like a childs toy! The VCF filter is really easy to get used to, but very difficult to master which makes it challenging and a little different each time you use it.
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This in an overview of my experiences with the Xone:62. It is not an in-depth look at the units specifications because this is readily available from the Allen & Heath website. This review is a comparison between the Xone:62 and other sub-£800 mixers.

Background

I have never owned a Xone:62, but have had extensive use of one through four years of djing at club nights. I currently own the Xone:32 which is its little brother if you like - instead of having six channels it only has three. Apart from this characteristic, they are pretty much identical. I am currently saving for a Xone:62 because of the fact that it has three extra channels.

Pro's

Firstly, and probably most importantly, the sound that this unit produces is without doubt better than any of the Pioneer series (DJM 600 & 500), and the Ecler series (Nuo 4 & 5). The sound is crisp and punchy, and it is always magnificently accurate through all ranges (low, mid and high). This is the main reason why clubs have begun installing Allen & Heath mixers into their systems.

The built in effects unit is also superb. The VCF filter is by far the best effect which has been included in any mixer over the past ten years. It makes the Pioneers built in effects unit look like a childs toy! The VCF filter is really easy to get used to, but very difficult to master which makes it challenging and a little different each time you use it.

Normally mixers' channels are normally split into three ranges, namely the low, mid and treble. But with the Xone:62, you get four ranges (low, low-mid, high-mid, high) which gives it far more playability and functionality than any other sub-£800 mixer. Another of its positive functions is the fact that the channel gains have been replaced from the back of the unit to their original spot at the top of the mixer. I do not know, even to this day, why the Xone:32 had them on the back of the mixer - I'm just glad that this has been resolved with the Xone:62!

Cons

I don't really have any negatives to say about the Xone:62, it is my perfect mixer, and my mixer of choice when I am djing at a club night. This is why I am currently saving for one. If being very picky, it is a little heavier than the Pioneer series but I don't really see this as a fault - it is a sign of its build quality and robustness. Apart from this, people may be surprised by the £625 pirce tag, but if I am being honest, this mixer really does warrant this price. I think this mixer is in fact a bargain at this price when you compare it to the DJM-1000 which gives you the same quality setup - the difference is it costs over a thousand pounds!

All in all, I would highly recommend this mixer to professional dj's or advanced dj's looking for a mixer with great functionality, which sounds outstanding, and which is reasonably priced compared to its main rivals. 

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