I am currently a student - going to Royal Veterinary College of UCL in September if i get the grades...
I am currently a student - going to Royal Veterinary College of UCL in September if i get the grades (3 As!).
I am a keen DJ, very interesting in music (mainly UK Garage / D&B) and play football and cricket. And like to cruise around in my VW Polo!
Member since:05.01.2005
Reviews:9
Members who trust:7
Slider style pitch control of +/- 10%
Soft touch start/stop controls
S-shaped tone arm with height adjustment
Strobe illuminator
Removable dust cover & head shell
Weight: 20 Lbs.
Direct Drive
Motor: DC Motor
W x H x D (mm) / Weight: 450 x 146 x 352 / 7 kg
Extra: Dust cover and 45 rpm continental single adaptor supplied
Cartridge supplied? Yes - model CN-25, suitable for mixing
N/B: In the product information it states these are belt driven! They are not! They are direct drive. Gemini's affordable direct drive turntable is one of the most competitive turntables in it's class, sold alongside the Citronic PD-1, the Gemini XL300 is a great intermediate turntable!
These are the first turntables I have ever bought, and their affordable price is very appealing for a beginning DJ. I've been using these turntables for about a year now, and they still work fine. They are very durable; I've dropped them and had beer spilt over them and they are still as good as new. These decks are very suitable for taking to parties to earn some money as a DJ.
You'll never need to worry about replacing the belt or the belt slipping during a recorded mix, since they are direct drive (I would recommend only buying direct drive turntables - they provide large torque and better control over the record!). These pair provide great torque (which is the force of the motor spinning the rotating disc), so there is little delay in sound after releasing the vinyl from stationary. In addition, there is no wait for the music to get to the correct pitch (tempo) after release. They come with all the basic properties; however, lack some of the more expert features.
Firstly, the standard stylus (needle) that comes with this package (i.e. Numark Groovetool RS Styli) is poor! Okay, it's good for just simply playing a record, but that isn't DJing. I've had to replace these styli about 5 times in one year, the needle either bends or brakes. It is not designed for scratching at all; it just doesn't make the right sound. And reversing the vinyl causes bending to the needle. Loads of dust builds up on the tip of the needle, causing crackling and distortion to the sound quality. Errk! So, if you want my advice, when you buy these affordable pair of decks, set aside some money to buy a decent pair of styli... maybe some concords.
The pitch control on these turntables is only 10% either way... hmmm. More adventurous DJs may require at least 20%. However, this is all a beginner needs.
The turntables come with 33.3 and 45-rpm speeds, but lack the new 75-rpm and reverse play. Does this mater? Not really!
Overall, these are perfect decks for beginners. Cheap! Reliable! Durable! Long-lasting!
Try looking for these turntables second hand, because I bet they are still in perfect condition. You would save yourself at least £100!
Good review, not had a go on a pair of these before but they sound pretty decent. Rich
rickyshah 19.05.2006 12:10
right, i could be wrong, but i think you missed out the torque - this is pretty important to know when buyig decks. as it is you review is great, and if you add this info (or tell me im a bit thick and have missed it ;)) ill rerate to VH.
samredmore 24.07.2005 03:06
Fine review sir. Disagree with you on the pitch control (not ranging to +/-20%). If this were the case it'd be pretty hard to accurately pitch two records together. I think even +/-10% is a bit much, and the +/-8% control on the Technics is preferable. Besides, songs just won't sound good if they're pitched up or down too far. I try to play tracks within 4% of their original tempo.
If you're looking to upgrade any time soon, I seriously recommend you check out the CD decks available now. Be it the Technics, Pioneer or Denon machines, I've got a thousand reasons why they're superior to record decks and why they're the future of DJing...
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