Numark CS 1 Cartridge

Advantages: Lots of features, Lots of Torque, Lots of Style
Disadvantages: A bit tooooo powerful at times! People used to Technics may not like!

...using these for ripping (through analogue using Numark CS-1 stylus) and I can vouch that the sound is indeed crystal. The target-lamps are very bright, detachable and precisioned, again for accurate RPM rates. These decks are also ready for battle mode! The pitch fader, LCD display and buttons can moved around to suit the position for DJs going head to head! This is also beneficial with the fact you can change the pitch fader easily if it were to become faulty. The brakes are also really good on these decks, and because the platter is heavy and has so much torque it has an almost instant start-up, making queing much much easier. The torque also benefits scatch DJs as the platter is very friction resistant (given the correct slipmatts). The only downside I can think of is the Numark slipmatts that they are provided with. The ones I got... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Direct drive, cheap, fun, good for all levels of ability.
Disadvantages: New slipmats a must, New needles a must, deteriorate after extensive use.

...I have owned a pair of these decks for around a year and 6 months, I owned a pair of numark 1520s before my 1650s and was very satisfied with them. Many people find the 1650s difficult to keep pitch in long mixes, although i have never had a problem until now. My mixes generally last anywhere between 1 and 3 mins. The only reason I am having problems now is because the decks are getting old as i bought them second hand. One of the turntables' motor has gone, it no longer keeps pitch and it also starts up really slowly from time to time. This is easily fixed when I turn off the deck and switch it back on again. To summarise: Great deck for intermediate and beginers alike but they look tacky and new decks are needed after around 2 years as they deteriorate and become limiting.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Reasonable price, dual position
Disadvantages: Low torque, unreliable pitch control

...I tried these decks out on hire and was instantly impressed by the layout and style. Startup times were good and the decks seemed very responsive to begin with. After a little while playing them though the cracks started to appear... Sound quality seemed a bit poor to me, although this was probably more dependent upon the cartridge than the decks themselves. Torque is good when started and stopping, but the momentum of the record is very easily disrupted by just trying to tweak the speed slightly. This became very frustrating! The pitch controls seemed very cheap, were not very precise and felt like they could break off at any moment. Also, pitch adjustment around 0% is terrible - there is a noticeable difference which is difficult to compensate for when mixing. I used to own a pair of Technics 1210s, so to be fair I am comparing... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful