My thoughts on the "ALLEN & HEATH XONE 464" and what you might want to use it for, and indeed what you might want to consider using instead.

Please note, all views expressed are personal, yours may be different. You should have a go on as much expensive gear as you can rather than just reading about it before you part with your cash. Also try and use more than one example of a specific product: your mate Frank may have accidentally dropped ash down his line faders one too many times. Your local club system may have been set up (or not set up at all) by someone who doesn't have to listen to ravers moan about how it sounds bad. Bear this in mind!

Onto the Xone.

Remarks about the "phenomenal VCF filters" blah blah blah can be found elsewhere (like on the A&H website), this review's a bit different.

Firstly, this is NOT a hip hop mixer. Look at it, obviously it's not. Do you need 6 channels for hip hop? Do you have 6 hands? If you do(have 6 hands) then that's cool, get a 464. If not, shop around for something else (eg Xone S2 or Vestax PMC).

A&H designed this mixer to bridge the gap between a permanent club installation DJ mixer (fit and forget) and a Front of House console, and as such it performs faultlessly. It's got enough connection configuration options (including inserts pre and post fade for sound processors) to keep all the campers happy.

It could be cheaper, but it's aimed at clients who value sound quality over low prices. Although if you're in the market for this caliber of mixer you won't feel short changed.

"Only" 4.5 / 5 for features because it has NO EFFECTS (they're analogue filters, please take the time to understand the difference), but if that's your thing get Ableton, or Serato, or an EFX 1000, or a Kaoss pad, or racks and racks of vintage gear with a spaghetti-junction of cables to trip over in the dark! A lamp socket would be handy, but most good booths have adequate lighting (as previously mentioned it's really an installation mixer).

BUT, and this is a big but, A&H are the only mixers to have 4 band EQs which, once you realise their full potential, cannot be replaced by any amount of Pioneer-ist auto-pitch-matching-sound-colour-effecting-flanging-sampling-reverbing-etc digital effects trickery! They make over-dubbing and long blends sound much more like a studio production. The 250Hz EQ (the extra, 4th EQ) is priceless for avoiding nasty mid-bass key clashes and positive/negative interference of such frequencies.

IMHO get a Xone if you value the analogue sound characteristics and you're into playing tunes on vinyl (and this is the mac-daddy of the Xone family, despite its age).

Get a DJM-800 if you like doing live re-edits, and you're into Pioneer CDJ 1000s (using the digital link and fader start), as they're designed to work together like nothing else can.

As a point of reference, some of the best sounding clubs in London (Ministry of Sound, The End, Fabric, and again this is strictly my personal opinion) all run/ran Xone 464s, which they paid for themselves.

Furthermore, when Ministry host Hip Hop DJs (like Grandmaster Flash) they run Hip Hop mixers (like their Rane Empath - a seriously fly mixer for those who can flash the cash!) through the Xone 464, along with the mics for the MCs, demonstrating its potential as a Front of House console if you don't fancy having an enormous and enormously expensive FOH console for people to spill drinks on.

I personally find that the Pioneer, and indeed all digital mixers, steal away some of the sonic magic that comes from vinyl, but this can be affected by so many other variables in your sound system (cartridges, cables, compressors, did I let the cat out before I left for work?) it's almost not worth mentioning. But if it's something you really care about, show it some consideration. Most people won't notice a difference unless they know there is one in the first place.

For use with CDJ1000s though, the DJM-800 really is an exceptional, and frankly unbeatable piece of kit.

If you're a fan of 1210s and the black stuff, I'd recommend a Xone on account of its all analogue architechture.

Another criticism is that some may find the layout of the 464 a bit confusing. It's not the easiest mixer to just rock up to and use for the first time in a dark club, and may definitely be considered over the top for home use, but I feel its price reflects its intended application.

So there it is. Horses for courses. I personally love the Xone 464 to bits and right now wouldn't swap it for anything else on the market as an installation mixer, even if only for its versatility and sound quality.

But buyer beware, it's a specific tool for a specific job! That's a contradiction. What I mean to say is, if you're a young upstart with limited funds and itchy trigger fingers who wants to knock Q-Bert off his throne, don't get a Xone!

Having worked with the Allen & Heath 464 for two years in my DJ business, this mixer is my favorite piece of gear. Previous mixers were the Samson PL2404 and Carvin FX 1244 If anyone had told me that a mixer could improve my sound, I would be skeptical to say the least. This mixer does that. Four band tone control dials in the sweetest sound. The microphone channels are professional quality with four band tone control with two sweepable mids. This is a lifesaver with regards to feedback control. Having 6 stereo inputs is exactly right for me as I run two dual CD players and one minidisc player. I do not use turntables, but my son-in-law mixes vinyl for raves and gives the Xone 464 top marks for the phono inputs, Penny & Giles crossfader and effects. I love the three choices of outputs for Mix 1 and Mix 2 - XLR, 1/4" and RCA. The cue buttons for headphones are large, easy to see and instantly puts your cue on the right set of display meters. I provide music for weddings and corporate funtions in a variety of venues, and having 4 auxillarys is handy for sending sound to the house system, lobby etc. Allen & Heath has provided just about every feature you could possibly ask for to truly provide a professional piece of equipment. I would like to see a BNC connector for a gooseneck light. For that reason I gave it 4.5 out of 5 for features. If you are mobile, you owe it to yourself to get a custom, foam lined case for this spectactular piece of gear.

Just purchased this mixers and have to say it is the best i have ever used. A&H make great products thats all i can say if you want a great mixer get this one you are sure to love it.

This mixer may have great sound quality but it's definitely one of the worst mixers you can purchase if you are a hip-hop dj. If your mixer does not have the sound quality, get some processing units. These days a mixer needs effects, a flanger/filter is not good enough. If you spin electronica sure you can go for this but as another person said, definitely the Pioneer over this beast of nonsense. You talk about a crossfader that doesn't bleed, I will tell you first hand the crossfader can not, CANNOT endure heavy usage without needing to be replaced. Check out the Pioneer DJM 909 that is worth every last penny and if you need more than 2 channels the DJM 600 is still on point!

Can't beat the quality of a allen & heath. This is by far the best studio mixer there is for dj's that produce as well as live gigs. Top dj's across the nation use this mixer. If it didnt cost so much I might would own one of my own.=)