Final comment on this before I unsubscribe from this thread.

If you have distortion problems with you ddj sx mic input, using an xlr or jack input makes no difference, nor will turning down the gain.

You will need a -20dB in line mic attenuator.

They cost about £10. I picked one up for. £4.99

This will solve your problems of distortion. I've been using mine for two months now with no issues. No amount of returning units to pioneer will help so don't bother.

hey guys, i dont own one but was talking with my friend who manages a local dj shop on Long Island, He said the following to me

" Some units have a bad mic pre which was is "fixed" with a low z transformer,"

Really not a fix though as much as a bandaid IMO

im a dj for 17 years and know how to work with a mic so i bought this unit ddj sx and there is a problem with a mic input when u talk higher it will destort i think this units are recall and need to be fixed imidately SHAME ON PIONEER

Called Pioneer tech support again Monday spoke to someone that told me there is a problem,it will be resolved in a week or two,either by repair or firmware update.So at least they admitted to a problem even though none of the moderators said anything on this forum.So i can wait till the end of this month before my 2 units go back.But he also told me that people need to call if there having issues or else it's he said she said.

@Manual > Hi Manual, can I ask where you are and who you spoke to?

I'm in the U.S.,and called 1-800-872-4159.And I'm just passing along what I was told when I called.

I noticed in the SERATO FORUM there is a good amount of people trying to help out, witch  myself and I'm sure everyone else is highly appreciative of,.But if a

Attenuator did work how would it fit in a case connected to an XLR CONNECTION, because sure as hell does not fit in mine.Besides not even close to helping but thank you for your help.

GUYS STOP LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS YOU WON'T FIND ANY,THIS UNIT IS GARBAGE AND NEEDS TO BE RETURNED THAT'S WHAT I DID AND MOVED ON!!

The attenuator can be positioned either end of the Mic cable.

or if you make a short 10 cm lead from the SX to the attenuator you can leave it in your case.

as for the above comment........ LOL! if you don't know what your doing them return the SX. Loads of people have read and listened to advice and has a work around.

if you don't know what your doing them return the SX.

it's not that people don't know what they are doing, it's that they shouldn't have to go through this to get a mic to work properly

Ok, tell me this. Have all the people who have problems looked at the specifications that pioneer require for the Mic to work with?

bit like on the Serato forum. One guy saying SDJ doesn't work on his Windows XP machine. It won't because the requirements for it to work isn't matched.

I agree with many here that the SX should work with all mics like pretty much all mixers, but Pioneer have stated the Mic should have a certain spec for it to work.

ok but it's a shame that peoples $200 mixer can handle hot mics but this new "flagship" controller cannot. People go and buy normal everyday wireless mics like some listed above and they still distort unless you buy an additional piece to lower the output, which again, the end user really shouldnt have to do or worry about with something so basic as a wireless mic which for mobile users NEVER had to be looked at as being an issue to follow specs on when buying one. 

again, I dont own one, was debating one and thats what lead me to this topic but I will hold out for a while, Especially since Pioneer support said this is a known issue. 

but Pioneer have stated the Mic should have a certain spec for it to work. 

if thats true, then why is something of this importance not listed in the manual to at least warn people so they don't show up to a party/club, plug in a mic they have used for years on all other mixers just fine and now they cannot use it on the SX? I know you don't literally have the answer to this question, But this should be noted clearly by Pioneer if there was such a drastic change to a mic input attenuation

@Manuel > Thats ok, we're not questioning what you told us! Did you get a case number or do you know who you spoke to?

I read a lot of NOISE - very simple:

what is the impedance on the mic input?

is there a preamp or is it better to supply your own?

if so how much gain does it supply?

what is the impedance on the line level input?

any professional ought to know if it is working or not and be able to make it sound fine if it is working with this basic information. COME ON!

HERE YOU GO - FROM THE MANUAL:

MIC ................................................................................... –52 dBu/10 kW

if you can't make it work with this information then:

A. its broken / poor design etc

B. you don't know what you are doing.

its not that hard.

I searched for PREAMP and got zero results. if you are really such a PRO get the right equipment and do it right. YES - it very well may be a bad design but pro sound people deal with the specifications of the gear they are using every day - LIKE THIS:

"I have a device with a -52dbu mic input - I have a mic ABC with an output of XXXdbu - in order to connect them SUCCESSFULLY I need to XYZ"

Gavin, no  I don't know who I spoke with, but if you do want the S# to my units I'll give them and  plus all the S# to all the products thatI I've owed over the last 20 YEARS I'ii provide you with them.. But then if this is just a waste of my time and yours someone is going to have to pay the price.So I guess will have to wait and see what happens I have til the 28th to return,but at the same time thats the last product I buy from Pioneer if it does not get resolved.Let me know what you need from me.Ill post them all on this forum,plus you would think If I did'nt know what I was doing by now.Gavin I know you work for Pioneer and I love the product,all I want is honesty and NOT BEING TOLD THAT I SHOULD KNOW HOW TO USE A MIC OR MY EQUIPMENT BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU,PIONEER OR NO OTHER COMPANY IS OR WON'T BENEFIT FROM BULLSHIT LIKE THIS.There are of ton of fixes but let me know what I'm dealing with so I don't bother buying the product. I own 900 nexus, a 800 djm 2 CDJ 2000's at the time.I've had not used CD'S since 1999.I stuck with Pioneer just because I liked the product even though I've been using computers and software all this time.I actually can't believe you guys took this long to realize this is where it's going then you FUCK IT UP and wanna blame us.

The truth is better than loss of business,your choice +1

Or maybe you guys will come with a fix DDJ-SX-W, and call it a fix,LOL

HERE YOU GO - FROM THE MANUAL:

MIC ................................................................................... –52 dBu/10 kW

what page is that on, I was looking in the manual and didn't see it

so I found in the quickstart guide your listed info, the mic for the SX is -52dB but so is the DJM900/800 though so why would there be such a change?

again, I dont own the unit, just following this thread to see whats up along with hearing from sales reps in local places that the units are faulty and people are returning them for various reasons

Using a XLR to 1/4" cable on a mic is generally VERY LAME - this is the sort of thing a dirthead rockband will do to plug a mic into a guitar amp because they don't have a PA.

If DJ's are doing the same or similar retarded things and blaming Pioneer that is really LAME.

Many people are using high impedance mics and this will distort the input if not buffered. Make sure to load all messages in this thread http://serato.com/forum/discussion/842701#new and search for - FabulousFrequencies - he says a lot of reasonable and accurate stuff about how to do it right and what is going on. I also read someone from Serato posted "Get a mic with a 600ohm or less impedance and everything will be solved"

If Pioneer designed something that was ignorant of the DJ community and how people work and use their gear that would be VERY STUPID especially for a company so big in this market. HOWEVER, saying "Duh, I plugged it in and it sounds bad, duh, that sucks bro" is pretty equally stupid. You wanna be a pro you gotta step up and learn how things work.

If you are ignorant, blaming the equipment just proves it.

FROM: http://pioneerdj.com/support/product.php?c=725&lang=en&p=DDJ-SX&t=faq

Q

Microphone output sound is distorted.

A

Is the DDJ-SX unit connected to any device with high output level such as a wireless microphone?

If the output level switch or gain adjustment is equipped with the wireless microphone or other devices, please lower the signal level to the mic input of this unit.

For further details, please refer to the instruction manuals of such devices.

The standard input level/ input impedance of the mic input of DDJ-SX is -52dBu/10kΩ.

THIS IS ALL YOU SHOULD NEED TO KNOW

So I guess the next question is why the difference when the djm900 is the same -52 and it works fine

I want to congratulate you on doing what (IMHO) is the right thing - asking questions and trying to learn to solve the problem. The reason I participate in these discussions is because it bums me out to see:

A. people having a hard time, sounding bad, getting discouraged etc

B. blaming the equipment rather than learning what they need to know.

ANSWER: - its not only is that the DDJ-SX -52 dbu but its -52 dbu at 10kΩ. - the DJM 900 is *-52 dbu at 3kΩ *= different impedance's

Hope this helps - search for microphone impedance on google.

I have a long detailed post on what is going on here: http://serato.com/forum/discussion/852881#new

Makes sense, thanks for the info, appreciate it. I never looked into the ohms part, just thought the DB would be the crucial factor

Colin... im guessing you lived at home with your parents till you was 30 and actually think 'its cool' to be a sound engineer.

 

Its great that you share useful information but  what you dont realise is most DJ's threw away their Star Wars figures

shortly after puberty and would rather spend their free time getting laid rather than reading manual specifications and 

taking an open university course on basic electronics just to plug a mic into a mixer!

Would show dis-respect to a taxi driver who didnt know how to modify the timing of his engine because it doesnt work with the petrol

which worked fine in his previous car??

Mr Easterfiled, Ha ha ha that is very funny - you are quite welcome. Thank you so much for the compliments. It is my pleasure to help everyone. I didn't realize you knew so much about me but perhaps you ought to check with your psychic because your information seems to be way off. Remember: arguing on the internet is like entering the special Olympics - win or lose you are still a retard.

So Colin,do you work for Pioneer,if you do,could you tell me what the headroom is on the the system.Thank you,because I have a feeling it's higher then my DJM800 and 900 NEXUS.

@ Colin;

Haha, nice to liven up such a morbid topic with a bit of banter tho ;-)

Quote from Colin: "Remember arguing on the internet is like entering the special Olympics - win or lose you are still a retard."

Do you think you are clever or funny calling people retards?

You should be ashamed of yourself and I sincerely hope the mods do something about that post.