Listening to the master output in headphones - DJM-900nxs

Kieron - don't do it bro! I had the same knee-jerk reaction when I got mine. I mix with IEMs so I know where you're coming from. Search the forums and find my response to another user about this - it lays out exactly how to manage the split cue. Once you understand it, you'll find the configuration is even better than you'd hoped. Experimenting with it on your own at first it seems counterintuitive, but trust me you'll have an "ah-hah" moment eventually. Finding that thread will get you there sooner. It was closed, hopefully it wasn't deleted.

Cheers, Fox. Appreciate the reply and I'm kinda counting on your optimism. I'll try a search out - can you recall how long ago you posted this?

"you're in the majority here - lot's of users seem to be mystified by this at first.  You're reaching the right conclusion, the way I handle it when practicing is to turn off my studio monitors (if they don't have an on/off or their own independent gain, I suppose you'd need to either unplug them or disconnect them from the mixer).  Seems a lot of people think this is a miss by Pioneer but it's actually by design and quite clever - I do all of my live mixing with in-ear-monitors so I rely on this configuration quite a bit.  You're right, the cue levels for channels 1-4 are pre-fader but what you may not have noticed is that they're post-trim (if that makes sense).  Similarly, the master cue is post-trim so that if all faders are at 10, not only do you have the benefit of monitoring your levels visually, you can do it audibly without ever having to lift your cans.  This enables you to monitor the levels as they'll be heard through the master out BEFORE you bring in the new track, so you don't have to tweak trims as you're transitioning.  Hope that all makes sense.  This configuration makes mixing a thousand times more efficient (and fun) for me at least - no having to deal with stage monitors (which sometimes are just awful) or lift my cans on/off, plus beatmatching ends up being way more accurate because you're taking room dynamics/delays out of the equation. "

This one?

You are in fact correct that this is by design!  I am not a big fan either but I use Channel CUEs only.

Only thing I have to suggest is to use a headphone amp in which case you would have to have the "channel x" cue to a lower volume and while amplifying everything :-/

I agree if you can't part with this habit then this is a big inconvenience for you.

Best of luck.

Was a deal breaker for me, so the mixer went back. Couldn't get a true balance by using the CUE buttons and having to adjust the master output to match isn't really a credible solution for those that mix in both ears.

sorry to hear that it didn't work out for you Kieron.  Hopefully Pioneer can address this in future models.

Best of luck.