AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ: The New 4-Deck Standalone DJ Controller Is Finally Here
If you were hoping for stem separation prepare to be disappointed…
4,5 / 5,0 | 
[10 October 2024] Wi-Fi and a 10.1-inch touchscreen top the list of new features for the long-awaited AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ DJ controller.
AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ
One day after the announcement of the DDJ-GRV6 comes another big drop from the company formerly known as Pioneer DJ. Ladies and gentlemen, the AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ four-deck standalone DJ controller is in the house.
As we reported back in August based on a Reddit leak (original article below), the AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ is a four-channel all-in-one controller and the replacement for the 2019 Pioneer DJ XDJ-XZ.
Familiar Layout
AlphaTheta designed the XDJ-AZ to feel familiar for those used to working within its eco-system. The new standalone controller has the layout and feel of the CDJ-3000 multi player including its full-size jog wheels while the mixer recalls the DJM-A9. There are also buttons for assigning Beat FX. The idea is that when you roll up to a club with these units, you’ll already be well-versed with the gear and won’t have to start your set in a panic as you try to figure everything out.
Other features include three-band master EQ, Gate Cue for momentary button-triggered playback, and Sound Color FX like dub echo, noise, sweep, and filter.
Built-In Wi-Fi
As we reported back in August, the new controller features built-in Wi-Fi. This allows you to access your cloud-based rekordbox library directly from the XDJ-AZ with CloudDirectPlay and you can even make updates from the unit itself. Additionally, the StreamingDirectPlay feature supports Beatport Streaming including analysis data along with track streaming. There’s an Ethernet port as well if your Wi-Fi craps out mid-set.
Touchscreen and Wireless Monitoring
One of the big improvements over the XDJ-XZ is the large, 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen. You can display up to 13 tracks at once (up from the eight of the XZ) plus Playlist Bank, which displays up to four playlists, Touch Preview, which lets you preview tracks in playlists without loading them, and Touch Cue, for previewing the upcoming section of tracks currently playing on the deck.
Unfortunately, it looks like the XDJ-AZ can only display two waveforms simultaneously even though it’s a four-deck system. If you’re not into switching decks with the screen, you can always add two additional CDJs and sync them with PRO DJ LINK.
Wireless DJ headphones are suddenly the hottest thing. Have a pair of AlphaTheta HDJ-F10s? They’ll pair to the XDJ-AZ with a single button push via SonicLink, the company’s proprietary ultra-low latency wireless technology.
Compatibility and Connectivity
AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ is compatible with USB devices, Mac/Windows and iOS/Android devices and works with both rekordbox and Serato DJ Pro (includes free unlock), although the latter won’t be available until December 2024.
In terms of connectivity, the controller features three USB ports (two top-loading USB-A inputs for USB devices and one USB-C for laptop connection), two line/phono RCA ins, two mic inputs, XLR and RCA master outs, quarter-inch booth out, two headphone outs (quarter-inch and 3.5mm), and a LAN port. There’s also Bluetooth 5.3.
AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ: Price and Availability
The AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ looks like a solid piece of kit. Sadly no stem separation or even Groove Circuit, the rhythm track isolator function from the just-announced DDJ-GRV6. Hopefully we’ll see those in future firmware updates.
AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ is available now for $3199.
- AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ product page
AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ Leak: Is a replacement for the 5-year-old Pioneer DJ XDJ-XZ coming?
[13 August 2024] An FCC filing purports to show a new four-channel all-in-one AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ on the horizon.
AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ Leak
The Pioneer DJ XDJ-XZ is getting a little long in the tooth. Released in 2019, it’s starting to show its age, with outdated embedded software and other limitations. Following the usual product lifetime of four to five years, it’s just about time for AlphaTheta (Pioneer DJ’s parent company) to come out with a new model.
A Reddit user has uncovered an FCC filing for a product called the AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ. There are no photos, only a few paltry PDFs and schematics, but it appears that the new XDJ-AZ will be a four-channel, all-in-one DJ controller.
AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ: Ports Galore
Given that this is from an FCC filing (and not a patent filing), most of the information is related to its communication functionality. But according to the filing, the AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ will sport a single Ethernet port (reduced from the XDJ-XZ’s three), WiFi/Bluetooth certification, will work with turntables and is slightly bigger and heavier than the XDJ-XZ.
One of the PDFs (image below) shows a diagram of the rear panel and its associated ports. These are: two microphone XLRs, two sets of RCAs for turntables, booth out left and right, master out, LAN cable, USB Type C, headphone port and USB cable for original wireless communication control.
AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ: Tantalizing Leak
What new features will the AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ have compared to the original Pioneer DJ XDJ-XZ? That remains to be seen but stems is a good bet. New, larger screens and a full four-channel standalone mode would be nice too.
As this is not an official announcement, there is no pricing information available yet although it will probably be similar to the XDJ-XZ, which sells for $2499. As for release, the manual in the filing says January 31, 2025, so we can likely expect the new XDJ-AZ on or after that date.
More Information
- Pioneer DJ XDJ-XZ product page
- All about AlphaTheta
- All about DJ controllers
- All about DJing
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9 responses to “AlphaTheta XDJ-AZ: The New 4-Deck Standalone DJ Controller Is Finally Here”
What are you lot talking about??
The XDJ XZ didn’t have ethernet ports. this will be the first time it has one. do your research kids.🤦🏼
@ant
? it has 3 (100Base TX)
lol getting old after 5 years? we use tech sl 1200’s for over 20 years before cdjs became a thing. nobody cares about age the tool is the same.
These guys think you need a new controller every couple years to do the same job hahaha.
how much is it
Upgrading by trading in is fun, you get new toys like Christmas time, there is nothing wrong with that, it’s your money, spend and enjoy it.
I am seriously waiting for it to have the same integrated stems as the flx 10. I would DEFINITELY upgrade then.
Even if the stems still sound as bad as they currently do compared to the compeition?
I have always been a NUMARK guy Still using an NVII. Like it a lol. But to loose the Lap-Top would be a game changer. Every time I look at a Pioneer product to purchase “they” are coming out with the new thing. Almost bought a DDJ-XZ but now this. What to do?!,,,,
That’s a lot of money!!!
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