Numark NTX1000 – affordable professional DJ turntable
The new Numark NTX1000 direct-drive turntable is yet another indication that the industry is embracing the world of vinyl once more.
You’d be forgiven to disregard DJing with turntables as out of the reach of your pocket. The re-released Technics SL1200 is ridiculously priced [last we checked it was around R 62K]and whilst the Pioneer PLX-1000 is way more affordable at around R 11K each, you can buy a decent DJ controller for that price and, of course, one needs two decks!
READ: PIONEER PLX-1000 REVIEW – AGAINST THE TECHNICS SL-1210
Enter the Numark NTX1000; designed from the ground up, but looking ominously familiar to the SL1200 and/or PLX-1000, the NTX1000 will only set you back $399 – that’s around R 5,000 each (excluding import duties).
This means you could buy two Numark NTX1000 turntables for the price of one Pioneer PLX-1000.
But will it be any good? Here’s the lowdown…
NTX1000 Specification
The Numark NTX1000 has been designed from scratch and features an adjustable S-shaped tonearm, three pitch ranges (± 8, 16, and 50%), damped cueing, as well as being resistant to heavy vibrations and external feedback.
The company blurb:
“Numark recognizes your need for a professional turntable that capitalizes on the resurgent popularity of vinyl for DJ gigs. But we’re mindful that you need for both versatility and value. The NTX1000 gives you everything you’re looking for.”
- Full-size platter with high-torque direct-drive motor
- 2-speed design: 33 1/3 and 45 RPM
- S-shaped tonearm for accurate tracking
- Tonearm with height adjustment, damped cueing and anti-skate control
- Pitch range adjustable to ±8%, ±16%, and ±50%
- Adjustable counterweight for perfect tonearm balance
- Pitch fader with reset button
- Start and stop time knobs for adjustable time ramping
- 45 RPM adapter included
Is Vinyl just a new craze?
A while back we reported that Vinyl is becoming a billion dollar industry for the first time in 30 years and with companies like Vinylised who are looking to help small imprints press vinyl, this seems to be more than just a passing craze.
Recently a well-known Cape Town techno DJ posed the question online, wondering out aloud what the point really is of going back to vinyl when technology had come so far in the digital realm.
The two overriding factors gleaned from the comments were exclusivity and profit margins.
For DJs buying and playing vinyl there are labels who are releasing tracks ONLY on vinyl. This means far less DJs will have and play that track – you could literally be the only person in your town DJing a certain tracks for a good six months to a year.
As for labels/imprints – there is NO money to be made out of digital download sales. But the margins on vinyl sales are very good, mainly because of the reason above – exclusivity, since vinyl gets pressed in small batches.
Will vinyl DJing make a significant return in South Africa?
We’re not sure but products like the new Numark NTX1000 turntable certainly do make it that more viable.
Numark South Africa:
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