12 best rotary mixers for DJs | MusicTech

Dial in the perfect mix with these old-school, pristine-sounding mixers.

Rotary DJ mixers may seem like a contemporary fad but the reality is quite the contrary. DJs began their reign on these knob-laden machines back in the 70s, with the first few mixers including UREI’s 1620 and Bozak’s CMA-10-DL2. Their revival was, in part, thanks to the release of the portable E&S DJR 400, showcasing the power of isolators and the high-resolution sound analogue rotary mixers could process.

If you’re a DJ that’s learned on fader mixers, the move to rotary mixers may be jarring. Not only is it harder to scratch and battle, but traditional EQ bands are replaced with isolators, which allow you to manipulate a wider band of frequencies and offer more gain per band. This is great for creative mixing and filtering, but can inadvertently lead to extreme, displeasing results for DJs uninitiated with isolators. Practice long enough, though, and you may adopt your own flair of mixing.

In this guide, we’ve listed some of the best rotary mixers available right now, from the affordable to the extravagant.

Union Audio’s Orbit.6 is a rack-mounted rotary mixer designed for audiophile DJs and vinyl enthusiasts designed by Andy Rigby-Jones. Rigby-Jones, renowned for his work with Allen & Heath’s Xone line, has worked with Richie Hawtin on his Play Differently line, showcasing the liberating effects of deviating from mass-market limitations.

The incredible Orbit.6 features six channels, each equipped with a valve stage and a fully discrete internal signal path from channel input to mix-out. With four RIAA and eight line inputs, as well as an aux send, a high-pass filter, and a rotary fader on each channel, Orbit.6 offers a comprehensive set of functionalities. The Master section includes an EQ/Isolator and custom VU Meters. This mixer delivers clear highs, forward mids, and a powerful low-end, enhancing the sound quality of various setups and optimising high-end sound systems.

Channels: SixInputs: 4x RIAA & 8x Line inputsOutputs: N/ADimensions: N/AWeight: N/A

The Orbit.6 retails at £4575. Find out more at unionaudio.co.uk

At just £389, the TRM-202 is by far our cheapest selection; German brand Omnitronic is best known for affordable products rather than high-end audiophile kit. The sound of the TRM is certainly a step below any of the more expensive options and the build quality is slightly low (although aftermarket wood kits are available, which make the whole thing much prettier). However, it fits the bill as a first rotary mixer for DJs who are unsure whether they’ll enjoy the feel of rotary faders. You may not get the full hi-fi experience, but the ergonomics are similar to mixers four or five times the price.

Channels: TwoInputs: 2x RCA Line, 2x RCA Phono, 1x XLROutputs: XLR/RCA Master Out, XLR/RCA Booth, RCA Record Out, 6.3mm headphone outDimensions: 235 x 190 x 95 mmWeight: 3kg

Retails for $318/£389.

Find out more at thomann.

Ecler, a mixer manufacturer based in Barcelona, released WARM2 as a comeback in 2022 after a 13-year hiatus. It’s a really elegant-looking, narrow, high-quality two-channel analogue rotary DJ mixer. With two phono/line channels, a micro/line channel, sharp filters, a 4th order Isolator, and a compact portable design, this mixer ensures a “warm and exceptionally clear analogue sound experience”, says Ecler.

The mixer is inspired by The Warehouse, an old legendary venue in Chicago that played a huge role in the development of house music. There are “Alps Blue Velvet” potentiometers that make for “seamless mixing perfection”. Explore expanded performance possibilities through the built-in 4th order isolator, which allows you to sculpt frequencies, add intensity to acapella tracks, enrich musical riffs, or effortlessly create tremolo effects with swift knob manipulation.

Channels: TwoInputs: 1 Microphone input, 2x Phono inputs, 3x Line inputsOutputs: XLR/RCA master output, RCA monitor outputDimensions: 185 x 400 x 100 mmWeight: 3.6 kg

Ecler’s WARM2 retails at around £585. Find out more information at eclerdj.com

Deals at thomann.

Aside from maybe the UREI 1620 of the early 80s, the 1970s Bozak CMA-10-2DL is the definitive rotary mixer. It was originally hacked together from public-address-system mixers by Rudy Bozak, under encouragement from New York club-sound system guru Alex Rosner.

Modern Bozak mixers might be a few steps removed from those classic originals (they’re now produced in the UK by a new company with the rights to the name) and the AR-6 isn’t identical to the classic CMA, but a lot of the DNA is clearly visible, from the no-nonsense front -panel layout through to the discrete analogue circuits inside.

Channels: Six (Two for phono, two for line, two for mic)Inputs: 4x RCA Line/Phono, 2x RCA Line, 2x XLR Mic, 5x RCA Aux Line, 2x TRS Loop circuit, 6x TRS ReturnOutputs: XLR/RCA Master Out, XLR Booth out, RCA Booth Out, RCA Tape, TRS Mono Master Out, 6x TRS Send, TRS Headphone OutDimensions: 133 x 483 x 203 mm (3U Rack)Weight: 6kg

Retails for $2,020/£1,599. Learn more at bozak.com.

It’s a measure of the global popularity of rotary mixers that brands have sprung up around the world to meet the demand for subtly different options. Australia’s Condesa Electronics is one of the more boutique brands, offering a small range of handbuilt mixers with a nice level of customisation as part of the order process.

The Lucia is in the middle of the range, aimed at travelling DJs or purists thanks to its small, portable format – the cheaper Allegra is a rackmount model, while the larger Carmen models add more features. We’ll take ours in blonde wood with a black anodised faceplate and the optional travel case, please.

Channels: TwoInputs: 2x RCA Line, 2x RCA Phono, 2x RCA ReturnOutputs: XLR/RCA Master Out, TRS Booth Out, RCA Rec Out, RCA Send, TRS Headphone OutDimensions: 250 x 250 x 90 mmWeight:4 4kg

Retails from $2,375/£1,731. Learn more at condesaelectronics.com.

The little brother to the more retro AR-6, the AR-4 is a four-channel desktop unit with a broadly similar layout and feature set to other contemporary mixers. It might be a little surprising that it’s actually more expensive than the more fully featured AR-6. But you’re paying a premium for the nicer case, wooden side cheeks, VU meters, and slicker finish, compared to the rough-and-ready utilitarian 19-inch rack enclosure of the AR-6. Neither mixer is a bad choice by any means, with similar electronics at their heart. It’s a solid option, harking back to a 70s icon.

Channels: FourInputs: 4x RCA Line, 3x RCA Phono, XLR Mic, TRS Loop circuitOutputs: XLR/RCA Master, XLR/RCA Booth, TRS Headphone OutDimensions: 440 x 430 x 220 mmWeight: 6kg

Retails for $2,145/£1,695. Learn more at bozak.com.

MusicTech was lucky enough to have MasterSounds’ Valve MK2 on the cover in September 2023. Since then, the brand has gifted the DJing world another fine two-channel rotary mixer in the form of the Radius 2 MK2. This builds on its predecessor’s success and features a 4/3 band isolator, redesigned VariableQ high pass filter, ADD MIX knob, 2x headphone jacks, and individual return channel knob. The four-channel version, Radius 4 MK2, includes two additional channels and mic inputs.

Key Features:

Find out more at MasterSounds.

The recent flurry of interest around rotary mixers can be attributed in large part to Parisian electronic engineer Jerôme Barbé of E&S. Originally commissioned by DJ Deep to repair his vintage UREI mixer, Barbé took on board his creative input and developed a new mixer from scratch, with the intention of updating the classic rotary mixer sound for modern use. A few design iterations later, the DJR 400 is the flagship model in E&S’s small range.

It’s a portable, four-channel unit with built-in isolator and effects loops. A relatively minimal approach by some people’s standards, but it does everything most DJs need. More importantly, it sounds amazing.

Channels: FourInputs: 3x RCA Line, 3x RCA Line, RCA ReturnOutputs: XLR/RCA Master Out, XLR/RCA Booth Out, RCA Send, TRS Headphone OutDimensions: 280 x 210 x 70Weight: 2.8kg

Price on application. Learn more at electronique-spectacle.com.

Manufactured in the UK by Formula Sound, the DN78 is available in a few different specifications, but the overall approach is common to all models: super retro in design (you can even spec Bakelite knobs if you fancy a bit of a steampunk vibe), but with modern high-end sound quality.

The unique selling point here is the Phantom Valve output stage, designed to add classic valve warmth to the signal. Unlike the MasterSounds Radius 4V, which uses valves as a very subtle buffer, the DN78 pushes the saturation a bit harder but allows you to bypass the valve stage if you don’t want to colour the signal.

Channels: TwoInputs: 2x RCA Line, 2x RCA Phono, 1x XLR/TRS Mic, TRS returnOutputs: XLR/RCA Master Out, XLR/RCA Booth Out, TRS Send, TRS Headphone outDimensions: 340 x 100 x 240 mmWeight: 3.3kg

Retails for $2,847/£2,250. Learn more at superstereo.co.uk.

A lot of big names have made rotary mixers over the years – including the likes of Pioneer DJ, Allen & Heath and the now-defunct Vestax – but the balance of power has shifted recently, leaving smaller upstarts in charge of the majority of the market.

The one exception is Rane, whose MP2015 remains the last real option from the bigger commercial brands. Notably different in approach to the boutique models, the four-channel MP2015 includes digital inputs for CDJs, plus USB ports for Traktor/Serato compatibility. An interesting halfway house, but we suspect many rotary devotees will prefer a more simple analogue approach.

Channels: FourInputs: 4x RCA Phono, 4x RCA Line, 2x USB, 2x XLR/TRS Mic, 6x S/PDIF, RCA Aux Input, RCA Send, RCA Session Input,Outputs: XLR Main Out, TRS Booth, RCA Session out, 2x USB, RCA Return, TRS Headphone OutDimensions: 355 x 333 x 830Weight: 5.7kg

Retails for $2,899/£2,315. Learn more at rane.com.

Switzerland’s Varia Instruments has upgraded its luscious two-channel RDM20 to a four-channel behemoth, the RDM40. Sporting large knobs and a minimal design, this would fit in an old research lab just as well as in your DJ setup. With a smooth three-band 12db/octave isolator on each channel and a steeper 24db/octave one on the master channel, you should have plenty of options for creative mixing.

The glorious solid-metal mixer has been in the works for a couple of years now, with Varia Instruments sending out the first batch in January 2021. This mixer, with its VU meters, signal level LEDs and robust build, is ideal for retro-future fanatics.

Channels: FourInputs: 4x RCA Line, 3x RCA Phono, XLR Mic, TRS ReturnOutputs: XLR Master, TRS Booth, RCA Rec, TRS Send, TRS HeadphoneDimensions: 345 x 360 x 190 mmWeight: 5.5kg

Retails for $3,774/£2,746. Learn more at varia-instruments.com.

ARS Model 9900BW Music Mixer Pro is a high-end, beautiful Japanese-made 6-channel rotary DJ mixer, featuring a world-first 3-band hybrid ISOEQ (HI-EQ, MID-EQ, LOW-ISO) on each channel. The flagship tabletop mixer boasts precision craftsmanship with Alps potentiometers and switches. It includes a 3-band isolator on the master, post-fader send on each channel, and various output options, including XLR. Designed for professional use, it has no power switch to prevent accidental shutdown during performances, and the circuit boards are separated to minimise power noise.

Key Features:

Find out more about the MODEL9900 via ARS.

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