Denon, quality purveyors of hardware have just launched a new 12 inch mixer. With a brushed aluminium finish, the device features thorough integration with Denon’s CD and MP3 Players, apart from the usual gadgetry present on flagship models; there is a sampler, there are nine on board effects, and the cross fader can be assigned in a zillion different ways.

The faders are 45 mm long, and the cross fader is battle style, as it is the smoothest fader that Denon has employed thus far, and one can even adjust the resistance and the fader’s contour. There is a central tube display, which allows a clear overview of the effects, which boast a technology named SHARC® DSP processing, along with the more usual effects including Delay, Echo1, Echo2, Filter 1, Filter 2, Flanger, Auto Pan, Trans and Key %.

Perhaps worth mentioning is the level control, a function that enables monitor volume pre-listening, and most certainly the digital out, for all those that don’t want to lose any resolution in the mixing process. Worth noting is the USB port, which allows for quick and painless system updates, to keep this baby running smoothly. All in all a feature packed device, perhaps a tad similar to Pioneer’s DJM 600. A slight disappointment for all those laptop DJ’s, as there is no Midi support yet.

The Denon DJ DN-X1500S 4-channel DJ mixer will be available July 2006 with a MAP price of $899.00 (Euro 711).