The world’s first standalone controller with real-time Stems separation. Denon’s flagship just got even more powerful.
In recent years, Denon’s DJ offerings have pushed the envelope in terms of features and functionality. Taking on rivals like Pioneer, Denon have focussed on delivering maximum versatility at extremely competitive price points. The new Denon DJ Prime 4+ is the latest release, updating the original Prime 4 with new streaming features, improved control and an updated look. Given that the Prime 4 was already a hugely capable controller, the success of the updated model seems guaranteed.
What is the Prime 4+? Essentially it’s an update to the brand’s flagship controller, a standalone, four-deck design which represents the pinnacle of Denon’s current technology. The big new changes this time come in tandem with an update to Denon’s Engine software and a slick new colour scheme to tie in with other recent Denon releases. In terms of hardware spec, there are also some significant changes, both inside and outside, with the biggest tactile difference being an update to the jog wheels. The change of profile gives 10% more surface area and firmer resistance, offering a little more feedback in terms of feel.
On the firmware side, the big feature update this time around is the introduction of real-time Stem separation, which is a huge new trend in recent months, thanks to innovation in software development and AI technology. What does it mean in practice? You can break tracks down into instrumentals and acapellas instantly, allowing you to blend and transition between two tracks (or more) in ways which go beyond simple EQ and filters. We’ve seen similar features introduced by various other manufacturers and DJ software developers recently, and Denon’s take on stems stands up well, even in its initial beta version, offering new creative options when it comes to mixes. As with other similar stem separation features, we’d expect it to improve even more with future firmware updates.
Although the hardware changes to the Prime 4+ are relatively minor, the unit itself is as well built and solid as we’ve come to expect from Denon. Internally, the big hardware update is the inclusion of an Amazon security chip, meaning that you can now stream directly from Amazon Music Unlimited via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. This is something which has steadily been working its way into a few inMusic controllers in recent times, but it’s still a decent upgrade for a flagship controller, meaning that the Prime 4+’s connectivity and streaming options are now the best in their class.
It’s worth a reminder of the features which have been carried over from the earlier Prime 4, which was already a powerful and extremely capable controller. The Prime 4+ is still a very powerful device, with on-board track analysis, Serato unlock, lighting control and up to 4TB of storage via the expandable internal drive bay. The large, clear 10.1-inch touchscreen is still excellent, the mixer section is spacious and user friendly, plus you’ve got the added options of hardware unlock for Serato if you need it. New features introduced in recent Engine updates include the excellent Touch FX for interactive real-time effects, and versatile “drop sampler” options via the performance pads.
We saw (and more importantly heard) very good real-time stem separation earlier this year with the Rane Four controller from one of Denon’s inMusic sister brands, but the Prime 4+ really does represent the next generation of DJ controller, taking the latest technology to the next level of creative freedom. The closest Pioneer equivalent is the excellent DDJ-FLX10, which can do real-time stem separation in Serato or Rekordbox but isn’t a standalone controller. As such, it’s almost impossible to compare value for money at this point; the FLX10 is over £800 cheaper than the Prime 4+ but you’ll need a laptop. Given that the 4+ represents the top end of Denon’s current standalone DJ tech, it seems like a fair price for a premium product.
Greg Scarth
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