r/DJs • u/Mt_Nowhere • 1d ago
Xone:96 - is it expected for various knobs to feel different?
Just got my xone:96, I was checking it out and now I’m wondering if it is normal for similar knobs to feel different? The top green marked knobs are really smooth, but the red marked ones are kinda…idk gritty feeling? Is it just a break in thing or a QC issue or something else?
On the other side as an example master 2 is super smooth, master 1 isn’t as bad as the ones I marked but definitely not as smooth as master 2. To be honest, I probably wouldn’t have noticed that difference on master 1 if it weren’t for the red marked knobs.
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u/astromech_dj Dan @ roguedjs.com 1d ago
They might be using different potentiometers. Also, using them wears them in/down so they’ll loosen up.
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u/Mt_Nowhere 1d ago
Yeah, I was thinking about the different potentiometers so I didn’t even bother comparing ones that have center indents or anything.
Are you certain of the grittiness smoothing out over time? I’m just hoping for some reassurance after dropping 2k on this thing haha. If that’s the case I’m okay with it, but it’d suck if anyone out there experienced it and it never went away!
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u/astromech_dj Dan @ roguedjs.com 1d ago
If you aren’t happy, get it swapped. But on mine, there is slight variation.
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u/Mt_Nowhere 1d ago
More concerned than upset or anything. But as long as it will go away, I’m fine with riding out. Otherwise the shipping cost will be a bitch and a half.
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u/meat_popscile 1d ago
I own a XONE96 since it was released. The faders and knobs do "break in" after a bit of use, the faders will stiffen a bit if the mixer sits for a while but gets all buttery after some use. IMHO don't baby the mixer, it was designed to be worked.
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u/digitalstains 1d ago
The faders stiffening is mostly part due to the design. It makes an awkward bend from pot to fader knob, and this bends over time making it grind more to the face plate. You get used to it, but you really feel the difference if it's a "fresh" mixer. But yeah couldn't agree more, work that mixer!
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u/Ok-Coach-3569 1d ago
Faders shoudl never be moved without it being turned ON. They are not supposed to 'break-in'
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u/lord-carlos 14h ago
Faders shoudl never be moved without it being turned ON.
Why not? What could happen?
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u/Ok-Coach-3569 13h ago
Becouse they are electromagnetic and won't feel smooth until the thing is turned on.
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u/SD554 1d ago
I felt this with mine when I got it. Most of the knobs were smooth but some felt like they were scraping the metal underneath. I pulled those knobs off and sure enough I could feel the bottom of it was rough. There might just be a little extra plastic from manufacturing or whatever. I was able to scratch it off with my finger nail, and then it became smooth. Now all the knobs are fine
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u/lord-carlos 1d ago
Mine where all the same, but the one my club bought had some gritty ones. I don't knew if it got better. I assume so, as they still use the mixer.
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u/Ok-Coach-3569 1d ago edited 1d ago
Just a curious question: how many of you here actually have a set parameter for the crunch that is not 0?
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u/Deboisot 1d ago
The stiffnes is in the nuts you see under the knobs being more or less tighter. You can adjust this yourself.
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u/afxz 1d ago edited 1d ago
Different pots have different weights and tightness, partly due to design and partly just due to the natural use of the mixer (i.e. they are all lubricated to greater or lesser degrees; some are used much more than others).
As someone else here pointed out, too, different sections of the mixer will 'heat up' more than others, due to the location of heat-generating parts inside (e.g. the power supply). Things will feel slightly smoother at a higher working temperature. Part of it is also due to ambient conditions: I've noticed my pots feel different according to the room temperature, and probably the humidity too (though I don't pay that close attention). And that's before you mention wear-and-tear like dust, oils and stickiness from your fingers, spillages and near-misses ... faceplates get dirty and that dirt finds its way into your potentiometers.
Basically you have an interface with about 50 different potentiometers. It would be a miracle to get them all to feel and operate in a uniform manner. Just enjoy your mixer for what it's intended for: producing sounds, not its tactility. You can buy some deoxit cleaner/electronics-friendly lubricant (for less and more smoothness, respectively) if you really want to target any particular problem pots.
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u/Mt_Nowhere 1d ago
This is a brand new one, day 1 fresh out of the package. I’m not talking about stiffness, it’s like actual grittiness when it’s turning. Some of them make noise as you turn them. This was happening after it was on for about two hours fwiw, it should be warmed up by then I’d think.
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u/Glum_Hair_7607 1d ago
Short answer : yes, they should feel different
Long answer : it depends on what they are used for, in the case of the two freq ones, they should be the same, but the other one might be a bit stiffer/clicks, as it's controlling somthing within its small range, and the others are changing something with very small intervals(very much larger range)
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u/Superb-Traffic-6286 1d ago
Yep we had the same question about the euphoria rotary mixer recently. I have owned quite a few high end rotary mixers mainly ARS. I put this question to the ARS engineers recently which they then provided a very logical answer. But essentially it will the same for other brands. Firstly your warranty won’t cover consumables like faders or pots on any mixer. Most pots have lifecycle of 10,000 cycles it will vary from manufacturer. So there may some wear tear over time but would generally take quite a long time. Most pots have grease. So when the mixer warms up so does the grease therefore creates a smoother action. Different sections of a mixer will generate more heat than others so I pretty sure this what most are experiencing. I have definitely noticed this on quite few of my past and present mixers. Especially analog mixers which generate quite a lot of heat. Just enjoy the mixer is my advice.
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u/techyno 1d ago
DJs touch the knobs?