AlphaTheta CDJ-3000X review: Bigger, sharper, smoother, and cloud-ready — but you’ll need very deep pocketsPrice: €2,799/£2,399/$2,999
DJ tech doesn’t move at the breakneck pace of synths, plugins, or studio gear. In fact, most advances feel like refinements rather than revolutions. It’s this evolution, rather than revolution, that we are seeing again here in AlphaTheta’s CDJ-3000X.
The original CDJ-3000 had the misfortune of arriving in 2020, during a global pandemic that shuttered clubs worldwide. Since then, Pioneer DJ has rebranded many products under the AlphaTheta name, while aiming to continue its dominance as the global industry standard.

READ MORE: Sound Advice from AlphaTheta’s managing director Hiroaki Nishikawa: “Trust is incredibly important; micromanaging often causes friction”

In the CDJ-3000X, small tweaks and improvements add up to an enhanced experience without jeopardising the familiar layout DJs have adopted and grown accustomed to.
The headline change? A 10.1-inch high-res touchscreen, increased from 9 inches on the CDJ-3000. It looks more like a tablet bolted on top of the deck, which isn’t the prettiest design move, but function beats fashion here. Plus, there’s still enough slick improvements in the overall look with a new matte black anodised finish and subtle LED tweaks give it a stealthier, more premium feel.
With such upgrades, AlphaTheta is seemingly futureproofing the CDJ-3000X for another five years in the booth. Can the brand hold onto its crown in clubs, venues, festivals and house parties around the world in that time? You can count on it.
Still, with such a hefty price tag, is the CDJ-3000X really that impressive?
Image: Press
Browsing, Playlists, and Cloud
The CDJ-3000X’s larger screen makes browsing vastly more intuitive: up to 16 tracks visible at once versus 12 on the 3000. Long-pressing on text lets you copy and paste for fast searches, and you can now edit and reorder playlists on the fly. AlphaTheta tells us that more playlist editing, such as track add and moving tracks between playlists, will come in future firmware updates.
A small but slick touch: rekordbox’s USB colour preferences now translate to additional hardware. Set your stick to green in rekordbox preferences, and the track selector knob glows green when that source is active.
Built-in Wi-Fi is a big step forward, finally removing the need for LAN cables to access rekordbox CloudDirectPlay or streaming services like Tidal and Beatport. But remember: you’ll still need a rekordbox Creative/Professional subscription.
Connecting to the cloud is easier too: either use an authenticated USB, or simply tap your phone over the old CD slot (thanks to NFC), or scan an on-screen QR code. Loading seemed a little slow per track unless you do this pre-tagging at the start of your set, and we were on a gigabit fibre connection too. Tagging cloud tracks in a playlist auto-downloads the tracks for quicker loading times, with currently 16GB of memory for downloaded tracks, but the number of tracks of course, will vary with file sizes, formats and track lengths. You can tag an entire playlist also, to speed this process up. But, annoyingly, you can’t “untag” a playlist in one go. A bit irritating if you accidentally tag a playlist and end up combining those tracks with your existing tag list. Your only solution is to clear the whole tag list or manually delete tracks individually.
It seems AlphaTheta isn’t expecting DJs to show up to play without any USBs or media quite yet. So, as is becoming more and more the DJ’s job (aside from making lip-sync and dancing content for TikTok), preparation is still key here when using cloud-based music for a smooth flow.
Image: Press
Features DJs Actually Asked For
As is usually the case with top-of-the-line CDJ updates, many of the additional features implement what pro users called for from the last CDJ.. Especially important since the competition heated up from Denon DJ, which launched products years ago with internet connectivity, streaming, and even dual-layer mode, allowing two separate tracks to play simultaneously.
There’s no dual-layer mode here, but it’s not something that’s ever seemed entirely practical for me as a feature anyway. But, alongside the previously mentioned addition of Wi-FI, the additional USB-C port is welcome, sitting just below the classic USB-A. It’s future-proof, faster, and perfect for modern laptops and devices.
An easily missed but new feature, an “eye” icon, hides track names on-screen, protecting gatekeeping DJs who want to keep their secret weapons… secret.
The Playlist Bank (lifted from the XDJ-AZ and XDJ-RX3) gives quick access to four playlists on the side after hitting the main Playlist button above the screen. However, AlphaTheta has the screen real estate to easily expand this to six, and add playlist images, or custom text for quicker playlist ID. Again, hopefully, a firmware update will unlock some of that potential.
And then there’s Touch Cue. This is a game-changer: you can now drop hot cues while previewing a track in real-time, then jump to them perfectly quantised to the mix. The addition of being able to quickly change track BPM readings to double or half-time on the deck is a huge relief. Any DJs that play drum and bass, reggae, or hip hop will be used to seeing their tracks analysed at double or half BPM speeds, and now they can correct that quickly on the deck. A huge relief for Grimes, for sure.
Hot Cues can now also be switched into Gate Cue mode by a simple on-screen button in the waveform view mode. This means Hot Cues will only play when the button is held down, another much-requested DJ performance feature.
Image: Press
Build & Feel
As you’d expect, the 3000X is built like a tank. The jog wheels feel tighter and more buttery-smooth than ever, with a wider range of tension adjustment for ultra-precise control. The Play/Cue buttons have also been refined, with AlphaTheta claiming they are now tested to withstand over 500,000 more presses compared to the CDJ-3000.
On the audio side, AlphaTheta has upgraded the DAC to a new ESS unit, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 115dB. A new power supply also promises deeper bass and cleaner highs. In practice? These players sound immaculate, though the difference may only be clear in a huge club system, which AlphaTheta has tested with seasoned sound engineers.
Verdict? A dominant Alpha
The CDJ-3000X is very clearly aimed at the pro club, hire, and festival market. For that purpose, it’s almost faultless — rock-solid, familiar, and forward-looking without alienating DJs who live by muscle memory.
That said, the price, although unsurprising, is eye-watering, and there’s still no stems functionality, no over-the-air firmware updates, and limited streaming service options at launch. You’ll also need new flightcases thanks to the extra width.
Still, DJs who want cutting-edge without surprises will feel right at home. We’re confident that these improvements will finally convince any DJs who haven’t updated their tech riders from the 2000NXS2. The bottom line is that using these decks is an absolute pleasure if you encounter them in the booth.
Image: Press
Key Features

Built-in Wi-Fi
NFC tap-to-connect for rekordbox Cloud Library
Preview Hot Cue and Touch Cue during playback
10.1-inch touchscreen (up from 9”)
Improved jog wheels with extended tension control
Refined Play and Cue buttons
Improved sound quality
Dimensions: 344.6 × 490.4 × 130.1 mm
Weight: 6.0 kg

The post AlphaTheta CDJ-3000X review: Bigger, sharper, smoother, and cloud-ready — but you’ll need very deep pockets appeared first on MusicTech.

The CDJ-3000X is here: an iterative upgrade of the media player for $3,000 / £2,399CDJ-3000X: AlphaTheta’s Next Flagship DJ Player AlphaTheta has unveiled the CDJ-3000X, successor to the CDJ-3000. At first glance, it is the same familiar form factor, but the updates are focused on connectivity, browsing, cueing, durability, and sound. Some of these changes are substantial, significant improvements, while others are a bit more unknown as to if […]
The post The CDJ-3000X is here: an iterative upgrade of the media player for $3,000 / £2,399 appeared first on DJ TechTools.

Erica Synths launch the MIDI Dispatch Erica Synths have introduced a new utility tool that serves as a successor to their first desktop unit, the MIDI Thru Box. 

HashKey launches $500M digital asset treasury fund in Hong KongThe launch follows Nasdaq’s call for tighter scrutiny of corporate crypto holdings, which HashKey framed as a test for the industry.

Emmy-Nominated Composers and Songwriters Attend BMI Brunch(Top, L-R) Robert Lydecker, Kenny Wood, Christopher Lennertz, Brian Claeys, Bailey Gordon, Jesse Hartov, Ilan Eshkeri, Sean Douglas, Kathryn Bostic, Sherri Chung, Dominic Lewis, Mark Evitts, Carlos Rafael Rivera, Carl Johnson, Julia Newman, (Bottom, L-R) Duncan Thum, Rickey Minor, BMI’s Tracy McKnight and Barbie Quinn, Tova Litvin, Kyle Rodriguez, BMI’s Louie Stephens, and Doug Rockwell at BMI’s Emmy Brunch on Thursday, September 4, 2025, in Beverly Hills, CA. Photo credit: JC Olivera for BMI.On Monday, BMI released a statement to report that it had, "hosted an exclusive brunch at its Los Angeles office to celebrate its Emmy-nominated composers and songwriters, bringing together top talent and industry professionals for a morning of recognition and connection. Held on Thursday, September 4, 2025, the event honored the exceptional work of this year's Creative Arts Emmy contenders.""A highlight of the brunch was a video montage showcasing standout moments from the nominated scores, prompting cheers and applause from guests. Among the Emmy-nominated attendees were Sherri Chung (Based On A True Story), Christopher Lennertz (The Boys), Dominic Lewis (Your Friends & Neighbors), Rickey Minor (The Kennedy Center Honors), Julia Newman (Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story), Thomas Newman (Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story) and Carlos Rafael Rivera (Dept. Q), to name a few," they said. The celebration highlights BMI’s continued commitment to supporting and recognizing excellence within the composer and songwriter communities."The post Emmy-Nominated Composers and Songwriters Attend BMI Brunch first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Nuclear startup Deep Fission goes public in a curious SPACDeep Fission had been seeking to raise $15 million in a seed round as recently as April. The reverse merger will raise twice that amount.

The Incrediplotter: Voice Controlled Plotter from Repurposed PrinterThere’s something uniquely satisfying about a pen plotter. Though less speedy or precise than a modern printer, watching a pen glide across the page, mimicking human drawing, is mesmerizing. This project, submitted by [Jacob C], showcases the Incrediplotter, a brilliant repurposing of a 3D printer built by him and his brother.
Starting with a broken 3D printer, [Jacob C] and his brother repurposed its parts to create a voice-controlled pen plotter. They 3D-printed custom components to adapt the printer’s framework for plotting. An STM32 Blue Pill running Klipper controls two TMC2208 motor drivers for the x- and y-axes, while a small standalone servo manages the pen’s height.
The unique twist lies in the software: you can speak to the plotter, and it generates a drawing based on your prompt without needing to select an image. The process involves sending the user’s voice prompt to Google Gemini, which generates an image. The software then converts this image into an SVG compatible with the plotter. Finally, the SVG is translated into G-Code and sent to the plotter to start drawing.
Thanks to [Jacob C] for sharing this impressive project. It’s a fantastic example of repurposing a broken machine, and the voice-to-image feature adds a creative twist, enabling anyone to create unique artwork. Be sure to check out our other featured plotter hacks for more inspiration.

SoundExchange launches appeal of ruling in SiriusXM lawsuit, says satellite radio firm has underpaid royalties by $400MSoundExchange is challenging a judge's ruling that the PRO doesn't have authority under the law to sue on behalf of rightsholders
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“The idea that money from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues is just common sense”: Sam Fender’s arena tour raises over £100,000 to save UK grassroots venuesSam Fender’s recent arena tour has done more than fill stadiums – it’s also raised vital funds for the UK’s independent music scene. Over £100,000 from ticket sales will now support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales, helping sustain a live music network that’s been decimated by rising costs.
Funds come via the Music Venue Trust’s Lifeline Fund, which was launched in 2023 to channel contributions from arena and stadium tours directly into small venues, promoters, and artists. Artists who have participated in the scheme include Coldplay, Katy Perry, and Enter Shikari.

READ MORE: Terry Marshall, co-founder of Marshall Amplification, donates £100k of his own money to grassroots venues

Grassroot venues across the UK have struggled in recent years with rising rents, increased licensing and regulatory pressures, and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 2023 being the worst year on record with 125 grassroots music venues shutting their doors.
According to the Music Venue Trust, Fender’s contribution has provided “urgent emergency assistance alongside essential improvement grants, forming a full programme of support that protects, secures, and improves the grassroots ecosystem”.
19 venues have received emergency funding to avoid imminent closures, helping tackle challenges such as licensing and legal disputes, financial crises, noise complaints, or sudden emergencies like floods and fires.
Another 19 venues were also awarded over £50,000 in direct improvement grants, funding upgrades to facilities, technical equipment, and infrastructure that benefit artists, staff, and audiences alike.
Venues to benefit include London’s Paper Dress Vintage, Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff, Glasgow’s Sub Club and the White Hotel in Manchester.
Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, praised the 31-year-old’s contribution: “This remarkable contribution from Sam Fender, his management, and his team has created a real and lasting impact on the grassroots music ecosystem.”
“These venues are the places where artists like Sam take their first steps, where local communities come together, and where live music truly begins. By investing directly into their future, we are strengthening the entire live music sector.”
Fender himself added, “It’s brilliant to see that the money raised from the arena tour is making a real difference to so many venues.”
“The grassroots circuit has been decimated over the last 10 years or so and the idea that money from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense. These places are legendary.”
The post “The idea that money from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues is just common sense”: Sam Fender’s arena tour raises over £100,000 to save UK grassroots venues appeared first on MusicTech.

M-Imager plug-in from Techivation Relying on a technique that Techivation refer to as "phase-only, time-varying spectral decorrelation", M-Imager is said to be capable of achieving stable, natural-sounding stereo images without introducing the ‘phasey’ sound that’s often associated with rival processors.

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