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Pioneer DJ DDJ-SR2 DJ Controller Review

The Pioneer DJ DDJ-SR2 is packed full of functionality and is alco very compact. This makes it an ideal solution for DJs on the move. Let’s take a closer look.
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Pioneer DJ DDJ-SR2
$1,397.65
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03/17/2024 06:40 pm GMT

Pioneer DJ has plenty of amazing controllers to offer these days. There’s something to suit virtually every musician. Today, we’re looking at the Pioneer DJ DDJ SR2, the successor of the leading DDJ-SR, which comes with a lot of updates for the modern artist. 

As always, the DDJ SR2 delivers excellent build quality, with a DJ controller that’s sure to stand the test of time. The SR2 also has some cool additions on top of the existing functionality of the previous SR.

There are RGB integrated performance pads, Key Shift and Key Sync buttons, and a hardware mixer that includes Serato DJ Pro DVS support. 

Not only is the DDJ SR2 packed full of functionality, but it’s impressively compact too – making it an ideal solution for artists on the move.

Let’s take a closer look at what the Pioneer DJ DDJ-SR2 can do. 

Is the DDJ SR2 any good? (in short)

Ultimately, it’s easy to see why so many DJs love using the DDJ SR2 for their booth experiences. The DDJ SR2, is a very solid and reliable piece of equipment, which also happens to be compact enough for decent portability too. The small size combined with a wide selection of available features makes the DDJ SR2 a compelling choice for mobile and club DJs that prefer to bring their gear directly to the club with them. 

pioneer ddj sr2 dimensions

Key Features of the Pioneer DDJ SR2

The Pioneer DDJ SR2 is a 2 channel controller with excellent integrations for Serato DJ Pro software. The DDJ SR2 comes with an RCA and microphone input, as well as a USB cable jack, RCA, and XLR.

There are two headphone jacks, and you get most of the original features from the traditional DDJ-SR too. 

The DDJ SR2 comes with multi-color performance pads, ideal for triggering rolls, hot cues, slicers, and other features. There’s also a dedicated control section for the Key Sync function buttons of Serato DJ Pro.

The two channels also have their 3 band trim knobs and EQs. Some of the most impressive main features of the Pioneer DJ DDJ SR2 are:

  • Performance pads with hot cues, slicer, roll, slicer loop, cue loop, pitch play, and more
  • Serato DJ Pro with Pitch n’ time license
  • DVS ready performance
  • 2 channel Serato DJ Pro enabled controller
  • Access to four decks
  • Needle search
  • Slip mode
  • Dual level meter
  • Manual and automatic loop settings
  • Dedicated Key Shift and Sync unit features

Plus you get all the standard DJ controller functionality too, including filters, faders, EQs, and a significant tempo adjustment solution too. 

Pioneer DJ DDJ-SR2 Set Up

Pioneer DJ DDJ-SR2
Credit: Pioneer DJ

The DDJ SR2 is a fantastic piece of high-quality equipment, made with leading materials and technology. The brightly colored pads are excellent for managing your music, and they show up well in dimly lit venues.

The needle search functionality is also excellent for scrubbing through tracks. The level meters have both the master and channel signals, which is another convenient element.

Thanks to tight integration with Serato DJ Pro, the Pioneer DJ DDJ SR2controls are quickly mapped the moment you plug your computer in.

Although the DDJ SR2, is hardly a budget option, the extra inputs and features are brilliant for performing DJs, and it isn’t easy to overstate the beautiful build quality. Experts say that this device is brilliant for all kinds of musical performances. 

As an upgrade to the previous SR device, the DDJ SR2 is a fantastic solution that comes with excellent ease of use, reliability, and portability built-in.

There are plenty of new features built into the DDJ SR2,, including colored performance pads, key sync and pitch play buttons for more advanced key shifting and tone play techniques, and professional outputs for your DJ booth

On top of all that, the Pioneer DDJ-SR2 is DVS enabled – although only when sold separately, and it comes with standalone mixer capabilities too.

Ultimately, it’s an all-around impressive piece of equipment, perfect for people who are taking their music career seriously.

There’s also a TRS mic input with a volume knob on the very front of the device. 

Effect controls

DDJ SR2 FX

The trigger multiple effects element on the Pioneer DJ DDJ SR2 is very similar to most Pioneer DJ controllers for the Serato DJ Pro software.

This solution has the potential to trigger up to 3 multiple effects at the same time, with the ON buttons doubling as the combo FX SELECT buttons when you combine them with the SHIFT function. 

You can also experiment with something called a BEATS button. This controls the number of beats the system takes into account when staging a new effect.

You can assign every section of the deck to the four software channels available through Serato DJ Pro.

The biggest thing missing from the DDJ SR2, is a dedicated FX mode button so you can toggle between single and multi-FX mode. 

Pioneer DJ DDJ-SR2
$1,397.65
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03/17/2024 06:40 pm GMT

Touch strip and Jog Wheels

Pioneer DDJ SR2 01 edited

The big Jog wheels included with this device are brilliant – which is just what you would expect from Pioneer at this point. As usual, you get a set of really solid jogs, which is normal for Pioneer, with plenty of responsivities too.

These are a little too lightweight for some DJs, which makes spinbacks a bit easier – however, you might struggle if you’re a scratch-performance DJ. 

Although the big jog wheel is light for some, it’s hard to find a set that will work for everyone anyway. Most people will argue that the jog wheels are either too soft or too hard, so Pioneer DJ’s attempt to explore the middle of the road with the DDJ SR2, makes a lot of sense.

The addition of a new touch strip to the technology is a bonus in its own right.

With the touch strip, you can search seamlessly within a track, however, you will need to deactivate the strip during playback, or you could accidentally make some noises without meaning to. The controller does have a lot of features that are very close together. 

Performance pads

DDJ SR2 prm top low 0809 edited

The performance pads that come with the Pioneer DDJ SR2 are RGB-colored, which makes them an excellent choice for a lot of DJs who want to keep track of all their information at once.

The functionality supports the most important functions in Serato DJ Pro, including slicer, roll, hot cues, saved loop, sampler, and various other elements.

There’s also a new pitch play feature, which ensures you can pitch a selected hot cue roll up or down. 

Ultimately, most people will already be used to the various features mentioned here on their DJ controllers, so you might be taking them for granted.

They allow for an amazing amount of creativity when you’re performing, as long as you know how to use the touch trigger pads correctly. 

Pitch ‘n’ Play and Loops

DDJ SR2 prm top low 0809 1 edited

The Pioneer DJ DDJ-SR2 has powerful dedicated key controls and buttons for syncing and shifting the KEY between multiple tracks. There’s also a dedicated reset button to go from the selected key to a base key in the track. This is a great option that’s very easy to use.

The performance pads and the loop section on the DDJ SR2, also mean that you can do a lot of interesting things on the fly. 

The loop section on the Pioneer DDJ SR2 set up loops of a specific size. There’s also the option to experiment with beats buttons to double or half selected loop sizes, and buttons for manual looping too. 

You’ll also have access to parameter buttons that will give you more control over various performance settings.

For instance, you can change the slice size when you’re using your Slicer function. 

When it comes to effects and functionality, there are some other features worth noting too. For instance, while the pitch fader is small, it is there.

However, you may need something a little more advanced if you’re a full-sized fader user. There’s also a helpful censor button on the right side of the hardware to help you manage your performance too. 

The Mixer

DDJ SR2 prm top low 0809 2 edited

The mixer on the DDJ SR2 is probably one of the most impressive features of the device.

This mixer is a massive step forward from the original machine, as a full hardware mixer. It’s possible to connect media players and turntables or use the DDJ SR2 in conjunction with your Serato DJ Pro software. 

The channel switches on the very top of the mixer switch easily between Deck one and 3 for the left channel.

You can also find the Phono/Line option here too.

Since this is only a 2-channel mixer, it’s worth noting that you will get a percentage of your functionality from the Serato DJ software.

Each deck will share a physical channel with another deck. That’s not ideal, as it can easily become confusing if you’re planning on using multiple decks regularly. 

The mixer comes with a 3-band EQ per channel.

You also get VU meters and a trim knob for each channel, too, with a separate VU meter for the master channel. The line faders on the DDJ SR2 don’t come with much resistance. However, you can easily get used to the change of functionality here after a little time.

There’s also a filter knob to experiment with the filters on Serato DJ Pro. 

At the heart of the mixer are various volume buttons, including the master level knob, and the booth level knob for the booth monitor output volume.

There’s also a knob for setting the headphone mix between master and hot cue, and a sampler button.

If you use a lot of samples, this will be particularly useful, as pieces often have various volume levels to explore. 

Pioneer DJ DDJ-SR2
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Mixer inputs and outputs

DDJ SR2 prm rear low 0913

On the rear side of the DDJ SR2, there are various outputs and inputs for you to experiment with. The TRS booth output is there, plus two master outputs: an XLR and an RCA.

Each line option comes with its own RCA input, with switches to change the channel between the Phono and Line. There’s also your TRS microphone output and volume knob on the front of the mixer. 

While it’s great to get a Pioneer hardware mixer with so many options, it’s a shame that there’s no AUX input available.

An AUX input is a great way of connecting a sound source, like a smartphone, in the case of an emergency situation or if you need to play a tune that isn’t on your computer. 

You can potentially plug and play from your smartphone into one of the available channels on this device if you want to.

However, doing that will mean that you miss out on one of the channels from the Serato DJ Pro software too. 

ddj sr2 software compatibility

Pioneer DDJ SR2 Pros and Cons

You could use the DDJ SR2 to easily play at weddings or parties if you’re selling your services on a per-evening basis. Additionally, the booth output makes this a good choice for club settings in some environments too.

Access to the Serato DJ Pro software is an important feature, as is the fact that the Pioneer DJ DDJ SR2 is portable enough that you can transport it wherever you go. 

The multicolored performance pads are very helpful with the DDJ SR2, and the large jog wheels are back-lit too, which gives you more functionality when you’re playing in a darker area.

Despite these differences, however, there are only a few basic changes between the DDJ SR2 and its predecessor. 

If you already have the earlier version of the DDJ-SR, then you might not have a major reason to upgrade to this one straight away. It’s also worth noting that the DDJ SR2 is a bit more expensive than its original counterpart.

You would be buying many of the same features for a hefty price bump.

The feature that might make this DDJ SR2 a worthy investment is that it’s a standalone mixer. 

Although most DJs won’t necessarily use the standalone functionality, this mixer can also work well alongside CDJs and turntables for anyone hoping to add something new to their existing musical setup.

If you do prefer software to hardware, of course, then you won’t need this functionality. 

The DDJ SR2 contains more of the same features as the DDJ SR2. This is why a lot of people will choose to save themselves some cash and stick with the original model straight away.

The DDJ SR2 will also be a lot easier to purchase for a more affordable price. 

If you’re looking for an upgrade, and you want the standalone mixer functionality built-in, then the DDJ SR2 is probably the right choice for you. 

Pros:

Cons:

pioneer sr2 connectivity

Pioneer DDJ SR2: The Verdict

With the DDJ SR2, you get a Pioneer controller that’s ready for transport and something that comes with all the major bells and whistles of the 4-channel counterparts minus extra sizes and weights. The hardware mixer is another massive bonus here.

It means that you can use your Pioneer DDJ SR2 as a complete and independent mixer between two media players or turntables. 

Once again, the compact size means that the DDJ-SR2 is a more natural choice for this function than the standard four-channel mixer. The decks are much further apart from each other here than they would be elsewhere. 

If you’re wondering whether the DDJ-SR2 might be a good investment for you, it all depends on what you need from your controller. The DDJ SR2 is a powerful mid-level option for a decent price, and it would make a sensible investment for a lot of mobile DJs.

However, it’s not necessarily the best option on the market. 

There are a lot of alternative products out there, but your preference will depend on what you need. For instance, if you want a full-sized fader or four channels instead of 2, then you might need to consider upgrading to a slightly more expensive controller or seeing what other companies can do outside of Pioneer. 

Overall, the DDJ SR2 is a solid mixer and controller, with plenty of powerful functionality to explore. It’s great for people who already love using the Serato DJ software and want something compact enough for them to take into the DJ booth with them. 

Despite being a relatively high-value option for mid-level DJ controllers, the DDJ SR2 doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy.

Everything is well-built, solid, and smooth, which is exactly what you would expect from a company with a reputation like Pioneer DJ.

Depending on where you hope to take your DJ business or career, this controller could even be your primary piece of equipment. 

Pioneer DJ DDJ-SR2
$1,397.65
Check on Amazon Check on Sweetwater
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
03/17/2024 06:40 pm GMT
Written by
As the Co-founder of DJ Tech Reviews, Rory Tassell also has over 14 years experience within the music industry covering a variety of roles and disciplines such as a DJ, Music Producer, Tutor, and Studio Engineer. He is also the founder of Hyper Production, a YouTube channel dedicated to helping aspiring Music Producers make better music. You can follow him on Twitter @TassellRory or visit his YouTube channel @HyperProduction to learn more.

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