First, some disclaimers apply:
1. My example of the Gemini SDJ-4000 was purchased from eBay as a non-working, for parts or repair. The seller clearly stated: "PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE THIS ITEM in hopes of potentially receiving a fully functioning unit. This listing is meant for buyers knowledgeable in fixing this item or plans to use for parts." --- and that is exactly what I did. The unit has been repaired and updated to the latest firmware. I am 100% confident that what I am reporting in this thread is based on the correct functioning of this device, and not any previous problem (except as indicated) with the particular unit I now have.
2. I will compare this unit to a number of other devices, including what I call the Poor Man's Go DJ, which is a device I constructed from various components and modules. While it is mostly hobbled together from completed sub-assemblies that I neither built or designed, I do consider the completed Poor Man's Go DJ to be my own creation, and therefore I may harbor a bias toward it, when in reality, it is not a ready-for-market product. None the less specific details and functionality is accurate as I report it in this thread.
Overview:
The Gemini SDJ-4000 is (or was, as it now seems to be discontinued) a Stand Alone DJ player and mixer similar to numerous other devices mentioned in these forums -- Particularly in the Poor Man's Go DJ thread.
I am providing this thread as a Guide for those that may be considering purchasing a used or old stock one, or people like myself that find themselves repairing one.
I will note that Gemini does list their DJ equipment separately from "Professional" equipment; however, I do not know too many people that buy a device like the SDJ-4000, and then use alone in their bedrooms or living rooms. This device is made for Gigging, and I and others get paid for these gigs most of the time, and thus are professionals. By separating DJ Products from Professional Products, I wonder if Gemini is using "weasel words" or already trying to level set expectations.
To save innocent electrons (and time), I'll keep this review to simple Pro's and Con's (with a little narrative):
Cons:
- First off the Gemini SDJ-4000 is big -- Really big. It's over 26 inches wide. It's actually wider than my Samson 12 channel professional mixer. This wouldn't be so bad if I could have just the Gemini SDJ-4000 on my DJ table. It's clearly easier than taking/setting up the Samson mixer and a Media/DJ player, and with 4 line inputs, and 2 mic inputs, this should be possible for most for the types of gigs I do; however, as we will see, this leaves a whole lot of audio functionality behind.
- So about those Microphone Inputs: Mic 1 input has only a 1/4" TRS (Phone) connector. Mic 2 has a combined TRS and XLR connector. How many cents did they save by not including another combined connector and the Op Amp to handle a second balanced input? I will admit that unless a customer/venue requests otherwise, this is exactly how I am normally set up. I have a condenser Mic (fortunately with an internal battery, since there is no Phantom Power) on Input 1 with a 1/4" plug as my "House" mike , and a balanced connection (XLR) from my wireless Mic receiver on Input 2; However, there are other problems with the Mic inputs.
- In addition to the "bare minimum" connectors, the functionality of the Mic inputs are extremely basic. There are only "Volume" and High and Low tone controls for each Mic. First off, I'm going to pick on Gemini for using the term "Volume" for what is actually a Gain. Volume refers essentially to Sound Pressure Level (the Volume of air moved by the speakers). I'm not sure if the designers at Gemini don't know this or they think their customers don't know this. In addition, High and Low tone controls alone are wholly inadequate for speech, which is primarily around the mid range of the audio spectrum. Asking for a compressor circuit may be unreasonable for a device like this, but I'd like 3 equalization bands at the bare minimum. None of the effects settings/controls can be applied to the Mics, and Mics can't be sent to the other 2 input channels. There are also no indicators at all on the Mic inputs -- Not even a peak clip LED.
Taken together -- All this means that if you are doing any kind of professional live sound, you'll still need to take along a more capable mixer or sound processor. - Here's a pretty serious and obvious software bug: I was actually surprised at the fact that it displayed a directory of songs with Cyrillic (Russian) characters correctly - Uh -- Until I selected that directory. I then got garbaged file names. Not even the numerical track numbers were correct, so selecting a specific song can only be done by counting files from the top of the directory. The bug was present in the Firmware version that was on the device when I received it (1.4.something as I recall) and in the latest 1.5, which I loaded to specifically see if this had been fixed.) Software Testing. I should say that the files do load and play, but on the main player screen the name of the track is also nothing but garbaged characters. I also want to say that the actual Monster Go DJ, which is at least a decade older, handles these same file/track names correctly in both the directory listing and on the player screen, as do the Chinese player modules that are installed in the Poor Man's Go DJ. Hey, Gemini... There's this thing called
- In the thread about the Poor Man's Go DJ, I test compatibility with lossless FLAC files. The Chinese player modules that are currently installed in the Poor Man's Go DJ support high bitrate Lossless FLAC files without difficulty. Those modules cost $18 each. The $1000 SDJ-4000 does not support FLAC files. (Neither does the Real Go DJ, or many other DJ Player/Mixers.) There is no information in the Users Manual about formats/bit rates are supported as music files.
- Again, I may be biased towards the Media Players and analog tone boards I selected for the Poor Man's Go DJ, but the SDJ-4000 just doesn't seem to sound all that great. Yes, it will send plenty of clean audio to an amplifier or powered speakers -- including plenty of bass if you crank on the "Low" pot -- but it just doesn't seem to have any remarkable depth/crispness. Want to refute me by showing the the frequency response specifications in the User Manual? -- Uh -- There are no specifications at all on the Gemini website or in the User Manual. If you can't say something nice...
- Here's another pretty significant issue -- It doesn't actually have a waveform display. The waveforms are generated by separate PC software (V-CASE), and copied to the USB drive used in the SDJ-4000. If the SDJ-4000 is truly used stand-alone, it will not display waveforms or album art when a track is playing. Buyer Beware. It still does seem to processes the files on it's own to some extent. In the browse mode, files that are not pre-processed with the V-CASE software are displayed in an almost unreadable dark red on black (as seen above). After some time, the filenames turn a far more readable white, and additional information is added such as BPM (Beets Per Minute). But wait -- there's more (Problems). The V-CASE software is only available for Windows and Mac. While I'm sure it will run fine under Linux/Wine, when I browse to https://geminisound.com/products/v-case using Firefox on Linux, there is no download link for any platform. See more about the V-CASE software below.
- I may discuss more of the internal circuitry of the SDJ-4000 in a subsequent reply, but the Main Power supply does not impress. It's very basic, but provides +/-18VDC, +5VDC, and +3.3VDC. It's not an enclosed module, but it is covered by a simple "tin" (steel) shield. The only circuit protection is from a small fuse soldered to the power supply board. The power switch is in the AC line, and fully shuts off all power when switched off.
Pros:
- Actual Finned Aluminum Heatsink on the processor board. This is (hopefully) indicative that this unit has a little more processor power than some units in it's segment of the market. While I have noticed hesitation and pauses while scrolling through directories, overall, it is responsive and smooth.
- Despite the above comments about the internal power supply being rather basic, the fact that it has an internal power supply is a very good feature. There are no batteries to worry about, and "wall warts", with their skinny wires and flimsy coaxial power plugs, have no place in professional audio. The SDJ-4000 uses a standard IEC power connector and the appropriate power cord for your country. Based on markings on the power supply, tt supports 100-240VAC operation.
- In my Technical review of the Mackie DLZ Creator, I mention that the unit has very little clearance between the bottom of the unit and the table or surface that it is placed on. Free airflow into the bottom of a convection/free air flow cooled unit is very important. Gemini at least gets this correct with large feet that elevate the unit sufficiently to allow ample air flow into numerous large cut-outs in the bottom. While there is no specific convection path (no exits near the top), at least they have allowed for some airflow.
- Separately settable output level range as High, Medium and Low -- While technically incorrect (all VU meters should be at least loosely indicate the actual level relative to nominal line level), being able to adjust the output level separately allows the Master VU Meters to indicate a relative level no mater the gain or power of the rest of the audio chain,
- In other threads, I have complained about very poor VU meters on similar equipment. The SDJ-4000 has 16 segment meters on each of the 4 input channels, and 10 segments on the stereo master VU meters.
- Balanced main outputs (in addition to RCA Master outputs) -- At least they didn't skimp on this. This is especially important for those using powered speakers, as the speakers may be quite a distance away, and RCA cables are wholly inadequate for sending Line Level audio any distance.
- All sliders/rotary pots and encoders feel as they should -- far better than, for example, my Stanton SCS.4DJ. The overall construction is also much better than the Stanton SCS.4DJ. The SDJ-4000 is still all plastic, but it is much thicker plastic than the very actually brittle feeling Stanton SCS.4DJ.
Up Next: SDJ-4000 internal pictures.