How to Read the Specifications
What Audio Specifications are Important to the DJ & Why
How can you tell if one DJ audio mixer is technically better than another? Technical specifications can often seem confusing and hard to decipher. Before we delve into the specifications of our new Superior Sound Technology™ series mixers we would like to give you an appreciation for what each specification means and why it is important to the DJ. This guide will help you make sense of what the technical specifications mean and their significance in the real world.
Frequency Response
What is it?
Frequency Response is a measure of how accurately the mixer can reproduce the signal level of music across the entire audio frequency range.
Why is it Important?
A poor frequency response can color the sound or it can also reduce clarity. For example, if the high frequencies roll-off too quickly the music can sound dull; hi hats and snare drums can lack sparkle.
How Do I Tell What's Better?
A flat frequency response is better. For example; a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz + 1.0 dB is flatter and therefore better than a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz + 2.0 dB. A wider frequency response is not necessarily better if it is not flat. A frequency response not followed by a flatness specification is meaningless (example, 20 Hz to 20 kHz).
Noise Floor, Dynamic Range, and Signal to Noise Ratio
What is it?
Noise Floor is an absolute measure of the mixer's noise. This is usually measured in dBV or dBu. Dynamic Range is the range or ratio between the maximum signal level before the mixer distorts and the noise floor. Signal to Noise Ratio is the difference in level or ratio between a reference signal level and the mixer's noise floor.
Why is it Important?
A mixer with a lower noise floor is quieter. A mixer with a wider dynamic range means that you have a lot more room from where you hear the mixer's noise to where the mixer distorts from too high of a signal level. With a wider dynamic range, the mixer is quieter and much more forgiving.
How Do I Tell What's Better?
For noise floor, a smaller number is better and means the mixer is quieter. For example, a noise floor of -95 dBV is better than a noise floor of -85 dBV because -95 dBV is a smaller number. For dynamic range a larger number or ratio is better. For example a dynamic range, 110 dB is better than 105 dB. Signal to Noise Ratio is a little trickier. For Signal to Noise Ratio to have meaning, it must be followed by a reference signal level. For example, 80 dB ref: -10 dBV or 90 dB ref: 0 dBV. Unfortunately, in the DJ world, there is no standard reference level. Many times signal to noise ratio is specified without a reference. In that case it has no meaning. This is why we favor using dynamic range instead of signal to noise ratio.
THD+N
What is it?
This is an abbreviation for "Total Harmonic Distortion plus Noise". This number indicates how transparently the mixer will reproduce music without distorting or altering it.
Why is it Important?
A mixer with low distortion will tend to sound more "clean", "transparent", or "true". A mixer with higher distortion can sound "muddy", "harsh", or "fatiguing".
How Do I Tell What's Better?
A smaller number is better. For example, a THD+N of 0.015% is much better than a THD+N of 0.1%
Crosstalk and Fader Kill
What is it?
Crosstalk is a measure of signal bleed. For example how much does the turntable bleed into the channel when the CD is playing? Channel fader kill is how much the signal bleeds through the channel with the fader off. Crossfader kill is how much the off-channel's signal bleeds through to the on-channel's signal.
Why is it Important?
Bleed-through can kill a performance, especially while doing transform effects or scratching.
How Do I Tell What's Better?
A smaller number is better. For example, -90 dB of fader kill or line to phono crosstalk is better than -70 dB.
What Specifications Make a Mixer Worthy of the SST™ Name?
All mixers in the new Stanton's Superior Sound Technology™ Line must meet exacting audio quality standards, construction, and quality standards. The following specifications are the minimum required for a mixer to be a member of the Superior Sound Technology™ family.
Minimum Technical Specifications
| Frequency Response [Line] |
20Hz to 20kHz +/-1.5dB |
| THD+N [Line] |
< 0.015% at 1kHz |
Signal to Noise Ratio [ref:maxlevel]
(also known as Dynamic Range) |
> 109dB [main signal path] |
| Noise Floor |
< -90dBV |
| Crosstalk [Line to Line, Phono to Line, Line to Phono] |
< -90dB @ 1kHz
|
| Fader Kill |
< -90dB |
