Pioneer DJ DDJ-400 Vs DDJ-SB3 - Which Is Better For New DJs?

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In this Head To Head we compare two of Pioneer DJ's latest beginner-focused controllers: the DDJ-400 which was released in June 2018, and the DDJ-SB3 which has the Pad Scratch button (aka the "Jazzy Jeff button").

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[MrSamuel]

DDJ-400 is better. It comes with full rekordbox dj unlike ddj-sb3 which comes with serato dj lite. DDJ-400 has a better layout and it's a must have if you have plans to switch to a pioneer club setup.

[househeadspeakz]

When I was looking to upgrade my controller, I saw both the DDJ 400 and DDJ SB3. Since I am a House DJ and wanted to be able to play outside my apt, I went for the DDJ-400. They are the closest thing to playing CDJs and mixer at a club plus they have the full license Rekordbox. I was sold.

[LUCKYKATmeowsic]

I would have loved to hear the sound quality coming out of both decks. Surely that is the true acid test.

[saikounjie]

DDJ SB3 all the way, am using it now and it's very fun to play with lots of things to do with

[RaveeMattRavee]

Point simple, both are great, in my eyes the ddj400 sets up beginners for the Pioneer road to CDJs, while the SB3 is for home experimentation

[AlexMcVosa]

My 2 cents on why the DDJ-SB3 is the better buy over the DDJ-400, having owned and used both for extended periods of time.

1) The fx section, this is my biggest gripe with the DDJ-400, yes it emulates the style used on club decks but it's so stripped back its practically useless, for example the switch between channel 1, channel 2 and master, if you're switching it between 1 and 2 its easy to overshoot and hit the master, next thing you know your main track has steel echo and it sounds like you're in a space ship. if they really wanted to copy properly this should be a solid step by step knob. or at least a channel 1 to channel 2 slider and a master button underneath. selecting an fx is super annoying, you have to press the button loads to move all the way to the bottom of the list and hold shift and the button to move all the way back, all this means you have to have the FX panel open in rekordbox in order to see what you're selecting, taking up a good chunk of screen space, again a knob is used on club DJ equipment. The DDJ-SB3 however has 3 buttons on each side that you can assign an fx too, it means you have to remember which button is which easily done. It's just so much easier, yeah most casual DJ's will only use 1 FX at a time, id be happy with just a single button and a single dial on each side the very very least, like on the DDJ-RB, it honestly makes using fx instantly better and usable quickly without having to really think about it.

2) The DDJ-400 seems to have gone the complete opposite with the looping, its super advanced, its way more than any beginner or even intermediate casual DJ needs, I cant see a DJ who is competent enough to make proper use of the loop functions available being happy with the extremely limiting FX. The DDJ-SB3 offers super simple, super easy to operate, beat snapping loops at the click of a single button.

3) The sliders/Mixer section, on the DDJ-400 everything in the mixer section is extremely cramped, the have loads of spare space around the jog wheels that would allow them to expand, it doesn't make sense to me, it makes knobs extremely close together and the sliders are very very small compared to the SB3, just feels a bit toyish and not well thought out to me.

4) Tiny tiny performance pads on the DDJ-400, the DDJ-SB3 has large much less plasticy feeling buttons which to me makes the SB3 feel much more premium as they are a lot for various reason. I also believe the options on the SB3 are much better, especially for beginners but this is one of those subjective things.

5) Rekordbox. One of the main things that's mentioned when comparing the 2 is the free rekordbox pro level license. I personally prefer serato so I'm a bit biased and I understand it can be subjective. However serato lite offers beginners and most casual DJs everything you could ever need. If you have fully mastered serato lite and your controller then you're ready to upgrade anyway and the next level up (DDJ-SR/SR2) unlocks serato pro for free. if you are dead set on using rekordbox, which is perfectly fine, the DDJ-RB basically matches the DDJ-SB3 and is currently £125 used from CEX (Condition B). the only differences being, 1 fx button and dial on each side, and no auto loop button (Beat snap), just standard loop buttons but beat loops with snap can be assigned to performance pads etc. everything else is a carbon copy, it also has sexy black jog wheels. The next level up is the DDJ-RR which again is a direct copy of the DDJ-SR2 except it uses rekordbox instead of serato, you wont be limited in upgrade options.

Another commonly mentioned pro of the DDJ-400 is it has slightly longer tempo adjust sliders, which it does have, but the key word is "slightly" and it is just that, a tiny amount that wont effect most DJ's, when you move up through the equipment levels, the tempo sliders triple/quadruple in size, that's when it makes an actual difference. Same for the pros toward the SB3 having slightly large jogwheels, again "slightly" is key and shouldn't be a factor. Build quality of both controllers is a spitting image but for some reason, to me, the images of the DDJ-400 make it look more premium (Black jog wheels??), but in person it is infact the exact same.

I was drawn into the DDJ-400 by all the reviews online that slightly nudged the DDJ-400 in front of the SB3, not to mention I much prefer the overall look and black jogwheels of the 400. but my opinion is that if you're a complete beginner definitely go with the SB3, its so much more fun, easy to use and the least frustrating to use and if you're having fun then you're learning and the fundamental skills of a DJ will transfer to literally any controller on the market with a small adjustment period.

Again, personal opinions, 2 cents etc etc.

[kudamah]

Forgot to mention 1 comes with full version software while the other comes with the intro version.

[DJDynablend]

The main focus here is one utilises Serato and one uses Recordbox software, a little like comparing apples with oranges, but I loved the review man! Go Joey!!!

[Christian-yxgo]

This is by far the best comparison video I have seen, after researching these two units for hours.

[PedroDiaz-oqms]

it appears that it all comes down to a simple factor, 400 has a full version software while the sb3 is just a lite version of it, other than that it appears that sb3 is a little better (just a little) in every aspect. Imo if you are a beginner go for the 400 without even thinking, the chances of me paying for a serato upgrade at this point are little.

[sam-wil]

Pioneer DDJ 400 for sure, the keyboard feature is big advantage for me

[klausmogensen]

The DDJ-400 now also works with Virtual DJ. So you are no longer forced to use it with Rekordbox DJ
The SB3 has worked with Virtual DJ for a while now

[argslash]

I think it could be (more) useful if you try both (in this case) controllers and show it in the video. It might help to understand the feel or even the pros and cons of each device. Great video!

[chillrules]

I might side-grade to SB3 because of how they placed the fx controls.

[Doogleraia]

Very good video, since a lot of folks google the differences but get overly complex guides most won't bother to read unless they're music nerds (like many of us are, but at that point you already know most of the things folks may wonder about with the differences), so if I'm recommending starter controllers to someone, I just send them this video to help them decide (though many like the 200 for the bluetooth implementation it has)

[hfletcher]

Thank for the breakdown of the units. I want one still not sure. Gonna check out the article.

[Rugerman]

Great video! I’m getting the DDJ SB3 this weekend

[KevinDJGizzySankar]

Do the Pioneer DDJ 1000 & Pioneer SZ2 please!

[LBLACKSHEEP]

This was very helpful. I have serato and have the option of purchasing either pad for $150. Someone asked the question was the 400 compatible with Serato and the answer was no. Glad I saw this video b4 I bought rhe 400😵

[evolmusicgroup]

Amazing Review!! I'm planning on getting back to DJ. I used to use Virtual DJ, I was looking at Serato but came across Rekordbox. I'm planing to buy DDj-400 or DDj-SB3. what would you recommend? money in not an issue so if serato is better I'm willing to pay that extra for pro. and do you think the 4 deck on SB3 is worth it than the 2 deck on DDJ-400.???