Urei 1605 DJ Mag Review - Soundcraft

Large pan-pots offerprecise controlSOUNDCRAFT UREI 1605 TECHAuxiliary sectionwith front-panelconnectionsEvery channelfeature packedA dedicated boothsection gives all you’dexpect and moreTHE INCREDIBLE HULKThis is a behemoth of a club mixer, but is size everything?words ALEX BLANCOSPECSPRICE£795CONTACT01707 660 667ureidj.comTECH* Seven channels* Dedicated masterand booth sections* Three-band EQper channel* Three-colour stereoLED meter with split* Assignable crossfader* Adjustablecrossfader curve* Auxiliary sendand receive* LED peak/signalindicator per channelUrei is a classic name in audio gear andSoundcraft have a respected heritage inBritish studio mixing history, so when yousee a range of pro DJ mixers with both theUrei and Soundcraft logos you know youare getting many decades worth of fineanalogue manufacturing experience.Enter the Soundcraft Urei 1605.This hulk is a club mixer, offering seven fullchannels designed in the big bold style theUrei name deserves. And with such a proudhistory, this mixer has a lot to live up to.Let’s see what it’s made of…With one exception, each channel has anXLR microphone pre-amp, one switch-ablephono/line input (each with a turntableground) and another line-in – fantasticattention to detailv.Each channel also boasts trim, anassignable crossfader/master switch, abright signal/beat/peak indicator andauxiliary send (pre or post fader – so youcan run a signal through extern al effectswithout playing the original signal). Thechannel faders are nice and long but don’tfeel as solid as you’d expect from an Urei.Finally, the best part of every channel is thegorgeous EQ. Each of the three bands offers100% kill and sounds really musical. Andbecause of the 1605’s sheer size there’splenty of space for some fun two-handedfilter action.The most interesting thing, though, is thatthe zero position of each is at about twoo’clock. The rational is that you need finercontrol over cut than boost, and onceyou’re used to it, it makes for far moreexpressive knob twiddling.Our one gripe, and it’s a big one, is thatwithout a click at zero it’s difficult inlow-lighting to tell whether or not you haveput the knob back to zero. Imagine somepoor DJ rocking up to a club, the previousDJ running off without explaining themixer, and the diligent new DJ turning allthe rotaries to the centre without realisinghe was EQing out about 6dBs across theboard! Not ideal.MISFITBack to that misfit channel (Channel 1) thathas a few key differences intended for useas an announcement channel. First, it’srouted directly to the master output, whichworks with the second difference. There’sthe option on the back panel to disengagethe mic signal from the booth/monitoringsection, so as to avoid feedback.For similar reasons there is a channel ONswitch, unique to Channel 1, which must bepressed to activate the channel and anadditional input on the back allowing youto plug in a 1/4in jack equipped mic.Finally, the EQ section is a much moreconventional +/- 12dB affair, with centrallypositioned (and clicking) zero values,although we think this is a little stingy!IN FADEThe centrally placed crossfader is nice andloose but, like the channel faders, feels alittle delicate and, with a large front panelto remove, could be a chore to switch.There’s also a nice crossfader control,offering fluid curve changing fromsmooth to scratch-ready.The monitoring section is another oneof the 1605’s little oddities. It’s verycomprehensive, offering split ear mode(with a left/right flip button) or fadepreview from cue to master with themix knob.www.djmag.com 109DJY426.urei 0109 29/9/06 18:20:18

TECH SOUNDCRAFT UREI 1605DJ mic insert foradding effectsTwo sets of balancedXLR connectionsperfect for large clubsEvery channel has micline and phonoIt also goes loud and has a dedicated oldstyle tone control, allowing darker orbrighter sound through the phones. Butthen things get weird! It has two sockets –1/4in regular and 1/8in mini-jack (theformer is brightly lit from within by a blueLED). This is fantastic if you’ve forgottenyour adapter, but is less great if you insertyour 1/4in into the angled and recessedjack buried underneath the front panel.Why? First, it means your cable is pointingup, putting extra strain on it and generallygetting in the way. Second, it’s buried sodeep and tight that we actually needed apair of thin tipped pliers to get it out!IN THE BOOTHNext, there’s the booth section, which isactually wicked. In addition to level, itoffers a ‘left, right or stereo’ switch, soyou need not bombard both ears whilemonitoring. It has very nice soundingindependent high and low EQ controls,so that you can add weight or brightnessand remove rumble or shrillness accordingto your tastes and the characteristics ofthe booth.There’s also a handy DIM button,which drops the level instantly.The meter section is also pretty good.It would have been nice to have levelindicators for each channel, but insteadthere is a nice light blue and (if you’re notcareful) red stereo LED meter. By pressingsplit, it can also be used to monitor the cuechannel against the master output.GUEST FXThe next section is AUX, offering frontpanel stereo RCA sends and returns(allowing visiting DJs to easily plug intheir favourite external FX unit) and largeindependent output and input levelcontrols. The return is assignable tothe crossfader or master (andheadphone monitoring) and even has ahandy on/off switch to avoid confusion.The output section has a balance control, isheadphone assignable and even features amono switch to drive mono systemswithout damaging relative levels too muchand a high pass filter providing sharp cutbelow 63Hz to combat any rumble. Outputsare duplicated across XLR outputs and RCAfor both booth and master, and there iseven a 1/4in jack for the mono output.Finally, for all club sound engineers outthere, the side panels of the mixer can beswitched to make them 19in rackmountableand the back panel connectorscan be repositioned to underneath theconsole for in-counter installation.IN USEEnough tech specs! In use, we have to saywe absolutely loved this mixer. It’s notperfect and there are a few niggling issueswe haven’t even mentioned – such as a fewslightly badly attached EQ knobs whichwere too stiff until removed and replacedmore carefully. And it has a curious habit ofsending the master output signal to theheadphones even when nothing – includingthe master output – is assigned(fortunately this is disengaged when any ofthe CUE assign buttons are engaged).In conclusion, it’s only fair to say thatopinions are mixed on this one. Numeroustop DJs have passed through the reviewstudio while this monster sat taking up halfthe desk, so we’ve had a good mix ofopinion and despite initial scepticism,every DJ that actually tried it out loved itdespite its flaws.FINAL WORDIt might not be the best club mixer in theworld and time will tell whether it is ruggedenough to withstand sustained use. Itmay have some truly baffling quirks thatcomplicate use and could easily lead toembarrassment and confusion. But itsounds great, offers a huge number ofchannels and pre-amps and it just makesyou want to mix. Who can ask for morethan that in a mixer?*VERDICT SCORES OUT OF 5BUILD QUALITY 3.5SOUND QUALITY 5.0EASE OF USE 4.5FEATURES 4.5VALUE FOR MONEY 4.0HYPEIncredibly well featured and huge, the 1605 is ajoy to mix with.GRIPESurprisingly, even with the Urei and Soundcraftpedigree behind it, there are some slightquestions over the sturdiness and buildquality of the 1605.A few niggles andsturdiness concernscan’t steal the thunderof this amazinglysatisfying-to-use mixer.TECH VERDICT (OUT OF 5) 4.5*Seven phono/line, sevenline, seven XLR mic and onejack mic inputs*Pre- or post-faderauxiliary send*100% cut, +6dB gain perEQ band*1/4” and mini-jackheadphone jacks*Split ear/previewfade monitoring* Dimensions:87.6(H) x 440(W) x 400 (D)*Weight: 8.7kgs*Mono outputsumming selection*-12dB booth dimming switch110www.djmag.comDJY426.urei 0110 29/9/06 18:20:22