AlphaTheta has a new all-in-one DJ system, and the most interesting thing about it is not the number of screens, channels, or glowing buttons. The XDJ-AN can now play from USB drives, phones, computers, rekordbox cloud libraries, and supported streaming services. Built-in Wi-Fi gives DJs direct access to Apple Music, Beatport Streaming, and TIDAL. You can log in with a QR code, search for a track, and load it without routing everything through a laptop first.
The fantasy of one perfectly organized music library has mostly collapsed. DJs find music through group chats, streaming playlists, download stores, promo folders, ripped files, and cloud drives. The XDJ-AN is now trying to meet DJs and music makers where they're at.
There is an Info Search feature that surfaces tracks connected to the artist or album currently playing, which gives the streaming side of the system value beyond handling requests. Rekordbox users can access libraries stored through Dropbox or Google Drive, edit playlists on the touchscreen, add Hot Cues, and sync those changes back to the cloud.
The seven-inch screen sits above a conventional two-channel mixer and a pair of compact jog wheels. It looks recognizably descended from Pioneer DJ club equipment, which matters because nobody wants to relearn how to DJ.
AlphaTheta says it's the company’s first all-in-one system that can run directly with DJ apps on a phone. Rekordbox for iOS and djay for iOS are supported, including music saved offline. It also supports laptops with rekordbox, Serato DJ Lite or Pro, and djay Pro.
The XDJ-AN makes more sense any other place where a full professional setup would be excessive, and for any DJs who are ready to upgrade from a laptop but not wanting to spend several thousand dollars for a full club setup.