Sony expands Muteki family with DJ-style LBT-DJ2i XROSS FADE music system
By Darren Murph 
posted Aug 21st 2008 10:30PM
posted Aug 21st 2008 10:30PM
SONY INTRODUCES XROSS FADE: A NEW SPIN ON A DJ-STYLE MUSIC SYSTEM
Mega Sound System is Ideal for Amateur DJs and House Parties
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21, 2008 – Sony today introduced a DJ-style shelf system with a dual dock for iPod® devices called XROSS FADE™. Perfect for mixing and playing music from iPod players, CDs and other music sources, XROSS FADE helps create the ultimate party soundtrack.
Part of the Muteki™ series of stereo systems, the XROSS FADE (model LBT-DJ2i) has an imposing presence and massive output that can fill nearly any room with sound, whether it's in a home, a dorm, or even powering a block party.
This music system has 450 watts of total power output, so aspiring DJs can crank up the volume while still maintaining high quality sound. As its name implies, the XROSS FADE system comes with DJ-style features, including a cross-fader with monitor cue and a built-in two-channel mixer. With this feature, an upcoming track can be checked through headphones to be sure it's cued properly before playing it aloud. DJs can mix two songs or fade into the next song without missing a beat.
With an interface and two scroll wheel mechanisms that allow for easy menu navigation similar to that of iPod players, users never need to touch their iPod players while scanning for the next track. The XROSS FADE system even has a USB recording function that saves mixing sessions to a USB device in the MP3 format without a PC.
For MP3 files, the system's MP3 Booster+ feature improves audio quality by restoring sound that is lost during compression. For extra thump, the beat blend feature adds a layer of pre-programmed percussion, drum sounds and drum loops over the mix.
The XROSS FADE system includes traditional shelf system features, such as a CD player, an AM/FM tuner, and a line-in jack for listening to MP3 players. Users can mix music from these sources as well as their iPod players. The system converts CDs and AM/FM radio to MP3 files as well.
With its matte black and chrome finish and appearance similar to a DJ mixing board, the XROSS FADE system is designed to be a statement piece for the bedroom, dorm room or living room. It produces a booming, high-impact sound through a pair of two-way bass reflex speakers and a dual 7-inch subwoofer enclosure.
Pricing and Availability
Pre-orders for the XROSS FADE audio system are now being accepted at www.sonystyle.com. The LBT-DJ2i XROSS FADE music system will be available in September for about $500 direct from select retailers nationwide. For more information about the XROSS FADE system and the entire Muteki line of shelf systems, please visit www.sony.com/muteki.
Does it play MIDIs?
Yes and Crysis, Doom, and it Blends
I would to love to have in my house only if I can use it with my Zune
i would love to have a house...
^- "Pathetic homeless earthling!"
Morbo only has the news station to sleep in! He is greatly displeased!
"Too bad this setup will cost you half a grand when it ships next month."
$500 isn't that much.
What, do you get $5k a paycheck or something?
Most average people would see $500 as expensive.
Ditto, I expected him to say something like $2k or $1500...LOL! Nowadays $500 isn't that bad.
That's pretty nice looking. I might have to check this out whenever I'm at the Metreon next month since my stereo is dying on me.
The speakers _look_ badass.
Other than that, is all meh... Yes $500 is too expensive. This stereo is smaller than you think, just compare the size of the speakers to the size of the iPods
If you really want to get started into mixing, for $370 you can get a bigger stereo, and for the other $130 you an get a real MIDI controller, hook the stereo to your laptop (I know you have a laptop) and use real professional software
Wow smart guy, $500 for a stand alone set with such other feature, what you expect?
Same way as you hook up few thing to had the MIDI play and yet need a laptop... won't it be over troublesome...
ya the speaker seem not suit the Subwoofer.... but anyway, real sound quality should be judge rather then the cosmetic...
If you really want to get into mixing, you would never want this. No pitch control. It's sort of a shame that ipods don't have this basic feature, because it would'e made djing with ipods possible. Apple really blew it by skipping that feature, they could've been the next Technics. Instead it's Serato and Final Scratch.
Yes indeed.... And with the "beat blend feature adds a layer of pre-programmed percussion, drum sounds and drum loops over the mix." You can have three tracks with different bpm playing simultaneously!!!
I hope I never meet this monstermachine!
Word, all these ipod dj decks are great concepts, but bloody useless without that basic functionality (and ipods d-to-a's don't sound too great at normal speed, let alone with pitch shifting or other effects)
If apple opened things up and a third party added pitch shift, and maybe some tracking functionality so you could properly cue a song from an external input, they would be unstoppable dj tools in like 5 minutes! imagine 160gb of tracks in your pocket, standardized and ready to plug in. The problem with seratto and final scratch is the need to pack around a laptop, 3 vinyls, a fat soundcard, plug it all in, and then when the shit breaks or one of your cables is sketchy you have to play the whole set off CD's anyways!
The only real option for an ipod DJ now is to have every tune preset to the same bpm... far too much effort, and far too restrictive.
A mini-cutie main set with a gigantic subwoofer...wat a unique mixing!! (Applause)
Plus all the DJ-style features, ipod mixing, cross-fader, beat-blend, monitor-cue..wow~COOL!!
$500 only?! Somebody's kidding..Can't wait to bring it home..
Ummm $500 isn't all that bad considering people are willing to spend $300 for a Bose sound dock (which only has a volume up and a volume down button!)
All of that and there's no FLAC support... Figures, it is Sony.