The M-Audio Torq Xponent is an advanced MIDI controller for a comptuer based DJ. Unlike a lot of cheaper devices in this space, the Xponent comes with a high quality, 4-channel sound card. Note that a 4-channel sound card is required if the DJ wants to play one track and listen to another. MIDI controllers that don't have a sound card are limited to simply controlling mixing software, and typically require a more complicated setup.

The Torq Xponent includes:

• 4 x RCA outputs for independent control of the house system and booth monitors
• ¼” TRS headphone output with cue and volume controls
• 16-bit/48kHz max sample rate
• ASIO and Core Audio compatible

Mixer controls:

Xponent Rear

• 2 x vertical volume controls
• 2 3-band EQ control knobs with kill buttons
• 2 x gain-control knobs with mute buttons
• Horizontal crossfader control with transform buttons
• 2 x LED volume meters

Player controls:

• 2 x touch-sensitive scratch wheels
• 2 x 100mm pitch adjust controls
• Built-in touchpad/assignable X/Y control surface for mouse or effect control
• 8 x assignable knobs for effect control
• 64 assignable backlit buttons, including Play, Cue, Seek, Loop, Key and Sync controls
• 2 x LED progress meters

The Xponent has a layout similar to a pair of CDJs and a 2-channel mixer. Each side contains a jog wheel and all of the typical deck controls including loops, effect knobs, and transport buttons.It should also be noted that like higher end CDJs the Xponent includes touch sensitive jog wheels. Touch Sensitive Jogs makes beat mixing a lot easier as it allows the DJ to simulate a throw. Many of the cheaper MIDI controllers do not have touch sensitive jogs so this is a major selling point for M-Audio.

Unlike most CDJs the jog wheels on the Xponent are at the very top of each side. This is a good thing as the whole unit is not very large, and having them at the top away from the faders means you wont accidentally skip a song while adjusting the volume. This was a big criticism of the similarly priced Vestax VCI 100 so M-Audio get a big tick for that one. We found the layout of the Xponent to be very easy to work with and so similar to a typical 2 channel setup that little learning is required. The Xponent is larger than the Vestax and most other MIDI controllers but it is still a rather compact and portable unit.

Performance

So how does it play? After a good few nights with the Xponent we can happily say that this is the best MIDI controller we have ever used. The Jog wheels are fantastically weighted and are very easy to mix with. The touch sensor works just like a CDJ and throws and back spins are easily performed. The buttons are rubbery and do not have that satisfying click feel to them but they are also quite large and LED backlit so you can look to see whether or not you have pressed one.

Not surprisingly the Xponent works best with the included Torq software but we also gave it a try with Virtual DJ. This is our mixing software of choice and the Xponent was still qutie easy to set up and use. The jogs don't feel quite as good in VDJ but that can be adjusted manually.

The Torq software has all of the popular functions such as beat matching, instant looping and effects. We were not fans of the interface however as it has a lot of detail and frankly they have tried to cram too much information on to the screen. Also consider that many DJs now use small netbook style computers and screen size is limited. Unlike Virtual DJ the skin cannot be easily changed either.

By default each of the buttons are pre-programmed to their listed functions in both Torq and Virtual DJ but they can also be re-programmed to perform whatever fucntions you desire. The X/Y pad above the EQ section can also be used as an effect controller and we had some fun using that as a TK Filter.

Summary

The M-Audio Torq Xponent is a great MIDI controller and for us the inclusion of the 4-channel sound card puts it above competitors such as the Vestax VCI 100. Even the recently released VCI 300 which does have a sound card still has the same, inferior layout with the jog wheels right next to the volume faders. Despite some minor annoyances with the rubbery buttons and the included software, for us the Torq Xponent still represents the best MIDI controller available.

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2. Sony DAVDZ870w Review

The Sony DAVDZ870w is a 5.1 Channel, Surround Sound Home Theater System with wireless rear speakers. 'Home Theater' system in this regard simply means that the amplifier has a built in DVD/CD player. The Sony DAVDZ870w includes:

• 4 x tower speakers (left front, right front, left rear, right rear)
• 1 x center speaker
• 1 x sub woofer
• 1 x amplifier
• 1 x remote the

The amplifier inputs and outputs include:

• 1 x AV Out (red, white, yellow)
• 1 x HDMI Out
• 1 x Digital Optical In
• 1 x Coax Digital In
• 1 x RGB Out
• 1 x USB Input
• 1 x mini-jack Out

For anyone not familiar with a wireless system it should be noted that the rear speakers are not completely devoid of wires. They do in fact plug into a wireless receiver, which it self plugs into a power point. For this reason the rear speakers are best placed up against a rear wall and behind a couch. The benefit of a system with wireless rear speakers is that you do not have to have wires running across the floor from the amplifier. If you own your own home that might not be a problem but for anyone who rents and is unable to modify their surroundings then a system with wireless rear speakers makes sense.

The Home Theater System itself is nothing special. Featuring a CD/DVD player, as well as a USB port and DivX codecs for playing AVIs. The DVD player is promoted as upscaling movies to 1080p but we have found there to be no noticeable difference between an upscaled and a normal DVD. Not through our Samsung LA32R81BDX anyway.

Setup of the speakers was not too difficult but we did find the automatic calibration feature to be completely useless. It left the rear and center speakers far too quiet to be heard and did not produce an effective 5.1 environment. Fortunately this can be overcome by setting up the speaker volumes manually through the same menu.

Once set up correctly the Sony DAVDZ870w sounds excellent. The towers themselves do have a fairly flat response but having the sub woofer there adds warmth to the lower frequencies. Music also sounds quite good through these speakers although not quite at the level of a good HiFi system. In either case they will sound vastly superior to any television's built in speakers.

The DAVDZ870w also has a number of different play modes with the optimal choice being A.F.D Multi. This will play audio in 5.1 Surround when available and 2 Channel audio will be split between the 4 towers for anything else. This is particularly good for music as you can have stereo audio in two separate areas of the house!

Summary

For about an $800 system the Sony DAVDZ870w is quite a good buy. Once set up correctly the surround sound experience is excellent for a system in this price range, and the wireless rear speakers add flexibility to your speaker placement.

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1. Silverstone ML02 HTPC
2. Torq Xponent Review
3. Genius 300 Universal Remote Review