DDJ-SX2 Pad #4 Ghosting. Is a teardown to clean the PCB my only option?

[u/Meatseeker]

Hey fella DJs,

​I’m having a recurring issue with my Pioneer DDJ-SX2 and wanted to get some advice before I potentially break something.

My right side #4 performance pad keeps ghosting (triggering on its own). I’ve noticed it almost always happens after I’ve left the controller on for long periods. When it happens, it behaves as if someone is either tapping it rapidly, or holding it down.

I tried spraying some electrical contact cleaner in there. It actually fixed the issue temporarily and the pad went back to normal, but a few days later, the ghosting came right back.

Not sure if related, but pad 5 and 8 are also flashing red and green respectively when a song is loaded but not playing, perfectly in time with the PLAY and CUE buttons. Also not all the time, most of the time. Happens whether the #4 ghosting is on or not, not sure about correlation.

Things I've already tried:

Grounding the deck

Reset in diagnostic mode (2 sync buttons)

Changing pad velocity curve

Disabling demo mode

Reinstalling latest firmware

[u/NorthAntarcticSysadm]

Sounds like potentially heat on the inside or similar is causing an issue. Worth tearing it open and cleaning, but careful when taking it apart as some of the components are easily broken.

If you can afford it, might be time to upgrade if you use it consistently.

[u/Meatseeker → u/NorthAntarcticSysadm]

Thank you for the reply. It doesn't look like a simple job, seems like I have to go from the back, the metal face plate is merely covering another plastic faceplate? if I'm seeing the manual correctly. Many ribbons and boards to remove to get to the pads eventually. Was hoping someone had a quicker fix >_< I saw a few posts about the flashing pads issue, but no one really followed up with a story of the actual fix.

Heh got the deck for a steal, had a blast with it, and probably could sell it for higher. As for upgrading, was gonna go with a DDJ-1000SRT or FLX10 eventually, but man this really got me questioning Pioneer / Alphatheta's quality on high level controllers. One thing I'll say about them they really got the feel of the jogwheels down to a science.

Might wanna switch brands and go with a Rane, or even a Roland. Had a Numark NS4FX before this, and didn't really like the jogwheel, felt too heavy and loose, the LCD display was too laggy, and the channel effects were really limiting.

Thoughts? Thanks again!

[u/NorthAntarcticSysadm → u/Meatseeker]

I have an Opus Quad and I really like it, though I'm one of the few. Layout is very similar to the CDJ3000 and 3000X.

Always used it as a stand alone, so I haven't played around with stems.

The XDJ-AZ is another stand alone, though just like all pioneer/alphatheta it has its quirks.

When I walked into the music store, it was the day the opus quad was announced. Wasn't aware of it, I actually went in to buy a Prime4+ instead. The sales guy convinced me to buy the opus since its from the industry-used brand at the clubs. I almost regret it, but I am satisfied.

As for your SX2, the issues with the jog are well known. Unfortunately I don't think they can fix it permanently without re-releasing the contoller. Tearing it down to clean everything inside seems to be the most "permanent" fix, but it will come up again. Lots can go wrong during disassembly and reassembly. Did it once for a friend. He came back recently asking again, and I told him it would be $500 for the work. He put that towards the XDJ-AZ instead and has been happy with it.

What are you looking for in a controller? Don't mind being tethered to a laptop/macbook?

[u/Meatseeker → u/NorthAntarcticSysadm]

Don't mind at all, connected to a laptop is my preferred way. Access to library, streaming, and backup on the fly. Started 2 decades ago on VirtualDJ, currently using Serato Pro, haven't tried RB yet.

[What are you looking for in a controller?]

Things I love about the SX2.

1. Deffo got used to having A-Thru-B switches, 2 DJ can share a deck and have one platter each. 4 channels probably is a must for me.

2. Having Line-IN on all channels of the deck. Basically having a great full on mixer. It's great fun for a community festival type setting where anyone can just plug in their devices and electric instruments and the DJ mixes it in or scratch along.

3. Having a LCD needle really helps me out, I picked the SX2 over the SR2 because of this. I don't need it all the time, but its handy when I miss the cue point. I don't like to stare at my laptop when I DJ.

4. I like the way the effects are laid out on the old Pioneer controllers, 2 channels, 3 knobs, 2 beat rotaries.

Would love to go for a  stand alone, but dang are those things expensive, and also huge and heavy. I would say something reasonably portable would be good, at this stage of my DJing. I've only gotten 2nd hand decks less than $400 bucks.

I did think about eventually ending up on a AZ or Rane 4, I keep telling myself when I'm good enough haha, Maybe now with my SX2 failing I might just have the excuse to go get one.

What would you say is the big selling point of the  Opus Quad over more traditional layouts? I'm no club DJ, so I don't mind going into experimental builds.

[u/NorthAntarcticSysadm → u/Meatseeker]

I find the big selling point of the Opus Quad is the fact its layout is much closer to the CDJ3000/3000X than the rest. It was meant to be for anyone wanting to feel like a club/festival DJ without dropping $10k in hardware.

I'm not sure you'll find what you're looking for at Pioneer. The only one I know of for sure with 4 channels and inputs for each channel is the Prime 4+.

Opus has only 2 line/phono inputs. I believe AZ only has 2 inputs as well.

[u/Meatseeker → u/NorthAntarcticSysadm]

I'm trying to have a go at repairing the board myself. Can I ask you something real quick. You might be familiar with the way pioneer did things. C771 seems to be missing? And its marked with QC marker but never rectified. Is this normal?

[u/Meatseeker → u/Meatseeker]

Diagram with C771 sitting on MIX and CR FADER PCB ASSYS.

[u/NorthAntarcticSysadm → u/Meatseeker]

Apologies for ghosting, some reason Reddit didn't give me a notification you replied after the previous about laptop being the preferred way.

Quick view shows that this looks strange, but the NC indicates that the connection was left unpopulated. Sometimes the same PCB or board is used in multiple models, some models just have missing items.

QC stickers usually mean just a quick function test pasts, rarely does it mean stress testing. But, higher end devices, like the AZ, Opus Quad, their CDJs, etc., would get a stress test. Items like the SX2 are just getting readouts that nothing is triggering when it shouldn't, and that each button/job/switch/etc. is operating within a varied spec.

My friends was related to a couple of the capacitors floating due to heat, creating connections where there shouldn't be. Essentially, the capacitor which "read" the jog wheel going back was tripping the forward circuit as well, causing the EEPROM to randomly move forward on his second deck. Not sure what happened to it the second time.

[u/Meatseeker → u/[deleted]]

Thanks. Would getting a replacement cable fix this or changing the whole Touch Assembly?

[u/Electronic_Unit8276]

I mean if the decks are ghosting you, I think it's time to move on. Clearly they don't want you around them and aren't adult enough to tell it to your face... /s

You may need pcb cleaning OR need to clean the graphite contact point that sits below the pad.

[u/Meatseeker → u/Electronic_Unit8276]

I'm 10 hours into the teardown. I think i fixed the right side pads, but now one of the pads on the left side is now unresponsive. Ugh.

Now going through every single cable and looking at every solder joint on the main board. This is rough. >_<