AlphaTheta Euphonia: A Stunning Professional Rotary Mixer

Inspired by the classic Urei rotary mixers, standard in NYC clubs and still highly appreciated by today's DJs, the design team responsible for Pioneer DJ - now operating as AlphaTheta, an independent company - revealed a new long-awaited project. The Euphonia Professional 4-channel rotary mixer combines high-quality 32-bit A/D and D/A converters, 96kHz/64-bit floating point mixing processing core, with a Rupert Neve Designs analog transformer, USB-C audio interface, and many innovations on the creative controls.
AlphaTheta started as a division of Pioneer Corporation in 1994 when it released the world’s first commercially available flat-top DJ CD player, the CDJ-500, highly acclaimed throughout the dance music world. In 2024, the engineering and design team, became independent from Pioneer and is now releasing products under its own brand AlphaTheta.

The new Euphonia design will be a decisive moment for the newly established company and its very first mixer to retail under the new AlphaTheta brand. A groundbreaking design building on over 30 years of audio technology and innovation, paying homage to rotary mixers' unique sound quality and playability. The all-new 4-channel Euphonia combines the clarity of digital and the richness of analog circuits.
 
To deliver a clearer sound quality that accurately reproduces the expression of the music, the Euphonia uses high-quality 32-bit A/D and D/A converters as well as 96kHz/64-bit floating point mixing and DSP. All sound coming out of the Euphonia passes through a transformer circuit co-designed by AlphaTheta and Rupert Neve Designs. This transformer circuit, tuned specifically for the Euphonia, adds harmonics to the music and creates a glossy and energetic sound that’s smoother for mixing. 

"Low frequencies such as kicks and bass are more stable and punchier, mid frequencies like vocals and instruments have more presence and gloss, and high frequencies such as hi-hats sound silky and natural. The transformer breaks down the barrier between vintage live and modern electric sounds, making mixing easier and surprisingly natural, as if recordings in different styles were originally one piece of music," the AlphaTheta team describes. While the sound will unmistakably beat expectations in terms of quality and analog warmth, the users will appreciate the supreme feel of the uniquely developed rotary faders which have been carefully designed with a mechanism that feels stiff and precise when the user turns the knobs slowly, but becomes light and smooth when turning them fast. Unlike the Urei mixers of yesteryear, in the Euphonia there are actually EQ controls per channel. The new 3Band Master Isolator was custom designed so users can make dynamic changes to the music and have more sensory control over the sound. Going one step further, the 3Band Master Isolator can be combined with a new Boost Send feature with three different levels of gain for the low, mid, or high bands. Users can choose +12dB for dynamic performances, +6dB for sound quality adjustments, and 0dB for reverb effects without any volume boost.

And the Euphonia mixer also features an Energy Visualizer and Spectrum Analyzer screen, built-in Send FX (allowing external FX via Send/Return and Master Insert), and multiple inputs and outputs that include four analog phono, analog live level or digital inputs, microphone input, and two headphone outs. All the controls and knobs were designed in straight cooperation with some of the world's best DJs. After extensive testing, the perfect knob sizes were chosen, with an elastomer applied to the outer circumference of each to ensure a comfortable and reliable grip as well as a high level of vibration absorption. And the fader volume curves have been optimized through feedback from numerous DJs, enabling smooth and natural mixing without equalizing, so users can concentrate on volume control. 

Conventional VU meters only have 1 needle meter, making it difficult for DJs to grasp multiple channel levels at the same time. The Euphonia’s Energy Visualizer with its uniquely developed Mix Level Meter features a needle meter for each channel so users can visually check the levels for all channels and mix smoothly. Users can even keep an eye on the balance of the master output by looking at the Spectrum Analyzer.
 
The Euphonia also features built-in spatial effects: Delay, Tape Echo, Echo Verb, Reverb, Shimmer, and HPF (high-pass filter), all with dedicated controls and a dedicated knob on each channel to adjust the send levels going to the selected effect. The effect controls also have a proprietary mechanism developed specifically for this mixer that automatically switches between a clicking sensation and no-clicking sensation depending on the selected effect parameter.

Each channel strip section on the Euphonia evokes traditional mixer elements, but all are distinguished by the innovative display section and the unique design that combines analog and digital elements. The copper color of the primary knobs conveys the warmness of analog sound, and the wood side panels are painted black to blend in with the overall aesthetic.

Finally, as the team that designed some of the most popular modern Pioneer DJ systems, AlphaTheta didn't forget to include a built-in USB Type-C audio interface for PC/Mac that is compatible with rekordbox DJ and Serato DJ Pro DJ software. A very complete, unique design for a rotary DJ mixer that is certain to be the start of a new era of creativity. The Euphonia is now available and retailing for USD $3,799.
www.alphatheta.com