Pioneer DM-50D Review – Affordable Multipurpose Monitors

Pioneer has recently expanded its line of DM speakers with the DM-50D. This larger version of the DM-40 comes with a few new features and a more refined design. In this review, we take a closer look at this new model to see what it has to offer.

The Pioneer DM-50D is touted as an option for both DJs and producers. Flexible, powerful, and practical its one of the best studio monitors for beginners. Check out the highlights before we take a deeper dive into the details.

Features

The Pioneer DM-50D could be the answer many home DJs/producers have been looking for. Satisfying when DJing but equally capable for studio work. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty.

Sound Quality

Pioneer has taken the already satisfying entry-level DM-40 design and turned it up a level. This new DM-50D set of studio monitors delivers in the sound front.

The low-end is by far the most impressive element. The 5-inch woofer offers plenty of punch while retaining clarity. Lows are reproduced cleanly without distortion, even at higher volume levels. It’s meaty and full without muddiness. In the DJ mode, you do notice the greater emphasis on the lower end. Satisfying and fun to listen to.

The Pioneer DM-50D offers plenty of punch for DJ sessions at home.

The mids are equally satisfying with plenty of warmth and clarity. Pioneer has a DJ focus and electronic music elements are well-defined and rich. But even when testing other genres these monitors perform well above their low price point.

The highs are crisp and clear. A step up from the DM-40’s. Most likely due to the DECO convex diffusers. Delivery is precise with just enough sparkle.

The balance between all the frequencies is also better than I would expect at this price. Imaging and spatial positioning are solid. The sweet spot is also reasonably broad giving you decent flexibility for placement.

Switching to Production mode does yield a flatter response. It isn’t a massive difference but it is noticeable. But these aren’t as analytically capable as more expensive studio monitors. But at this price, they are very impressive when stacked up against competitors. For general studio work, these will deliver enough transparency to make informed decisions.

These are an impressive pair of studio monitors that sound great. Plenty of punch, good balance, and enough power to get rather loud.

Build Quality

I’ve owned a pair of DM-40s for years. And while they are no longer my primary monitors they were more than capable for several years of work. They have since migrated to another room of the house for general listening. But all along the build-quality was up to the task.

The DM-50D is a solid studio monitor with good component quality.

The DM-50D offers that same level of dependable build quality. The MDF vinyl-coated cabinet is durable and robust. It doesn’t sound or feel overtly hollow and is resistant to scratches and dings. Connection points are secure and everything from the volume knob to the driver material is great.

I don’t expect super-premium materials at this price point. But the Pioneer DM50-D does an excellent job of delivering a solid pair of monitors while keeping costs down. No complaints here.

Specifications

The Pioneer DM-50D offers a large 5-inch glass fiber woofer. Backing this up is a 0.75” soft dome tweeter. Good materials and effective.

The Pioneer DM-50D features 25W of power via a Class D Amplifier.

The Class D amplifier with 96kHz sampling DSP handles the 25W of power. Note that one speaker is the active powered monitor and the second speaker is a slave monitor.

Taking things further the Pioneer DM-50D offers new DECO convex diffusers. This helps disperse the high frequencies evenly. As for the lower end, the DM-50D features two front-facing bass ports. Great for people who want to place the monitors close to walls.

Tuning Options

One of the major selling points for the Pioneer DM-50D is the dual-use functionality. The marketing for these places a huge emphasis on this. And I can see why. New DJs/producers don’t often have the luxury of buying different monitors for different purposes. Do these solve that problem? Yes and no.

The simple to use mode switch changes the audio output.

The mode selection switch is a great addition. It is instantly more flexible than the smaller DM-40 set of monitors. The differences between both modes are present but if anything these still lean more bass friendly. For DJs this is fantastic. Warm and generous lows are satisfying.

For serious studio work, you want maximum transparency. The Production mode does taper of the response to deliver a more workable flatter delivery.

It is capable but certainly not as refined as dedicated production-focused monitors. If you want to fine-tune output to further accommodate your space and requirements you’ll be out of luck.

So in the end these do deliver on their promise, to an extent. For casual and home-based producers these are decent. For DJs spinning at home, these are great. Depending on which side you lean more towards will depend on how satisfied you’ll be.

Design

The styling of the DM-50D is reminiscent of the DM-40s in a good way. These are attractive-looking monitors with thoughtful design. Things like the bass ports and convex diffusers will dictate a lot of the design. But everything looks slick and professional. These will not look out of place in a studio setting. Plus for those that dislike black boxes, there is a white version available.

The Pioneer DM-50D is available in both Black and White versions.

Beyond appearance, the Pioneer DM-50D also has a few other notable features. Access to the volume control on the front of the monitor is always welcome. It prevents you from blindly having to adjust volume as is the case with other monitors.

The addition of a headphone port will also appeal to people coming from consumer PC speakers. The power switch at the back is acceptable and quite common for monitors like this.

Attractive, powerful, and provides some extra features. Good design from top to bottom.

Dimensions

5-inch monitors are a popular middle-ground for studio monitors. They give you enough extra oomph without taking up too much space. The monitors are identical in size except for the main monitor which is about a third of an inch deeper.

The Pioneer DM-50D can fit into most studio spaces.

Combined they weigh in at 16.3 lbs. (7.4kg). A notable difference compared to the DM-40 which comes in at 10.9 lbs. (4.9kg). These are bulkier but not overly so. Just enough heft and stability.

The inclusion of bottom cushion pads is also great to see. It provides some separation from your work surface to prevent unwanted resonance. But I’d still suggest isolation pads or stands if you have some extra money to spend.

Inputs

The Pioneer DM-50D also steps it up in the connection department. You’ll have access to unbalanced RCA input. A good choice for many entry-level DJ controllers. For more pro gear you also have access to balanced ¼-inch TRS input.

The DM-50D offers a good range of connection options.

While this is an improvement over the DM-40 the DM-50D does not contain any other connection flexibility. The notable omission is Bluetooth which some similar speakers offer. When you consider who these speakers are for it is no surprise. Bluetooth introduces lag which is the last thing you want when DJing or producing. So I’m not overly concerned with the lack of it here.

Value

This is one area where I’ve always been happy when it comes to the DM line. These are affordable monitors that serve as a great entry point. You get two monitors, good quality sound, and flexible connection options. All without a big price tag.

If you are new to DJing/producing you’ll already have a lot of things on your wishlist. These are a great way to keep costs down without sacrificing quality. For established DJs, it offers an affordable upgrade path from budget monitors. Good value for money.

Do DJs Need To Also Produce Music?

DJing was always focused on the art of blending music and being a tastemaker for the underground club scene. The skillset that DJs possess is often overlooked. Crafting a unique and interesting set is not easy. Reading a crowd and responding accordingly is a skill you develop over time. Spending countless hours searching for new music can’t be discounted.

Producers often get invited to DJ at large music festivals.

But if you take a look at any major festival or event you’ll likely see more artists that are also DJs as opposed to just DJs. Whether you like to admit it, being just a DJ does make it harder to gain recognition. That is why several DJs end up producing music as well.

Don’t get me wrong. Some of my favorite DJs do not make music and they are still super successful. But there is no denying that creating and playing your own tracks does give you a unique identity. So while you don’t need to also produce music it can help springboard your career.

Other Options

Selecting the right studio monitors can be challenging. If you are looking at options you’ll find three alternatives below worth considering.

Mackie CR5-XBT Review

If you want a similar pair of monitors to the Pioneer DM-50D the CR5-XBT is a good alternative. It also includes Bluetooth connectivity if that is important to you.

• Well rounded and satisfying low-end delivery.
• Attractive styling that features more color.
• While Bluetooth is convenient there is a degradation in sound quality when using it.

JBL One Series 104 Review

If the size of the Pioneer DM-50D is too much for your studio the JBL One Series 104 is worth considering.

• Clean sound profile with impressive balance across frequencies.
• Slimline and compact option that is great for smaller studios.
• Great at moderate to loud volumes but it does lose some sparkle at lower volumes.

Yamaha HS5 Review

For producers that want a more refined and neutral response, the Yamaha HS5 is an excellent studio monitor.

• Ultra accurate and neutral making it more suitable for serious studio work.
• High build quality and an understated yet attractive design.
• A pair of these will be substantially more expensive than the DM-50D.

Should You Buy?

Pioneer set out on a mission to deliver a jack-of-all-trades monitor at a reasonable price. And in my eyes, they have succeeded. The Pioneer DM-50D is an excellent step into the world of studio monitors. Clean, precise, and warm sound that is very satisfying. The option to switch modes is also a good feature that does make it suitable for light studio work. If you want a stylish, functional pair of studio monitors at a great price the DM-50D is worth picking up. 

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