buying first mpc

Sorry to revive an old thread, but might as well build on this one instead of start a new one, right?

Anyway, I'm getting my first MPC too and I'm looking at the 2000XL and the 2500. The 2500 seems like a decent machine. The USB thing would be handy to use, and it looks like it's generally well-rounded, and it combined with the forces of JJOSXL make it sound godly until you step up to the 4000, which probably isn't good for a beginner and it's out of my price range at the moment anyway. It doesn't look as cool as the 2000XL though. The vintage aesthetics factor makes me feel more connected to MPC and beats culture, which matters to me to a degree, but I won't pass up a good machine. How's the build quality between them?

I've heard that the 2500 has a more dry sound, but honestly, crap in crap out and good in good out, right? I don't see an issue as long as the sample is good to begin with and then doesn't the 2500 have good filters and stuff anyway?

The main quabble I have with the 2000XL is that I've heard it takes forever to load samples for chopping. And it seems like there's no JJOS for it...is there?

My thinking was that I might as well take the leap at first instead of taking two tries and go straight to the 2500. I would prefer the aesthetics (and build quality and maybe sound?) of the 2000XL though. It sounds like you lean towards the 2KXL, but what are your thoughts considering all these other things?

At the end of the day it's how much time you put into each machine. The unavoidable cost of good music is a lot of time. 2nd modelo down

For that budget the MPC1000 and JJOS, no doubt about it. With the USB and Compact Flash it's modern enough to make transferring samples easy.

If the original poster is from an all-in-the-box background perhaps the MPC Studio isn't a bad idea with the current low street prices.

Mind that the 2000xl doesn't have the multiple outs as a stock feature. It's also good to know that most of the screens of the XL are dying out or have died out. So you'll have to find one on which the screen already has been replaced or have to put some extra money aside to replace it any time soon.

Also mind that the storage capabilities is also quite outdated. Unless you don't mind messing with SCSI zip disks you should look for a XL with CF card reader which also will narrow down your search options.

Soundwise you should know that the difference between these machines is questionable since I know several people who claim not to notice any difference.
The way you mix down your tracks will also play a part in this.