Citronic

Citronic is a British pro-audio brand founded in 1972 in Melksham, Wiltshire, UK, renowned for pioneering DJ gear including early crossfader-equipped mixers and battle turntables for mobile DJs and club installs.

Origins and Early Innovation

Starting as a small outfit pushing affordable, reliable gear, Citronic debuted the SMP101 mixer in 1977—the first commercial unit with a crossfader blending two phono inputs—setting standards later adopted by Urei and others. Early turntables like twin-deck units with Garrard drives targeted UK mobile DJs pre-CD era, blending amps, EQ, and robust idler/belt mechanisms.

Turntable Production History

Focused on direct-drive "battle" models (1970s–1990s) for scratching/DJing:

• PD-1 series (PD-1, MK3, S variants): High-torque quartz-locked decks (~2kg/cm), straight arms, pitch control ±10%.

• PD-45 Ultima: Pro-grade with 4.5kgf/cm torque, damped platters, anti-skate—popular for durability.​Over 40+ years, lineup grew to 200+ items, but turntables phased out by 2000s amid Technics dominance; now legacy items on secondhand markets.​

Current Status

UK-based (now under Rhinegold Publishing), Citronic supplies install/DJ tools but ceased turntable manufacturing, emphasizing mixers, controllers, and PA—true 1970s DJ pioneer.