Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Why don't people like Pioneer?

OK. I probably shouldn't ask this question, but I am going to anyway. I have had Pioneer receivers for years without any problems or complaints. From my first 2 channel Pioneer up to my latest Pioneer Elite 54Tx 7.1...

I like them a lot. Granted, my first couple were because they were "priced right" for a guy in high school and again for my second one I bought when in college.

I love the new Advenaced MCACC configuration feature too. I will agree with some others that the remotes are generally "less than perfect" but I have a touchscreen remote that I use anyway, so I don't care too much.

So why Denon, HK, and the like but not Pioneer?

Just looking for thoughts. For $650 I got a THX Select 7.1 receiver with all sorts of options and config capabilities.

Nick, I really like Pioneer also, since high school back in the 80's, I've owned 3 Pioneer (non-elite) receivers. When I was shopping for a new receiver months ago, I was --><-- close to going with a 53tx or the new 54tx. I still have my old Pioneer CS60 4-way Turbo Bass speakers with tone control buttons and led level indicators on the top, they are like brand new.... I'm sure I would have been very happy with the Elite. I think I was to a point where I was so tired of hearing all the biased talk on AVS about them, which I think is a bunch of BS, and when I talked to some of the Axiom tech guys, they talked me into the Denon 2805. And by the way, I love the Auto Setup and Room EQ on the Denon...

later

i would doubt if there is one obvious thing to point at, to say, "we dont like pioneer". i think it could be several things.

1- i think they have a history of not working out of the box.. such as mentioned with the sonys
2- i know i often lump them into the mid-grade equipment, along with kenwood, panasonic, JVC, Sherwood, teac, etc.
3- i think there is a certain amount of questionability about a product name, when they try and branch out into every aspect of electronics avail.. dont know if that makes sense.. sony for example. they make at least one type, of almost every single electronic gadget you can think of.. the mindset being, if they stretch themselves that thin, then they cant possibly do all of them well.. make sense?

if you like the pioneer stuff, then by all means, use it.. dont let us try and change your mind.. not to mention, the 'Elite' series has gotten great reviews. its really all just opinion, so whos to say whos is right or wrong.

bigjohn

I agree with some of what you say bigjohn. One thing I've noticed is that they are just a bit behind in coming out with technologies of their competitors (for ex. surround modes) I haven't really known them to have problems out of the box, and I'm not sure I'd put them in the same category as Kenwood, Sherwood, Panny's, JVC, Teac, especially the Elite line. Just my 5 cents.

In reply to:

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Just my 5 cents

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oh yea.. well, what i said was my $.02 cents.. so with you .05, and my .02, thats still only .07.. so we still cant afford crap!!

bigjohn

Good point about being a little behind in technology. I was hoping to get a Pioneer DVD player, but I didn't see anything with DVI or HDMI, at least that I remember even considering...

Good point. Diversity is good in business and investments, but I have found that companies that spread their R&D a bit thin by trying to have their hands in everything, usually struggle. Somewhat of an example is in the PC industry. Take Dell vs. Sony.. (My sister was looking for a new PC, so this is fresh in my mind.) She was wanting Sony because she could get it at Best Buy for the same price as a Dell. Problem is, as I told her, Dell makes PCs only, Sony makes radios, cd players, other small electronics, oh and some PCs too. I know Dell rebrands peripherials under the Dell name, but they don't make them, just PCs and servers. I told her that this is a main reason the Dell has the largest market share of PCs and why Sony is just a blip on the radar.

I guess that would carry over to AV as well. Like people that are all excited about SVS possibly coming out with a full line of speakers. Why? That doesn't impress me. Stick with subs, that is what they are know to be good at. Diversity is not always good, I guess.

As for working out of the box, no problems for me, but of course that is 4 Pioneer receivers, a CD changer, and a DVD player out of thousands, and I shouldn't have problems.

And for mid-grade. I would agree with the non-Elite line. Then again, that was all I could afford at one time, and even now, I am on the "lower end" cost-wise in their Elite line. If I was given $1500 to spend on a receiver, I would have looked elsewhere I am sure.

Thanks for making me think!

I've liked the Pioneer Elite stuff, but their "regular" line just seems a little lacking when compared to Denon, HK, etc...

btw...I believe the DV-59i has HDMI.

Yes, but for about $900+ for a single disc player, it is a bit more cash than other brands...

The one great thing about Pioneer products is that if you're willing to go without a warantee, you can get their stuff for FAR, FAR less than msrp. Just search the web...even their top-o-the-line stuff can be had for nearly 50% off sometimes.