Amazing feature set at expense of ease of use
Written: Sep 11 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Every imaginable feature included
Cons: Day-to-day operation is not so intuitive
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| Slavsta's Full Review: Pioneer DEX-P1R CD Changer |
The unit really shines in the PRO mode, which allows one to set up and fine-tune a system with a total of six amplified channels (High/Mid-Bass/Subwoofer x 2). The Time alignment feature, which lets you input distances in inches/cm from the driver's head to each speaker, does produce audible results. In my case, I was able to "move" the subwoofer bass from its source in the trunk all the way towards the center of the sound stage in front.
In the PRO mode you lose the front/rear balance and special echo effects, but it's a small price to pay for the ability to create and manipulate a solid continuous sound stage.
Yes, there is some redundancy since your amp(s) is likely to have built-in crossovers and gain controls, but this Pioneer places all the necessary controls (HPF/LPF, Level, Phase, Time alignment) for each of the three bands in teh PRO mode literally at your fingertips - and you get to assess the results of each change while in the driver's seat.
All in all, the unit is packed and replaces external crossovers and a dedicated DSP unit (for time alignment), thus justifying its relatively high price.
The CD transport beat my Nakamichi CD35z in terms of stability on bumpy roads (no skipping), but the unit's complexity inevitably results in less-than intuitive operation (this is where Nakamichis really shine!)
So, YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE THE MANUAL, and please do write down your settings on the supplied crib sheet - there's no flash memory - you have to start all over again, if you disconnect the battery, .
Other rough edges include:
* The unit doesn't reduce output level in the track seek mode - literally painful at high volumes.
* Pushing the ATT/Mute button on the remote control results in a sharp in/decrease in the output level - a gradual one would be much nicer. Also, there's no Mute button on the faceplate, only the remote(s), which is a nusiance if you have to quickly answer a phone call - the digital Volume Up/Down are slow.
* Also, my old Pioneer Mini HiFi had this auto-mute-on-power-on feature, this unit doesn't, so if you turn the ignition key off while it was at a high volume, say, during the day, and sneak into your vehicle in the middle of the night, you will be greeted with a blast and be frantically searching for the Mute button on your remote.
* One has to use the context-sensitive FUNCTION menu for CD functions like Intro Scan, Shuffle, etc - although there is a programmable button one can assign on of these functions to.
* Have to hold the Display button for two seconds to see the full length of a CD Text entry - I'd much rather I could optionally turn the autoscroll feature on. I haven't actually seen many CD-Text encoded CDs out there, so teh comment may not be relevant to you, but I have made quite a few "Best of..." CDs on my computer CD Recorder with CD Text. By the way, the unit has not difficulty whatsoever playing CD-Rs.
* One can input disc titles, but not Radio station names, for some reason.
* There is no Amber/Green switch to match the display output color to your dashboard illumination... for a very simple reason that the unit's 10 or so disco lights colors will look as distracting regardless of whether your dashboard is illuminated amber or green :) Actually, I wish I could turn the display completely off.
VERDICT: Gives a one-stop convenient solution for setting up a solid sound stage, but once it's set, you're paying the price by having to keep your manual in one hand and your remote in your other hand (more suitable for automatic transmissions or passengers :) to operate the darn thing.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Slavsta
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 1 member
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