Pioneer's EX speakers?

[jlindsey86]

Just noticed these on there site the other day. Are they new? The fit and finish look superb. Hope someone writes up a detailed review on these.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/album/0,,2076_310069828,00.html

 

[j_garcia]

I heard some of their previous speakers and they weren't too bad. These guys appear to be in a different league... $6K for the bookshelf speakers and $3800 for the center? They better sound DAMN great! I don't expect you'll be seeing many reviews of those anytime soon.

 

[jlindsey86]

They are quite expensive, but seem to be priced about right for their design and quality build. Im sure that no one will pay msrp though. Pioneer hasnt really had an audiophile quality speaker sense the TZ-F700's. I hope sound and vision or home theater mag gets ahold of these. Which pioneer speakers have you previously heard that you liked?

 

[j_garcia]

They were the Pioneer Elite something or others. A local shop carried the whole line of Elite stuff, and they had those speakers in one of their demo rooms. I scoffed at the idea, but they weren't that bad to be honest. This was a treated, properly setup, closed room, so bad listening space didn't get in the way. They wouldn't be at the top of my list, but they were better than I expected them to be.

 

[silversurfer]

Some good info here about them. Apparently they use some of the technology found in TAD speakers. I don't think they are the same as the Elite speakers you heard.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=676600

The designer/engineer, Andrew Jones, is very well known.

 

[j_garcia]

Some good info here about them. Apparently they use some of the technology found in TAD speakers. I don't think they are the same as the Elite speakers you heard.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=676600

The designer/engineer, Andrew Jones, is very well known.

Yeah, the Elites were discontinued a couple of years ago and were nowhere near this price range. I heard about these guys at one point, but nothing more after that, likely due to the hefty price tag. Street price will still be relatively high with an MSRP like that.

 

[silversurfer]

Yeah, the cost puts it out of reach for me as well, but I would still like to hear it. It seemed to get high praise from those that did hear it.

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker build quality

They are quite expensive, but seem to be priced about right for their design and quality build.

How can you tell speaker design and build quality by looking at a couple pictures on a website? I would require detailed inspection of the drivers, crossover components, cabinet construction, and scientific measurements to make that determination.

Also, for $6k (and $9k) a pair, the 3-way bookshelf design is an inherent performance limitation. For example, av123.com is making line array speakers in the $3-4k price range. Can't wait to see what they come up with Arnie Nudell on board.

 

[silversurfer]

How can you tell speaker design and build quality by looking at a couple pictures on a website? I would require detailed inspection of the drivers, crossover components, cabinet construction, and scientific measurements to make that determination.

Also, for $6k (and $9k) a pair, the 3-way bookshelf design is an inherent performance limitation. For example, av123.com is making line array speakers in the $3-4k price range. Can't wait to see what they come up with Arnie Nudell on board.

Aren't you making a value judgement with Nudell and AV123 before you have actully seen anything as well?

And what is the "inherent performance limitation" you are implying? Are you saying the line array doesn't have any?

 

[jcPanny]

Aren't you making a value judgement with Nudell and AV123 before you have actully seen anything as well?

And what is the "inherent performance limitation" you are implying? Are you saying the line array doesn't have any?

Silver,
You are correct, I can only imagine what Arnie Nudell and Mark will come up with, but I am sure they will "deliver in spades".

My point about the Pioneer speakers was that there are a lot of speaker options in the $6-9K/pair budget and it takes a lot more than good looks.
You are right, the line arrays do have some limitations. They are HUGE and I could never convince the wife to go for these in my living room system.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I can just see someone buying expensive speakers like those, and then completely throwing their money away by dumping their expensive purchase into an untreated room

 

[silversurfer]

Silver,
My point about the Pioneer speakers was that there are a lot of speaker options in the $6-9K/pair budget and it takes a lot more than good looks.
You are right, the line arrays do have some limitations. They are HUGE and I could never convince the wife to go for these in my living room system.

I heard the TAD Model-1 at CES 2005. Absolutely fantastic. The Pioneer EX's are designed by the same person, Andrew Jones, with some of the same technology, but cost 1/5 the price. As somebody noted in the AVS thread, Andrew Jones believes the EX has about 80-85% percent of the performance. If that is true, I think that is a bargain.

I agree though....throwing them into a bad room would be like throwing money away.