NEW Pioneer DEH-80PRS

KaosTsoc

Just wanted to start a thread on this since it is new. Thanks to pentoncm for posting this on another thread. So I went to the Pioneer website, and did some looking at the new unit, and I have to say it is really, really nice. It looks like it is the little brother to the Pioneer P99RS, and it also appears that it will cost about half if not more less. It only has a 16 band eq, but for those of us on a minor budget that are trying to stay in the 300-400 ish range. I think this is a winner all around. So, I would like to start a discussion on this if at all possible. Likes, dislikes etc. Also for those that dont really want to got the website here is the over all info from there:

AUDIOPHILE GRADE:

The DEH-80PRS CD receiver features audiophile grade internal components and materials that are carefully selected to achieve Pioneer's highest standards for the ultimate in sound quality. Pioneer?s exclusive sound field technologies including Auto EQ and Auto Time Alignment help optimize audio in ways that perfectly suit particular listening spaces and allow subtle manual control of settings. Versatile connectivity helps deliver exceptional sound quality from various digital devices.

Burr-Brown? 24-bit D/A Converters: Three Burr-Brown digital to analog converters are used - one each for the high, mid, and low frequency ranges - providing exceptional linear sound reproduction with wide dynamic range and faithful reproduction of the original source

Four-Layer Circuit Board Design: Utilizing a four layer copper foil board with components mounted to both sides of the board allows for a circuit board with a much smaller footprint. The inside layers of the circuit board are dedicated to the power and ground supply traces, which allow for lower overall circuit impedance and greatly reduce noise.

Full-Custom High-Capacitance Power Supply Capacitor: Custom-built capacitors in the power supply keep sound clear and consistent. Exclusive parts are developed and tuned for optimal sound quality through a thorough review of materials and repeated listening trials.

Sound Master Clock Circuitry: Timing is everything. Our new Sound Master Clock generates waveforms that read and process digital signals with extraordinary precision - eliminating jitter. Finely detailed signals can be accurately reproduced as they were intended.

28-bit Binary Floating-Point DSP: Handling a wider range of complicated calculations than a standard fixed-point DSP, Pioneer's 28-bit binary floating-point DSP along with the use of advanced programming technology allows for highly precise sound processing and tuning without degrading the source's digital signal.

3-Way Digital Network: The DEH-80PRS features a 3-Way Digital Network, connecting (via three 5V RCA preouts) up to three external amplifiers, each dedicated to driving high-, mid- and low-frequency ranges, respectively. The result: more distinct separation of the three frequency ranges, for more full, natural sound realizing more of each speaker?s potential in a multi-speaker system.


L/R Independent 16-Band Digital Equalizer: The L/R Independent 16-Band Digital Equalizer is excellent at overcoming in-vehicle frequency response peaks and troughs. With fine tuning adjustments at 2/3 octave steps, tailoring the frequency curves to generate a flat response is possible in any type of car.


Auto Time Alignment and Auto EQ: Time alignment automatically estimates the delay from each speaker to the driver?s position and adjusts speaker sound output timing, so that sound from all speakers reaches the driver?s ears in perfect sync. Auto EQ tailors specific musical characteristics according to preference, uses a microphone to monitor and analyze acoustics, then automatically fine-tunes all frequency bandwidths and front and rear speaker digital parametric equalization. These processes occur in 399 seamless steps in just about 6 minutes and 30 seconds.


Time Alignment: Not only can this function precisely adjust each speaker?s output timing according to its distance from the listening position ? it is also adaptable to a 3-way multi-amplifier and speaker system.




A BETTER-THAN-EVER LISTENING EXPERIENCEPandora? is personalized internet radio that is designed to help you discover new music that you'll love mixed in with music that you already know. With the DEH-80PRS, you can enjoy superior sound quality and full control of the Pandora experience in your car directly from the receiver. You are able to give tracks "thumbs up" or "thumbs down," bookmark a song so you can purchase it later, easily switch between your personalized radio stations, and view full track data.

In-dash control for Pandora is compatible with Apple iOS. Simply download the free Pandora Radio app to your iPhone? or iPod? Touch and connect it to the DEH-80PRS with the CD-IU51 interface cable (sold separately) and take your music to the next level. For more information and to sign up for a free account please visit www.pandora.com.





HANDS-FREE CALLING AND AUDIO STREAMINGStay safe and obey local hands-free laws with built-in Bluetooth? (HFP). With Secure Simple Pairing, you can easily pair a Bluetooth enabled phone to the DEH-80PRS without having to enter pin codes or go through complicated settings. When a registered Bluetooth device is in close proximity to the receiver, the auto connection function automatically pairs the two units.

If you have a compatible audio player device that also features built-in Bluetooth, you have the ability to wirelessly stream (A2DP) and control audio (AVRCP) to the receiver.





USB DIRECT CONTROL FOR iPOD?/iPHONE?Pioneer's DEH-80PRS is ready to roll with direct connectivity to your iPod or iPhone for audio playback via the optional USB interface cable (CD-IU51 interface cable sold separately). Song, artist, time and album information are displayed on the full dot LCD display. Powerful tools such as Link Play and Alphabet Search to help you find content faster. The system's wired USB connection provides direct digital signal transfer from the device for clean, clear sound while providing 1 amp of current to keep your iPod/iPhone charged.

Dual rear USB ports allow connection of 2 compatible USB devices so you will never run out of source options. For example, you can connect an iPod to USB1 and a compatible USB hard disk drive to USB2.





RETHINKING CONNECTIVITYWith App Mode you can enjoy listening to the content on select compatible apps directly on the receiver fom a connected iPhone or iPod Touch. Limited controls such as track forward or reverse may be executed from the receiver.

Note: Not all apps will be compatible with App Mode and App Mode will provide limited, if any, control over the app.





CUSTOMIZE ITMatch the display and key illumination to your vehicle's interior lighting. Over 210,000 colors are available to match the illumination in any car. The key illumination and display illumination colors can be customized separately for an endless number of color combinations.



OTHER FEATURESFull Dot LCD Display (192 x 48 pixels, 3-line)
Built-In MOSFET 50W x 4 Amplifier
3 Sets of Hi-Volt RCA Preouts (5V) for System Expansion
Dual 16-Band Graphic Equalizer
Auto EQ (CD-MC20 required)
Advanced Sound Retriever
SD/SDHC Memory Card Slot
Wired Remote Input
Included Remote Control
Anti-Dust Design
Flap Face
Detachable Face Security?


So as you can see they added a few new features. The one feature I am super excited about is the USB connection. That will make my life so much easier since alot of my music is on a hard drive, or usb stick, so that is plus. It also has bluetooth which is good for the hands free driving which I like as well. So, yeah comments please.

Thanks.

EndersShadow

This is a CD player I will be following with much anticipation.....

MacLeod

Ha! Funny you posted this cause I was looking at the P99 last night and almost and I mean almost pulled the trigger on one. The only thing that concerned me about it was you couldn't EQ each driver independently of eah other. I don't think that would be a problem for most shows and I bet I could rack up another state championship with one but to compete for a world championship, I think I might need that ability. $1200 is a bargain considering you have to buy a CD player, processor and laptop to work it and you'd be in the neighborhood of $1200.

Plus the thing is breathtakingly beautiful. I've honestly not written off the idea of getting one to compete with.

All that being said, the 80 looks to be just superb. I've always been a Pioneer fan and my first ever aftermarket head unit was a Pioneer cassette player. With Alpine getting away from audiophile gear and aiming for iPod gear, it looks like Pioneer is aiming to be the audiophile's choice.

I'm looking to blow up a credit card this season and something like this along with a Bit-One would be awful nice.

KaosTsoc

Mac, I thought the P99 let you do the L/R Independent eq'ing? I thought I read that on their website..... Hmmmmm.... That seems kind of.... well a slap in the face considering the price of it is like 1200. You would think they would have added that feature for that kind of money? The one thing that I did notice about the new unit though is that there is no BUS port in the back, so that would mean that if you have a cd changer you would not be able to use it on this new unit. However, since alot of stuff is going digital these days I dont see that being the achilles heel for this unit, at least not for me. I am with endersshadow though, I will be keeping my eye on this one for sure. But almost seems pointless to get it since I just bought the P860 from Dskip, but on the other side of the coin I get two, sorry three more features on the this new unit that I dont get on the old one. One: Bluetooth, which I want to say is almost a must to have now adays. Since alot of states are outlawing the use of cell phones while driving, unless you have bluetooth. Two: 16 band Independent L/R eq'ing, which I dont think the p860 gives you. Three: The usb ports in the back, and I think from looking at the pics of this it has another set up rcas in the back next to the usb port so that I think you use the 3.5mm jack to rca cable to play music that way. I think there are few more feature that this new offers that the P860 does not, but can't think of them now.

It is nice though that someone finally got the hint that not all of us can afford to spend 1200 or more on a HU. Which I think that is why they put this one out. I think they might have lost some money in the long run on the P99 cause of the price. I just hope they keep this new one in production for a while.

Thanks.

pentoncm

The p99 does have L/R independent EQ. What Mac is talking about is separate EQ for each channel. This gives you a separate EQ for the left tweeter, left woofer, right tweeter, and right tweeter, etc. The left part of the EQ on the p99 would affect every speaker on the left side simultaneously, same goes for the right.

KaosTsoc

Ah... I see what you are saying... Still for 1200 you think they would have added that feature. I guess you can only put only so much into a HU. I guess if you need anything more than that you would still need an external eq Bitone Bit ten etc. Make sense now. I also like the fact that you can change the screen color as well. Not a make or break for me if it was not there, but still a nice feature, and helps tie in the over all theme of your vehicle.

Does any know what this means:

28-bit Binary Floating-Point DSP: Handling a wider range of complicated calculations than a standard fixed-point DSP, Pioneer's 28-bit binary floating-point DSP along with the use of advanced programming technology allows for highly precise sound processing and tuning without degrading the source's digital signal.

I get the DSP part of it, but what is the binary floating-point?


Thanks

MacLeod

Yeah its the lack of being able to EQ each driver. That's really only important for level matching. Even though you cut your midbass off at 315 Hz, its still playing a lot of volume passed that. If its putting out 85 db and you're using a 24 db slope, that means its still playing 400 at 77 db and 500 at 69 db which is still very audible.

Still, I think I might be able to get away with it. My image is pretty solidly up high and on the dash so it might not hurt too much if I have to cut into frequencies on both mid and midbass.

I may just be trying to convince myself of that though cause I really really really want to buy one of these P99 beauties!

KaosTsoc

I have not got the 860 in yet. Money is a little tight this year, I will hopefully have it in sometime this year though. I am getting the money together to get my sail panels modded to put my tweets in. Once I have that in I can run the MM6501's up front, and then the existing subs that I have for now. Still have to get another box put together for the SR12's that I have, and then have to buy the Alpine M12. There are some small little nickle, and dime stuff I will need to get, but that I can pick up here, and there until I can get the new box, and the new amp. I am with you guys though the P99 is really sweet, but find it hard to justifing the price for it. Since I am not doing competitions I can not really see paying that kind of money for it. At least for now


Thanks.

arun1963

The DEH-80PRS is basically the older p-880/800 with better USB connectivity and digital radio. I've used both the 880 and now the 800. Absolutely love the units, despite it's quirks. The eject mechanism has issues, I had it on both units. It's more infamous for the pico fuse issue, but that's more to do with users hot swapping the rca's. In four years of running these units, I've never had this issue. I'm sure the updated unit would have addressed these issues.

The pio basically taught me to hear the difference. It let me cut my teeth learn how to tune. It has tons of dsp and you can dial in some amazing sound. Of the other three sq hu's of that generation, the 9887, 7100mkII and the drz9255, I always felt that the pio was a cut above the rest for dsp it offered. To have it reincarnated for $350 bucks is a great move forward for pio. As also a great chance to own a true sq unit at a reasonable price.

arun1963

Mac, the p-99 is a very nice unit. I've spent a few days setting up a couple of units. You'll manage to dial in great tonality but your imaging will be better with a processor. You're running a 3way for better imaging, why compromise on that?

Yes it looks sexy as hell, if I hadn't got the bit ten, I would have gone for one. For competitions, I think you're better off spending about 8-900 on the helix or the bit1 or wait for a bit and you can add the tru unit to that list for a bit less.

BeefJerky

DSkip wrote: »

Did you ever get the 860 set up? I haven't dabbled in car audio in about 2 years, but still want one of those P99's. I don't have the desire to rip apart another car and do a fresh install. If you have a desire to buy some SR's, let me know. I can't promise I'll let them go, but I've been toying with the idea heavily since I've got the home rig. I find myself mostly listening to sports talk radio or the top 40 stations since I don't have to pay much attention to it and its stuff you can just bob your head to.

Which SR's?

BeefJerky

DSkip wrote: »

Had a few inquiries about the SR's and they are 5250's. That wasn't the intent of that post though; I didn't want it to become a "wanted" ad. I honestly didn't expect that kind of interest.


Anyways, its a shame they couldn't squeeze some HD radio in that unit. I'm not much for the looks (I've always preferred the dual knob look, like the P99), but the price is appealing for its feature set. If it had HD radio, I might feel have felt the need to rip a car apart again...

I will pass. I was hoping it was the SR6500's. I already have the 5250's and would like to upgrade so I can integrate it with my subwoofer better (lower crossover frequency). Thanks!

pentoncm

Just wanted some opinions. Do you guys think it would be worth it for me to upgrade from my kenwood x595 to the new pio 80prs? Benefits would include better internals, 24bit Burr Brown DAC, and 5V output. I might just do it to have a better signal going into the Bit Ten. I also am throwing around upgrading to an Arc Audio KS amp sometime in the next year.

MacLeod

Nope. If you want something new and cool to play with then by all means and grab one. It wont make a difference in your sound quality though, especially since your piping everything thru your Bit Ten. Definitely nothing wrong with upgrading though, whether you need to or not. We're enthusiasts and we do this hobby cause its fun. Getting new stuff is always fun.

arun1963

With the bit10 you're only using your cd player as a source. You don't need to upgrade it. Upgrade the speakers before you do the amps.

pentoncm

arun1963 wrote: »

With the bit10 you're only using your cd player as a source. You don't need to upgrade it. Upgrade the speakers before you do the amps.

The main reason that I want to upgrade my amp is that my MTX gets super hot in the summer. The class G/H amps should run fairly cool from Arc Audio.

arun1963

I just thought you were looking to add power or some amp sq:biggrin:. But seriously my post was more from the angle of will give you a bigger sq jump than amps, if you ever wanted to go that route.

pentoncm

i think i'm gonna stick with the MM's in my current car right now. Power I have plenty of, I just want something a little higher quality amp wise that doesn't burn my hand if i touch it in the summer.

I won't be getting a new car for probably 5 years. When I do, I plan on getting a mustang GT and putting 8 inch HAT Legatia drivers in the doors.