Pyle Audio?

Pastor Bill
Pastor Bill Posts: 130
edited August 2014 in Electronics
Any opinions pro or con regarding this company?
Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but through Me." - John 14:6

NAD 7140, Fried Model Qs, Pioneer PD-4700
Post edited by Pastor Bill on

Comments

  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    edited August 2014
    I'd steer clear if I were you.
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
  • Pastor Bill
    Pastor Bill Posts: 130
    edited August 2014
    Kind of felt that would be the case. No wonder Radio Shack is a penny stock now.
    Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but through Me." - John 14:6

    NAD 7140, Fried Model Qs, Pioneer PD-4700
  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited August 2014
    Might be ok for the budding DJ or a frat house, but for serious listening...uh........no.
  • B Run
    B Run Posts: 1,888
    edited August 2014
    I'd definitely stay away.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,801
    edited August 2014
    Well... all generalizations are false, including this one.

    ;-)

    But, in general, current "Pyle" branded products are pretty much junk. Some of their compression drivers may be an exception -- I bought a pair of the cheaper ones, based on specs and hung one on an Altec 511B horn for fun. It didn't sound awful at all... but I really haven't pursued those driver any further.

    Their current electronics tend to be sort of laughable.

    In the dim past, their products weren't a priori junk. Indeed,Pyle is - it is said - related to the Utah speaker company; another US manufacturer of generally forgettable (but not awful) loudspeaker drivers and systems. http://audiotools.com/dead_u.html
    Utah American Corporation
    Loudspeaker manufacturer based in Huntingdon, Indiana, USA, originally founded by Francis Lester Pyle (1912 – 2001) in 1962. Went out of business in 1971, but Frank Pyle then went on to found Pyle Industries in 1973. The Utah name comes from a trademark used by the Detrola corporation that was based in the same town a few years earlier and for whom Mr. Pyle had worked.

    The company pretty much specialised in supplying cheap drivers and sometimes fully built speakers to companies looking for alternatives to established brands although you will find both loudspeakers and drivers with the Utah brand on them that were sold separately. But quite often you will find drivers from Utah in musical instrument amplifiers and cheap home loudspeakers from companies such as Olson Electronics that were below the specifications of anything you will find in any catalogue from the company.

    Utah, for example, was responsible for a fairly large series of coaxial drivers including the beautifully made, but completely uninteresting sounding, Celesta coaxes. Radio Shack (among others) sold some of the Utah drivers under their own "Americana" brand name in the 1960s/early 1970s (see www.radioshackcatalogs.com ).


    049.jpg
    http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/catalogs/1970/pages/049.jpg
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,801
    edited August 2014
    Just to finish the thought :-P
    The Utah Celesta had a unique "one spoke" cast basket; the top speakers in this Allied Catalog page from 1970 shows a version of the Celesta.

    090.jpg
    http://www.alliedcatalogs.com/catalogs/1970-290/pages//090.jpg

    14940472942_6c984cbf55_b.jpgcelestas by mhardy6647, on Flickr
    14940473342_48b1a99d99_b.jpgcelesta rear by mhardy6647, on Flickr

    Not that any of this has much of anything to do with Pyle... :-P
  • Pastor Bill
    Pastor Bill Posts: 130
    edited August 2014
    In the words of Johnny Carson "I didn't know that."
    Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but through Me." - John 14:6

    NAD 7140, Fried Model Qs, Pioneer PD-4700
  • tophatjohnny
    tophatjohnny Posts: 4,182
    edited August 2014
    In the words of Johnny Carson "I didn't know that."

    Now you can (and probably already have) dive into the flea market Pastor! Some great deals from time to time!
    "if it's not fun, it's not worth it & remember folks, "It's All About The Music"!!
    *****************************
  • Pastor Bill
    Pastor Bill Posts: 130
    edited August 2014
    Indeed. I have taken a look and will peruse from time to time. Good group of folks here.
    Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but through Me." - John 14:6

    NAD 7140, Fried Model Qs, Pioneer PD-4700
  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited August 2014
    Indeed. I have taken a look and will peruse from time to time. Good group of folks here.

    Just in time to pick up a pair of Rainmakers! ;)
  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited August 2014
    My signature looks ridiculous posting after you BTW :)
  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    edited August 2014
    I must admit. Back in the late 80's I did have a pair of 10" Pyle Driver subs in my car. They were pretty cheap and they did have good bass. I had forgot about that. But today....nah, I would not waste my money.
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
  • Pastor Bill
    Pastor Bill Posts: 130
    edited August 2014
    I guess part of my original intent in posting this was to ascertain whether or not Radio Shack was still fielding some quality vendors. Some of their stuff/vendors in the 70s and early 80s was quite good, though built to a price point. Sadly, I'm beginning to understand one of the reasons why they are a penny stock now.
    Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but through Me." - John 14:6

    NAD 7140, Fried Model Qs, Pioneer PD-4700
  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,603
    edited August 2014
    If you are looking for drivers for projects or replacements etc. Check out partsexpress.com.
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited August 2014
    I love the history because it reminds me of what Hesse wrote about historians in Journey to the East. And yet Father Jacobus is the only genuine "critic" of his time in the Glass Bead Game? Hmmm!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]