$170 CDP - Pioneer PD-10AE

Clipdat
Clipdat Posts: 12,949
edited October 2017 in Electronics
Just came across the Pioneer PD-10AE CD player on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Player-Home-Black-PD-10AE/dp/B01M5DV119/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1508867906&sr=8-3

pd-10ae%28b%29.jpg?itok=jSmCpvBf

Specs:
AKM-DAC 4482VT DAC
›
S/N: 107 dB
›
THD: 0.0029 %
›
Dynamic Range: 100 dB
›
Frequency Response: 4 Hz-20 kHz

Looks like a no-frills player, with basic features - no digital output even.

Interestingly, the power transformer is stamped "Onkyo", and it has a very similar internal layout to the Onkyo C-7030.

Pioneer:
1479744049000_IMG_711604.jpg
Onkyo:
5479573.jpg


Possibly made by the same OEM? The Onkyo is $30 less on Amazon.

Thoughts? I wonder how this budget Pioneer player would sound.



· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Upstatemax
    Upstatemax Posts: 2,680
    From what I can tell, the Onkyo has a different DAC (wolfson) and the Onkyo has a headphone amp.

    IIRC, Onkyo and Pioneer and one in the same now...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,901
    Upstatemax wrote: »
    ...

    IIRC, Onkyo and Pioneer and one in the same now...

    That is correct. Pioneer sold that part of their business a while back.

    So -- in 2017, who the heck is the target audience for a player like this "Pioneer"? I mean, you can pick up a $29 DVD player at the drug store that will play CDs and provide digital output if one prefers to use an external DAC(!).

    I am truly puzzled by this one.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Upstatemax wrote: »
    ...

    IIRC, Onkyo and Pioneer and one in the same now...

    That is correct. Pioneer sold that part of their business a while back.

    So -- in 2017, who the heck is the target audience for a player like this "Pioneer"? I mean, you can pick up a $29 DVD player at the drug store that will play CDs and provide digital output if one prefers to use an external DAC(!).

    I am truly puzzled by this one.

    While on the one hand, I agree with you; not too many people at this price point looking for a quality disk spinner (most audiophile disk spinners have their sights set higher). On the other hand, surely this will sound better (without factoring in the external DAC) than the Walmart DVD player. Less vibration (a LOT less), less noise from the power supply, smoother mechanism, etc. But when you factor in a $150-200 DAC, it probably a wash.

    But yes, I would b every curious to see the US sales numbers on the pioneer and onkyo. Can't expect them to be very high...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,901
    Well -- if the transport actually were any better than the 29 dollar DVD player, I'd see a use for it (e.g., as a transport) -- if it had even the capability of getting at the digital data for an outboard DAC.

    Do you think any components in it actually are any better (than the 29 dollar throwaways)? I am skeptical.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    edited October 2017
    Surely this pioneer running analog into a comparable stereo integrated (like this https://amazon.com/Onkyo-9050-Integrated-Stereo-Amplifier/dp/B009JBZFVK) would surely sound better than the 29 buck DVD player running digitally into a HTIB or even an even level AVR right???
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,901
    edited October 2017
    but how about a standalone DAC and a decent hifi.

    Heck, I use a dump-find, cheap-jack Denon DVD player as my CD transport upstairs. It was taste-tested against other decks and sounds darned good to me.


    r2vledc0l1m9.jpg

    I actually don't mean to be argumentative :) I am just baffled as to why, in 2017, there would be much of a market for a product like the titular one in this thread.

    Maybe I should look it up & see what Onkyo/Pioneer has to say about it, eh?

    I'm on it like a bonnet -- because I truly am curious!

    EDIT: Maybe they figure the DAC they put in it is future-proof enough to justify a 170 expenditure(?).
    https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Home/2-Channel+Components/PD-10AE
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 8,121
    I agree with you doc, that this has a VERY small market, and I doubt we will see them for much longer. But I am just saying that someone on budget, who only buys new gear (that's why Emotiva exists after all, when used amps that sound much better are cheaper), and who wants a simple, quality two-channel rig, might, just might, find this unit appealing.

    But yes, I would buy something like my Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai which retailed for 1200 in 2004, which I got on ebay for I think $70 shipped, over this unit any day...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1     Harmon Kardon HK3490; Bluesounds Node N130; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,901
    yrby9b5yjns5.png


    heh -- I also see that, ex-US, this thing's available in "silver" :/
    That'd be nice, eh? :)

    http://www.pioneer-audiovisual.eu/uk/def/products/pd-10ae


    3uykbnw5tfmz.png
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • teekay0007
    teekay0007 Posts: 2,289
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I am just baffled as to why, in 2017, there would be much of a market for a product like the titular one in this thread.


    Heh, heh...He said, "titular"....Heh, heh... :p


    I too think that it not having any digital outputs would be a deal breaker. How good can the internal DAC be on this thing?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter