Have your say & ask the experts

jase fox:

aliEnRIK:

jase fox:

Pioneer LX70 (now that was a heap of junk, thats another story)

 

What was so bad about it Jase?

Hi Rik,

I had the Pioneer for about 10mths & i must of done at least 5 firmware updates. It would always freeze, it wouldnt sometimes let me even eject the disc, when i pressed the stop button it wouldnt stop until around 2mins after id pressed it, when it would freeze (which was just about with every film i watched) you had to unplug it at the wall, plug back in again, switch it back on & wait for it to fire up with which it was incredibly slow, then find were you wanted to watch it from (the point of freezing) then when id resume watching again it would freeze yet again so had to do the same procedure & it wasnt good especially when i had a mate watching a film with me also, embarrassing to say the least.

When i phoned Pioneer about the problem they'd always say "theres a new firmware due out any day & that should solve the issues i have" well the firmwares came & not one of them solved any issues, it was a nightmare!!

God, Jase you poor chap. Not the kind of player that sounds like it should ever have been launched. Talk about putting a new technology out before it was ready!

Will Harris:

jase fox:

aliEnRIK:

jase fox:

Pioneer LX70 (now that was a heap of junk, thats another story)

 

What was so bad about it Jase?

Hi Rik,

I had the Pioneer for about 10mths & i must of done at least 5 firmware updates. It would always freeze, it wouldnt sometimes let me even eject the disc, when i pressed the stop button it wouldnt stop until around 2mins after id pressed it, when it would freeze (which was just about with every film i watched) you had to unplug it at the wall, plug back in again, switch it back on & wait for it to fire up with which it was incredibly slow, then find were you wanted to watch it from (the point of freezing) then when id resume watching again it would freeze yet again so had to do the same procedure & it wasnt good especially when i had a mate watching a film with me also, embarrassing to say the least.

When i phoned Pioneer about the problem they'd always say "theres a new firmware due out any day & that should solve the issues i have" well the firmwares came & not one of them solved any issues, it was a nightmare!!

God, Jase you poor chap. Not the kind of player that sounds like it should ever have been launched. Talk about putting a new technology out before it was ready!

Absolutely Will, bluray was in the nursery stage when i got the Pioneer, it was an utter nightmare, i knew i should of waited a while as even my local hifi dealer tried to tell me to maybe wait a while but would i have it? NO !! It even used to freeze on standard DVD discs also, it used to drive me mad, put it this way, it brought some colourful language out of me, ha

I did tell Pioneer that funnily enough as after about the 10th time i'd phoned them i did say to them that its best to actually bring a bluray player out that plays bluray's? he said "thats the whole idea" (the Prat!) Anyway happy to say that bluray technology has moved on as ive never had any issues like that with my Denon... thank god.

jase fox:

bluray was in the nursery stage when i got the Pioneer... ive never had any issues like that with my Denon... thank god.

I did! Who prefers what player is down to personal choice, but what really gets me is that budget machines from Sony and Panasonic have very few problems and play everything you put in 'em. How can the likes of Pioneer and Denon charge more for so called 'premium' players that have numerous problems requiring constant firmware updates, which then usually create another problem.

The Arcam AVR600 is another example, yes it sounds great, but I would have thought a company like Arcam would be embarassed to put out a prestige £3.5K amp with as many faults as it has.

Will Harris:

My first experience of the Oppo was at TLC Broadcast where I bought my Arcam. We tested it against the Denon 3800. I could not percieve any difference at all between the two, save for the Oppo's remarkably fast activation and operation. It's this exceptional performance witnessed first hand, that makes me want the world to know what WHF think.

It seems that they have more enthusiasm at selling a product than providing support for a product that fails the day you open it.

pete321:

jase fox:

bluray was in the nursery stage when i got the Pioneer... ive never had any issues like that with my Denon... thank god.

I did! Who prefers what player is down to personal choice, but what really gets me is that budget machines from Sony and Panasonic have very few problems and play everything you put in 'em. How can the likes of Pioneer and Denon charge more for so called 'premium' players that have numerous problems requiring constant firmware updates, which then usually create another problem.

The Arcam AVR600 is another example, yes it sounds great, but I would have thought a company like Arcam would be embarassed to put out a prestige £3.5K amp with as many faults as it has.

A friend of mine has a Ferarri 430.  He also has a BMW for when it's overcast/colder than 15c and warmer than 25c...!

I have had my Sony BDP-S350 since last year, I have updated the firmware about 3 times, and apart from one bad Blu-Ray Death Race, which was replaced and the new one worked fine, have no problems playing any kind of disc at all.

First post so hoping not to offend the team.  I subscribed for many years to this magazine and now only buy it from time to time.  It helped me buy my original kit but I no longer use it for reference when considering my purchases.  I have bought an Optoma HD65 which is out 2 years and which the magazine has not reviewed.  My next purchase will be a BK Monolith which has a strong following and is regarded highly but has not had a whiff of a review in the mag.  Neither have the rest of the BK subs which seem to wipe the floor with other subs in their price range.  The most useless piece of kit I ever bought was a Wharfedale SW 150 sub which was regarded the best sub in the up to 300 pound category for years by WHF.  It is wiped out by the BK 200 and yes I have done a direct comparison. 

 I am curious as to whether WHF are aware of the existence of such companies as BK, SVS and other companies which make a mockery of the prices being asked by the mainstream producers and which seem to fill their pages over and over again.  Its time to set up an exploration team to find out what people are buying and why in dear old Blighty and beyond and bring these products to the attention of the general public so they too have the opportunity to purchase quality products which are available in the UK through reputable dealers or direct from the manufacturers.

 Its just a pity that this magazine is losing credibility due to its limited reviewing and missing out on what are top products.  I know there are many people out there with the same feeling that the magazine is just too comfortable in its reviews and not really keeping its finger on the pulse.  Come on WHF, save the new look and give us some more interesting alternatives and by doing so you will have a lot more credibility with AV enthusiastists who really know their kit.  Turn to BK first, a UK company and give them some recognition and you never know what you may find, you may even surprise yourselves!

 If you set up a questionaire asking people to list their kit I think you will realise what people are buying. I dare you!

jase fox:

aliEnRIK:

jase fox:

Pioneer LX70 (now that was a heap of junk, thats another story)

 

What was so bad about it Jase?

Hi Rik,

I had the Pioneer for about 10mths & i must of done at least 5 firmware updates. It would always freeze, it wouldnt sometimes let me even eject the disc, when i pressed the stop button it wouldnt stop until around 2mins after id pressed it, when it would freeze (which was just about with every film i watched) you had to unplug it at the wall, plug back in again, switch it back on & wait for it to fire up with which it was incredibly slow, then find were you wanted to watch it from (the point of freezing) then when id resume watching again it would freeze yet again so had to do the same procedure & it wasnt good especially when i had a mate watching a film with me also, embarrassing to say the least.

When i phoned Pioneer about the problem they'd always say "theres a new firmware due out any day & that should solve the issues i have" well the firmwares came & not one of them solved any issues, it was a nightmare!!

 

Ive never been a fan of firmware updates. Bad luck mate

Muggy:

First post so hoping not to offend the team.  I subscribed for many years to this magazine and now only buy it from time to time.  It helped me buy my original kit but I no longer use it for reference when considering my purchases.  I have bought an Optoma HD65 which is out 2 years and which the magazine has not reviewed.  My next purchase will be a BK Monolith which has a strong following and is regarded highly but has not had a whiff of a review in the mag.  Neither have the rest of the BK subs which seem to wipe the floor with other subs in their price range.  The most useless piece of kit I ever bought was a Wharfedale SW 150 sub which was regarded the best sub in the up to 300 pound category for years by WHF.  It is wiped out by the BK 200 and yes I have done a direct comparison. 

 I am curious as to whether WHF are aware of the existence of such companies as BK, SVS and other companies which make a mockery of the prices being asked by the mainstream producers and which seem to fill their pages over and over again.  Its time to set up an exploration team to find out what people are buying and why in dear old Blighty and beyond and bring these products to the attention of the general public so they too have the opportunity to purchase quality products which are available in the UK through reputable dealers or direct from the manufacturers.

 Its just a pity that this magazine is losing credibility due to its limited reviewing and missing out on what are top products.  I know there are many people out there with the same feeling that the magazine is just too comfortable in its reviews and not really keeping its finger on the pulse.  Come on WHF, save the new look and give us some more interesting alternatives and by doing so you will have a lot more credibility with AV enthusiastists who really know their kit.  Turn to BK first, a UK company and give them some recognition and you never know what you may find, you may even surprise yourselves!

 If you set up a questionaire asking people to list their kit I think you will realise what people are buying. I dare you!

Couldn't agree with you more Muggy. I have a BK Monolith and in this economic environment it is immense. For £425 I have a sub that you can't better for £1000 from named brands. SVS is another world class manufacturer, it's a step up in price, but it is a massive step up in quality. Never tested in these hallowed walls. Why? No idea. I think the idea of a WHF Exploration Team totally rocks, but as WHF rate products in value for money terms, can you imagine the bun fight when the mainstream manufacturers kit has to be rated against the more cottage industry or direct from manufacture kit. The performance per pound ratings of mainstream manufacturers would take a hammering and the repercussions would be a problem. But as a consumer magazine, they should certainly consider it.

pete321:

jase fox:

bluray was in the nursery stage when i got the Pioneer... ive never had any issues like that with my Denon... thank god.

I did! Who prefers what player is down to personal choice, but what really gets me is that budget machines from Sony and Panasonic have very few problems and play everything you put in 'em. How can the likes of Pioneer and Denon charge more for so called 'premium' players that have numerous problems requiring constant firmware updates, which then usually create another problem.

The Arcam AVR600 is another example, yes it sounds great, but I would have thought a company like Arcam would be embarassed to put out a prestige £3.5K amp with as many faults as it has.

It sure is down to personal taste & im only going by my own personal experience with the Denon, ive had it for almost a year now & its working perfectly & i must of watched "loads" of blurays etc if i was having problems with it id take it back & maybe look to getting a Panasonic but until that day comes (if it does) ill continue to enjoy my Denon.

Thomassteele:

I have had my Sony BDP-S350 since last year, I have updated the firmware about 3 times, and apart from one bad Blu-Ray Death Race, which was replaced and the new one worked fine, have no problems playing any kind of disc at all.

 My Sony 350 has played everything thrown at it as well.

As has my Pioneer, albeit very very slowly. But I'm excited about the Oppo because of the DVD scaling and SACD universal disc capability, multi region and lightning fast operation. This is such a boon.

Will Harris:

I have a BK Monolith and in this economic environment it is immense. For £425 I have a sub that you can't better for £1000 from named brands. SVS is another world class manufacturer, it's a step up in price, but it is a massive step up in quality. Never tested in these hallowed walls. Why? No idea.

Well the first place to look I'd imagine is to see if these guys have offered WHF a review sample. If not, then there's your answer. If they have, then we need to know from the team why they didn't take up the offer.

 

Well they have reviewed a BK Gemini II in the past, so WHF are obviously aware of such products, and also stuff like the infamous Gotham cable and the Beresford DAC ,so it's not as if they are completely ignoring cottage industry/direct from manufacturer products or whatever else you choose to call them and i'm sure there are other products also but those 3 sprung to mind.

It's also been mentioned by WHF staffers on several occasions, that they have a limited budget to buy products in for testing.So i guess are somewhat reliant on manufacturers supplying them the product's for test and maybe kit like the BK Monolith just hasn't been offered up by the manufacturers.

Fair point. They have indeed had a few more cottage industry products in the mag, but none of them tended to threaten the established hierachy of big names. The Monolith and SVS PC and PB Ultra could do exactly that. Like the Oppo, if I was writing a consumer mag, I'd ask for a demo loan model for a month or however long it's needed. I wouldn't wait for the manufacturer to offer it. You can't be utterly passive and expect to stay on top of things.