Thanks for the review - I'll post mine once I get her in, in April.

 

Nice review. If my DRZ ever craps out on me I'll probably have to break down and get one of these. How high do the X-over slopes go on this unit?

 

How high do the X-over slopes go on this unit?

Page 27 - Up to 36dB/Oct slopes: Pioneer user manual

More info and pics are all over the net but I like this post here: http://www.buwaldahybrids.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5014&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

I really love the look of this unit and the custom controls: http://www.buwaldahybrids.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=5014&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15


I look forward to more from your review however, I already want one...

 

Just some food for thought....

Since you seem to be using the Auto EQ/TA on both sets, could the difference being hear be attributed to the auto-tuning DSP? In other words, if a top notch tuner tuned the 880/800 compared to your Auta EQ/TA, do you think your difference would be just as huge? Is there a way you can compare them with the same basic settings ie EQ flat and compare apples to apples instead of comparing the auto-tuning abilities?

 

Mark, thats a good point and that did occur to me. But I don't think its just a matter of better eq and ta. The 880 always varied things slightly with each ta (I often wrote settings down when they sounded good) and the way I swap stuff in and out, I run auto eq and ta farily often. So I have heard various different variations of ta in my car - that just shifts the placement of the image slightly. Perhaps the auto eq has more frequency bands and does a better job than the 800/880. Even then, a slightly smoother frequency response shouldn't sound this much better. The sound quality of the HU itself seems to be much better. Its not just a matter of better eq and ta, at least I don't think so. It sounds like better components in the circuits. Ever gone into a home audio store, heard a mid-range system that you were eyeing and then just for kicks the salesperson plays you their ultra high end setup and you are totally blown away? That is the difference between the 880/800 and the P01. I think they are doing something in the D/A conversion. Its not an incremental improvement, its a massive improvement in sound quality.

 

Learn from past mistakes/technologies is good to stay strong in the market. That's why they ditch the TI's DAC and using AKM DACs, improved cd mechanism, better colour matching to our dashboard.

 

I rotated the right knob to "Auto NW" and thenj pressed the right knob to select "Custom NW", indicating that I had a custom setup (e.g. 2-way + sub) rather than the default 3-way + sub setup.

That's not accurate.
When you select "Custom NW", the HU uses the x-over points and slopes you selected.
When you select "Auto NW", the HU sets the x-over points and slopes along with the Auto-EQ.
I ran it both ways and like "Custom" more. When selecting "Auto" it tended to do a very narrow bandpass on the mid.
The nice thing is that you can modify the x-over after it's done it's thing.

The three 24 bit processors that are used may have something to do with it.

It actually has 4 DAC's.
One for each set of RCA's. (High, Mid, Low, Sub).

And change your signature. LOL.

J.

 

That's not accurate.
When you select "Custom NW", the HU uses the x-over points and slopes you selected.
When you select "Auto NW", the HU sets the x-over points and slopes along with the Auto-EQ.
I ran it both ways and like "Custom" more. When selecting "Auto" it tended to do a very narrow bandpass on the mid.
The nice thing is that you can modify the x-over after it's done it's thing.



It actually has 4 DAC's.
One for each set of RCA's. (High, Mid, Low, Sub).

And change your signature. LOL.

J.

Thanks for the info! I'll try Auto NW and see.

The ability to change the crossovers etc. after auto eq and ta is just one feature that makes the Pioneer HUs superior to the Alpine HUs, IMHO.

In terms of SQ, there is just so much more detail available in the music. Its like watching HD for the first time when you are used to SD. Also, it seems to me that the soundstage has more vertical width than compared to the 880/800.

 

I'm getting my P99 maybe next week. It will replace my current Alpine 9887. Have any of you compared P99 vs. 9887 in terms of SQ?

 

I am very interested to know if anyone has tested P01 x DRZ9255 and P01 x P9.

 

Just heard that my P99RS is on the way! I'm getting it under the Christmas tree :laugh:

I'd like to hear opinions about Pioneer's SQ compared to Alpine 9887. I can't compare it in my car, because I'm rebuilding my car for next season in EMMA SQ. I'm changing all my speakers and adding one amplifier

 

I think you have to compare the P01 with P9 / DRZ9255...

The 9887 is way inferior if compared to the DRZ9255.

I might open a can of works here, but from my OWN TESTS, the DRZ9255 is much better if compared to the 9887.

But don't trust other people's opinion. Make you own tests, and let your ears decide.

 

The package is now under the christmas tree ^_^

Installation on christmas day (25th).

 

Hi all.

Some will know me from Talkaudio in the UK

I have progressed up the head unit tree and now have a P99RS.

Along the way there was a Kenwood PS905, a few Clarion decks, Alpine 9877, Pioneer P01 and a P90 combo.

The 905 still sounds good today, but I needed TA and preferred active from the H/U for my current car, so it went in favor of the 9887.

Initially the 9887 sounded very good, but then I went to the P90 combo which was much much smoother and altogether better sounding.

I actually missed the Ipod connectivity of the 9887 (I drive for a living), so sold the P90 and went back to a 9887. This time the Alpine sounded thin and shrill, with the Ipod sounding plain nasty !

So I gathered the funds and went for a 99rs.

Compared to the 9887 I'd say it is akin to listening to the music being played to you as opposed to played at you.

It is leagues away from anything else imho, especially when you take into account the functionality and ergonomics.

I mainly use the Ipod now, with lossless recordings. To me it even sounds better than CD this way, and of course get track and album info shown.

Most would say this is irrelevant as a SQ deck should be only about the music, but to me if I can have the bells and whistles as well then why the hell not

Pioneer have actually listened to there customers requests it seems.

 

So I gathered the funds and went for a 99rs.

Compared to the 9887 I'd say it is akin to listening to the music being played to you as opposed to played at you.

It is leagues away from anything else imho, especially when you take into account the functionality and ergonomics.

This sounds very good! :laugh: Can't wait to hear that deck! I'm going to install it after breakfast

 

Installed yesterday. Awesome HU! :laugh:

 

VERY nice HU

 

Can anyone tell me, where can i source for P99rs in Philippines (Manila).

 

I want one too! Trying to come up with 50 posts so I can sell some of my stuff and buy this puppy!

 

Ok, my DEH-P01 works perfectly with IPhone 3GS software 3.1 without any problems! This unit is damn cool! You can basically buy any 2,3,4 way active speakers and let the P01 tune it automatically! What would take months for me to tune, only takes 3 minutes on the deck. And it sounds better than me tuning. Totally cool! I love this deck!

 

Does the DEH-P01 have a DC-DC convertor for the power supply? I am just loving the design and funtionality of this HU, very classy.Aarg!!! I thought I was done with my system upgrades for a while.

 

No.
Just a regular harness.

J.

 

Was just going through the P99RS manual and I just have a question regarding the subwoofer output. The P99RS output for the sub is stereo (L&R) and the manual mentions if only one subwoofer is used , then the crossover/network setting and TA values for both the subs in the settings must be the same. Any downside of this? Some Alpine units can output the sub in mono via the setting menu.

Some articles I have read mention it is better to input the sum of L+R subwoofer signals , only some amps support summing. Is it ok to use only the L or R sub out?

 

I honestly dont think it makes a difference in all reality

I have noticed over years of installing that some radio's will only have a single rca pigtail out for subwoofers and haven't noticed a difference in the way the setups sounded IMO

 

Anyone has tested the P01 against the DEX-P9 / DEQ-P9 combo?

 

For this price, it's comparable to say a decent trasnport + Audison Bit One. Anyone heard both?

 

the thing I see over outboard gear vrs whats built into this unit, is that it is all right there,
as you go down the tuning path, eq, phase, cross over points, muting each speaker, setting levels for each speaker, right at your fingertips.

a big plus in my book.

 

I had the chance to test a lot of HU's and processors.
Like chipss sayd, having the power to do everything right at your fingertips without the need for additional displays or computers is amazing.
As far as sound goes, it's comparable and superior to almost anything else out there new or old.
My favorite combo was the denford 8250 paired with the Alpine F#1 H900.
I sold that after testing the Pioneer.

J.

 

So it sounds better than the h900?
To sell it...(h900)?

 

I just got my DEX-P99RS (not a P01) installed, still learning all of the functions. I ran the auto TA/EQ and am puzzled by some of the results. I am running a 2-way + sub setup (HAT L6’s, L1 Pro SE’s, JL 10W3). I used the “Auto NW “and it set the bandpass on the L6’s from 80hz to 8khz (12db slopes) with the HP on the L1’s at 8khz/12db. I don’t believe the L6’s can even play beyond ~5.5khz??? I have to admit it doesn’t sound all that bad, although the sub level was lower than I like. Also, is it supposed to set/display the auto-eq curve anywhere? Mine still shows the eq flat but it does say the auto-eq is on.

Overall, I'm liking it, but it's going to take some time to get used to, coming from a double-din unit.

 

just got mine hooked up as well.,,,,, sounds very nice, having never had a high end unit like this, im lost as far as the options, i'v read the manual and still a little confused. guess i'll have to keep playin with it

gonna try the auto eq thing with the mic it came with. not sure how to change the eq, it keeps showing flat.

would be nice if someone posted easy to understand posts with how-to's for the eq and so forth

 

When you do the auto thing, it store the settings in the auto EQ(can't edit), make sure it's off since that mic for EQ is crap, so do it manually. But, the auto T/A results are very good. I also notice that the xover cutoff where a bit odd.

make sense?

 

Looks like a standard 3.5mm jack. I was going to buy a mic for RTA anyhow, I should try the different mics and see how much they differ in their readings.

On a side note, I love this friggin deck. It sounds incredible!