Pioneer Orphaned? Voxx/PAC licence for Pioneer devices withdrawn!

[dlaloum]

A bit of drama out in corporate Audio land.

 

Voxx/PAC seem to be in some financial strife (Brands include Klipsch, Onkyo, Integra, and others)- they sold off Jamo just recently, at what seem to be firesale pricing, and apparently Pioneer has withdrawn their licences to the brand (perhaps they decided not to pay the annual licencing fee?).

 

Sadly that means that the Pioneer AVR's currently out there are most likely orphaned, and people cannot depend on subsequent firmware updates or bug fixes, let alone optional upgrades such as DLBC and/or Dirac ART.

 

It does mean there may be some bargains to be had for Pioneer kit - but keep in mind the caveats!

[Wil]

Firstly, I am stating that I am unashamedly a Pioneer fan and consumer.  I feel the whole problem is that Premium Audio here, not so much Voxx, didn't do enough work to push the brand. Every time I attended the Hi Fi show there was no representation for Pioneer. Last year they had a static display, nothing operating, but they were pushing Onkyo and this years show, not even a product from Pioneer. Onkyo has been their flavour of the month and they have not bothered with pioneer at all. Even when I asked for information relating to the product, I got nothing. Remember, this is the company that has Jamo under its belt and where are they? Who sees Jamo anymore?  I felt they had pathetic customer service and their official repair / spares , namely Optimum Electronics, were also just as bad as they were repairing everything from kitchen equipment through to washing machines.  Personally I felt that Pioneer has let themselves down by appointing thoroughly useless companies to represent them. The brand has suffered damage and this was allowed to go on for years. Pioneer should have regrouped and done it themselves and not left the future of the brand to pathetic representatives like this. No wonder the Hi Fi world is in trouble today, but of course that isn't the only reason - I know. The companies are not represented properly, leaving the consumer high and dry. I felt I had much better support when Pioneer used Powermove. I got fabulous support in terms of spares and also repairs, next best thing to the days when Pioneer had their own service centre. I fail to understand why Premium Audio only pushed Onkyo. That company is dead and gone and doesn't exist anymore. At least Pioneer remains in business and to this day is still working in the high end audio market. For me, I have sufficient Pioneer gear, old and new to see me out, but I would like to see the company reboot properly, under Pioneer's control. I know this is all subject to a companies financial status and where the future of the market is heading, but clearly there is something wrong with the whole hi fi scene. I think it has become way too complicated.