Anybody hear any rumors about Pioneer getting out of home audio????

Someone can't read the news properly. Pioneer is selling the home AV division to an investment firm (Baring Asian Investments gets 51%), Pioneer keeping some shares (unknown) and selling some shares to Onkyo (unknown).
I personally think they will be fine as they managed to be 20% of Pioneer's overall business with NO backing from Pioneer corporate the last fiscal year.

Only thing I saw is that their home audio division has been sold to Baring Private Equity and Onkyo (really?). I can't see a reason to buy it and close it- that would be an awfully large hit just for tax purposes. Since Gibson Brands owns Onkyo, maybe they want the technology from TAD and to gain a wider base for their instruments and pro audio? Fender recently shuttered several guitar brands, so maybe they'll be on a buying spree.

So what does that mean for us consumers? I've been a Pioneer Elite fan for 20 years. That's all I have, except for the plasma which is Panasonic. Though I must admit that I only have the VSX-53 and BDP-05FD. I have others, but they are in storage.

KOT

Nothing at all for now and probably later. New models are shipping with some innovative things on the way.

As long as they are not made in Chine, I'll be ok with it. Japan or Malaysia will be the only two places that I'll buy Elite from. Of course the USA, but Pioneer dropped out of the plasma years ago. Which I gave away my PDP-5020 to my brother, as he doesn't have any HDMI stuff. The tv was hit by two lightning storms a few years ago and the HDMI kept on breaking. I replaced the HDMI board, then the 2nd storm hit it. Replaced the little controller chip for the HDMI on the board and after a few months it started to fade away. So I gave it up. ha

KOT

I just hope that Pioneer doesn't get infected with crappy Onkyo sound. I would rather hear the dinosaur record system from the Flinstones than an Onkyo receiver.

As hot as Onkyo/Integra receivers get I would think Onkyo might learn something about Class D power sections from Pioneer/Elite.
Low end models are from China for almost all brands. A lot of them come out of the same plant but with different transformers (maybe) and preamp/processing.

True, but


But all this means that whoever had the ideas and the force to direct Pioneer as they have been going will not be at the helm any more. So no, the news was not read properly, but I think the message between the lines was read properly.

Sadly even some of the Elites have been made in China for the last couple of model years. Though the highest part of Elite have not. Except for Blue Ray, where all have been made in China for the last model year or two.

KOT

Have to wait and see. The home AV division was separated almost 2 years ago and independent as of July last year.
There is still a lot to be worked out for sure.
Technically Pioneer will remain in the home AV business as they will hold a share of the new company. Of course I can't read a crystal ball to say what will happen in the future but the name brand is still strong with consumers. Hopefully new management will run it better and invest in R&D more than the parent has done the past few years.

It's really up to the importer, manufacturing a product in China is ok if the importer wants it to be built with higher quality components, if the manufacturer can bid and make a product to specs or close enough lol, then the importer will most probably agree. Custom manufacturing costs more but they will do it.

Ideally, Pioneer could learn a thing or two about RS232 control, and Integra could pick up some HDMI help.....
But in reality, having dealt with these companies for almost 30 years, Pioneer will stick around for a few years before throwing in the towel, citing low market share and high cost of manufacturing, and Integra/Onkyo will step up with functioning units, only to screw up after two generations more of product, annnnnd we're back to square one, minus Pioneer Home....
It;s a shame as I really like both companies, but history is an excellent teacher. With the world economy being what it is, they're grasping at straws to get more share of a shrinking market. Wash, rinse, repeat....

What is the issue you see with Pioneer and RS-232? I would be happy to report any suggestions to the "powers that be".
That said I haven't had a complaint in many years about RS-232. I was responsible for getting the commands posted to pioneercustom.com as well as working with control manufacturers to get drivers created. There are some good drivers available though not all are current. I've been gone since April a year ago.

I can just about wager my mortgage on the fact pioneer elite is going away. How do I know? Because the pioneer elite (vsx series) is a brand that has actually made us money. 50 units in the field and not one single hdmi hiccup, ever. Great sound and clients recognize the name.