Pioneer Premier - any opinions?

[Casey]

So I found what I think was a great deal at a local thrift store - a new-in-box Pioneer Premier KEH-P790 cassette deck with detachable faceplate, circa 1995-1996.  It has the "Super Tuner III" feature (??), Multi-CD control, 4x35w output, no aux input  on the front but it does have a "cellular mute" wire and while being quite modern for a cassette deck is actually quite unobtrusive and would not look terrible in a classic Mercedes, I don't think.  It's missing the remote control.

Can anybody familiar with Pioneer tell me if this unit is worth putting into one of my cars and/or selling?

[TJ 450]

If it's reasonably priced, I would buy it, as long as the cassette deck is useful to you.

I wouldn't bother with the CD side of things though, as most of them sounded pretty rough at that time in my opinion.

Tim

[powerglide]

Not familiar with this particular unit, but I have never been disappointed with any Pioneer a/v product.  I run an even older cassette component system and it's a killer - never will sell it.  Pioneer speakers are not too shabby, either (prefer Sansui speakers, but they are becoming like hen's teeth).  You will also find that the power rating of Pioneer stuff understates it's performance.  They seem to design in a lot of headroom - like NAD hi-fi.  And do you really mean 4 times 35 watts? - that is actually a lot of oomph for a car system, and more than enough for everything except one of those bogan doof-doofs.  No room for large speakers in the W116 short of butchering, and you don't want to do that.

[Casey]

If it's reasonably priced, I would buy it, as long as the cassette deck is useful to you.

I already bought it, because it seemed like a great deal.  I quite fancy playing cassettes in the car.  I think that CD's are a terrible medium for car audio.  IMHO a cassette head unit and CD changer in the trunk makes some sense as then at least the CD's are kept protected.  I've got quite a collection of vinyl records as well.

I'm just not sure I actually want to put it into a car, as nothing beats the appearance of a pinstripe Becker...

[Casey]

And do you really mean 4 times 35 watts?

Yes I do.  I thought that was decent as more modern Beckers out of W126's usually have 20w output and sometimes 25.  It also lists "Preamp Fader Control" as a feature along with "Gold Plated Dual RCA Preout".

Here's a picture of the same unit along with a CD changer:


From a post in 2006 claiming the original price (for the set) was around $1000, selling then for $300.  Don't really care much about CD's, myself.

If I were to install it along with whatever the best speakers I can fit into a W116 or W123 are, do I need to worry about somehow keeping too much wattage from going to the speakers?

[TJ 450]

You will find that the 4* 35w is more like 4* 10-15w in real terms, so you don't have to worry about over-driving the speakers in that sense.

It's not bad at all for $15.

Tim

[koan]

If I were to install it along with whatever the best speakers I can fit into a W116 or W123 are, do I need to worry about somehow keeping too much wattage from going to the speakers?

You can have too many Watts or not enough Watts to the speakers.

Odd has it seems not enough is as bad as too much.

(or so "they" say, not totally convinced by the explanation myself).

To limit the drive to the speakers don't wind the volume up, if it's not distorting its OK.

[ziper1221]

What exactly is wrong with CDs?


It is interesting to note that there are a lot of cheap cassette players around which you can use one of those adapters to listen to whatever you want on a 1/8 inch audio plug, but a lot of entry level CD players have no such capability.

[TJ 450]

What exactly is wrong with CDs?

It's all a matter of opinion, that one. The analog vs. digital debate has been going on for years.

I do think they're a bit cumbersome in the car though. At home, I'm a big fan.

Tim

[Casey]

What exactly is wrong with CDs?

The car environment destroys them rapidly.  Sun causes the top surface to crack, and they get destroyed instantly if they fall between seats or somebody sits on them.  Cassettes are rugged and suite the car environment well.

If I want digital audio, I'd much rather plug in a solid state media player.

[jbrasile]

Casey, you got a great deal on an excellent head unit!

I love those old Pioneer's, in fact I am trying to start a little collection and purchased a brand new KE5100 from the 80's last year + a couple of equalizers. Because these radios were built before the advent of the ridiculously looking "swimming dolphins" displays, they look the part in our 116's, especially if yours has amber illumination.

Tks,

Joe