Car stereophiles help needed and a suggestion

[jeo]

I have the DEH-P5500MP, its really more of a middle of the line model, but it has tons of adjustments and does everything I need it to do. I like the way it looks too, I had the 5300 and it was stolen and this is the replacement model. I take my face off now when I park it. The only thing I don't like about mine is the way the buttons are on it you have to press them lightly or they don't work, but i think thats normal for it you just have to get used to it. I've always bought Alpine in the past and loved them, and I haven't had a Pioneer long enough to judge the quality of it, but my friends have had good luck with Pioneer and it was considerably cheaper than a comperable Alpine so I went with it, I think it cost $250. It has a nice remote control too, not
as good as the one Alpine uses, but its pretty good. Hopefully, I won't have to deal with their customer service.

Buddy of mine had a system with a pioneer head unit. All his components were really high quality, but didn't sounds quite right. So he got rid of the Pioneer head and got a _cheaper_ Alpine head, and the sound quality difference was amazing. Even if it were a lot more expensive, I'd still buy the Alpine. I've been running Alpine for years, and everyone that listens to my stuff is pretty impressed what I do with the money I spend, and I credit that to using Alpine products.

 

[Atl XJ]

I'm starting to have second thoughts about the quality of my Pioneer. Its only six months old and the buttons are starting to work when the want to. Looks like I'm going to get to experience their customer service first hand.

 

[the_chief]

I'm starting to have second thoughts about the quality of my Pioneer. Its only six months old and the buttons are starting to work when the want to. Looks like I'm going to get to experience their customer service first hand.

good luck, make sure to tell them you have a mechanical failure. they have twice tried every trick to get me to say it was the least bit cosmetic, and then they don't cover it. My most recent failure was with the buttons, when they don't work, the screen blacks out for a second and the faceplate becomes totally non-functional. I'm guessing the contacts between the face and the deck are worn out crap.

 

[Atl XJ]

My most recent failure was with the buttons, when they don't work, the screen blacks out for a second and the faceplate becomes totally non-functional. I'm guessing the contacts between the face and the deck are worn out crap.

Thats exactly what mine is doing. Its probably because I take the face off everytime I leave it parked somewhere for a while.

 

[the_chief]

maybe not, I've never removed mine, but I have folded it down many times. This would cause the wear on the contacts, since this is where the disconnect actually occurs. I am sure this is an ongoing warranty issue for pioneer, that's why they have they have a plethora of denial responses for would be claimers. Again, I do wish you luck, I say F 'em at this point.

 

[Atl XJ]

Thanks man, I appreciate it. I think this will be the last Pioneer product I buy. Their older models lasted forever, but this is rediculous.

 

[Double Down]

Has anyone ever done or thought about building their subs or amps into the liftgate part of the back where the plastic is? It would be easy to run the wiring into the back and if you did it right, you could easily use that space for a single sub enclosure with a grill to protect it, etc.

Also, chief...how exacty did you build that enclosure, what did you use, specs, etc.?

Thanks,

Chris (double down)

 

[Atl XJ]

It doesn't have the depth you would need to mount a sub there. You could mount an amp there I suppose but it would be a PITA to wire it so that the liftgate could still open and close, but it could be done.

 

[Darky]

Seems to me you could run the wiring down through where the hose runs for the rear window wiper/sprayer