Pioneer Elite BDP-LX500

[Robert Zohn]

Very worthy of the Pioneer Elite badge. We have two excellent high-end BD player choices, both $1k with subtle differences.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Rocketstail

That's right these Pioneer LX500s have been in limited supply since they were released. I bought two getting the first on October 18th and the second one about December 10th.

In reply to sellers not being able to get any in the last three months of last year maybe they were not well connected to get any.

In my opinion some sellers will say or make up stories to inquiries. Case in point I wanted to buy a Cambridge Audio blu-ray player back in September and I knew the going price from a local audio dealer. Thought I would give another a chance from another dealer to see what he would quote. He gave me price at full MSRP which was 50% higher. When I said this price was way high he said it was probably because they were seconds! He will never get any more business from me.

I also know what my Pioneer audio dealer buys these LX500s for and many dealers are trying to sell them for way too much. Audio stores have to make a profit to stay in business but buyers don't like to get taken advantage of.

Please post the invoices for those two players (with personal info removed of course) to support your claims.

[Rocketstail]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Please post the invoices for those two players (with personal info removed of course) to support your claims.

I posted an invoice for the first unit on the Steve Hoffman Audio Hardware Forum back in October. I removed the file after a week as it had served it's purpose. The amount I paid is still there. I only posted it as some dealers were trying to sell these units for more than 33% more than I had paid and wanted to give a heads up. They too were all hung-ho at the Massdrop deal and then it was cancelled.

The point is that nothing P's me off more than dealers trying to make way more than is fair. When I post anywhere it is always "Rocketstail".

[Waboman]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Very worthy of the Pioneer Elite badge. We have two excellent high-end BD player choices, both $1k with subtle differences.

Hey Robert,

What are your thoughts regarding the LX500 vs the UB9000?

[Rocketstail]

Doesn't look like I can post attachments.

[elwaylite]

I ended up with the 9000 from Robert.

1) I like the HDR Optimizer on my 820, so stick with what I know
2) I cant deal with the gold and blue

I am glad to see more premium models in the ring.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Rocketstail

I posted an invoice for the first unit on the Steve Hoffman Audio Hardware Forum back in October. I removed the file after a week as it had served it's purpose. The amount I paid is still there. I only posted it as some dealers were trying to sell these units for more than 33% more than I had paid and wanted to give a heads up. They too were all hung-ho at the Massdrop deal and then it was cancelled.

The point is that nothing P's me off more than dealers trying to make way more than is fair.

From a glance at SHTV you got your players from someone you're referring to as "my audio store guy" so I'm presuming you're not Joe Schmoe walking in off the street for the first time saying "gimme a deal man", and that's awesome for you, but nothing pisses you off more than every retailer not doing the same sale all year round that you happened to get from your audio store guy? That's completely absurd.

By the way here's a Pioneer AVR at the store in your invoice - https://www.naturalsound.ca/shop/bra...eiver-sclx901/

Hey they're trying to sell this at MSRP (https://www.pioneerelectronics.ca/PO...ivers/SC-LX901)

Damn them!!

[RalphoR]

I purchased the LX500 from Robert today and am expecting delivery on Wednesday. We discussed what I used and what I'd need and he suggested the LX500 over the UB9000 in my case. So happy to have talked with him and to come down to making this decision based on his experience in the industry. Robert is such a wealth of knowledge and we're fortunate he puts up with us! Thanks so much, Robert!

[Tim Glover]

looking forward to your review AND also interested in what made you choose the Elite over the Panny.

[Rocketstail]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

From a glance at SHTV you got your players from someone you're referring to as "my audio store guy" so I'm presuming you're not Joe Schmoe walking in off the street for the first time saying "gimme a deal man", and that's awesome for you, but nothing pisses you off more than every retailer not doing the same sale all year round that you happened to get from your audio store guy? That's completely absurd.

By the way here's a Pioneer AVR at the store in your invoice - https://www.naturalsound.ca/shop/bra...eiver-sclx901/

Hey they're trying to sell this at MSRP (https://www.pioneerelectronics.ca/PO...ivers/SC-LX901)

Damn them!!

Well, that is indeed the audio store that I got the LX500s from. And I didn't negotiate like I usually do because I knew those players were in short supply.

Gibbys Electronic Supermarket was trying to sell these units for $400 more than I paid and people had ordered and still not heard anything for 2 months. Someone on anther forum messaged me this and that's how I know.

If you have a fair local audio dealer maybe you should support them and not pay way more than you should.

[RalphoR]

Originally Posted by Tim Glover

looking forward to your review AND also interested in what made you choose the Elite over the Panny.

The unit just arrived. I'll let you know my thoughts about it a bit later. Really quickly, the LX500 was the choice because of my viewing/listening habits but more so my hardware. I have the Sony Z9D and Robert said I'd get very little out of the optimizer of the UB9000 while having to sacrifice SACD/DVD-A listening (I don't use this a lot but I do from time to time). So for an incremental gain it picture quality I'd have to take a step back in sound and universal player capability. To me the LX500 fits the bill better. Now if I wanted a 4k player for my projector I would have gone the other way and purchased the UB9000.

[Jameron4eva]

Originally Posted by Robert Zohn

Here's the official word, the Pioneer Elite BDP-LX500 is very much alive and well.

Same issue exists with this new high-end BD player that we're experiencing with Panasonic's UB820 and UB9000, supply can't catch up with demand. But the LX500 is Pioneer's Elite premium BD player for the USA. Thankfully we just received our third allocation yesterday.

Also as of today, Onkyo has no plans or interest in bring in the LX800 for the USA.

Here's a pic I just took of the LX500 on display Onkyo/Pioneer's CES exhibit.

I can see why the 800 is a no-go in U.S. stores, but you'd think online would be viable for the hardcore who want it.

[Rocketstail]

Originally Posted by Jameron4eva

I can see why the 800 is a no-go in U.S. stores, but you'd think online would be viable for the hardcore who want it.

What would it cost a company to get a new product like a UDP-LX800 NA version UL or CSA certification for North America (USA or Canada)? Maybe the cost or hassle might not be worth it to sell a small number of units?

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by Rocketstail

What would it cost a company to get a new product like a UDP-LX800 NA version UL or CSA certification for North America (USA or Canada)? Maybe the cost or hassle might not be worth it to sell a small number of units?

I do not know the answer to that question. However Pioneer has determined that there is not enough demand to launch the UDP-LX800 in North America. Just like Panasonic has decided that there is not enough demand to offer Panasonic OLED screens in North America.


Europe many times gets the high end equipment now. While Pioneer is UL and CSA certified, there are many low end consumer electronics products sold worldwide that are only CE safety certified for Europe and do not have UL certification. UL listed and certified has become a optional certification in the United States. Even sometimes the FCC certification is not on a product sold in the USA and instead only CE certification from Europe is offered.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Rocketstail

Well, that is indeed the audio store that I got the LX500s from. And I didn't negotiate like I usually do because I knew those players were in short supply.

Gibbys Electronic Supermarket was trying to sell these units for $400 more than I paid and people had ordered and still not heard anything for 2 months. Someone on anther forum messaged me this and that's how I know.

If you have a fair local audio dealer maybe you should support them and not pay way more than you should.

I do have experience dealing with Gibby's. Also with Bay Bloor and Trutone in Mississauga. I don't expect Gibby's to have all products listed at huge sales all the time. I expect them to vary their sales. I find them to be fair, if I didn't I'd shop elsewhere.

Right now Gibby's is selling the Pioneer VSX-LX103 for $250 cheaper than Natural Sound, $549 vs. $749, MSRP is $799. I'm sure we can find examples of other products that Natural Sound has cheaper than Gibby's. We're not here to scrutinize and poopoo retailers just for LISTING items at MSRP.

My recent purchases from Gibby's include a b-stock Marantz SR6012 this year (had to upgrade for 4K/HDCP2.2 compatabililty) for $800. New MSRP is $1900. I upgraded from a new Onkyo TX-SR3010, I also bought that from Gibby's a few years back during a sale in which it was around 45% off MSRP.

If companies routinely offered all products at these sort of prices, they wouldn't be in business and we'd all be shopping at Best Buy.

Let's now put this issue to bed. And...welcome to the forum!

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

I do not know the answer to that question. However Pioneer has determined that there is not enough demand to launch the UDP-LX800 in North America. Just like Panasonic has decided that there is not enough demand to offer Panasonic OLED screens in North America.


Europe many times gets the high end equipment now. While Pioneer is UL and CSA certified, there are many low end consumer electronics products sold worldwide that are only CE safety certified for Europe and do not have UL certification. UL listed and certified has become a optional certification in the United States. Even sometimes the FCC certification is not on a product sold in the USA and instead only CE certification from Europe is offered.

Canada is part of North America and OLED sets have been on the Panasonic Canada website for consumers for 2+ years now, beginning with the EZ-series. Bay Bloor Radio has also had Panasonic OLEDs available at retail level.

If you meant "USA" instead of "NA", has anyone from Panasonic actually said that on or off of the record? I can't imagine demand in Canada is notably different than the US, we have the same budget sets offered here at CostCo and WalMart/etc that are offered south of the border.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Canada is part of North America and OLED sets have been on the Panasonic Canada website for consumers for 2+ years now, beginning with the EZ-series. Bay Bloor Radio has also had Panasonic OLEDs available at retail level.

If you meant "USA" instead of "NA", has anyone from Panasonic actually said that on or off of the record? I can't imagine demand in Canada is notably different than the US, we have the same budget sets offered here at CostCo and WalMart/etc that are offered south of the border.

There is no North America perspective to Panasonic, only a Panasonic USA, and Panasonic Canada. If you go to their respective web sites you can clearly see Panasonic was ostracized from USA marketplace by the lack of products, because they were clueless to the sunset of plasma displays and failed to wind that business side down and immediately shift to other tv technologies.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Canada is part of North America and OLED sets have been on the Panasonic Canada website for consumers for 2+ years now, beginning with the EZ-series. Bay Bloor Radio has also had Panasonic OLEDs available at retail level.

If you meant "USA" instead of "NA", has anyone from Panasonic actually said that on or off of the record? I can't imagine demand in Canada is notably different than the US, we have the same budget sets offered here at CostCo and WalMart/etc that are offered south of the border.

I should have said Panasonic so far has not released a OLED screen for the USA market. So it looks like Canada is getting high-end equipment just like Europe. Many Americans are more interested in the cheapest price and we already have LG OLED displays to choose from in the USA.


According to the following link it sounds like no Panasonic OLED's in the USA for the year 2019.


https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...5&postcount=59

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

There is no North America perspective to Panasonic, only a Panasonic USA, and Panasonic Canada. If you go to their respective web sites you can clearly see Panasonic was ostracized from USA marketplace by the lack of products, because they were clueless to the sunset of plasma displays and failed to wind that business side down and immediately shift to other tv technologies.

While I was responding to the specific use of "North America" in the post I was responding to, there certainly is a North American perspective to Panasonic Corporation of North America as quite a few of the top execs hold one position for both companies, or positions with both companies, and they are both subsidiaries of Panasonic Corp (Global).

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

I should have said Panasonic so far has not released a OLED screen for the USA market. So it looks like Canada is getting high-end equipment just like Europe. Many Americans are more interested in the cheapest price and we already have LG OLED displays to choose from in the USA.

According to the following link it sounds like no Panasonic OLED's in the USA for the year 2019.


https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...5&postcount=59

Yes that reads more accurately, but Canadians are the same as Americans in that respect (cheapest price) as you can pop into a CostCo here pretty much any time and it's bustling. We have all the Sony and LG OLEDs here too, the LGs are in CostCo, so if there is no issue with panel supply (which I've been told is definitely not a concern) then the lack of US options doesn't seem to have a reason that makes much sense.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Yes that reads more accurately, but Canadians are the same as Americans in that respect (cheapest price) as you can pop into a CostCo here pretty much any time and it's bustling. We have all the Sony and LG OLEDs here too, the LGs are in CostCo, so if there is no issue with panel supply (which I've been told is definitely not a concern) then the lack of US options doesn't seem to have a reason that makes much sense.

Both Panasonic and Pioneer are tepid with their available products in the USA. The tariff debacle has really pulled the plug on new product pushes for USA 2019 marketplace, you can see that in the dearth of available products, new introductions at CES 2019. I can't say looking at the lack of higher-end products (Elite) that are from Pioneer are inspiring anyone to look at Pioneer as a technology leader. The same for Panasonic here in the USA. I realize that Canada does have a more normalized marketplace, so you are better off as far as player availability.