Pioneer DEH-P8200R

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
lolo

Price Paid:  $499.00 from none

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 deh-p8200r

Summary:
Had this unit for over two years now, no problems with it at all. Love the 2 pre-outs for front/rear speakers in addition to the sub pre-out. Have two amps hooked up, one for the door speakers and one for the sub, works great, and has a built in adjustable crossover for both the sub and speaker pre-outs. It will play cd-r and yes, even RW, but you have to 'close' the RW disk (check the help file on your burning software). Closing the disk writes a compatible audio disk table of contents, and this will allow you to use a cd-rw disk with it. Not a big deal, you can always erase the RW disk and redo if you screw it up or get tired of the songs. I have tried various brands of cd-rw, verbatim, maxell, tdk, they all work so far. It has never skipped once, despite the 80,000 miles of interstate and highway, and some backroads, traveled since I bought it. I also off-road a bit (its installed in a Pathfinder) and has never skipped except on a dirty or scratched cd. Fingerprints dont affect it, though.

Strengths:
Lots of features, too many to list, love the remote, even though I have the 'big' one, its better than nothing. Love the bus that allows you to add on cd changers or auxillary inputs if you want (getting an IPOD for Christmas, so I will get the Aux input also).

Weaknesses:
This is not really a weakness, but it has a constantly 'flipping' display that goes to a negative image every 10 seconds or so. When I first got the unit I was able to turn that off, but I recently had to swap the car's battery and now its flipping again, but I have forgotten how to disable it, and I cant find my manual. This is no big deal in the day time, but the brightness of the display at night when it flips is distracting. Also, I agree with a previous review, the day/night brightness level needs to be seperate, as the daytime brightness is too dim when you have the nighttime brightness adjusted properly (I drive mostly at night).

Similar Products Used:
Sony and Jensen cd decks (skip-o-rama head units).

Price Paid:  $275.00 from Audio King

Summary:
This deck is easy to use with many great features. This is my third pioneer deck and I love them. This deck does not even skip in my 93 Talon TSI AWD which has a lower & harder suspension.

Strengths:
EQ,Screensavers,sound

Weaknesses:
None yet

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $275.00 from Audio King

Summary:
This deck is easy to use with many great features. This is my third pioneer deck and I love them. This deck does not even skip in my 93 Talon TSI AWD which has a lower & harder suspension.

Strengths:
EQ,Screensavers,sound

Weaknesses:
None yet

Similar Products Used:
None

Price Paid:  $350.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2000

Summary:
I have been very happy with the 8200R. I love all the sound controls. People who ride with me in my truck are always staring at the cool faceplate. Some eariler reviewers have stated that they have experienced skipping whether it be from the road or from the bass. I don't know how that can be. I drive a lifted 4X4 which I take off road and during that time I am playing my CD-R's and I have the bass cranked up. This is done frequently and I have never had my Pioneer head unit skip a note. The RDS would be cool if more Radio Stations had it going. This head unit powers my amplified speakers with authority. I know this deck would even power unamplified speakers well since it has a 45x4 Mosfet Chip. I have done my homework on a majority of the Head Units out there. For the price and quality Pioneer comes out on Top.
(Friends don't let Friends buy crap Head Units).

Strengths:
Easy EQ, HP/LP Crossovers, 4 Volt/3Preamp outs, Subwoofer control, CD-R compatible, good quality faceplate, Clean sound, Fold Down Face.

Weaknesses:
No motorized faceplate, Remote too fat, Mediocre FM Reception, What else Hmmm...? None. Few more Screen Savers?

Similar Products Used:
Sony CDX, Kenwood KDC X-815 (Overpriced), Eclipse (good choice, but lacking features of a pioneer in same price range), Clarion, Jensen (Crap!),Alpine 7863 & 7869, Blaupunkt.