jamato8
Headphoneus Supremus
Thank you for the update. I didn't know Pioneer was gone.@ jamato8: Full agreement.
Onkyo Corporation - including the Onkyo, Pioneer, Pioneer Elite and Integra brands - filed for bankruptcy at the Osaka District Court in Japan in mid-May 2022. The headphone division had already been sold to an investment fund in September 2021. The Pioneer SE Master1 thus disappeared completely from the focus of interest as a "legacy product". The spare parts/stock had already been massively reduced before due to the disastrous financial situation.
Originally, the Pioneer SE Master1s were supposed to be equipped with other ear pads for example (according to a former project participant). This was discarded - due to cost pressure; the disintegrating plastic headband is also due to this circumstance alone. The margin had to be optimized at that time, at any price. Later, attempts were made to save what could no longer be saved with cheap plastic shells in a wooden look.
We can do it right. With the appropriate accessories. Thus, in my opinion, the headphones are still among the top 10 today.
Yes, with the right ear pads, they are in the top performers. Amazing that they went with the pads they did, instead of some perforated ones. I use some from iBasso and they are excellent in fit and the sound jumped to where it should be.