Pioneer and JVC are two renowned and well-respected brands in the audio industry that produce high-quality speakers, headphones, soundbars, subwoofers, and amplifiers.
In this article, we will cover a general overview of both brands, looking specifically at sound quality, durability, price, and so on. Of course, each brand has different devices at different price points, however, we will compare them as closely as we can.
Pioneer products often offer a wide range of features and good sound quality, while Yamaha products are known for their excellent sound quality and wide range of products.
Pioneer and JVC Comparison Table
| Criteria | Pioneer | JVC |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Reputation | Well-established brand known for a wide range of audio and home entertainment products. | Respected for audio and visual products, including audio receivers, projectors, and professional equipment. |
| Sound Quality | Known for delivering clear and dynamic sound across various audio products. | Offers audio solutions with a focus on clarity and immersive sound, especially in home theater systems. |
| Build Quality/Design | Offers a variety of designs, from classic to modern, with attention to build quality and functionality. | Known for durable construction and innovative designs, particularly in the audiovisual and projector segments. |
| Product Range | Provides a wide range of audio and home entertainment products, including speakers and AV receivers. | Specializes in audio and visual products, including projectors, headphones, and professional audio equipment. |
| Pricing | Offers products across various price points, catering to different consumer budgets. | Varied pricing, providing options for different budgets, especially in the audio and visual technology segments. |
| Features | Known for incorporating innovative technologies and features in audio and AV products. | Emphasizes advanced features in audiovisual products, such as high-resolution projectors and audio processing technologies. |
Before we continue, you can check out similar comparisons in the series:
Pros and Cons of Pioneer:
- Pros: Known for producing a wide range of audio and video products, including speakers, headphones, and car audio systems. They are especially well respected for their car audio systems.
- Cons: Some users have reported issues with shorting and other wiring problems.
Before you read further, you can check out this article in which we discuss if Pioneer is a good brand.
Pros and Cons of JVC:
- Pros: JVC is a well-known brand in the car audio industry. They are especially well known for aftermarket car stereos that are affordable and well-built.
- Cons: Some users have reported issues with the durability and reliability of some of their products.
Quick History
Pioneer Quick History
Pioneer is a Japanese company whose full name is actually Paionia Kabushiki-gaisha. It was started in 1938 by Bozomu Matsumoto. The company started as a speaker, radio, and other audio equipment repair shop.
Since the company started, it has been a big part of making sound systems for homes, businesses, and other personal uses, like car stereos. Pioneer was the first company to develop a dynamic speaker (named Pioneer A-8) made of original parts for domestic use.
The Pioneer brand is the manufacturer of some of the major audio equipment today. This includes the first dynamic speaker for the home, which was also the first Hi-Fi speaker.
Another example includes the first professional LD player, which also became the foundation of today’s Blu-ray disc and DVD players.
JVC Quick History
JVC was founded as “The Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan, Limited” in 1927 in Camden, New Jersey, as a subsidiary of the United States’ leading phonograph and record company. The Victor Talking Machine Company of Japan, Limited was then purchased by Radio Corporation of America in 1929 and started producing radios in 1932.
Of note, JVC was one of the first household brands to innovate with VHS and CD compatibility during the 1990s.
Today, the 2020 AV Forums Editor’s Choice Award winner is known as Victor Entertainment. The brand is owned by JVCKenwood Corporation.
In addition, JVC is well known as an excellent home audio car stereo brand, rivaling other big brands like Kenwood.
Sound Quality
Pioneer Sound Quality
To be fair, Pioneer home sound systems are only good as entry-level audio equipment. Although they provide a decent listening experience, they are best for non-demanding listeners.
However, in terms of car speakers, Pioneer speakers offer a quality that is convincingly worth every penny. The sound calibration on most Pioneer receivers (like the one on the Pioneer VSX-932) makes the sound more personalized.
The Technical Audio Devices (TAD) from Pioneer were produced in 1975 with the view of delivering high-end professional audio delivery. But, it has continued to deliver quality sound and can be found in most professional speaker brands.
Pioneer has also partnered with the amazing Gary Stewart Audio to deliver some of the best-sounding club speakers that keep the party going.
JVC Sound Quality
JVC products sound clear and neutral. In general, their devices have low distortion and a real sense of ease and musicality.
For instance, their headphones follow JVC’s guiding philosophy of making products that are “closer to the musical truth.” Innovations like their time distortion cancellation processing are used to create clearer sound during the playback of compressed audio files like WAV and MP3.
Although the speakers may lack bass, they produce loud, clear, and crisp sounds without a crackle.
Features
Pioneer Features
For many good reasons, the Pioneer brand has been more popular in car stereos and entertainment.
This is because of the continued research, development, and improvement of its features. Some of the major features of the Pioneer car audio system include:
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Streaming features
- Touch screen
- Built-in navigation
- Real-time traffic
But most of these features are also found on other Pioneer devices, with only minor changes to make them work better for this one.
The other features that are common to other Pioneer devices include Dynamic leveling, digital inputs, HDMI with ARC, Dolby Atmos, and DTS: X for a rich and immersive audio experience, and other features for ease of use.
JVC Features
The notable features of JVC include:
- Bluetooth wireless technology
- 12-bit and 16-bit DAC
- JVC Playlist Creator for USB Memory
- Wired and wireless remote controls
- Digital processing Tuner
- AUX input
- Radio timer
- 3-Band Parametric iEQ
- Auto Dimmer
- Wide range of signal-to-noise ratio
Build Quality
Pioneer Build Quality
Pioneer products have a good build quality. This includes the use of aluminum panels and an excellent finish to protect them for a long time.
Even beyond the physical build, Pioneer audio devices have improved a lot on the components, which has improved their reliability over the years.
However, the fact that Pioneer makes different devices is a factor that cannot go without mentioning. While Pioneer AV receivers and car stereos are known for their powerful build quality, some of the other products from the brand are not so durable.
JVC Build Quality
Most JVC speakers are made from wood for natural sound reproduction since wood does not quickly generate standing waves.
The diaphragms are built with pure aluminum and provide excellent sound quality. The build is super high-quality with impeccable fit and finish.
Ease of Use
Pioneer Ease Of Use
One of the major features that make most Pioneer devices easy to use is the ability to connect to other devices easily.
This is clear in the car audio system, where they offer different levels of the device without making it hard to use. This includes everything from the touch screen on more expensive car stereos to the easy-to-use menu button on cheaper ones.
Beyond the car stereos by Pioneer, their home theaters are extremely easy to use. It offers different setting options and sound changes that give it a more customized output.
But you don’t need a lot of technical knowledge to use these because everything is marked and there are manuals to help.
JVC Ease Of Use
JVC products are user-friendly. Besides, every product comes with well-set controls, remote controls, and a user manual to help you with setting up. If you lose the manual, you can easily download the user manual PDF version from the website.
Cost
Pioneer Cost
Denon products are distributed between low-cost, average-cost, and high-cost devices. They have some of the best products at a low price as well as elite high-end devices.
However, when the chips are down and we compare the device with an equal device from other popular brands, you might realize you get the best value for your money.
Here are some price ranges for different devices from Pioneer:
- Stereos: $100 – $500
- AV Receivers: $250 – $1500
- Soundbars: $250 – $800
- Speakers: $100 – $800
- Headphones: $50 – $400
JVC Cost
JVC products are lower-cost alternatives to Sony, Bose, and many other brands. JVC’s products offer extremely good value for money. Here are the price ranges for JVC products;
- Multimedia receivers: $200 – $2000
- Vehicle cameras: $15 – $50
- Camcorders: $50 – $5000
- Headphones: $10 – $50
- Speakers: $15 – $100
Space Requirements
Pioneer Space Requirements
Pioneer audio devices vary from size to size, but Pioneer AV Receivers are known for having a bulky build. This factor makes space consideration a serious business when considering a Pioneer AV receiver.
AV receivers are made to last for a long time, but if they get too hot often, they may break down sooner than expected.
Different devices will always require different amounts of space to function properly. This is because the space will depend not only on the size of the device but also on the amount of ventilation it can provide.
The home theater is another Pioneer product that might need special attention when it comes to space. Pioneer home theaters are quite tall and require as much space as possible.
JVC Space Requirements
Some vintage JVC speakers were built into huge speaker boxes that may be cumbersome to place in a small room. Modern speakers are, however, compact. For instance, JVC car speakers are made to easily fit into the factory speaker slots, leaving no protrusions.
On the other hand, the receivers are relatively small and will comfortably sit on a table without blocking your view of the TV or causing any obstruction.
In general, their earphones are also small and made to fit into the ear comfortably.
Remote Controls
Pioneer Remote Controls
Most Pioneer devices come with a remote control that makes it easier to operate across the room. This remote can also be easily replaced by getting another one from the popular audio store in case of damage or loss.
Pioneer also has a digital remote control app that can be downloaded from your app store. However, to use the remote control app, the device must be compatible with it and they have to be connected to the same wireless network.
JVC Remote Controls
JVC provides remote control systems for its receivers, subwoofers, and TVs. These remote controls come with appliances but can also be purchased separately.
Besides, there’s a JVC Remote, an application for connecting and controlling all compatible JVC car receivers through Bluetooth. This app works just like a wireless remote. The UI is user-friendly, and the app also displays source information for your JVC receiver.
Connectivity Options
Pioneer Connectivity Options
Here are the main connectivity options compatible with most Pioneer speakers:
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi
- RCA
- HDMI
JVC Connectivity Options
These include:
-
- Bluetooth
- RCA
- HDMI
- USB
- Wi-Fi
- AUX input
Power Range
Pioneer Power Range
Most Pioneer products are power efficient, i.e., they deliver the best audio quality with minimum power consumption. For example, the mid-range Pioneer elite VSX-LX303 AV receiver is rated at 100 watts per channel.
JVC Power Range
Many JVC speakers can yield up to 300 watts of peak power. The receivers can deliver up to 1000 watts of peak power.
Frequency Response
Pioneer Frequency Response
Most Pioneer sound systems have smooth frequency responses and a rich sound output that lets them send out sound in a wide area. For example, the frequency response for Pioneer TS series speakers is something around 34Hz to 42Hz.
However, the frequency response differs according to each device, which means you might have to check the user manual for each device to understand its frequency response.
JVC Frequency Response
The speakers have a fantastic frequency response of 28 Hz to 36,000 Hz, while receivers have a frequency response of 16 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Conclusion
Pioneer products cut across audio equipment for home, professional, and car use. However, they are more popular for the production of car stereos that are affordable, easy to use, and meet industry standards. If you need an audio device that’s well-affordable and with good build quality, you might consider Pioneer devices. However, you might have to overlook the sound quality a little bit.
Products from JVC are fairly priced. The build quality is good and their devices sound clear and neutral. They are therefore good for home upgrades.