Best car radio tuner.

[dxer2_2000]

I concur on the Pioneers but I also found that the factory default car radio in the Toyota Avalon's are also impressive on FM. These have the added advantage of rotary manual tuning!!!! - a rarity in car stereos 

dxer2_2000

[DanielBoone]

The reason for that is, some factory car stereos are made by Pioneer.  Toyotas, Hondas, Fords and others.  But, it would be a more higher-end model for it to made by Pioneer.  Your Avalon might be manufactured by Pioneer.  If you can, take the stereo out of the dash and look at the label on the back of the chassis. 

[rbrucecarter5]

The 2003 to 2008 Pioneers are the best tuners around!  I have four of them.  The 2009 models, I don't believe to be as good as the previous models due to the fact that the FM senitivity is now at 11 dbF versus 8dBF(best)on the older models. 

All Pioneer Supertuner 3's are not the same.  There is a HUGE difference between Pioneer Supertuner 3 and 3D.  I was disappointed by a "3", but got a recent "3D" and it is amazing! 

[DanielBoone]

That is correct about the "D" in Supertuner III.  Any Pioneer made before 2003 is the Supertuner III.   Anything 2003 thru 2008 Supertuner IIID.(Best)            

The 2009's, I am not sure about being the best.  

I hope someone from Pioneer is reading this.

[BobOnTheJob]

How's the AM fidelity in the III D? Muffled or crisp & clear? Will it support an XM adapter?

[rbrucecarter5]

How's the AM fidelity in the III D? Muffled or crisp & clear? Will it support an XM adapter?

It is hard to tell on AM - the one music network in my area is running HD, which muffles AM big time.  Talk and sports seem to punch right through, but I could care less except for the occasional traffic report.

As far as XM, mine is "XM ready", which means I could run Pioneer's XM radio through it and control it with the front panel and Pioneer remote.  But ---- as you know subscriptions follow radios, not subscribers.  I move a single XM radio from vehicle to vehicle - so I forego Pioneer's setup and use the "auxiliary" input and an XM car hookup for one of their radios - I've got a cradle for it in different cars and in the house so one radio serves all.  I can only be in one place at a time.  But - back on topic - XM sounds great, the auxiliary input does what it is supposed to - it took a 99 cent mini-headphone to mini-headphone cable.  The CD changer connector is still in tact.  The iPod input needs their custom cable and doesn't tie up auxiliary, so a fully fleshed out component car would be able to have the tuner, auxiliary (XM), iPod, and CD changer all installed and usable by pushing the power switch (it cycles power off, then each source, remembering the last you used).  Pretty slick - and there are so many equalization and subwoofer options you can do whatever you need with the speakers.  I don't even need an external amp --- The 3D easily pulls in FM stations almost 1.5 to 2 times as far as the stock Delco - but some of that is because I have a decent whip antenna on the car, not one of those hidden antennas like they have used for 15 years on every car.

[BobOnTheJob]

How's the AM fidelity in the III D? Muffled or crisp & clear? Will it support an XM adapter?

It is hard to tell on AM - the one music network in my area is running HD, which muffles AM big time.  Talk and sports seem to punch right through, but I could care less except for the occasional traffic report.

As far as XM, mine is "XM ready", which means I could run Pioneer's XM radio through it and control it with the front panel and Pioneer remote.  But ---- as you know subscriptions follow radios, not subscribers.  I move a single XM radio from vehicle to vehicle - so I forego Pioneer's setup and use the "auxiliary" input and an XM car hookup for one of their radios - I've got a cradle for it in different cars and in the house so one radio serves all.  I can only be in one place at a time.  But - back on topic - XM sounds great, the auxiliary input does what it is supposed to - it took a 99 cent mini-headphone to mini-headphone cable.  The CD changer connector is still in tact.  The iPod input needs their custom cable and doesn't tie up auxiliary, so a fully fleshed out component car would be able to have the tuner, auxiliary (XM), iPod, and CD changer all installed and usable by pushing the power switch (it cycles power off, then each source, remembering the last you used).  Pretty slick - and there are so many equalization and subwoofer options you can do whatever you need with the speakers.  I don't even need an external amp --- The 3D easily pulls in FM stations almost 1.5 to 2 times as far as the stock Delco - but some of that is because I have a decent whip antenna on the car, not one of those hidden antennas like they have used for 15 years on every car.

Sounds like what I did on my Honda Fit. That worthless 8" rubber antenna had to go. There's a 30" whip there now & it works like it should on AM and FM. Thanks for the detailed assessment. My AM listening has dropped greatly now that WIBC has moved to FM, so it's less important now than it was, but I still do take care of a few AM music stations & it would be nice to be able to hear at least a little of the "s" sounds....

Next question...I did a search on Google for Pioneer III D & Pioneer 3D and unless I'm missing something, it's no longer made. Is it listed under something that doesn't have III D or 3 D in the name?   

[rbrucecarter5]

Next question...I did a search on Google for Pioneer III D & Pioneer 3D and unless I'm missing something, it's no longer made. Is it listed under something that doesn't have III D or 3 D in the name?   

Crutchfield has a wealth of information on their web site, even if you buy somewhere else.

This is an example of "3D", see the "tuner" section of the specs, it lists "IIID" and a sensitivity of 8 dBf:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130P6000UB/Pioneer-DEH-P6000UB.html?tp=5684&tab=features_and_specs

Contrast this with a lower cost Pioneer:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130KEHP203/Pioneer-KEH-P2030.html?tp=5684&tab=features_and_specs

It lists "III", not "IIID", and has a sensitivity of 11 dBf.  But BE CAREFUL - Crutchfield is not consistant in its usage of "III" and "IIID", I found another low cost Pioneer that lists "III-D" and a sensitivity of 11 dBf.  So BE CAREFUL - that sensitivity figure is CRUCIAL to understanding the difference between a "III" and a "IIID"!!!  Only buy a "IIID" if you want the DX performance you are expecting.  Voice of experience here - I got a "III" a few years back, and it was really poor compared to the "IIID"!

[charlestondxman]

For me, the best stock car radio tuners that I've heard were the ones in my friend's Lexus, and one in a Volkswagen Bug I drove in driving school. The FM was average, maybe a little above, but the AM was amazing.

These radios, unlike my Dodge radio, which has trouble with the deep fringe, can pick up stations barely audible on a normal radio, well. I can pick up a 250 watt station on 1430 about 50 miles away, and 640 from West Palm Beach and 1000 from Jupiter come thru, while other radios give interference.

[kenrayc]

My stereo is a Pioneer Supertuner 3, much better than the stock stereos ,when ever I get a different car I  always swap it out with a Pioneer within a week.Pioneers have good Adjacent channel separation.