• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Has Pioneer Dropped Internet Radio Support?

DS256

DS256

New Member
I have a Pioneer VX-824 and, because it's in the basement, I use Internet radio stations to listen to music.

Last Friday, I received an error that the server was responding. Happened before but the outage continued. It now reports my station selection is 'empty'.

When I try and connect to www.radio-pioneer.com, to check my selection, it times out on the redirect pioneer.vtuner.com. www.vtuner.com is active.

I posted queries to both Pioneer and vTuner but have not heard anything back. I was hoping someone has heard some since I don't monitor the audiofile sites.

Thanks
 
Register to hide this ad
An update. I found a phone number to call 1-844-679-5350. The Internet Radio Service has been discontinued by Pioneer. Seems that after 11 years my receiver needs to be replaced. Looking at options but not with #Pioneer.
 
swechsler said:
Why not just get an external internet radio tuner and keep your existing receiver?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion. I didn't know they existed.

Do you have any suggestions? A quick Google revealed Internet Radios but I can't seem to find just tuners that can plug into a receiver.
 
Any old smartphone or tablet you have laying about the house will work well as a streaming device. All you need is the proper adapter cord which are abundant and inexpensive from Amazon/Parts Express etc.
 
Buy a WiimPro (internet tuner) and keep your Pioneer VX-824 as the control center of your system. I gather the Pioneer is great for everything else it does.
DS256 said:
Seems that after 11 years my receiver needs to be replaced. Looking at options but not with #Pioneer.
Click to expand...
 
I use an iPad and the free Radio Garden app to stream internet radio from around the workd to my amp using a 25' 3.5 mm to dual RCA cable, $10 on Amazon Kabeldirekt brand..

But could just as easily use my smart phone, since it has a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

For the WimPro you will need to still use your phone to control it with the WimPro app.
 
Last edited:
RVT1K said:
My pre-amp also has a 3.5mm jack that I can feed with a phone's 3.5mm jack but I didn't see one on your receiver.
Click to expand...
Converting 3.5mm to RCA is trivial. I personally prefer an adapter cable to the adapter you linked since it puts less strain on the jack. Something like this.

@DS256 What you decide on really depends on your UI preference. You can do something as simple as a Bluetooth receiver (one example) to connect your phone to the receiver via an AUX analog input, and run a tuner app on it, to a Wiim (which would also use an app), which connects using a digital optical cable, or a Roku, which would require you to use your TV as the display, and connects to the receiver using HDMI. Many of us even build our own streaming devices using a Raspberry Pi or an old PC.
 
swechsler said:
Converting 3.5mm to RCA is trivial. I personally prefer an adapter cable to the adapter you linked since it puts less strain on the jack. Something like this.

@DS256 What you decide on really depends on your UI preference. You can do something as simple as a Bluetooth receiver (one example) to connect your phone to the receiver via an AUX analog input, and run a tuner app on it, to a Wiim (which would also use an app), which connects using a digital optical cable, or a Roku, which would require you to use your TV as the display, and connects to the receiver using HDMI. Many of us even build our own streaming devices using a Raspberry Pi or an old PC.
Click to expand...
I use these as well. Much better than an adaptor. It puts a lot less strain on the input jack. I use 3.5mm male to male RCA cables to connect an old smartphone to various systems to stream Pandora, Spotify, FM internet radio' etc. I have various lower powered tube amps, preamps, and speakers setup next to my bench. All but one of those systems have just adaptor cables for streaming connected to them, including my garage system.
My main system has adaptor cables for streaming also.
 
Just to clarify, a Wiim Pro streamer can connect to the OP's receiver via coax or optical (digital connections, in which case the DAC in his receiver would be doing the conversion of the signal from digital to analog), or via RCA analog inputs (in which case the conversion is done by the DAC in the Wiim. The Wiim can access a variety of internet radio services, as well as streaming music services such as Tidal, Amazon Music, Qobuz and Spotify.
 
spark1 said:
Just to clarify, a Wiim Pro streamer can connect to the OP's receiver via coax or optical (digital connections, in which case the DAC in his receiver would be doing the conversion of the signal from digital to analog), or via RCA analog inputs (in which case the conversion is done by the DAC in the Wiim. The Wiim can access a variety of internet radio services, as well as streaming music services such as Tidal, Amazon Music, Qobuz and Spotify.
Click to expand...
Yes, but in order to control the Wiim Pro you still need to use a smart phone with the Wiim Pro app. And the OP just wants internet radio, not any streaming service. So a cable from his phone, or tablet, to amp AUX input will solve the problem for $10-12.
 
Sandman1221 said:
Yes, but in order to control the Wiim Pro you still need to use a smart phone with the Wiim Pro app. And the OP just wants internet radio, not any streaming service. So a cable from his phone, or tablet, to amp AUX input will solve the problem for $10-12.
Click to expand...

I was clarifying/correcting a statement made earlier by a different poster about connecting a Wiim.

And since the OP said he is not very familiar with his options, I described what a streamer does. Just because he doesn't use a streaming service now doesn't mean he has no interest in it.

Personally, I hate having a phone or tablet tethered to my system. And headphone output from a phone/tablet is often not the best. But of course, opinions vary.
 
spark1 said:
I was clarifying/correcting a statement made earlier by a different poster about connecting a Wiim.

And since the OP said he is not very familiar with his options, I described what a streamer does. Just because he doesn't use a streaming service now doesn't mean he has no interest in it.

Personally, I hate having a phone or tablet tethered to my system. And headphone output from a phone/tablet is often not the best. But of course, opinions vary.
Click to expand...
Headphone output from an 8th Gen iPad is really good! Now that is connected to an analogue amp, so iPad DAC is being used. I can say the same for a very old 1st Gen iPhone, where I played lossless music through headphones, and played the same music via CD through my stereo speakers.
 
Sandman1221 said:
Headphone output from an 8th Gen iPad is really good! Now that is connected to an analogue amp, so iPad DAC is being used. I can say the same for a very old 1st Gen iPhone, where I played lossless music through headphones, and played the same music via CD through my stereo speakers.
Click to expand...

As I said, opinions vary.
 
If OP doesn't need Chromecast functionality, he may be served just as well by the Wiim Mini. Comparison chart is here (bottom of page). I'll also mention that his Pioneer receiver includes AirPlay, so if he has an iDevice, he can use it for internet radio with no further hardware purchase required.
 
DS256 said:
I have a Pioneer VX-824 and, because it's in the basement, I use Internet radio stations to listen to music.

Last Friday, I received an error that the server was responding. Happened before but the outage continued. It now reports my station selection is 'empty'.

When I try and connect to www.radio-pioneer.com, to check my selection, it times out on the redirect pioneer.vtuner.com. www.vtuner.com is active.

I posted queries to both Pioneer and vTuner but have not heard anything back. I was hoping someone has heard some since I don't monitor the audiofile sites.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info DS256, I too have lost the functionality last week on my VSX 94TXH that I purchased used last year. It's really too bad as I really enjoyed using this feature. My receiver has the ipod cable which controls my old iphone through its remote and on screen functionality as well, so at least I can stream all my old music.:confused:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom