Pioneer 53x, 633 still available?

[strongbad]

I'm looking to buy another one as a backup when my current one dies. There's nothing on the market that has XP+ which is essential to me.

[Seeker47]

I'm looking to buy another one as a backup when my current one dies. There's nothing on the market that has XP+ which is essential to me.

Doesn't their current 640 model still have this ? (They did drop the front firewire in connection, tho'.)

[bnbhoha]

I'm pretty sure the new ones dropped XP+ Also, I thought you couldn't back up xp+ on a disc and that it was just for the HDD??

I bought a refurbished one from ebay from a store called extremeelectronix. If you look at the closed auctions, they still have the available (I'd call). Price was about $320. Item appeared to be brand new. I bet someone didn't know how to use it and returned it. The firewire option was important to me. I have no regrets.

[NiteLite]

The 640hs has MN31> MN32> LPCM
Nice machine if you dont need the firewire as Seeker47 mentioned.
NL

[Seeker47]

I'm pretty sure the new ones dropped XP+

I've now read almost halfway through those 20-some pages of user comments at AVSforum. The 640 seems to have XP speed. What's the diff between that and XP+ ? I've found MN32 on the 520 plenty good enough for my needs, so anything better than that would be just fine.

Also, I thought you couldn't back up xp+ on a disc and that it was just for the HDD??

That was my understanding as well. If XP+ won't go to dvd, it would greatly limit the value of that feature to me.

I bought a refurbished one from ebay from a store called extremeelectronix. If you look at the closed auctions, they still have the available (I'd call). Price was about $320. Item appeared to be brand new. I bet someone didn't know how to use it and returned it. The firewire option was important to me. I have no regrets.

Unclear. So, if firewire was very important, you purchased one of the earlier models ?
Also, I'd rather have the full warranty. (A lot of the online dealers with the best prices don't seem to be Pioneer authorized, and that will undo the warranty.)

[bnbhoha]

Yes, I bought the 533. Initially, I used to own one and sold it in anticipation of the new Pioneers. When I learned they didn't have it, I bought a Panny ES15, which didn't meet my standards. I then returned it and couldn't find the 533 anywhere. I was watching ebay for a few weeks and nothing would show up until I saw an auction from extremeelectronix. I purchased that one. It had a manufacturer's 90 day warranty and after the 90 day expired, they had their own extended warranty for 1 year for free. I then received an e-mail from them where they offered another extended warranty for 3 years for the price of $29.95; this warranty was through a popular reputable company.

The recorder came in a brown cardboard box with "Pioneer" written on, and it looks brand new.

[Seeker47]

The 640hs has MN31> MN32> LPCM
Nice machine if you dont need the firewire as Seeker47 mentioned.
NL

Some owners said they hoped to be able to hook up a keyboard via the USB, to enable much easier title writing, but that this isn't possible. I would have liked to be able to get video in that way, from a HDD in a portable drive shell, but that looks like a No Go either. (Something would have to mediate the Xfer, and if the 640 won't do it . . . . ) The USB ports seem to be intended mainly for photos.