Pioneer Speakers

[Soli528]

Good Morning to all-
If anyone has been reviewing this section, you may have seen a couple posts from me regarding some old Mac (all tube) gear I inherited. Someone whose opinion I trust stated that I would be remiss if I didn't look into vintage Pioneer speakers as a match for this system. Does anyone have any experience with CS-88a's or the HPM series (60 or 100)? Does anyone know the difference btwn CS-88's and the 88a's? Thanks for your time.
-Soli

[kelsci]

Hi Soli,

Try the "reviews" section of audioreview.com. If I am correct, I believe they have many reviews of people who bought the HPM-100s. Many are very favorable including mine on this speaker system. You also may find information on the other Pioneer speakers you are looking for.

[pete the bully]

I've had the CS-88A and CS-99A. Very fine sounding, very efficient speakers that would mate well with Mc tube gear. The HPM series (there were two series) are excellent speakers. From the second series, I have the HPM-900 and they sound great. Good efficiency, too, and would also mate well with tube gear.
I drive my HPM-900 with the 200 wpc of the Denon POA-2200 amp controlled by the Luxman C-383 preamp. But I like big solid state amps.
About the CS-88 and CS-88A. Really nothing in common. The CS-88 is from the end of the 60s, just into the 70s, and is a ported-box speaker system. The CS-88A is a sealed box "infinite baffle" speaker system. Very efficient for a closed-box speaker system. Bass does roll-off below about 50 Hz, but still puts out energy into the 20's down about 10dB (sounds worse on paper than it sounds). I would look for the HPM or the CS-99A. Another model to consider would be the horn system Pioneer CS-R700, a 12-inch, 3-way speaker system with horn mid and treble drivers.