During a recent trip, an exciting discovery awaited – a pair of Pioneer CS-88 speakers. As a long-time enthusiast of vintage audio, particularly bookshelf speakers, stumbling upon these CS-88s was a moment of anticipation. Having owned and appreciated Realistic Nova 6 speakers for their impressive bass from an 8″ woofer, the Pioneer CS-88, a speaker I had only read about, presented a new audio adventure. While online reviews have been mixed, I believe that vintage speakers, especially those around 50 years old, often require restoration to reveal their true potential. Many opinions likely reflect the condition of unrestored units rather than their original capabilities.
Upon bringing the Pioneer CS-88 speakers home and setting them up in place of my Nova 8b’s, the similarities in size and weight were immediately noticeable – each around 45lbs. My initial listening experience with the CS-88 speakers was surprisingly positive, exceeding my expectations based on some online commentary. The bass response was particularly impressive. The midrange and treble were present, though somewhat subdued. Recognizing the age of the components, a plan for restoration quickly formed. A capacitor list was sourced, and an order placed for new capacitors. Replacing the original capacitors and cleaning the controls for the midrange and tweeter with Deoxit should revitalize these classic speakers, bringing them closer to their original performance. Examining one of the woofers, I was pleased to find that the cloth surrounds were still pliable, unlike some older Sansui speakers where cloth surrounds can stiffen over time, negatively impacting performance.
Alt text: Close-up of a Pioneer CS-88 speaker woofer showcasing its cloth surround, indicating good condition for its age.
The next steps involve the careful replacement of the capacitors and thorough cleaning of the controls. I am eager to document the restoration process and share updated listening impressions, along with detailed photographs of the Pioneer CS-88 speakers before, during, and after the restoration. Stay tuned for further posts as this exciting project progresses!
Alt text: A pair of Pioneer CS-88 vintage speakers in a home listening environment, ready for restoration and review.
