For any dedicated audio enthusiast, the thrill of uncovering a hidden gem is unparalleled. Recently, I had one such experience when I stumbled upon a pair of Pioneer Cs 99a Speakers listed on Craigslist for a mere $100. Despite having explored various speakers in Pioneer’s CS line in the past, and currently favoring larger acoustic models and modified pro-audio equipment, the iconic look of the CS 99As always held a certain allure. Serendipitously, these speakers presented themselves as the perfect belated Christmas gift for my father, prompting me to seize the opportunity. Although I’d navigated the vintage speaker market for years, buying and selling numerous sets, the CS 99A had remained elusive – until now. Driven by curiosity and their captivating aesthetic, I ventured to downtown NYC to claim them. What I found was a pair bearing the marks of time – scuffed cabinets – yet remarkably, the drivers were in pristine working order, complete with the coveted FB stamps.
The Restoration Journey
Upon bringing the CS 99A speakers home, life’s holiday rush dictated a week’s pause before I could commence the restoration. My initial step focused on reinforcing the speaker cabinets. Decades can take a toll on sealed enclosures, so I meticulously re-glued all interior seams to ensure an airtight seal. This is crucial for optimal bass response in sealed designs. Next, I embarked on a careful compound sanding process, fortunate enough to revive the original veneer. While some minor corner imperfections remained, they were negligible considering the initial price. A thorough polishing followed by tung oil treatment breathed new life into the cabinets, bringing them close to their original glory.
The most significant undertaking, completed just recently, was recapping the crossovers. This is a critical step in restoring vintage speakers. I replaced every capacitor with new, high-quality Solden, Audyn, or Dayton polypropylene capacitors, selecting the closest value matches to the originals. Furthermore, I replaced every gasket on the enclosures to guarantee they were hermetically sealed. Many audiophiles dismiss sealed speakers like the CS 99A as bass-deficient. However, often, the issue isn’t inherent design limitations but rather decades-old cabinet leaks compromising bass performance. While the CS 99A’s cabinet volume is inherently modest, impacting deep bass extension, there are strategies to optimize what’s there. Beyond airtight sealing, I removed the original fiberglass damping material, opting for a generous fill of modern polyfill. This not only eliminates the irritating fiberglass but also can improve bass linearity. With the restoration complete and speakers reassembled, the moment of truth – the listening test – arrived.
Initial Listening Session and Sonic Impressions
To evaluate the restored Pioneer CS 99A speakers, I set them up in my listening room, a 14’x18′ space with 9-foot ceilings and hardwood floors. The room’s acoustics are moderately live, with décor and paintings on the walls helping to diffuse sound. Speaker placement was along the shorter wall, projecting lengthwise into the room. Each speaker stood a foot away from the back wall and two feet from the side walls, positioned two feet off the ground on stands and facing straight ahead. Powering the speakers was my trusted Pioneer SX 828 receiver, connected with 14-gauge OFC speaker cable. My Thinkpad, equipped with a high-quality soundcard and Spotify Premium, served as the music source. While vinyl is my preferred medium, digital was more practical for this late-night evaluation. As someone with a trained ear, possessing excellent pitch perception and extensive experience in music production and room acoustics, I believe I can offer an informed perspective on their sonic capabilities.
Song Selection and Detailed Analysis
For the initial track, I chose Refugee by Tom Petty. Immediately, the efficiency and expansive soundstage of the CS 99As were apparent. The midrange frequencies were notably present, while the bass, though controlled and tight, exhibited shyness in the lowest registers. The treble was forward yet remained refined. To explore the lower frequencies further, I moved to Love of My Life by Santana. The midrange clarity remained impressive, highlighting the crisp snare and full-bodied guitar tones. However, the bass continued to roll off below 60Hz and exhibited some boominess around 250Hz. To address these frequency response nuances, I introduced an ART 31-band equalizer into the chain. Slightly attenuating the 200-315Hz range and boosting frequencies at 50Hz and below, with a 6dB gain at 31Hz, made a significant difference. I also subtly enhanced the 2000-2500Hz and the 10kHz+ bands.
The transformative effect of equalization became strikingly clear with Through the Eyes of Ruby by The Smashing Pumpkins. With the EQ engaged, my immediate reaction was pure satisfaction. The difference was night and day. By compensating for the speaker’s inherent tonal tendencies within my listening environment, the sound became rich, full-range, and remarkably flat. The Pioneer CS 99As delivered an exceptionally enjoyable presentation, characterized by a wide and vibrant soundstage. The midrange detail was superb, and the horn-loaded tweeters produced highs that were both crisp and smooth. With equalization, the bass became rich and authoritative, defying expectations for a speaker of this type.
Final Thoughts and Comparative Perspective
Considering these Pioneer CS 99A speakers are still in their break-in period post-recap, their performance is only poised to improve further. Despite some online criticisms and arguably inflated market prices, at the price I acquired them, they are undeniably solid performers. My previously restored and subtly upgraded Pioneer CS 63DX speakers, often lauded as superior, are, in my estimation, not dramatically better. While the CS 63DX boasts larger cabinets and a higher-quality super tweeter, minimizing the need for EQ, the CS 99A presents a surprisingly potent combination. The 99A features a woofer with a higher Xmax, contributing to a warmer bass character, and its midrange appears more nuanced and detailed. Listening to Dire Straits’ Love Over Gold, the vibraphone’s presence was striking, revealing subtle background elements previously unnoticed. The FB cones in the CS 99A might indeed possess a more appealing tonal quality. Ultimately, it’s a close call between the two models. While the CS 63DX remains a personal favorite due to its deeper bass and slightly more refined top end, the CS 99As, when properly powered, placed, and potentially equalized, are definite keepers. In conclusion, the Pioneer CS 99A speakers have proven to be a delightful rediscovery, offering remarkable sound quality that belies their vintage status and challenging preconceived notions. For anyone seeking vintage speakers with a distinctive sonic character and classic aesthetic, the CS 99A is certainly worth considering, especially if found at a reasonable price.
