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Are CS-77's good if restored??

krameraxeman

krameraxeman

Active Member
I inherited a pair of 1968-69 CS-77's along with a SX-1500TF from my Dad. I've rehabbed the receiver and have it paired to a new set of Pioneer towers. It sounds awesome. The CS-77's on the otherhand sound like garbage. They sound really muffled. There's a huge lack of highs and one of the woofers isn't working. Cosmetically, they look great though.

Are CS-77's worth having a professional restore or if they're just an outdated design and not really worth fixing?
 
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Since your Dad gave them to and they still look, if it were me, yes I'd get them restored ! I have a pair of CS 901's that I bought new in 1972 when stationed in Southeast Asia - mine are very close to mint condition ! I still like them - ALOT - I know lots of folks blast them hence the calling of Kabuki speakers ! I'm pretty sure yours fit in that same category ! Truth be told - mine sound GREAT for good rock and roll ! They'll relocate pictures Hanging on the walls from their power ! I'll give mine to one if my three kids at some point and I like to think they'll hang onto them - but that'll be up to them as these are up to you !
Good luck with your decision !
 
They are worth it. The CS66-77-88-99's were designed to work WITH the 1500. I have a pair of 66's and I use them with my Tube Gear (Fisher 800-C and Sansui 1000A) and they sound fantastic. On the Solid State gear they don't open up and sound weak and muddy with my SX-424 & 434. But put them on the SX-737 and they are just like when on the 800-C. They aren't especially efficient that I can tell, so they need something more than 30WPC to push them.

Replace the x-over caps inside. That will open them up and get you the highs that are lacking. Have you opened up the speakers and checked the caps and resistors in the X-overs? The woofer may have a cap on the lead to it. Bypass the cap and see if it works. If it does, then just replace the caps and resistors.

They are generally good speakers. The lattice work on the grills turn off a lot of guys but wife's like them as they fit into many furniture schemes.

Larry
 
Thanks guys. The speakers are up in Washington (I'm in California) so I can't open them up to check them out. I seemed to remember the speakers sounding good when I was a kid, but I hadn't heard them in over a decade until last month when I was up there for my Dad's memorial service and decided to dig this stuff out of storage and check it out.

The 1500 needed DeoxIT to the point that it wasn't usable so I bought my mom a new stereo and shipped the 1500 down to my house where it's now used everyday. Maybe I'll swap my speakers with my Mom the next time I drive up there and have the CS's repaired by Orange County Speakers.
 
I say do the restore yourself. There are only 2 caps inside. A 2.4 and 12 uF. You cant find a 2.4, so either you can buy a 2 and a .47 and wire them in series, or pop in a 2.2. Either way, I'm sure they will sound fine. If the cabs need a restore, you can do it yourself for next to nothing. They have real wood grain veneer. A simple sanding job and re-stain and cover with whatever finish you desire. Right now, I have a set of 77's that I picked up a week ago today. The cabs were in beat-up shape. I just did a full refinish on them. Right now, as I am typing this, they are drying and need just one more coat of polyurethane to be complete. If you would like, I will post a pic of them tomorrow to show you what an amateur refinish job will look like.
 
I've owned the 88's. Ok speaker until you apply some volume knob to them, then they shine!
 
This is what I done to CS-66a:

picture.php


picture.php


Peerless Speakers and Dayton Audio Crossovers.

Sound from the Orig...:thumbsdn:

Sound from the Replacements...:thmbsp:
 
CohibaJoe said:
This is what I done to CS-66a:

picture.php


picture.php


Peerless Speakers and Dayton Audio Crossovers.

Sound from the Orig...:thumbsdn:

Sound from the Replacements...:thmbsp:
Click to expand...

Wow nice! What parts did you use? With this combo, do you have any idea that the new specs are for power handling, sensitivity, etc?
 
Yeah I'd fix them up if I were you.
I bough a pair of CS-77's last summer from the original owner. He told me he bought them new at an Army PX in Germany in 1970. They are in mint shape and sound great with my SX-750. He told me the only thing wrong with them is he had to electric pencil his SSN on the tone knob in the back...LOL.
 
krameraxeman said:
Wow nice! What parts did you use? With this combo, do you have any idea that the new specs are for power handling, sensitivity, etc?
Click to expand...
Peerless 830634 10" SLS Woofer:
Specifications: • Power handling: 110 watts RMS/220 watts max • VCdia: 1-1/2" • Le: 2.1 mH • Impedance: 8 ohms • Re: 6.7 ohms • Frequency response: 36-4,000 Hz • Fs: 36 Hz • SPL: 89.5 dB 1W/1m • Vas: 2.58 cu. ft. • Qms: 2.80 • Qes: 0.65 • Qts: 0.53 • Xmax: 8.5 mm • Dimensions: Overall diameter: 10-3/8", Cutout diameter: 8-7/8", Depth: 5-1/4".

Peerless 830957 6-1/2" SDS Woofer:
Specifications: • Power handling: 40 watts RMS/110 watts max • VCdia: 1" • Le: 0.85 mH • Impedance: 8 ohms • Re: 5.6 ohms • Frequency response: 59-4,000 Hz • Fs: 59 Hz • SPL: 90 dB 1W/1m • Vas: 0.93 cu. ft. • Qms: 4.35 • Qes: 0.77 • Qts: 0.66 • Xmax: 3 mm • Dimensions: Overall diameter: 7.15" (6.45" across flats), Cutout diameter: 5.75", Depth: 3".

Vifa D19TD-05 3/4" Poly Dome Tweeter:
Power handling: 80 watts RMS/115 watts max * Nominal impedance: 8 ohms * DC resistance: 6.2 ohms * Frequency range: 3,500-20,000 Hz * Magnet weight: 3.7 oz. * Fs: 1700 Hz * SPL: 89 dB 1W/1m * Dimensions: Overall Diameter: 3-11/16", Cutout Diameter: 2-3/4", Mounting Depth: 7/8", Magnet Diameter: 2-5/16", Magnet Height: 11/16".

Dayton Audio XO3W-375/3K 3-Way Speaker Crossover 375/3,000 Hz

The sound is Nothing what Pioneer ever Dreamed about in 70's.
 
CohibaJoe said:
Peerless 830634 10" SLS Woofer:
Specifications: • Power handling: 110 watts RMS/220 watts max • VCdia: 1-1/2" • Le: 2.1 mH • Impedance: 8 ohms • Re: 6.7 ohms • Frequency response: 36-4,000 Hz • Fs: 36 Hz • SPL: 89.5 dB 1W/1m • Vas: 2.58 cu. ft. • Qms: 2.80 • Qes: 0.65 • Qts: 0.53 • Xmax: 8.5 mm • Dimensions: Overall diameter: 10-3/8", Cutout diameter: 8-7/8", Depth: 5-1/4".

Peerless 830957 6-1/2" SDS Woofer:
Specifications: • Power handling: 40 watts RMS/110 watts max • VCdia: 1" • Le: 0.85 mH • Impedance: 8 ohms • Re: 5.6 ohms • Frequency response: 59-4,000 Hz • Fs: 59 Hz • SPL: 90 dB 1W/1m • Vas: 0.93 cu. ft. • Qms: 4.35 • Qes: 0.77 • Qts: 0.66 • Xmax: 3 mm • Dimensions: Overall diameter: 7.15" (6.45" across flats), Cutout diameter: 5.75", Depth: 3".

Vifa D19TD-05 3/4" Poly Dome Tweeter:
Power handling: 80 watts RMS/115 watts max * Nominal impedance: 8 ohms * DC resistance: 6.2 ohms * Frequency range: 3,500-20,000 Hz * Magnet weight: 3.7 oz. * Fs: 1700 Hz * SPL: 89 dB 1W/1m * Dimensions: Overall Diameter: 3-11/16", Cutout Diameter: 2-3/4", Mounting Depth: 7/8", Magnet Diameter: 2-5/16", Magnet Height: 11/16".

Dayton Audio XO3W-375/3K 3-Way Speaker Crossover 375/3,000 Hz

The sound is Nothing what Pioneer ever Dreamed about in 70's.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! I'll definitely consider this route! What are you driving them with? I only have 55 WPC to work with.
 
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Keepers, modify them for the better.

What I did to my pair is to replace the mid speaker with a Infinity Polydome mid, then replaced the small high speaker with a JBL newer titanium tweeter. Night and day change in sound and performance. Love the lattice grill, had a pair of the 99A's and currently run my altered 77's with a pair of 63dx Pioneers. Keepers! :thmbsp::music:
 
EddyFranner said:
What I did to my pair is to replace the mid speaker with a Infinity Polydome mid, then replaced the small high speaker with a JBL newer titanium tweeter. Night and day change in sound and performance. Love the lattice grill, had a pair of the 99A's and currently run my altered 77's with a pair of 63dx Pioneers. Keepers! :thmbsp::music:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Eddy. Did you keep the original crossovers or just wire in the new speakers and that's it? How much power are you putting to your CS-77's? My concern is making sure that my 55 wpc rms SX-1500TF can drive these efficiently if I mod them.

Can you post a pic or two of your CS-77's with the new speakers installed?
 
I had a pair of CS-77 and thought they were way to harsh on the tweeter and the midrange did not in anyway make up for the lack of bass. The woofer is too large for the enclosure. I recapped them also and it really made no difference.

Picked up some CS-99A's last week.
Way way better.
 
Another question: Do you think trading someone my SX-1000TW for a set of CS-77's that have had the boxes refinished would be a fair trade? I found a guy who live close to me who's interested in the trade. Figured it would be cheaper than trying to get my Dad's CS-77's down from Washington.
 
icenine said:
I had a pair of CS-77 and thought they were way to harsh on the tweeter and the midrange did not in anyway make up for the lack of bass. The woofer is too large for the enclosure. I recapped them also and it really made no difference.

Picked up some CS-99A's last week.
Way way better.
Click to expand...
I hear you...Unless you go my route with what I done with CS-66a..even if you replace the Caps...The speakers will still sound like...Crap.

The CS-99a'a....That's the way to go if you keep them Orig.
 
CohibaJoe said:
I hear you...Unless you go my route with what I done with CS-66a..even if you replace the Caps...The speakers will still sound like...Crap.

The CS-99a'a....That's the way to go if you keep them Orig.
Click to expand...

The box is not big enough either for the 15 inch woofer but this is leagues better than the 77. Maybe the A series are all around better. These speakers(the 99as) are much maligned but I am enjoying them. I am not gonna recap...it may take down the value. These consistently sell for much money online.


I found a pair in great condition for $55 at the SA last week. FBs on all drivers.
I tried to love my 77s. And some stuff did sound great but not enough to get over the harshness of the tweeter.
 
hahaha....It's been decided. I'm going to pass on the trade for my SX-1000TW. I'll wait until I have an opportunity to pickup my Dad's CS-77's with the intent of replacing the speakers and crossovers.

CohibaJoe - you never answered my question though. What are you using to drive your modded CS-66a's...more importantly what kind of wattage are you throwing at them?
 
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