Picked up a really clean pair of hpm-100's.can someone tell me something about them.They are perfect shape pretty much except for a little bit of splashed soda gue on one of the tweeters and a knick or two on the wood cabinets.All the speakers are clean undamaged with no rot or decay to surrounds etc. They weigh a ton.More than my Bose 501's I used to have even.
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How good of a speaker is a pioneer hpm-100?
- Thread starter dcrover8
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Unican_Eric
Pioneerious Collecticus
Ok, I said that I would never do this, even gave guys **** for doing it. But.........Pioneer HPM 100s are talked about here more than any other speakers that I have read about. Of course there are others that deserve the same respect but I always see the HPM name come up alot.
Search this site and you will be flooded with HPM 100 info. Get your glasses on as there is much to read.
Welcome to AK :thmbsp:
Search this site and you will be flooded with HPM 100 info. Get your glasses on as there is much to read.
Welcome to AK :thmbsp:
Mike Bama
More volume, please!
Not much to say, 'cept I love em. Good bass, and a great all around speaker.dcrover8 said:
I own 2 pair. One pair I purchased in 1977 for around $600-$700, the other pair I bought last summer for $50. I have them stacked in the den. I love em, as do a lot of others, here. Then again, there are some that don't like em. Hook em up, and let em boom.
Ya might want to do a search for "HPM 100", and see what others say.
One last thing:
:worthless
Wecome to the zoo.
thedelihaus
Nocturnal transmissions
Let me start off by saying I'm planning on acquiring a pair of either the HPM-100s or the HPM-60s. Reasonable prices abound on Craigslist and in the Want Advertisers, but they, along with the Minimus 7s by radio shack, have gone bonkers on eBay pricing-wise. I'll be patient and get a pair for $50-$100 local at some point. A pair just went for over $300 on ebay, and while they may be worth it, guaranteed much better deals will surface, just not on eBay.
Many consider these to be more of a rock and roll speaker than one for Jazz and the like. Some complain of the highs being too strident or needing to be tamed. Others like 'em just the way they are. If I can get a complete set, and preferrably the 60s, I'll be leaving 'em alone. If I get pieces here and there of them, and if I need to build new boxes for 'em, then I'd consider modifying slightly.
Well built/constructed speakers. I wish you luck with them. did you pay a good price for them?
Paul
Many consider these to be more of a rock and roll speaker than one for Jazz and the like. Some complain of the highs being too strident or needing to be tamed. Others like 'em just the way they are. If I can get a complete set, and preferrably the 60s, I'll be leaving 'em alone. If I get pieces here and there of them, and if I need to build new boxes for 'em, then I'd consider modifying slightly.
Well built/constructed speakers. I wish you luck with them. did you pay a good price for them?
Paul
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All HPM speakers are fine reproducers. I like the second generation, and have a pair of HPM-900 that I think sound a bit smoother and accurately than the HPM-100, but that is my opinion.
The HPM series was designed by [guy from JBL Pioneer gave a lot of money to get him, drat I know the guy's name ...], and he intended the HPM-100 to be a "super JBL L100" and the HPM-100 did share some of the 'problems' the JBLs had, that bit of forwardness in the midbass region of the 'west coast' sound.
They sound great with rock, but I believe they reproduce jazz and classical very well. The very extended and airy treble contribute to that effortless ease the HPM provide. Bass, as noted before, is solid and substantial but does not dominate the midrange. Just an all round excellent speaker, especially for their cost. It takes a very fine pair of speakers to really better the sound of the HPMs.
The HPM series was designed by [guy from JBL Pioneer gave a lot of money to get him, drat I know the guy's name ...], and he intended the HPM-100 to be a "super JBL L100" and the HPM-100 did share some of the 'problems' the JBLs had, that bit of forwardness in the midbass region of the 'west coast' sound.
They sound great with rock, but I believe they reproduce jazz and classical very well. The very extended and airy treble contribute to that effortless ease the HPM provide. Bass, as noted before, is solid and substantial but does not dominate the midrange. Just an all round excellent speaker, especially for their cost. It takes a very fine pair of speakers to really better the sound of the HPMs.
Jupiter1610
Active Member
Now I am going to say something and it may tick off a few members here. I was introduced to vintage audio through my father and still discuss the hobby with him often. Recently I was telling him how the HPM-100s and other Pioneer speakers seem to have gained a tremendous cult following. He was absolutely shocked hear to this statement. He went to say that the HPM-100 were one of his most hated speakers of the era, and that even a friend of his that sold them considered them mid-fi at best. His was not the first complaint I have heard about the 100s, others have said that the low end is rather muddy compared to say JBLs. Though granted I have never heard a pair, but must agree that I have my doubts about a four-way speaker and the clarity of its reproduction. Still these speakers seem to be very popular on this board. I do not understand though why other vintage speakers of the period (JBL, ADS, or AR) do not get nearly the same level of attention.
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Jupiter1610 said:
There's a poll I did that closes on 1/31 about AKers favorite vintage speakers. The HPM-100 has such a cult following here that it's the run-away winner, because the cult put together a real campaign to get votes. I've received many, many comments that's it's greatly over-rated. I've never heard a pair, and I never really liked the JBL L-100, so I'm in no position to agree or disagree. Note that all of the super-speakers of the 70s were excluded due to cost and rarity, so no one is claiming the HPM-100 is in the league of an IRS V. Basically, they're so popular because there's lots of them, they're cheap, well made, and let's face it, they're one of the few affordable speakers still worth listening to 30 years after they were made.
yamahammer
mikiesmadness continues
it seems to me the hpm's show up more often here because they can be more affordable to the average listener here you dont see a lot of ads , jbl, or ar's on cl or in sa, gw or pawn shops like you do the pioneer speakers just because of the sheer numbers of them sold back in the 70's and 80's i should know i have a house full of them
roadie1
Super Member
How ya doin' dcrover8? I've had mine for 2 weeks now and they are a great set of speakers. However as you may have already heard or read they do seem to lean towards being more of a "rock" speaker. You can pretty much plug a rock CD in and forget about it and they sound great. However, if your tastes vary then I've found they take some bit of fiddling with via tone controls to get them where I like them. All in all though, I love them. Would I tell a friend to get them? Yes......R1
averagewhiteman
I have no agenda
Hey GY, are those solid Oak? Do you or did you own those? Look beautiful!
Doug The Dog
SIT..STAY...GOOD DOG!
The HPM-100s are a very well rounded, very forgiving speaker. I am listening to The Alan Parons Project right now through four of them powered by a Pioneer SX-1010 and using a Nakamichi CD-4 CD player. Yes they are excellent for rock and roll, but I also like them for jazz and female vocals. Now having said that...It is possible to make the HPM-100s sound bad. Different receiver/amps, CD players, Turntable/cartridge combo, and inter-connects will have different effects on these speakers like any other. I have tried many many combinations. For example, I used a Kenwood KR-6400 receiver for awhile, it made the speakers strong on mids, but muddy on bass, my SX-980 Pioneer receiver makes them sound very bright and fatiguing. I'm getting ready to try them with a Yamaha CR-2020 after I get it back from Merrylander. My Sony CDP-CA9ES CD player makes them sound incredible for reproducing the acoustic guitar, but vocals seem to get lost. My Harman Kardon HD-500 is great for vocals, but looses it in the bass. It's not just the speakers but the whole package. I don't want to get in to speaaker cables and inter-connects as I don't want to start a war. I've said this a million times but what it really comes down to is DO THEY SOUND GOOD TO YOU???? That's what's most inportant!!!!! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Rock On!
Travis :guitar:
Rock On!
Travis :guitar:
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