Pioneer CS-63dx speakers....anyone familiar?

Dr.Stache

Dr.Stache

Active Member
I'm wondering if anyone can tell me about the bass on these? I know that these "kabuki" type speakers aren't known for their sound and generally lack bass but I've also seen people rave above the CS-99's and these seem to be compared to these a lot on other boards. I ask the question here because I trust the opinion of audio karma over anywhere else. Thank you.
 
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kabuki, me like. I have the 99's. Just finished replacing the rotted foam on the tweeter. Listened to them this weekend and my Mach One's blow them away, without question. However, the 63DX is a different animal entirely. My buddy has a pair and I'll have to see if he can bring them by to compare.

It's really really important that you understand that all these speakers, from that era, will have bad caps. Making any kind of comparison, between stock vintage and something far newer a crap shoot at best. My Mach One's very clearly sounded better after recapping, I know due to comparing two identical pairs (both sounded the same before recap). The pair with the new caps definitely had better detail, smoother response, etc. I'm in the process of ordering caps. Oh, I should have mentioned the performance DID improve with the 99 after replacing the shot foam. They're sealed back tweeters and the shot foam had a major negative impact on them.
 
Copa1934 said:
kabuki, me like. I have the 99's. Just finished replacing the rotted foam on the tweeter. Listened to them this weekend and my Mach One's blow them away, without question. However, the 63DX is a different animal entirely. My buddy has a pair and I'll have to see if he can bring them by to compare.

It's really really important that you understand that all these speakers, from that era, will have bad caps. Making any kind of comparison, between stock vintage and something far newer a crap shoot at best. My Mach One's very clearly sounded better after recapping, I know due to comparing two identical pairs (both sounded the same before recap). The pair with the new caps definitely had better detail, smoother response, etc. I'm in the process of ordering caps. Oh, I should have mentioned the performance DID improve with the 99 after replacing the shot foam. They're sealed back tweeters and the shot foam had a major negative impact on them.
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Yeah, If I get them then that's the first thing I had planned on is recapping them. My main concern is just serious lack of low end bass. I don't want them to shake my homes foundation but I've had some similar speakers made by Sansui and their bass is just almost nonexistent even after recap. I was hoping that these Pioneers would be different. How about your 99's? How's the bass in those?
 
I have the CS-63DXs as my main system speakers. I don't classify them as kabuki, the size of the cabinets and the weight of construction takes them out of that category.
Ak member Don McR coined the Kabuki term as it applies to speakers and his definition is ----

"Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Winnipeg, Canada
Posts: 573
Since I came up with the term Kabuki speaker, I get to decide the definition

Actually, I posted one earlier that was quoted above. However, this is my definitive version:

Kabuki Speaker = Japanese made speakers from the 60's through the 70's that had a minimum 15" woofer, a minimum 4-way cross-over, at least 6 individual drivers, in a box that is less than 3 cu ft or weighs less than 50lbs.

For those wondering about the origin of the term, it had to do with the limited bandwidth and tinny sound that chracterized the first versions of these speakers. As a friend said "You can play Led Zepplin though them and it comes out sounding like Kabuki music".
Last edited by Don McR; 01-31-2004 at 10:34 AM. "

The 63DXs weigh in at 63 lbs and the boxes are close to 4 cubic feet.

The Bass on the 63DXs is good and tight. It isnt the "boomy" bass you get with some big ported boxes, the 63DXs are infinite baffle speakers. They are very efficient (99db). I use mine with mid power tube amps and prefer them over several more well thought of speakers including heresys and my Wharfedale W70Ds. I set mine up next to a pair of Wharfedale W90Ds and ended up giving the Wharfedales W90Ds to my sister, I cant say the pioneers were better but I didn't hear enough of a difference to move a piano out of the way to make room for the Wharfedales.

SPECIFICATIONS OF THE CS.63DX
Enclosure Infinite baffle type
Maximum Power Input 80 Watts
Mounted Speakers 15" Woofer
5" Mid-range x 2
Horn tweeter
Horn Super Tweeter x 2
Impedance 8 ohms
Frequency Response 20-20,000 Hz
Crossover Frequency 770 Hz, 3300 Hz, 12,000 Hz
Dimensions 28-3/8" (H) x 18-7/8"(W) x 13-1/16"(D)
720(H) x 480 (W) x 332 (D) mm
Weight Net Net 63 lbs / 28.5 kg
 
I have a set of 63's. I use them in my guitar room. They are fed from a mixer and I use them like PA speakers. TT, guitar, computer, drum machine, etc... all goes through them. I got them a few months ago, but haven't had the opportunity to A/B them on my regular stereo system. The sound good to me. I haven't done anything to them yet. Speakers surrounds are fine.

I got them for a killer price of $30. I had just started getting back into listening to vinyl and had a renewed interest in buying some speakers and other gear. It was a fluke to find them. Haven't seen a deal that good in the last 5 months of watching CL. Except for the ADS L1290's I got for $200.
 
I have a pair of cs63dx on bottom and cs99a on top powered by sx1250 and complemented by a pl570 TT with a V15 type 5 and they are some of the best sound I have heard and I have had vintage gear all my life at 61.The 63dx speakers on my system sound just as good as the 99a maybe a little fuller. The sx1250 has two adjustments for each of bass and treble so that adds to the mix. They rock or jazz it up!
 
If you have the chance to acquire cs63dx speakers get them. I have read that they and cs99a do not have bass or lower end but I have numerous speakers over 50 years and these don't get any better! For $400.00 to $1000.00 a nice pair you can not go wrong. You can always buy better but this is where I draw the line.
 
Dr.Stache said:
I live in Georgia but thanks for the offer. Would be nice to hear a set before I buy.
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I also have a pair of CS-63DX speakers and I will probably never sell them. I also have and sold many pairs of reputable speakers that just cannot match the 63's. I would highly recommend that you pick them up, especially if the price is fair and they are in at least good condition. Clean them up, recap, and give them a listen. I do not know what you like or currently own, but I think you would enjoy them. Keep us informed on your choice to purchase, if you don't buy them let another member have a chance at them.
 
I still have the original CS 63DX speakers that I bought at the Yokohama BX in 1971. They have been very well cared for through many moves and residences, but have sounded muddy for quite a while. Just recapped them with Dayton caps and they are back to the speakers that I fell for! The treble is back and the bass is tight now. I A/B tested these with every available model available at the time and they will never leave me till I die. Don't know what the complaints are unless you expect the boom of a ghetto cruiser instead of the well balanced sound of these beauties. Can't go wrong if you find these and can do a recap to bring them alive again! Powered by a SX 1050 Pioneer receiver.....
 
I bought a pair of CS 63DX's for $100.00 a while back. I wanted a large pair of speakers to use in my workshop which is about 600 s.f.

They are very nice sounding speakers, and very efficient. The problem with them was they were too pretty for my workshop, so looking for something more industrial, I found a pair of Altec A7's on craigslist.

A/B-ing the A7's and 63DX's, I found that they sounded very similar, nice mids, crisp highs and equally efficient. The A7's, not surprisingly, had much better bass. In a smaller room, I'm sure bass response would not be lacking in the 63DX's.
 
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I've had a pair of 63s (no DX) and a pair of 99As. I thought the 99As sounded better.

Of course, 63s aren't 63DXs. Just looking at pictures, I'd expect the DXs to be an improvement over the 63s.

A little off topic, Copa, where'd you get the foam for those tweeters?
 
stereofanboy said:
I've had a pair of 63s (no DX) and a pair of 99As. I thought the 99As sounded better.

Of course, 63s aren't 63DXs. Just looking at pictures, I'd expect the DXs to be an improvement over the 63s.

A little off topic, Copa, where'd you get the foam for those tweeters?
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Here are a couple links about re-foaming the tweeters. Custom is the answer since they do not sell an exact replacement as far as I know.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=591956
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=572697
 
I have a pair of 63dx speakers, I like them I have then on a pair of 5 degree canton stands, not sure if my little tweeter horns? are working though, Are they hard to re cap? I would like to do that but never have.
 
I just picked up a pair of these off craigslist. Unfortunately I did not know until I got home that the horn tweeters were missing and the foam around the other tweeters are shot. Further research determined the paper cone tweeters are used in CS-77A's. Anybody know where I can get the specifications for the tweeters that were originally used. The horns are PT-103f and the bullet horn tweeters are Pt-222f or Pt-412f (the only difference is color). I have checked oaktreevintage.......wow they are pricey.

Thanks
 
Newbie here.
I have a pair of CS63DX's I recently bought and LOVE them. I just built a VTA 120 amp and I'm now hooked on Tubes and vintage sound!!! Question: I have 2 super tweeters out on one cabinet. original PT-412-f's. After a short time searching i'm too realizing how rare it is to find replacements of that exact model.
I did buy a pair of NOS PT-222f5's and plan to put them in as soon as they get here. Can anyone tell me how the 2 models differ beside cosmetics. They are listed on a couple sites that the two are interchangeable but are they exactly the same or close? I'm assuming the impedance and response are close.
Also, for symmetry's sake should I put one new tweeter in each cabinet along with an original to mix them in rather than have 1 speaker with the 2 new ST's
Thanks you guys. reading your posts have helped me so much!

Thanks
 
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