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Pioneer HPM-100 Recapping Walkthrough

Absolutely. The DBX 231 will give you more control. Like I said, I'm very happy. Another pair of HPMs recently showed up on CL. I'm thinking about biting the bullet and getting a second pair. I know my SX-1250 will have no trouble running both.
 
Thanks. I feel better now knowing that your EQ settings are in the direction I would expect given what I heard. Highs down and bass up.
 
I want to reiterate, my HPM-100s sound amazingly good for a 30 year old design. I could not be more happy. I would say they rival some of the $500 - $1000 p/pair speakers available today.
 
-Update-

Got all of my parts from www.soniccraft.com

I love talking with them ;)

2x Mills MRA-12 10ohm $8.30
2x Sonicap 0.15 $12.80
2x Sonicap 3.0 $17.90
2x Sonicap 4.3 $22.10
2x (pairs) Vampire BPHEX binding posts $28.70

The sonicaps are smaller in physical size than other caps in this thread, especially the 0.15, so that made installing them easier. IMO

No need in debating which caps 'sound' best :) The mid range cap is off by 0.1uF but well within tolerance.

I found changing the binding posts well worth the effort and extra $$$! I hate the stock ones. Of course the HPM-100s sound brighter now but probably closer to the way they were meant to sound.

Also, I removed the woofers and gave them a 180 spin. You can do this by unclipping the woofer lead wires from the cross brace therefore giving you the extra length to do so. Now maybe this summer that gluey stuff will run down the other way.

My 2cents
 
Also, I removed the woofers and gave them a 180 spin. You can do this by unclipping the woofer lead wires from the cross brace therefore giving you the extra length to do so. Now maybe this summer that gluey stuff will run down the other way.
Click to expand...
I tried that for about a week then thought more about it and reversed them to the way they were. I didn't want the tar dripping onto the cones. So far I haven't had anymore drips, I think that's from when they were brand new and now the goo has run its course.
 
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Frank Sol said:
-Update-

Got all of my parts from www.soniccraft.com

I love talking with them ;)

2x Mills MRA-12 10ohm $8.30
2x Sonicap 0.15 $12.80
2x Sonicap 3.0 $17.90
2x Sonicap 4.3 $22.10
2x (pairs) Vampire BPHEX binding posts $28.70

The sonicaps are smaller in physical size than other caps in this thread, especially the 0.15, so that made installing them easier. IMO

No need in debating which caps 'sound' best :) The mid range cap is off by 0.1uF but well within tolerance.

I found changing the binding posts well worth the effort and extra $$$! I hate the stock ones. Of course the HPM-100s sound brighter now but probably closer to the way they were meant to sound.

Also, I removed the woofers and gave them a 180 spin. You can do this by unclipping the woofer lead wires from the cross brace therefore giving you the extra length to do so. Now maybe this summer that gluey stuff will run down the other way.

My 2cents
Click to expand...

Do you have any pics. I'd love to see how the new binding posts look.
 
Hi all,
I just acquired a pair of minty HPM 100s that I was planning on flipping. I had a pair in the late eighties and didn't like em much. However, this pair sounds very promising with my tubed gear and am now planning on keeping them. Other than all helpful info on recapping the mids on up, has any one experimented with an inductor on the mid and a beefier one for the woofer?

Thanks in advance and great popular thread.

Stan
 
Stan man said:
Hi all,
I just acquired a pair of minty HPM 100s that I was planning on flipping. I had a pair in the late eighties and didn't like em much. However, this pair sounds very promising with my tubed gear and am now planning on keeping them. Other than all helpful info on recapping the mids on up, has any one experimented with an inductor on the mid and a beefier one for the woofer?

Thanks in advance and great popular thread.

Stan
Click to expand...

Pick up a pair of HPM-900 crossovers and put those in. :thmbsp: Let us know what you think. :smoke:
 
Tripqzon said:
Do you have any pics. I'd love to see how the new binding posts look.
Click to expand...


Nothing really to see... I have them all back together temporarily and playing them regularly :music:

But I will upload a couple pics tonight

As soon as we get a good week of sunny weather I'm gonna refinish the cabs
 
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frank sol said:
nothing really to see... I have them all back together temporarily and playing them regularly :music:

But i will upload a couple pics tonight

as soon as we get a good week of sunny weather i'm gonna refinish the cabs
Click to expand...

ok...
 

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Tripqzon said:
Those look great. :yes:

Did you have to modify the crossover circuit board to get them in?
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Thanks... It is a little tricky but worked out A-Ok

Had to drill larger holes in the plastic cap

Removed the stock machine screws which held together the PCB & plastic cap and also held the spring loaded wire connectors

Removing the machine screws left nice holes in the PCB to run some new wire into and solder onto +/- tabs on PCB. Then solder to the Vampire Binding posts

The biggest problem was having enough room to 'lock' the new binding posts on to the plastic caps from the inside
 
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I must say you did a fantastic job. I would like to change the binding posts on mine. I think the Vampires may be the way to go for sure.
 
pognoot said:
Well, it didn't come cheap. I bought the SX-1250, HPM100s, and a ridiculously mint unused Kenwood KX-1060 at a package price of $1000. It was more than I wanted to spend, but the way I saw it was this: What are the odds of me getting this kind of vintage gear again in this kind of condition so close to home? I could test it, I could touch it, smell it, everything before I shelled over the C notes. That to me was worth the price of admission.
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You are one, fortunate chap to score this find. Good for you! The closest I've come to an SX-1250, is a Sansui G-8000 and it hasn't been recapped yet. :D My 100s sound wonderful with them and I haven't dialed them in yet.

Enjoy that gear.

redjr...
 
Great thead, just completed mine last night using xoaphexox partslist and I am very pleased with the result.
Since I am in the route of changing the binding post too, should I buy the 0.01 uF Thetas as well? How will this further help in improving the sound of the HPM's? Thanks.

Zilch said:
Recommendation:

Add 0.01 uF Thetas across stock 4.4 uF and 3.0 uF
Replace 0.15 uF with 0.47 uF and 0.22 uF in series, as shown.
Click to expand...
 
I decided to upgrade the binding posts on my pair of 100s too. There's a thread here with some pics showing how my new binding posts look on the HPM-100s.

redjr...
 
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