The 7 tweeter is ceramic carbon dome it appears that the midrange is a Ceramic carbon 4” cone type.
The 9 is a carbon graphite dome type for both the mid and tweet.
Pioneer S-T500 Speakers
- Thread starter kydog
- Start date
The 9 is a carbon graphite dome type for both the mid and tweet.
mr.muddles
Super Member
Yeah I know the drivers are different in the TZ-9 I guess maybe I was confused, I was thinking between the S-T500 and the TZ-7 -- I am pretty sure the midrange and tweeter is the same drivers between the two but the woofer seems to be different as the pictures you posted suggest.
Ah, my mistake there. I am curious about the two upper drivers in the 500/7
mr.muddles
Super Member
Curious in how they sound? To me they are very smooth while still retaining a lot of detail but missing some of the presence and sparkle I get in some of my other speakers. I've never experienced any listening fatigue at all with any of the S-T line up or the TZ-7. Can listen for hours at any volume I would want with any source. I think the S-T300 has the most smooth, liquid analog sound of them all.
With the Pioneer speakers, they are MTM, are you seated ears at the tweeter level? (Middle of the three drivers) It makes a huge difference.
Agree though, the Pioneer are a more modern speaker, they don’t sparkle at all.
I will say that Pio used crummy caps in the TZ series so likely they did in the 500 too. The indicators are ok, the cheap sand resistors should also go, along with the polyswitch. (Measure impedance across terminals out of circuit and replace with resistor 10-12w. Mills recommended.)
I am about to recap and change out the resistors on the 9ltd here, using Clarity Cap CSA 250v and Mills resistors.
mr.muddles
Super Member
I have not started digging into rebuilding any crossovers yet but please add your results and what you used with your project so we can have some reference online.
I do, as a general rule, always keep the tweeter at ear level. They sound really good -- no complaints, just different... I think my JBL L5 and NS1000 maybe provide the sound that is missing in the Pioneers but they also are more dependent on amplifier, source, and can sometimes give listening fatigue. Always trade offs.
I've not really spent much time listening to them up close as of yet and have them set up a bit further away from me the moment so maybe if I set up more of a near field arrangement I would get more of the presence/sparkle. Something to experiment with.
I just picked up some JBL L7 a couple days ago and haven't had a chance to listen to them yet so I may be kicking the TZ-7 out of my main listening room soon.
I will post updates. The set I’ll be updating first is the one here with the replacement TAD Be mid drivers. Then originals were damaged in shipping, I bought them on the cheap for that reason. The Be driver replacement is supposed to be a needed upgrade too, they should have included them in the originals. Cost, however, that was the factor as to why they were not. Too much $$.
I have the original drivers, they will get a Mg dome update/repair in Japan. ,y other set has the C/GR mids in place, they will get a cap set too. Then comparisons. I’ll be able to swap the new Mg mids in too, see and hear the difference.
gizzyman47
Addicted Member
Wow! First time seeing anything about these speakers! I picked up a pair of the S-T500's about 8-9 yrs ago at our local thrift. They are in pretty good shape. Mine have the pedestals. I also thought they sounded rather good myself. Better than they look with the cheap vinyl covering.
Right now they are doing duty in the garage hooked up to a 40 watt Realistic receiver. They don't require big power to play loud and clear.
Right now they are doing duty in the garage hooked up to a 40 watt Realistic receiver. They don't require big power to play loud and clear.
mr.muddles
Super Member
I have no doubt they sound good, are loud and clear... but let us know how they sound when you hook up a 200+ wpc amplifier and turn the volume up a bit
Pic of the pedestals. Those can be quite rare.
gizzyman47
Addicted Member
I don't want to haul them into the house due to the size and weight. I have better speakers in the house anyway.
gizzyman47
Addicted Member
Excuse the clutter, it's a garage.
mr.muddles
Super Member
those stands are pretty sweet, I was using some cinder blocks and garden pavers to make a platform for mine TZ-7 to get the tweeters at ear level.
Wow cool. That’s a nice extra to have.
It does come with the remote
Up and listening?
K3vin
New Member
Hi Milo, thanks for asking, but over the past few days I have been trying to finalize all my purchases and then get everything running by the end of next week. With a lot of research here is what I have settled on, Pioneer S-T500, KLH Model 24 bookshelf speakers (picking those up this week. I would love to hear some feedback if anyone is familiar with those. Getting them for $75 in really good condition), Bic America F12 sub and a Denon avr 3803 to drive it all home. With all the knowledgeable people here, how does this sound like a setup? You guys are great, thanks a lot. I know there are a lot better options out there, but I'm kind of digging the vintage setup, minus the Bic America (getting that as I have heard good things about it for the price). Oooh, looking at the above pics, my S-T500's also have the pedastal in excellent condition. NIce to see other owners out there.
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