Pioneer's "Project" Line: 1977 Catalog Scans

[expatguy]

I've just scanned a Japanese Pioneer brochure that may be of interest. Since your Japanese may be a little bit rusty, let me summarize a little of what I've gleaned from the brochure.


In addition to the SPEC line, Pioneer also marketed what they called the "Project" line, at least in Japan. "Project" included a "Project X" line of components very similar in appearance to the SPEC components: the rack-mount C-73, C-1800 (and later, the 1800II) and C-1500 (II) control amplifiers coupled with M-73, M-1800(II) and M-1500(II) power amps. There were also the rack-mount F-73 tuner and F-1500 tuners (apparently there was no F-1800 tuner).

In addition to the "Project X" components there were more traditional component systems:

1) Project 700 and Project 7 systems built around the SA-8800II amplifier,
2) Project 8 (no 800 version) built around the SA-6850 amplifier,
3) Project 700 and Project 7 built around the SA-6800II amplifier,
4) Project 6M built around the SA-6750 amplifier, and
5) Project 300 built around the SA-4400 amplifier.

The main difference between the system numbers seems mostly to do with the styling. The 900,700, and 300 speakers and cabinets are black, while the Project 9,8,7, and 6 are walnut(?) veneer. There are sometimes a few differences in the equipment as well.

Anyone like me who has been confused by some of Pioneer's speaker numbers in the CS series may find this brochure interesting as well. The speaker numbers match the component system:

1) CS-F99 speakers for Project X9,
2) CS-F77 speakers for Project X7,
3) CS-F900 speakers for Project 900,
4) CS-F9 speakers for Project 9,
5) CS-F8 speakers for Project 800
6) CS-F700 speakers for Project 700
7) CS-F7 speakers for Project 7
8) CS-F6 speakers for Project 6
9) CS-F300 speakers for Project 300

Regards,
expatguy

 

[Spectrum77]

Thanks for that Expatguy... nice to see my Project X9 modelled in it's original condition complete with not so kitsch '70s decor.

 

[siamac]

Thank you very much for this nice and very intresting scans.:thmbsp:

There are the speakers I had from 1977 to 1979: CS-F300
They should be the "smalest" in that series, but they were really "big", because they had the dimensions to fit to the rack :yes:

So when I was 17., I could show all my friends my big PIONEER speakers

 

[expatguy]

Thank you very much for this nice and very intresting scans.:thmbsp:

There are the speakers I had from 1977 to 1979: CS-F300
They should be the "smalest" in that series, but they were really "big", because they had the dimensions to fit to the rack :yes:

So when I was 17., I could show al my friends my big PIONEER speakers

When I was a teenager all I had was some cheesy console system. No big speakers to show off.:tears:

BTW, what system did you get your speakers with? I am curious if the Project line was worldwide, limited to Europe and Japan, or totally for Japanese consumption.

Regards,
expatguy

 

[expatguy]

1977 Project Components: Project "X"

Here are details of the "X" systems from the March 1977 brochure and a list of the individual components in each one and their MSRP.

(Scan available at this link: http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=102842)

*X9* (MSRP: 356,000 yen)
Power amplifier:M-73 (75,000 yen) [85W+85W]
Control amplifier: M-73 (50,000 yen)
Tuner: F-73 (52,000 yen)
Player: XL-A700S (79,800 yen)
Speakers: CS-F99 (100,000 yen a pair)
Rack: CB-V77 (35,000 yen) [vertical rack]
Reel-to-reel: RT-701S (109,000 yen)
Headphones: SE-11 (11,000 yen)
Digital Timer: PP-215A (7,700 yen)

(Image below)

*X7* (MSRP: 214,800 yen)
Power amplifier:M-1500 (40,000 yen) [50W+50W]
Control amplifier: C-1500 (28,500 yen)
Tuner: F-1500 (28,500 yen)
Player: PL-A450 (46,800 yen)
Speakers: CS-F77 (71,000 yen a pair)
Rack: CB-V77 (35,000 yen) [vertical rack]
Cassette deck: CT-8 (79,000 yen)
Headphones: SE-11 (11,000 yen)
Digital Timer: PP-215A (7,700 yen)

 

[expatguy]

Pioneer Project 9 and 900

Here are details of the Project 9 and Project 900 systems from the March 1977 brochure and a list of the individual components in each one and their MSRP.


*Project 9* (MSRP: 241,400yen)
Amplifier: SA-8800II (59,800 yen)
Tuner: TX-8800II (46,800 yen)
Player: PL-A500 (54,800 yen)
Speakers: CS-F9 (80,000 yen a pair)
Rack: CB-91 (48,000 yen)
Cassette player: CT-9 (89,800 yen)
Headphones: SE-225 (11,000 yen)


*Project 900* (MSRP: 241,000 yen)
Amplifier: SA-8800II (59,800 yen)
Tuner: TX-8800II (46,800 yen)
Player: PL-A500S (54,800 yen)
Speakers: CS-F900 (80,000 yen a pair)
Rack: CB-V70 (25,000 yen)
Cassette player: CT-8 (79,800 yen)
Headphones: SE-500 (8,000 yen)
Digital timer: PP-215A (4,500 yen)

 

[expatguy]

Pioneer Project 8 components

Here are details of the Project 8 system from the March 1977 brochure and a list of the individual components and their MSRP. (Unlike the Project 9/900, there was no matching Project 800 system, at least in March of 1977)


*Project 8* (MSRP: 154,600yen)
Amplifier: SA-6850 (59,800 yen)
Tuner: TX-6600II (27,800 yen)
Player: PL-A300 (36,000 yen)
Speakers: CS-F8 (48,000 yen a pair)
Rack: CB-81 (33,500 yen)
Cassette player: CT-4 (55,800 yen)
Headphones: SE-255 (11,000 yen)
Dynamic microphone: DM-30: 3,800 yen

 

[expatguy]

Pioneer Project 7 and Project 700

Here are details of the Project 7 and Project 700 systems from the March 1977 brochure and a list of the individual components in each one and their MSRP.


*Project 7* (MSRP: 145,600yen)
Amplifier: SA-6800II (39,800 yen)
Tuner: TX-4450(22,800 yen)
Player: PL-A300 (36,000 yen)
Speakers: CS-F7 (47,000 yen a pair)
Rack: CB-71 (29,000 yen)
Cassette player: CT-4 (55,800 yen)
Headphones: SE-255 (4,500 yen)
Digital timer: PP-215A (7,700 yen)

*Project 700* (MSRP: 163,600yen)
Amplifier: SA-6800II (39,800 yen)
Tuner: TX-6800II (27,800 yen)
Player: PL-A300S (36,000 yen)
Speakers: CS-F700 (60,000 yen a pair)
Rack: CB-700 (26,000 yen)
Cassette player: CT-4 (55,800 yen)
Headphones: SE-300 (6,000 yen)
Digital timer: PP-215A (4,500 yen)

 

[expatguy]

Pioneer Project 6M and Project 300

The final component systems in the March 1977 "Project" catalog are the Project 6M and Project 300. There is no Project 600 "sister" to the Project 6M and no Project 3 as a sibling to the Project 300. There are also no 5/500 or 4/400 series, at least in this catalog.



*Project 6M* (MSRP: 123,400yen)
Amplifier: SA-6750 (36,800 yen)
Tuner: TX-4450 (22,800 yen)
Player: PL-A155 (28,000 yen)
Speakers: CS-F6 (35,000 yen a pair)
Rack: CB-61 (22,500 yen)
Cassette player: CT-2 (45,800 yen)
Headphones: SE-250 (4,500 yen)
Digital timer: PP-215A (4,500 yen)


*Project 300* (MSRP: 99,400yen)
Amplifier: SA-4400 (24,800 yen)
Tuner: TX-4400 (21,800 yen)
Player: PL-255RS (29,800 yen)
Speakers: CS-F300 (23,000 yen a pair)
Rack: CB-300 (18,000 yen)
Cassette player: CT-2 (45,800 yen)
Headphones: SE-255 (4,500 yen)
Dynamic microphone: DM-30 (3,800 yen)

 

[siamac]

I bought the speakers 1977 in Iran !
With SX-450 Reciever. The dealer made a phone call, if he can order the speakers separatly, then I could buy them.

 

[expatguy]

Two years on: Pioneer's *1979* Project brochure

To offer a view of the evolution of the Pioneer Project line, I'm posting some scans from a September, 1979 brochure for those who might want to compare with the 1977 scans found earlier in this thread.

As this September 1979 brochure shows, the Pioneer Project line components had changed a great deal compared to the March 1977 brochure posted earlier in this thread.

Scans of one side of the brochure (actually, a poster size document folded into 9 sections) are included below. Because of the layout, except for the "X" systems, it is difficult to make smaller scans of the individual systems since they span three separate sheets.

*Highlights of the 1979 brochure*

The X9 system in the 1977 brochure, with its M-73(85W+85W)/C-73/F-73 power amp/contol amp/tuner units have been replaced by the X99 system with new components: SM-1800II (85W+85W DC)/SC-1800/TX1500 in the 1977 brochure.

The X7 system (M-1500 (50W+50W)/C-1500/F-1500) in the 1977 brochure is slightly transformed to the X77 system in the 1979 brochure, and it appears to be basically a second generation, more powerful version of the original X7 system: SM-1500II (65W+65W)/SC-1500II/TX-1500II.

The other 1979 systems have "A" appended to their model designations, and all are odd numbers from 1 to 9. The emphasis is on wood-grain veneer racks and cabinets. The top-of-the-line amplifier is now the SA-7900 (as opposed to the SA-8800II in 1977). A briefdescription for each system is listed below. Component names are followed by MSRP for individual components. I have not listed the numerous other optional items that follow the cassette player in the brochure but will be happy to give specifics if anyone asks.)

Component order: amp, tuner, record player, speakers, rack, cassette deck

*Project A9* (MSRP 216,400)
SA-7900, TX-7900, PL-280, CS-A9, CB-A7L, CT-415 (optional)
54,900/ 29,800/ 46,800/ 85,000/ 21,500/ 57,800

*Project A7* (MSRP 178,400)
SA-7900, TX-7900, PL-260, CS-A7, CB-A7L, CT-415 (optional)
54,900/ 29,800/ 36,800/ 57,000/ 21,500/ 57,800

*Project A5* (MSRP 157,400)
SA-7700, TX-7900, PL-260, CS-A5, CB-A7L, CT-415 (optional)
54,900/ 29,800/ 36,800/ 57,000/ 21,500/ 57,800

*Project A3* (MSRP 135,600)
SA-7700 (45W+45W), TX-7700, PL-250, CS-A3, CB-A7L, CT-415 (optional)
44,900/ 21,000/ 32,800/ 37,000/ 21,500/ 57,800

*Project A1* (MSRP 108,800)
SA-7500 (30W+30W), TX-7700, PL-250, CS-A1, CB-A7L, CT-215 (optional)
54,900/ 29,800/ 32,800/ 29,000/ 21,500/ 43,800


In comparing the 1977 and 1979 brochures, a few things stand out:

1) A shift away from silver-black color schemes.

2) The standardization of racks. In 1977, each system had a separate rack, which was probably a disadvantage from the production point of view. In 1979 all systems utilized the same racks (CB-A7L horizontal or CB-A7R for vertical (rack) orgainization).

3) Reliance on a small number of cassette players, especially on the CT-415 in all "A" systems (except for the lowest level Project A1 with the CT-215) and the "X" units (CT-620). The 1977 brochure indicates the company relied more heavily on the cassette players to help differentiate the gradations in the model line, using the CT-9 and CT-8 for their TOTL Project X), X7, Project 9 and Project 900, then CT-4 and CT-2 as they moved down the line.

 

[expatguy]

I bought the speakers 1977 in Iran !
With SX-450 Reciever. The dealer made a phone call, if he can order the speakers separatly, then I could buy them.

Okay. So the speakers and probably other components were available in Asia and Europe. I wonder if they were marketing it as "Project", though.

Regards,
expatguy

 

[sepulju]

yo compre en chile recien ahora los parlantes cs-f900, suenan increibles...
i buy in chile cs-f900 just now....great sound

 

[Shrededward]

Interesting thread because I was just given a project 700 system, minus headphones, rack, and timer. The guy had the stuff stored for 20+ years and when he heard I was interested in old school Japanese stereo stuff, he gave it all to me.

It all looks really clean, except one of the woofer cones looks to be pushed in by some curious kid's finger. Will have to find out how to fix that...

Other than that, all very cool silver face pioneer stuff with polished aluminum fronts, knobs and switches.

 

[Boost lee]

Interesting thread because I was just given a project 700 system, minus headphones, rack, and timer. The guy had the stuff stored for 20+ years and when he heard I was interested in old school Japanese stereo stuff, he gave it all to me.

It all looks really clean, except one of the woofer cones looks to be pushed in by some curious kid's finger. Will have to find out how to fix that...

Other than that, all very cool silver face pioneer stuff with polished aluminum fronts, knobs and switches.

I think you should post some pics, would be nice to see "real life" pics

 

[Boost lee]

Also is that timer, the same as DT-550

 

[Shrededward]

I think you should post some pics, would be nice to see "real life" pics

Will have to clean it up some and figure where to put it. I was looking for information on the components and a google search sent me here. Anyway, here's the link to the brochure pic of what I was given.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=41825&d=1173084986

the missing timer is pp-215A

 

[Shrededward]

sorry it took so long to get back with some pics, but I'm at something of a loss as to what to do with this stuff. The amp is DOA, the tuner works perfectly except I only get one fm radio station here, and it sucks. The tape deck works perfectly, but who uses cassettes? I hated them in the 80s and age hasn't improved things any. The turntable is proving a tough customer in trying to get the platter back on. The speakers are okay, but dont sound as good as my sonys.

Anyway, here are the pics... speakers
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll103/shrededward/005.jpg

the rest, minus the turntable
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll103/shrededward/004.jpg

and the TT
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll103/shrededward/006.jpg

 

[Leonid1001]

expatguy - thank you, good

yo compre en chile recien ahora los parlantes cs-f900

here is a photo Pioneer CS-F900

 

[Leonid1001]

Two years on: Pioneer's *1979* Project brochure

To offer a view of the evolution of the Pioneer Project line, I'm posting some scans from a September, 1979 brochure for those who might want to compare with the 1977 scans found earlier in this thread.

As this September 1979 brochure shows, the Pioneer Project line components had changed a great deal compared to the March 1977 brochure posted earlier in this thread.

Scans of one side of the brochure (actually, a poster size document folded into 9 sections) are included below. Because of the layout, except for the "X" systems, it is difficult to make smaller scans of the individual systems since they span three separate sheets.

*Highlights of the 1979 brochure*

The X9 system in the 1977 brochure, with its M-73(85W+85W)/C-73/F-73 power amp/contol amp/tuner units have been replaced by the X99 system with new components: SM-1800II (85W+85W DC)/SC-1800/TX1500 in the 1977 brochure.

The X7 system (M-1500 (50W+50W)/C-1500/F-1500) in the 1977 brochure is slightly transformed to the X77 system in the 1979 brochure, and it appears to be basically a second generation, more powerful version of the original X7 system: SM-1500II (65W+65W)/SC-1500II/TX-1500II.

The other 1979 systems have "A" appended to their model designations, and all are odd numbers from 1 to 9. The emphasis is on wood-grain veneer racks and cabinets. The top-of-the-line amplifier is now the SA-7900 (as opposed to the SA-8800II in 1977). A briefdescription for each system is listed below. Component names are followed by MSRP for individual components. I have not listed the numerous other optional items that follow the cassette player in the brochure but will be happy to give specifics if anyone asks.)

Component order: amp, tuner, record player, speakers, rack, cassette deck

*Project A9* (MSRP 216,400)
SA-7900, TX-7900, PL-280, CS-A9, CB-A7L, CT-415 (optional)
54,900/ 29,800/ 46,800/ 85,000/ 21,500/ 57,800

*Project A7* (MSRP 178,400)
SA-7900, TX-7900, PL-260, CS-A7, CB-A7L, CT-415 (optional)
54,900/ 29,800/ 36,800/ 57,000/ 21,500/ 57,800

*Project A5* (MSRP 157,400)
SA-7700, TX-7900, PL-260, CS-A5, CB-A7L, CT-415 (optional)
54,900/ 29,800/ 36,800/ 57,000/ 21,500/ 57,800

*Project A3* (MSRP 135,600)
SA-7700 (45W+45W), TX-7700, PL-250, CS-A3, CB-A7L, CT-415 (optional)
44,900/ 21,000/ 32,800/ 37,000/ 21,500/ 57,800

*Project A1* (MSRP 108,800)
SA-7500 (30W+30W), TX-7700, PL-250, CS-A1, CB-A7L, CT-215 (optional)
54,900/ 29,800/ 32,800/ 29,000/ 21,500/ 43,800


In comparing the 1977 and 1979 brochures, a few things stand out:

1) A shift away from silver-black color schemes.

2) The standardization of racks. In 1977, each system had a separate rack, which was probably a disadvantage from the production point of view. In 1979 all systems utilized the same racks (CB-A7L horizontal or CB-A7R for vertical (rack) orgainization).

3) Reliance on a small number of cassette players, especially on the CT-415 in all "A" systems (except for the lowest level Project A1 with the CT-215) and the "X" units (CT-620). The 1977 brochure indicates the company relied more heavily on the cassette players to help differentiate the gradations in the model line, using the CT-9 and CT-8 for their TOTL Project X), X7, Project 9 and Project 900, then CT-4 and CT-2 as they moved down the line.

Hello, please send both catalogs of 1977 and 1979