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The Pioneer "eXclusive" Gear Thread!
- Thread starter Dr. Strangelove
- Start date
PIONEER EXCLUSIVE 2401 SPEAKERS:
Those are some really nice speakers there!
Rare_Hifi
New Member
Greetings from Strasbourg
A fantastic thread and a great resource Mr.Pioneer Vintage!
TAD/Pioneer Exclusive are my favourite components, especially the C3/5, the P3 and the speakers.
Speakers: I have had the Pioneer Exclusive 2401 Twin, 2402 and 2251. I expect to own some Twin 2401's before christmas. I intend to study these and then construct my own version
Turntables: I have two Pioneer Exclusive P3 turntables and have had a few P10's. I rate them as better than the Technics SP-10mk3 as an all purpose machine. I have improved the performance further by mounting a Kondo wired SME 312. The tonearm, as on many early japanese decks, does suffer after 30 years!
I have had the Pioneer C7 preamp, but have never imported the C7 power amp due to voltage concerns from Japan. I found it to be a good preamp but not as good as the Accuphase C290V. The C5 was my favourite preamp of this era.
My thread on the TAD 2402 speakers became quite a legend. I converted them to 3 way active speakers and added an ET-703 tweeter. As active speakers they were stunning...you really need to add the tweeter. I also experimented with the Pioneer PT-R100 ribbon but found no improvement.
I think I found my upgrade in the tweeter department recently...a YL/Audio Note Japan D-18000 tweeter. Extremely rare compression tweeter.
I sold the 2402's last year for 15000 euros. The price for these speakers just goes up and up.
I would like to hear some of the 3401 speakers to compare, maybe the S5 also...but all in good time.
Regards
Ritchie
A fantastic thread and a great resource Mr.Pioneer Vintage!
TAD/Pioneer Exclusive are my favourite components, especially the C3/5, the P3 and the speakers.
Speakers: I have had the Pioneer Exclusive 2401 Twin, 2402 and 2251. I expect to own some Twin 2401's before christmas. I intend to study these and then construct my own version
Turntables: I have two Pioneer Exclusive P3 turntables and have had a few P10's. I rate them as better than the Technics SP-10mk3 as an all purpose machine. I have improved the performance further by mounting a Kondo wired SME 312. The tonearm, as on many early japanese decks, does suffer after 30 years!
I have had the Pioneer C7 preamp, but have never imported the C7 power amp due to voltage concerns from Japan. I found it to be a good preamp but not as good as the Accuphase C290V. The C5 was my favourite preamp of this era.
My thread on the TAD 2402 speakers became quite a legend. I converted them to 3 way active speakers and added an ET-703 tweeter. As active speakers they were stunning...you really need to add the tweeter. I also experimented with the Pioneer PT-R100 ribbon but found no improvement.
I think I found my upgrade in the tweeter department recently...a YL/Audio Note Japan D-18000 tweeter. Extremely rare compression tweeter.
I sold the 2402's last year for 15000 euros. The price for these speakers just goes up and up.
I would like to hear some of the 3401 speakers to compare, maybe the S5 also...but all in good time.
Regards
Ritchie
Attachments
michaelhigh
mind's eye music
I've commented on this room before, very nice and so presentable. I'm sure it sounds as good as it looks. Touche'.
Rare_Hifi
New Member
Talk about modesty!
Thanks for the comment on my livingroom
I got Pioneer Exclusive C7a preamp and M8 power amp. They are the best of what I have heard thus far.
All I could say is none comes close to the musicality and neutrality of them. Music is just so much more life like without imperfections.
C7a runs hotter than most Class A amps. And I have quite a few Class A amps too. I also have C-290V but C7a just plainly more musical while C-290V sounds more transparent.
All I could say is none comes close to the musicality and neutrality of them. Music is just so much more life like without imperfections.
C7a runs hotter than most Class A amps. And I have quite a few Class A amps too. I also have C-290V but C7a just plainly more musical while C-290V sounds more transparent.
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enjoy_the_music
New Member
Yeah I had the C7a preamp a couple of years ago. It is a good preamp and I used it with a number of power amps.
Now I go full Vfet and SIT...with some tubes also
Now I go full Vfet and SIT...with some tubes also
Yeah I had the C7a preamp a couple of years ago. It is a good preamp and I used it with a number of power amps.
Now I go full Vfet and SIT...with some tubes also
Have you tried with M8 or M7 by any chance? I totally understand synergy is important but I think it's also important to listen with the matching amp.
I wonder you have paired the C7a with M7 or M8 during the time you owned it. I love to hear your impression on them if you like to share. :yes:
jwfabrie
Well-Known Member
megasat:
Might I ask, do you live in a 100 volt area, or are you using a stepdown transformer to power them?
I am after a C7 as well, preferably the Japanese 100volt version, so that I can connect it to my V7, the Euro 220volt version doesn't support that option..
I am going to listen (and probably buy) at a pair of eXclusive M6 monoblocks next weekend.. I am very curious about their sound quality in combination with the C3 preamp..
Might I ask, do you live in a 100 volt area, or are you using a stepdown transformer to power them?
I am after a C7 as well, preferably the Japanese 100volt version, so that I can connect it to my V7, the Euro 220volt version doesn't support that option..
I am going to listen (and probably buy) at a pair of eXclusive M6 monoblocks next weekend.. I am very curious about their sound quality in combination with the C3 preamp..
jwfabrie,
I am in the U.S so I use a step down transformer from 120V to 100V. Does Pioneer sell Exclusive in the Europe? It appears Pioneer have no interest to sell Exclusive in the U.S market at all and I wonder why.
As far as I know, M6 is the rebadge of M5a from Japan market?
I am sure they'll be awesome amps. How do the European regards the Exclusive gears? Are they being treated in the same league as Accuphase, Luxman or other high end brands in Europe?
Sorry to ask but I know there are Big Hifi nuts your way too.
I am in the U.S so I use a step down transformer from 120V to 100V. Does Pioneer sell Exclusive in the Europe? It appears Pioneer have no interest to sell Exclusive in the U.S market at all and I wonder why.
As far as I know, M6 is the rebadge of M5a from Japan market?
I am sure they'll be awesome amps. How do the European regards the Exclusive gears? Are they being treated in the same league as Accuphase, Luxman or other high end brands in Europe?
Sorry to ask but I know there are Big Hifi nuts your way too.
jwfabrie
Well-Known Member
megasat,
You are right; the M6 is indeed the rebadge of the Japanese M5a, they are exactly the same except for voltage..
Pioneer did sold some eXclusive in Europe, both the C3 and M3 were available in Europe, as well as the C7, together with the M6 and the M7. None of the other units were ever available (officialy) to my knowledge. I had to get my eXclusive P3 TT and F3 tuner from Japan, but I will never regret!!
btw: some of the speakers might have been available here as well; I believe the 2401, 2402 and 2404.
People tend to not know the eXclusives here in Europe, only a very, very small group know about their existance, and all that I spoke to, highly regard them!
Might I ask; did you got yours from Hifido? I really envy you a bit; I want one of those C7's badly :yes:
Best regards,
Willem
You are right; the M6 is indeed the rebadge of the Japanese M5a, they are exactly the same except for voltage..
Pioneer did sold some eXclusive in Europe, both the C3 and M3 were available in Europe, as well as the C7, together with the M6 and the M7. None of the other units were ever available (officialy) to my knowledge. I had to get my eXclusive P3 TT and F3 tuner from Japan, but I will never regret!!
btw: some of the speakers might have been available here as well; I believe the 2401, 2402 and 2404.
People tend to not know the eXclusives here in Europe, only a very, very small group know about their existance, and all that I spoke to, highly regard them!
Might I ask; did you got yours from Hifido? I really envy you a bit; I want one of those C7's badly :yes:
Best regards,
Willem
Hi Willem,
Thanks for info on how the Europeans regards Exclusive gears.
I have good confidence that you'll like the M6.
I also had little confidence in the M8 and C7a when I bought it from Hifido. But I am glad I bought them coz even in Japan, Exclusive gears are seldom seen or offered up for sale. Anyone who heard them can truly appreciates them.
I hope you'll find a C7 very soon. I saw one on Yahoo Japan like a month ago. So, keep checking Yahoo Japan site if you have Japanese friends to help you with the shipping?
Please do not envy me coz you sure have some real nice eXclusive gears in your pictures.
-James
Thanks for info on how the Europeans regards Exclusive gears.
I have good confidence that you'll like the M6.
I also had little confidence in the M8 and C7a when I bought it from Hifido. But I am glad I bought them coz even in Japan, Exclusive gears are seldom seen or offered up for sale. Anyone who heard them can truly appreciates them.
I hope you'll find a C7 very soon. I saw one on Yahoo Japan like a month ago. So, keep checking Yahoo Japan site if you have Japanese friends to help you with the shipping?
Please do not envy me coz you sure have some real nice eXclusive gears in your pictures.
-James
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jwfabrie
Well-Known Member
megasat:
you should indeed be glad that you bought them; they are very, very hard to source.
I was actually in the running for that C7 on Yahoo, but somehow the owner thrown out my middleman from bidding on it.. Surely another one will come available eventually; and ofcourse we still have Hifido..
I am quite confident that I will like M6 indeed, I am very curious how they will make a difference on the 3401's compaired to the M3 amp..
to be continued..
you should indeed be glad that you bought them; they are very, very hard to source.
I was actually in the running for that C7 on Yahoo, but somehow the owner thrown out my middleman from bidding on it.. Surely another one will come available eventually; and ofcourse we still have Hifido..
I am quite confident that I will like M6 indeed, I am very curious how they will make a difference on the 3401's compaired to the M3 amp..
to be continued..
