Hi everybody,

a friend offered me his Pioneer C-73 and M-73 pre + amp combo in good shape for around $400.

I have to admit that I have a hard time finding some information on these two particular models on the internet.

I would greatly appreciate your help or comments.

Best,
Patrick

Hi Patrick,
Are you sure those aren't an M-72 and C-72? And if they are, $400 would be agreat deal for the pair.



Retro

Hi Retro,

They are C-73 and M-73 and this webpage (http://www.elitestereo.netfirms.com/c72.htm) is the only information I was able to find about the C-73. So are they some kind of "evolution" of the C-72 and M-72? What could be the difference?

Thanks for your help,
Patrick

Patrick,
They sure look like the M-72 and C-72 and if they are a later version, or maybe a Euro-version, they would still certainly be worth $400. I believe the M-72 and C-72 were both around $800 each.



Retro

If you notice the C-72 has ELITE on the face where the 73 has "Referance Control Amplifier". . . Kinda like the C-90/91 only backwards. . .I suspect the C-73 (No Video???) is a smaller version of the C-90. . .

Listen to it first and make sure everything works right and buy it now!!!

Thanks again for all the replies - I am holding off going after the C-73 and M-73 because a Pioneer Spec 1 + 2 combo showed up in neighborhood - and I definetly have to check those two trunks out. :-)

Get both! :D

The "Elite" name is only used for the North American market.

Rest of the world, including Germany where that pic was sourced, got plain Pioneer.

No real differences other than cosmetics.

I own both the c73 and m73, and would like to point out that these are audio-only amps, whereas most other elite models had both audio- and video-circuitry.
The look is the same, but the video circuitry has been replaced with 4 (!) additional line-inputs. As far as I know, these have only been on the market in Europe in the beginning of the nineties, and have not been released for a long time, which would explain why even Pioneer themselves could no longer supply me with any more info (...).
I can report that the m73 can be set to work in pure A-class (25 watts) - this in contrast to the other power amps of this line - and this results in a perceived different sound - It also does sound fine in AB-class, the difference depends on personal taste and the rest of one's rig I guess.

The pre-amp is an audio collector's dream with all those different inputs - you can connect anything to it, and still have spare inputs... If I remember correctly, it was a German hifi-magazine that compared the 73-combo with the 72- and 91-combo, and boasted that the audio reproduction of the 73 was best, then the 91, and finally the 72 (which was the most popular model of the Elite series).
Because of the audio-only preamp, it used to cost a little less than the other elite or reference preamps. I myself have no comparison with other elite models, but can testify that this is one hefty pre- and powercombo, and am constantly on the lookout for a second m-73, which would be my ultimate pioneer-set...

From a 1977 Japanese catalog:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=23760

http://audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=23762

Doc

C-73 and M-73 are re-used model numbers.

The pics above are from a 1977 Japanese catalog.

The pic below is the C-73 from 1990, but is not my photo:

Doc

http://audio-heritage.jp/PIONEER-EXCLUSIVE/amp/index2.html
C-73 & M-73 were released in 1980
If you would like to know about Pioneer Exclusive series, the above will be the best site, though the fonts are in Japanese.
Some model numbers may be different from U.S. models but you could see the original shapes and specifications.

shade,

The C-73 and M-73 were released in 1977, as per the photos I posted from this Japanese catalog:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=58373

That '77 on the front cover means 1977.

The site you are referencing is incorrect, and has a lot of incorrect data, especially the year. Both the C-73 and M-73 (from the first use of those two model numbers) ran from 1977 to 1980, so perhaps the date that site is referencing the date of the catalog from where the photo came, as I reference in many of my photos.

If you want to familiarize with the year of introduction and year of discontinuation of Pioneer components, feel free to look at:

http://akdatabase.org/Pioneer/PioneerComponentDatabase.htm

There, you will find more than 4200 components with data collected from over 120 catalogs

Also, browse http://audiokarma.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=126 when you have time.

BTW, welcome to AK and the Pioneer forum.

Doc

shade,

When this thread was started, I did not have a catalog with the re-used c-73 and m-73 model numbers. However, I do now.

From a 1990 German catalog, here are the c-73 and m-73 (released in 1990, discontinued in 1993):

Enjoy,
Doc


http://audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=58374

http://audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=58375

I have no idea why Pioneer named the different model names by the market but those models in the site that I quoted are the original Japanese model names and numbers.

Yes, those are proper photos and model numbers. The point is the date of introduction being 1977, not 1980.

Pioneer re-used model numbers many times:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=113627

For the C-73 and M-73, 1977 is the first use, and 1990 is the second use.

Also, there were some models available only in Japan, and re-badged for export to Europe and the US/Canada. The A-0012 and A-27, for example.

And, if you really want to see abuse of re-use, look at:

PL-570 (1976)
PL-570 (1980)
PL-570 (1986)

Doc

I would jump all over those! I love the looks of the Urushi finish and Rosewood sides on those and the old Elite units. Beautiful pieces. I'm sure they sound as good as the look.

Martin

Hi sparc217,

Just FYI, the Service Manual for M-73 is in the AudioKarma Pioneer Manual Database.
The Service Manual for C-72/C-73 is scanned but not yet uploaded.
If you need it PM me with your e-mail address.

Both manuals have a small section devoted to spec's and operation/connection and both are year 1990.

Kind regards,

/tri-comp