I found a pair of Pioneer CS-99a speakers at a local pawn shop. After some quick research, I had the shop set them aside. After work, I'll trade out my Miata for the Exploder and pending a thorough check-over, bring those bad boys home.

Pictures to follow, if everything looks good. Asking price was $85.00, I talked them down to $62.00.

Any opinions? I'm hoping for a shootout between ToastedAlmond and bully.

My opinion? I'll defer to my mother who says "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

Oops.

As far as Kabuki's go, you could do worse. The CS-99A's are less "all show and no go" than some of their counterparts, but I would still spend that same money on a set of nice Altec bookshelf speakers.

For that money, I'd much rather have dinner at a decent restaurant.

I don't know the speakers at all and have no comment on them.
I did however get a good chuckle out of your other vehicle " THE EXPLODER".
Had one and thats exactly what I called it. :thumbsdn:

Gary

I had a pair of mint CS-99As a while back and, although I sold them, I did think they were very nice speakers. The problem was they had to be played very loud in order to hear their good qualities. Not a good low-level listening speaker. But would be very good for parties.

As long as they are in decent condition, for that price you'll at least be able to get your money back if you do not end up liking them.

An AKer near me in attleboro has two pair and really digs the sound. He listens to lots of clasic rock through Sansui and Marantz gear. These CSs are pre-HPMs, the HPMs being the darling Pioneers here with many an AKer. The HPMs are much more a west coast sound speaker like ther JBL L-100s they were designed to "best", while from what I've been told the 99s are much mellower, even with that big dog-dish woofer. Possibly a result to fit the home market listening habits.

Doesn't make 'em a bad speaker in my opinin, just different.

As for price, they usually sell for no less than $80 and often more than $100 on the auctions, at least lately. You could always sell 'em if you don't like them. Make $20, $40 or more on them (pre-listing fees).

Yeeowch! :D Well, I bought them anyway. View the pic - there are at least four items in the frame that should give you ideas about what will happen to these speakers next. The first person to make me laugh out loud wins a copy of my wife's fabled peanutbutter/peanutbutter chip/chocolate chunk cookie recipe.

I'll clean these up and listen for a bit. The cabinets are rougher than I remember from my lunchtime viewing; several gnarly corners. Certainly not worth anything like the $200 - $350 that ebay reports. The pawn shop will take them back within seven days if they're too ugly.

Thank you for the many and varied opinions! J Marve, what bookshelf Altecs do you recommend?

Those look to be in excellent condition. I'm sure you could make a few dollars off of them if you decide you don't like them.

It really boils down to your opinion anyway, right?

good luck with 'em!

Boy, nuthin to do with the speakers, but I really want that recipe... so here goes...

So, a man calls 911. he's frantic!

"Hurry! Hurry! My wife is going into labor!"

The dispacher asks "What street are you on sir?"

The Caller says "Magnolia boulevard"

The dispatcher responds "Could you spell that, sir?"

"Uh... M-a-g-n..., uhhhh, ah, M-a-g-n..., uhh..."

Then there's a long silence.

The dispatcher, concerned, asks "Sir, you still there?"

The gentleman says, "Yeah, I'm dragging her over to Oak Street- O-A-K! We'll meet you over there!"

:) Not bad...but I'm looking for creative (or perhaps obvious) "destinies" for this 99a pair based on the objects in my garage...

After a little listening, the soundstage is better than I expected. They are pretty light on bass and not at all clear in the midbass. Amazing to see a 15" woofer look so bored. They did sound more at home on the classic rock station than they did with Brandenburg #2.

The picture's actually misleading - three corners are crushed and abraded down through the veneer and there are numerous deep scratches. The grills are hilarious - folded, avocado green fabric behind that characteristic wood lattice. Almost all those little black metal clamps on the lattice are loose and ready to vibrate...just like rivets in a cymbal. There are lots and lots of bug carcasses in these grills... However, the drivers look fantastic and cloth surrounds really do last through the years.

I dunno, time to sleep on it. Maybe a good set of garage speakers.

:) Not bad...but I'm looking for creative (or perhaps obvious) "destinies" for this 99a pair based on the objects in my garage...

Darn... those cookies sounded good, too... :tears:

Audiophile... Not Hardly.
Good Party Speakers... I always thought so.

Back in the 1970's I listened to many a Bob Marley LP through them & an SX-1250 combo at a buddies house and enjoyed every damn minute of it too, so basically... "They Is What They Is and They Ain't What They Ain't" (if I may quote Frank Zappa).

Just me 2 cents...
Moondog

I was just going to say, SAVE THE SIGN in case they really suck!

Gary

I bought a pair new. I thought they sounded quite fine, and so did everyone who heard them. For bass, turn the bass control up a notch. I didn't have any problem with the midrange, it was very mellow. The highs were very good.
That compact box weighs over 50 lbs, so there is some nice heft there. I think they sounded good at low volumes, but really shined when played loud. Being a college kid at the time, they got played loud a lot.

I saw a pair for sale and about the same time I saw a pair go for over $300 on e-bay. For my price how could I turn them down. My technique has always been to wait until I become bored with my current listening speakers then give something new a try. Currently, I am testing the pioneer CS 66 and Nova 7B and find the pair very similar and entertaining. When I want something extra special I will go back to my trusted Dynaco A 50. I will eventuallly give a critique, I think. .

Yes, with a little boost in the bass region they sound fine. Sounds like you did pretty good for the money.