Rebuild Pioneer CS-88A’s

Rebuild Pioneer CS-88A’s


Designer:
James Audio

Project Category:
Loudspeakers/Cabinets

Project Level:
Intermediate

Project Time:
20+ Hours

Project Cost:
$100 – $500

Project Description:
To make a good sounding speakers out of nice cabinets and deteriorating drivers.

Design Goals:
Rebuild with new drivers.

Driver Selection:
New 12″ woofer 51/4 Mid and 2inch Phenolic Ring tweeter.

Enclosure Design:
Original Pioneer CS-88A design

Enclosure Assembly:
Routed new front panel and recessed speakers flush with face.

Crossover Design:
Original 4 way crossover. Using it as a 3 way. All caps were changed to Dayton Film Caps.

Tips & Tricks:
Don’t try restoring the old original speakers. I did. There 50 years old and didn’t sound that good Cost me a lot of money to try, and ended selling them on Ebay for a loss.

Conclusion:
They sound great. Cabinets weight a ton and the are bullet proof. They can really thump.

About the Designer:
Retired and know enough to be dangerous.

Project Parts List:

Pyle PDMR5 5″ Sealed Back Midrange Speaker Driver

11 Comments

Add yours
  1. 1
    Pete

    These look great, and I’ll bet they sound even better. The old real wood cabinets that new speakers rarely, if ever, have are my favorites. I have something similar I’ve had on my “to do” list since I retired. This inspires me to get them done! I wish build details were available, especially the front panel routing.

    • 3
      John T.

      These are some nice speakers to update, not sure why people just cant admire and commend instead of always trying to correct, but any way you gave me some incentive to do some rebuilds. Nice Job!

  2. 5
    Steve

    I have the CS88 s as well. I could do this speaker upgrade but I can’t solder caps. Not my thing. So……not sure a speaker exchange would really work. My old 50 year old paper cones are not great at this point.

  3. 9
    Bard Kallestad

    The title says Pioneer 88A rebuild. However, the speakers shown are CS-77s. The 88As had 6 drivers; a woofer, two 5 inch mids, and two 2½j inch tweeters, and one horn super-tweeter.

    The CS-77s only had 3 drivers like yours. I own 3 sets of them. Really, a fine speaker with great cabinets.

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