is crucial. This article dives deep into the specifications, sound signature, and legacy of this iconic loudspeaker pair. 1. What Makes the "Extra Quality" Designation Special?
If you are buying a used pair of speakers (expect to pay $300–$600 depending on condition), here is your restoration checklist:
Most speakers of that era were "boomy," all bass and no soul. But these? The treble was crisp without being sharp, shimmering across the room like light on water. pioneer cs787 extra quality
As the needle dropped, the silence didn't just break; it dissolved.
This is where the "Extra Quality" crossover shines. Standard CS787s can sound boxy in the upper mids. The upgraded capacitors in the Extra Quality version clean up vocal presence. Vocals from artists like Joni Mitchell or Thom Yorke sit slightly forward but never shout. The dedicated 4.5-inch midrange driver means no crossover interference muddying the critical 1 kHz–3 kHz range. is crucial
It utilizes a bass-reflex (ported) enclosure. The cabinet tuning is relatively large for the driver size, designed to enhance low-frequency extension. The removable grille reveals the drivers, with the unique visual feature being the dual mid-range drivers mounted vertically above the large woofer.
To help narrow down your search or troubleshoot your current audio setup, let me know: What Makes the "Extra Quality" Designation Special
The structural integrity of the cabinet minimizes internal resonances, ensuring that the energy generated by the drivers is converted into sound rather than cabinet vibration. The front baffle features a symmetric driver layout protected by a removable fabric grille, allowing users to choose between a understated look or showcasing the striking silver accents of the driver surrounds. Technical Architecture and Driver Configuration
Bring a cardboard tube (like a paper towel roll) to hold up to each individual tweeter, midrange, and woofer to ensure every single driver is producing sound.
Check if the woofer surrounds are rotting. Original cloth or treated paper surrounds hold up well, but foam surrounds will need replacing.
The bass is the star. It is not tight like a sealed modern subwoofer; it is expansive . The 12-inch woofer moves a lot of air. Listening to Steely Dan’s “Babylon Sisters” or Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain,” the kick drum has a resonant, wooden thump that fills a room. The bass reflex port (front-firing, thankfully) adds 3-5 dB of warmth around 50-60 Hz.