The Pioneer Elite C91 Preamp - What a Glorious Rats Nest!

[@bryanwelsh2979]

I have a C-91. Yes it is a rats nest inside. I've had the driver for the volume control motor fail twice. The last time it failed I replaced it with a higher wattage transistor which seemed to have solved the issue. I've had it paired with a PD-71, M-91, and a pair of TZ-9's. I used to be a Field Service Engineer for Pioneer's service division so I acquired a lot of Pioneer audio gear during that time. The CD player, Preamp, Amp and speakers sound wonderful together. All very pretty too! Subscribed

[@patchesw3815]

Some of the best “high end” audio from Japan that Pioneer ever built. I have a Pioneer Elite C91 & 2 M91’s that run a power hungry pair on old school Infinity IRS Sigmas. To this day, the sound is still truly amazing. I’d say on par with some of the McIntosh equipment that I’ve listened to. Bought from a local dealer in Richmond VA back in 1993 & 1995. They still have the “ELITE Authorized Dealer” gold nameplate on their counter. Although now they’re Mc, Sonus Faber, Nordost, and other off the chain expensive high end audio dealers. Yet when I go in every few months to check out some new vinyl, they’re always asking me when I want to trade in those old Pioneer components & Infinity speakers in…… They must know something I don’t.

[@jd-xd1mg]

The Elites are a work of art to look at and pleasant listening experience,l have 6 pieces.l have a C-91 but would prefer a C-90a without the video processing(CT-93,C-91,M-90,PDM-900,PD-65,& the DVL-91).

[@Finn-McCool]

Those video inputs were like solid gold to those of us with three kids and multiple game consoles such as Nintendo, Sega, Atari and PlayStation.

[@SkyFiAudio]

I remember this days. Also for Beta VS VHS too.

[@brandonburr4900]

Just want to pass along my thanks for these videos of vintage or used equipment. Some of this hear I know well and some I'm learning about through your videos. It's educational and appreciate you taking the time to do these videos! Not many you tube channels so many videos in dept like this on older or used pieces of gear. It's great to hear your knowledge on the various equipment and opening up and testing them on the bench. Testing and your insight into the build and construction is what separates this channel. So please keep finding and showing us these gems, perhaps an idea to those that enjoy your work in the shop, you guys could almost do another channel dedicated to that. Like your custom turntables, your restorations of speakers, systems, used gear etc and cars. I'm sure their is a huge overlap with vintage and used hifi and vintage cars your working on. Just some ideas to toss around for future content. Thanks you for taking your time to do these ! Still looking forward to seeing videos on your personal systems someday to! Thank you!

[@SkyFiAudio]

Thants for the ideas and for sharing Brandon.

[@insolentstickleback3266]

Thank You for the content you provide!

[@SkyFiAudio]

My pleasure, its fun to do.

[@Barbarapape]

I have matching Pioneer Elite Laserdisc Players, the CLD-99 and DVL-91 that would look superb in rack with all the other better Elite range. I was more into Laserdisc than collecting all the matching Elite models, i wish now that i had bought a few less laserdiscs. The box sets cost a fortune, now they can be found at more sensible prices. These were the best Pioneer could make at the time, you won't find any modern gear that looks so good. As i have said i am an ex Hi-Fi tech, and would not like to service this preamp, thankfully they were so well made with high grade components that we never saw them in the workshop. Thanks for showing us this one, the owner is very lucky to have such a great collection.🙂👍

[@SkyFiAudio]

I know what you mean. I purchased a bunch of LD's back in the day, not a great investment.

[@Barbarapape]

@@SkyFiAudio Laserdiscs never stood a chance, the consumer models could't record compared to VCR's and the discs were way too expensive. Now you can't give them away.

[@mikeg2491]

⁠@@Barbarapapetens of thousands of laserdisc titles were produced, the format last a good 20 years and companies from Sony to McIntosh made players. I’d say it did just fine even if it was mostly upper middle-class consumers and enthusiasts doing most of the buying.

[@Barbarapape]

@@mikeg2491 Today laserdiscs can be found for a fraction of the original prices. The format did well to last as long as it did, most consumers don't care about the video quality so that combined with the high prices and compared to VHS it couldn't record meant it never went mass market.

[@Channel-cm7yc]

I had a their PD-65 CD player back in the 90’s. The Legato Link Conversation could be quite harsh in a system showing it’s weakness and I later found out this was a problem with that Conversion technology so I wasn’t going insane or just hearing something that wasn’t there. It was vary bright sounding and harsh anomaly that would fatigue me my system at that time where it normally was not like that listening to other source component from other manufacturers. It just didn’t meld as well as I hoped. It was very nicely built machine using EAD’s stable platter CD transport. I just couldn’t ever get past the DA conversion issues. The transport eventually started having issues and it was time to put it rest and move on. It was not cheap player! So all in all they were good products and they had some engineering issues that just at times didn’t always match the quality of the build in terms of sound of comparably priced audio products. That happens and I’m not knocking pioneer for their attempts they were very decent audio products.

[@SkyFiAudio]

I've heard that before about the Legato.

[@JD-lk7im]

Lots of Muse capacitors ( shiney green ones )..a good thing .

[@SkyFiAudio]

Oh good catch. those are nice!

[@Watcher4111]

Yup. Nichicon Muse, high grade capacitors for audio. Pioneer elite c91 preamp build quality was top notch. Just Look how today preamps are build. Like 8000 euro mcintosh c48, build quality is awfull, pre looks like entry level low end. Compare this c90 to this mcintosh...

[@capezyo]

Nice equipament, thanks...

[@SkyFiAudio]

Glad you liked it.

[@Watcher4111]

2 transformers are for left and right channel. Thus it gives great channel separation, dual mono construction.

[@SkyFiAudio]

Thanks for sharing mate.

[@Watcher4111]

You May dont like mess inside but its nice preamp. In Stereo magazine was praised as one of best preamps from 80s. Built great too. 3 transformers in power supply, it was unusuall for preamps which many even more pricey preamps has single transformer. Nichicon Muse for audio capacitors, high grade ucon polypropylene capacitors (used in many Hiend Gear like 15.000 usd separate transport and dac denon s1 or tube AMP luxman mq 360), matsushita polypropylene capacitors, soshin foil capacitors. Phono stage has 2 step UP transformers, which it was unusuall in 80s like its unusuall today. Non compromise stuff.

[@SkyFiAudio]

yes I think I spotted the step up transformers, first time Ive seen them in this level gear.

[@Watcher4111]

@@SkyFiAudio Pioneer Elite c/m series was considered Hiend back in the 80s. You May not like how it sounds, but Elite build quality was top notch.

[@radicalaudiodesign]

I’ve renovated a c91 (EU version) and its called Reference here. Caps were wrapped in copperfoil tape. Seen in C73 aswell.

[@SkyFiAudio]

Wonder why mine didn't have copper tape on the caps. Did yours have the honeycomb chassis Johan?

[@radicalaudiodesign]

@@SkyFiAudio Yes, honeycomb chassie👍

[@Watcher4111]

Can You tell where was this copper foil/copper coating? Ive never seen it in any Pioneer elite pre amp

[@radicalaudiodesign]

@@Watcher4111 Around all buffercaps in powersupply. 4x 330uf/ 50V green Nippons and bunch of the other ones aswell. Mostly the bigger caps.

[@thomasandersen6014]

Great video. I had the C-90, and sold it too cheap. But it is a really good preamp. You should do a video of their Series 20 if you can get them. You allready have the PLC-590 :)

[@muppetb.lansing8374]

I had the C21 preamp and the M22 poweramp, the latter looked like a star base. The poweramp sounded head and shoulders better than the preamp IMO

[@SkyFiAudio]

Thanks! Will keep an eye out for the series 20. Thanks Thomas.

[@anmic3590]

Is there a big difference in sound quality between 90/91 and c/m - 73?

[@postersm7141]

In Japan and Europe, I believe it was called “Reference” as opposed to “Elite” in the USA

[@SkyFiAudio]

Funny how it changes worldwide. I guess Toyota does the same thing with the cars.

[@jonathanmoore8886]

I sold elite TV's and avr's and never knew Pioneer made elite series separates. Nice finish. No digital input all analog.

[@SkyFiAudio]

That's right! Didn't they make a rear projector TV too?

[@jonathanmoore8886]

@@SkyFiAudio yea it was huge too but then again those types of TV's were huge. Had a nice gloss finish around it too. Pioneer really liked that black gloss.

[@mikeg2491]

@@jonathanmoore8886I know alot of people hate 80s black receivers but alot of those were matte plastic. Throw a gloss on it like McIntosh or Sansui did and it becomes a whole new ballgame.

[@crimsonghost6454]

Great video. It seems like they spent time and money on everything but the wires. But I'm sure it sounds great.

[@Watcher4111]

Cmon, this is not only one preamp that uses lots of cables.

[@SkyFiAudio]

Look at Sonys equivalent, they were able to execute a similar build quality with little wiring. It seem like they gave up! lol.

[@deanjones5325]

From Galveston Texas

[@Watcher4111]

About various versions. USA and japan versions had video sections and remote, additionally japanese version had aluminium heavier top plate. I have european c90 which doesnt have video inputs and board, no remote, no aluminium top plate

[@SkyFiAudio]

Did it have foil tape on the caps?

[@Watcher4111]

@@SkyFiAudio ive seen on japanese blogs elite preamps like c90a and i didnt See Cooper on the outside of capacitors. But i read that capacitors in elite preamps in fact are copper coated. In my c90 also i didnt See any copper foil on caps. Maybe copper coating is inside, i dont know

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Nice Job I remb when these were New Elite was always overly built and exspensive as hell I owned a M22 amp that I loved ! You ever check out Sony's 40th Anneversity Edtion Vfet amp? 'Sony Is a Powerhouse' Its on my wish list but big 💰

[@SkyFiAudio]

The M22 is a killer amp. Thanks Tee Jay!

[@LordTechnopants]

Looks like the wiring in my house!

[@SkyFiAudio]

haha, keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

[@melovemusic69]

My motor control for the volume suddenly doesn't adjust with the remote any longer. Any ideas on what I need to do to repair or I'm out of luck?

[@antoniogreen1179]

I have the pioneer a-91d with the honeycomb chassis, could you do a review of that, and I also have the sony 808es

[@SkyFiAudio]

Sorry Antoni I don't have an A-91D. Will keep an eye out.

[@johnshaw359]

Some engineering compromises, but as it's Pioneer i'll excuse them. It's not like the inside of a Krell KRC3 etc, but still nice and cool looking. Looks a bit like an upmarket VCR from back in the day.

[@Watcher4111]

I See much more compromises in this krell. Single transformer? That huge cutting cost in krc3, best preamps has at least 3 transformers, separate for each channel which gives superior channel separation. So no, Pioneer c91 doesnt Look like they were cutting costs

[@SkyFiAudio]

Upmarket VCR, LOL, Indeed. They sure get extra points for making the outside so nice.

[@paulooliveiracon51]

Já tive um

[@Watcher4111]

For me wires doesnt put me off. Overall build quality is fantastic even for today standard.

[@SkyFiAudio]

Yes better than average today. Solid build quality but nothing like the CD player.

[@rinkerlaw7446]

Slightly off topic - where did you get those cool screwdrivers? Not the jewelers drivers, the larger ones with the handles that look like they might be acrylic. . .

[@SkyFiAudio]

amazon!

[@rinkerlaw7446]

@@SkyFiAudio they look great. Fit right in to the beautiful shop you guys have.

[@brainache555]

Hi! Where can i get those screwdriver's with holes in the handle? Super cool

[@SkyFiAudio]

Amazon!

[@deanjones5325]

Awesome

[@radicalaudiodesign]

Is the NAD 2700THX for sale? 😄

[@SkyFiAudio]

don't have one. Sorry.

[@radicalaudiodesign]

What Nad amp is it you have there in your testrack then?🙂 thought it looked like a 2700 modell

[@bertroost1675]

Is there a way to run a subwoofer out of this?

[@SkyFiAudio]

Don't see an obvious way, wish it had a second set of output.

[@batmandestroys1978]

This preamplifier was beautiful looking, but it lacks features. No bass or treble turnover.

[@dogbiterabies2547]

Neet!

[@PedjoGT]

Inside is mess...but beauty outside

[@scottskillman]

How about a comparison to the Nakamichi CA-7

[@SkyFiAudio]

I did a review on the CA7 but I don't think I shared the inside. Will keep it in mind.

[@scottskillman]

@@SkyFiAudio Two units built around the same time, but with very different priorities. Compare initial retail price of each, compare the present retail values. Demonstrate ease of service for each. and perhaps the availability of parts today. that would be interesting me me.

[@juanmauricioperez2036]

WWOOOOWWWW PURE COOPER CHASIS .......THIS CONSTRUCTION DOESN´T EXIST TODAY

[@Watcher4111]

Cooper chassis, Cooper plated screws too

[@SkyFiAudio]

The screws are crazy cool!

[@PedjoGT]

Search some nasty Nec A 10 or A11 amlifiers

[@samb8996]

Didn’t really enjoy this video - sorry, not subscribing

[@SkyFiAudio]

ha, your hard to please.