Pioneer C-Z1 preamp – serviced, excellent condition – £850 ono
Moving on a recently serviced Pioneer C-Z1 preamp from the Z-series.
This is one of Pioneer’s high-end domestic models from their golden era and not something you see too often. This is a unit from Pioneer’s cost no object high end design foray.
The engineering and build quality on these is something else -
https://www.thevintageknob.org/pioneer-C-Z1.html
It is 100V so needs a step down transformer. If you look at the back of the unit it has switched and unswitched inputs so you can run other 100V units within capacity - I had the matching monoblocks and MC head amps running in this way - which is convenient and also low noise too. (You can obviously use it with other non Pioneer 100V components too, I had a Sony TA-N86 plugged in that also worked well).
Special mention for the phono stage which is terrific sounding and has plenty of adjustment to match MM carts. Add an SUT or MC head amp for MC carts.
It’s just come back from a proper service and is working exactly as it should — clean, stable, and very quiet.
Aux noise -
Phono noise!
Condition is very good for its age — presents really well and has clearly been looked after.
I’ve been running it in a high-sensitivity setup without issues , so it’s perfectly usable in more revealing systems. Its a genuinely high end piece of kit and very neutral and transparent as a preamp.
Only selling as I’ve ended up with duplicate gear and can’t justify keeping everything.
Price: £850 ono
(Collection preferred, but can look at shipping if needed)
Happy to answer any questions or send more photos.
too.