Let’s address the elephant in the room. The CS-787 is a quintessential example of the late-70s "Kabuki" design philosophy. You open the grille, and you are greeted by a dizzying array of drivers:
: They provide a very warm, classic 1980s tone that works wonderfully with rock music, synth-heavy tracks, or when spinning vinyl records. pioneer cs-787
Have you owned a pair of CS-787s? Share your restoration stories or amplifier pairings in the comments below. Let’s address the elephant in the room
Unlike foam-rot JBLs of the same era, the CS-787 uses cloth surrounds coated in a sticky sealant. Over 40+ years, that sealant dries out. If the bass sounds weak or flabby, you need to re-seal the cloth. Use watered-down white glue (1:1 ratio) or dedicated speaker dope. Do not use silicone. Have you owned a pair of CS-787s
: Like many mid-level floor speakers from the 1980s, the cabinets are usually constructed of lighter chipboard or low-density fiberboard (LDF). This can cause a bit of physical resonance or "boxiness" at very high volumes.