Offered for your consideration is a vintage PIONEER model PAX-30C 12 inch (30cm nominal) Alnico magnet coaxial full-range driver with compression horn tweeter, manufactured in Japan c.1962. As I’m sure you know, PIONEER was the brand name of Fukuin Electric, Limited which was founded in Pre-War Japan. They started to gain favor among audiophiles here in the States during the late 1950’s “golden age of HiFi” when U.S. military personnel stationed there started bringing home high quality, attractively-priced PIONEER audio equipment.
Please have a look at my large photos and read the remaining description to decide if this nicely preserved PIONEER full-range speaker should be yours.
This PIONEER PAX-30C driver has a sturdy paper cone that is structurally perfect. Plus, the cone suspension is cone-integral permanent and shows no separation from the frame (a common problem with many of these). Also, the golden-finish compression driver horn tweeter also looks great. And, the heavy cast metal basket is enameled in an attractive gray/green crinkle finish with red PIONEER logo emblem set into the large magnet cover bell. It looks amazing with just some light handling and installation marks from the years, as pictured, but did spend years in the original owner's smoking household.
What’s more, the +/- inputs are steel screw terminals, instead of the male spades typically encountered on lesser drivers, and they function perfectly holding input wire tight. Plus, the PAX-30C also features PIONEER’s AT-16 Level Control wired to the chassis which serves to balance the tweeter’s output relative to the woofer to account for varying listening room conditions, personal taste, etc. The attenuator’s cable reaches some 36”, providing ample length for mounting in a large cabinet, but the original green plastic volume knob is missing. Overall, this vintage PIONEER full-range driver is quite well-preserved.
Most importantly, this PAX-30C has been fully tested and exhibits solid low-end, fast, detailed midrange, and crisp, clear highs reaching the threshold of audibility. Plus, this driver has the warm vintage tone that continues to keep Alnico magnet speakers still so desirable with audiophiles of today. And, since this platform was designed in the tube amp era, it’s very efficient—good listening volume is attained at fairly low input wattage—up to an impressive 102dB. And, I tested its net DC resistance at 12.1Ω, right in line with a nominal 16 ohm driver rating.
However, the Level Control has rust on the flange underside and does not seem to function correctly—the tweeter output is audible, but low. Attempts to clean the attenuator with Deoxit Fader Lube were not successful. Since the driver’s net DC resistance is consistent with the perfect PAX-30C that I have listed separately, I am nearly certain the problem is not with the compression driver tweeter. If it were, DC resistance would surely be affected but it isn’t.
As such, I had sourced another PIONEER AT 16 Level Control from the same period with the intention of replacing the original, but have far too many projects at present. So, I am including this second AT 16, as pictured below, for the new owner in the hope that this will solve the low tweeter volume problem. I can’t guarantee that it will, but wouldn’t have bothered buying it if I didn’t think there was a strong likelihood that it would. Lastly, the basket measures 12¼” in diameter, it stands 6¼” tall, and the eight mounting holes are equally spaced 4½” apart, c-t-c.
As pictured and described, this PIONEER PAX-30C Alnico magnet 12” coaxial driver is offered at a competitive price.
I encourage interested parties to ask any questions they may have about this listing before committing to purchase as there are no cancellations, returns, refunds, or claims considered.
Payment is due at checkout by PayPal or other accepted methods. U.S. mailing addresses will pay $34.95 for *very securely packed shipping via FedEx or UPS with tracking, delivery confirmation, and full insurance coverage. International purchases accepted only from those who are able to pay with PayPal, including shipping by insured U.S. Postal Service Global Priority Air Mail—fast but expensive—no exceptions.
For international buyers that use a U.S.-based shipping service—only if it’s been established as their confirmed eBay/PayPal address—the insurance coverage on the package ends when carrier tracking shows that it has been delivered to the U.S shipping agent. At that point, the package becomes their responsibility, so make sure they also provide insurance.
*The speaker will have a dense piece of cardboard secured over the cone with wire ties at four mounting holes. Then it’ll be wrapped with bubble sheets and placed in a sturdy box with additional protective materials. This will ensure the cone, surround, and terminals are fully protected, and that there are no disappointments!