Pioneer H-Z1

preliminary

Completely unknown outside Japan, the Z1 series nevertheless sold extremely well in their home country.
It represented Pioneer's entry into 1980s super high-end of the Non-NFB kind.

Part of the parapharnelia available to extract the ultimate informations from LPs with delicate MC cartridges, using such science-fiction items as carbonized silicon, non-inductive and glass-encased capacitors, glass-expoxy boards, urethane foam shields or 99,99% pure copper wiring everywhere.

However, unlike the M-Z1 and C-Z1 companions, the H-Z1 didn't see an "a" upgraded version - it was perfect from the start. Also, if there were a lot of people buying amps and preamps, there wasn't that many willing to shed 230,000¥ over an optional accessory... however good.

The glory days of LP were vanishing indeed and the H-Z1, a big black cold box if there ever was one, represented one of the "last hurras" dedicated to that wonderfully lush, deep and inviting format.