Exclusive/Pioneer model3301 (circa 1978)

The model3301 is one of the more intriguing pieces to come out of Pioneer's high-end Exclusive line. It's a modular "unit speaker system" sold as two separate enclosures meant to be stacked. The woofer system (EW-301) housed a 30 cm cone driver. The mid-high system (MT-12) sat on top with a 12 cm coaxial unit. That coaxial driver used a ring radiator for the midrange and a duralumin-diaphragm horn with a 120° sectoral horn for the highs. You could adjust the orientation of the MT-12 by changing its position, which is an unusual degree of flexibility for a speaker of this era.

Pioneer paid close attention to cabinet behavior here. The enclosure used a dual structure of lauan plywood and low-Q high-density materials, and the cabinet shape was chosen with diffraction effects in mind. Pioneer also fitted a multi-channel terminal for multi-amplifier drive, and the EW-301 included a built-in low-cut network dedicated to the MT-12, which suggests the system was designed with bi-amping in mind. A separate speaker stand, the CP-75, was offered (¥8,300 per pair) and was said to further address diffraction and clarify the low end.

Specs as recorded: playback frequency band of 30 Hz to 20 kHz, output sound pressure level of 91 dB/W/m, impedance of 6.3 Ω, rated input of 50W and max input of 100W. Each unit measured 480 × 804 × 411 mm (W×H×D) and weighed a substantial 35 kg. The system was priced at ¥90,000 per unit around 1978.

• 3-way, 2-speaker, bass reflex, floor type
• Low band: 30 cm cone woofer (EW-301)
• Mid/high: 12 cm coaxial unit with ring radiator and duralumin horn (MT-12)
• Playback frequency band: 30 Hz – 20 kHz
• Impedance: 6.3 Ω
• Dimensions: 480 × 804 × 411 mm; 35 kg

Documentation on the model3301 is thin. It appears to have been offered primarily in the Japanese domestic market under the Exclusive brand. Beyond the listing details above, no period reviews, production quantities, or market reception data have surfaced. The "W" suffix in some listings (model3301-W) is unexplained in available sources. The site audio-database.com describes it as "an exclusive unit speaker system in pursuit of musical quality."

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