Pioneer D-23

The D-23 was a multi-amp electronic crossover network to permit bi-amping or tri-amping. What was Pioneer's motive for marketing the D-23?  Here is what Pioneer had to say:

"The advantages of multi-amping over full range amplification are numerous: as each power amp handles only one part of the total frequency range, intermodulation distortion is greatly reduced. Perhaps more importantly, each power amp drives each speaker unit directly, without an intervening passive crossover network as used in conventional two-way or three-way speakers, thus avoiding the problems associated with such passive networks (non-linearities, phase shifts, dynamic range limitations.) But the most striking advantage of multi-amping in general and this new Series Twenty electronic crossover network in particular is the extraordinary flexibility it imparts.

The crossover frequencies were divided into low, mid-low, mid-high and high. The range of the crossover frequencies could be varied within these four groups with the upper row of control knobs. The four larger knobs in the center were the level controls. The six smaller knobs at the bottom of the panel were to adjust the slope.

The D-23 had impressive specifications, like all the Series 20 components. Its total harmonic distortion was a mere 0.005% between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. The signal to noise ratio was 100 dB IHF, A-rated.

The D-23 measured 16.56 inches wide, 5.90 inches high and 14.56 inches deep. It weighed 19 pounds, 3 ounces. The M.S.R. P. was $600.00.

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