Pioneer has been making outstanding stereo integrated amplifiers over the years, and once a while something really special is made. And that special amplifier will be the Pioneer A400, this unique Pioneer stereo integrated amplifier is specially tuned to British ears. In short, the A400 is the UK-designed Japanese stereo amp that was very well-received in the United Kingdom.
The Pioneer A400 is really remarkable and we need to learn more about its unique sonic characteristics. Also, every integrated amplifier has its own strengths and limitation, by finding them out it will further aid us to look for the right speakers to match with this Pioneer amp. With this information and data, we will be able to share with you a list of the best speakers that you can go for and pair them with your wonderful Pioneer A400.
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Sonic Characteristics and Important Specifications of Pioneer A400
Comparing the Pioneer A400 to the Silver Era receivers, the A400 looks more modern, minimalistic, and has a certain style to it. Like the Silver Era Pioneer stereo receivers, the Pioneer A400 has its own charm and attractiveness. It will fit in nicely in most homes due to its low profile front and should aesthetically match quite well with most modern speakers. The Pioneer A400 rated power output is 50 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms, 70 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms and can go even higher using Dynamic power output enabling it to reach 135 Watts into 2 Ohms (Peak), which is quite powerful for an integrated amplifier at this price point when it first debut.
The frequency response is even more impressive, ranging from 5Hz to 100kHz. With these mentioned specs, it is safe to say it could power most bookshelf speakers with ease. We can still include some floor-standing speakers which are easy to drive as an option. This classic integrated amplifier has a moving magnet phono input which makes it really ideal for turntable users especially if you are looking for a vintage amplifier such as the Pioneer A400. There is also a headphone output for a more personal music listening experience.
The soundstage that the Pioneer A400 projects are large and have ample depth which caught us by surprise as we didn’t expect it to be that amazing. The stage is filled with details and a lively musical performance that simply engages you. The rhythmic dynamics of the A 400 further improves the engagement and you are just pulled into the sound field, forgetting about what you are supposed to do as you just want to listen to your favorite tunes. The subtle details are quite clear as well. The bass performance is good and does provide a tight delivery of low ends.
The bass reproduction is tight and agile that blends in nicely, providing a well-balanced music presentation. The treble is crisp and with clarity but never sounding harsh. It can be quite a bright-sounding system at times. This Pioneer stereo amp can be a punchy performer and can really provide some exciting music listening experiences. Playing CDs through Pioneer A400 is quite a treat too and we find it sounds better than playing vinyl, probably because the phono input is limited to 20Hz-20kHz.
All in all, you will be quite entertained by the Pioneer A400’s sonic performances, it is here to provide you with a lively music presentation and bring a little more excitement into your favorite tunes. The overall sound reproduction is neutral with a bit of brightness but the phono stage may sound a bit brighter. Even after 3 decades, the Pioneer A400 is still a solid performer and has the sound quality to stand its ground. We have enough data and details to start listing out the best speakers which you can go for and match them with the Pioneer A400 stereo integrated amplifier. The prices of the matching speakers will be a factor and we won’t be going for expensive speakers.
Pioneer A400 Specifications
- Power Outputs: 50 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms, 70 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms
- Frequency Response: 5Hz-100kHz
- Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.05%
- Inputs: CD, Tuner, Aux, Tape, Phono
- Outputs: Headphone
- Dimensions: 420mm x 352mm x 126mm (16.5″ x 13.9″ x 5″)
- Weight: 8kg (17.6lbs)
Best Speakers to pair with Pioneer A400
The Wharfedale Denton 85 will be a good match with the Pioneer A400 due to its warm and easy on the ears sonic characteristics. This helps to slightly ease off the hard edges allowing you to play your music for countless hours without the worries of listeners’ fatigue. The Wharfedale Denton 85 may sound pleasing but it also has good dynamics to provide an engaging music presentation. They also provide a very detailed sound reproduction so that the wide soundstage projected by the Denton 85 is filled with musical richness. This pair of stand-mounters also sounds great with vinyl which complements the Pioneer A400 really well.
More Details at Amazon – Wharfedale Denton 85 (Red Mahogany)
For a pair of classic budget bookshelf speakers that will match really well with the Pioneer A400, the Mission 732i will be that speaker you are looking for. The Mission 732i is affordably priced and will easily fit most budgets, furthermore, these stand-mounters know how to provide their listeners with entertaining music presentations. Just like the A400 integrated amp, the 732i is well-balanced and has a clear sound delivery, the bass reproduction of these speakers is also quite ample. It does have its flaws but at this price point, it is hard to nitpick the Mission 732i speakers. We will suggest that you have a listen first.
If you prefer warm-sounding speakers and are comfortable to listen to then perhaps the Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 will be the ideal choice of speakers for your Pioneer A400. The Diamond 9.1 is pair of award-winning bookshelf speakers which are very affordable and packs a solid sonic performance. The neutral warmish sonic characteristic does not hinder the speakers from revealing plenty of musical details in a given soundtrack. There is clarity in the sound reproduction but does not sound harsh even when push. The Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 is a suitable match for the Pioneer A400 and for the price it is asking, the Diamond 9.1 is worth every penny.
More Details at Amazon – Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 Speakers
The Q Acoustics Concept 20 has garnered many awards over the years and is one of the top bookshelf speakers in their price range. It is definitely a worthy match for your Pioneer A400 and the stereo integrated amplifier has more than enough power to drive them with ease. The Q Acoustics Concept 20 speakers themselves are modestly priced but the dedicated speaker stands are quite pricey. It is a pair of musical-sounding speakers with impeccable timing and dynamics, able to dish out details with clarity. The Concept 20 stand-mounters also possess refinement which makes them really exceptional for the price.
More Details at Amazon – Q Acoustics Concept 20
For floor-standing speakers, you can check out the classic Tannoy Mercury M3 which your Pioneer A400 has the muscles to drive them. Made roughly about the same era as the A400, the Tannoy Mercury M3 is designed and built for budget stereo systems. This makes the Tannoy M3 a suitable match with the Pioneer A400. The unfussy nature of the M3 floor-standers also helps with the seamless integration. It is a well-balanced speaker with an expressivity that can be brought out by the A400 amplifier, delivering a cohesive and entertaining music presentation. If you prefer bookshelf speakers, perhaps you might want to take a look at Tannoy Mercury M2 instead.
Klipsch speakers are famous for their highly efficient speakers and some of them are affordably priced. Floor-standing speakers such as Klipsch R-610F can be driven by your Pioneer A400 with ease, thanks to its high speaker sensitivity of 94dB. Furthermore, it is inexpensive and typically speakers with high sensitivity are not cheap. They have high levels of clarity and liveliness but can be overly bright to some listeners. If you like energetic musical performance and do not mind bright-sounding speakers then you should really check out Klipsch speakers. You can start with the aforementioned Klipsch R-610F first.
More Information at Amazon – Klipsch R-610F
To Conclude
After so many decades, the Pioneer A400 still stands tall and can still bring joy to its listeners with its brilliant sound quality. The speakers mentioned here are some of the best to match with this talented stereo integrated amplifier and you should grab the chance to audition them. Hear them out and see if you like what you are listening to. If possible, you should hold the speaker’s audition in the comfort of your own listening room. This will provide a more accurate result.
