The Elite C-90 Reference Control Amplifier was introduced by Pioneer in 1987 and manufactured through 1988. Like the M-90 Reference Power Amplifier, the C-90 was a twin-mono design with separate power supplies and circuitry for both left and right channels. It was designed to handle state of the art video as well as audio inputs.

Front panel layout included Video input switching for TV Tuner, VCR1, VCR2, VCR3 and VDP on the left, and Audio input switching for Tape 1, Tape 2, Tuner, Phono and CD on the right. The Main Power switch was located in the upper lefthand corner with Standby switch next to it. The motorized Volume knob was on the upper right of the panel. Beneath these groups of controls was a narrow silver band having the infrared sensor for the remote control and small leds with nomenclature indicating the control amp's current functions.

The back panel featured RCA jacks that was spaced wide enough apart to permit the use of audiophile grade interconnect cables. There were two unswitched AC jacks and one switched AC jack for powering other components.

A particularly nice touch was the visible copper plating for all nomenclature which duplicated the copper plated chassis appearance inside the unit.

The C-90 was favorably reviewed by Stereo Review in the April 1987 issue (see below). The C-90 had a list price of $800.00.   It was superceded by the C-91 in 1989.

C-90 Interior

C-90 Specifications:
Click on thumbnail image to enlarge

C-90 Test Report in Stereo Review (April 1987)
Click on thumbnail image to enlarge. When the image reformats to fit your screen, hold cursor in the lower right hand corner of the image and wait for the "enlarge" icon to appear. Then, click on the icon to enlarge the image.

Article:
Classic Cars, Classic Audio
and the State of Things Today