SPEC-2 - The Most Powerful Pioneer Power Amplifier Ever! Vintage Stereo Repair Restoration Testing.

A Pioneer SPEC-2 stereo power amplifier repair and restoration video. Old electrolytic capacitors and heat stressed/troublesome transistors were replaced. The power supply assembly which is known to be heat stressed in the Pioneer SPEC-2 power amplifier was completely rebuilt. The power amplifier and meter assemblies were rebuilt. In addition, the four filter capacitors were replaced. This Pioneer SPEC-2 was then bench tested with an audio analyzer. This was a top to bottom repair and restoration that after 40 years of service this vintage amplifier needed. This Pioneer SPEC-2 power amplifier now sounds great and will be reliable for decades to come.
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[@davidt8438]

I was 16 in 1971 when I first noticed these receivers, amps and reel to reel recorders. I couldn’t afford any of them at the time but that didn’t stop me from visiting the stereo stores at the time. I’d go to Allied radio, Olsen radio, United Audio, Pacific Stereo and other places where I’d dream of someday having enough money to enjoy the finer things in life. I remember saving my lunch money everyday and what I could from a job at some local dept. store where I made $1.25 an hour until I could afford my first quality receiver. It was one of the early Pioneer receivers (727) and boy was it nice. But it cost me somewhere around $350.00 and so of course I realized I needed to get a better job if this was to continue. Well I learned more and got a better job and it has continued to this day. I remember seeing pre recorded reel to reel tapes of the Beatles and they were priced somewhere between $7 and $11 which I thought was highway robbery. I still think that was way overpriced for the day. Because of that I never bought one of those beautiful machines but I wish I did. Nothing looks better on your cabinet at home. And nothing says Hi Fi more than a vintage receiver or Amplifier and one of those. It’s really sad that today’s youth don’t get to play in that arena. They think an iPhone is hi fidelity without all the switches and buttons. I still have a receiver made by the Rodney Dangerfield company that doesn’t get any respect …Kenwood. It’s a beautiful piece with 120 watts of power and a terrific tuner section. But it’s as old as my interest in stereos and in need of work. I’d rather cut off a finger than part with it so it looks like my search for an honest and capable repair man will have to continue. I’ve been looking for two years now and it’s not looking good. Nobody seems to know how to fix these anymore. And if they do, they don’t care anymore. That might be the worst thing. People don’t care about saving history.

[@douglangston]

Watching your great videos of both the Pioneer Spec -1 and Spec - 2 pieces brought back SO many memories. My best friend Mike and I used to go to a CMC Stereo store on Hwy. 94 in St. Charles, Mo. when we were teenagers and drool over all the audio equipment they had for sale. After months of going back and forth to the store on Saturdays (working no money jobs during the week, and being mostly broke) we both decided on what we were going to buy. Mike bought the Pioneer SX-1250 receiver with HPM 100 speakers and even though I knew I couldn't afford it, I bought The Spec -1 and Spec -2 with the Pioneer PL-455 turntable with no speakers and put it all on layaway. I wanted to buy a better turntable and speakers, but decided to wait and just hope that I could get THIS equipment paid for and not go bust in the process. I put all of the money that I could make into making sure I got this paid for as soon as possible, doing so in about 8 months. I was going thru some old receipts a few days ago and found the original layaway paperwork from the CMC Stereo store where we bought it from in the summer months of 1978. Super cool. Now both the Spec-1 and Spec-2 are being lovingly refreshed at Alpha Tech Electronics in the Soulard area of St. Louis, Mo, a Pioneer service center. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to tell my story, and by the way my friend Mike still has his Pioneer SX-1250, using it daily...

[@truck9moon100]

Being in the USAF in 73' thru 76' i can remember walking from room to room in the dorms looking at each persons chosen piece

[@johnadams9041]

First of all, I am very impressed by how the whole time you were talking non-stop you never once stopped to take a breath! I think you will have great success commenting on football matches on the radio

[@jamesbond9873]

Just picked up a Teac A1200 reel to reel yesterday. Traded for a buck knife. It works fine and is almost mint. Can’t believe it was built in 1967 and still works. Just goes to show you the quality of old audio. Great video keep them coming. Cheers 🍻 from Canada 🇨🇦.

[@aussie8114]

The two items together look beautiful. Wish I could hear components like this.

[@donaldwallace5700]

When I was about 15, in 1974, I went to visit my older brother who was away at college in San Luis Obispo California. One of the guys in his dorm had a brand new Pioneer receiver and speakers and turntable. I remember that the receiver had a black face so it was probably a SX-737 or something like that. I was totally impressed by the power and the sound quality. I had never heard anything like it. I had to have one.

[@russellwalker3837]

i really enjoy your channel. it brings back great memories of all the great hifi gear i've owned over the years. i'm currently going through a resurgence once again like so many others. i'm still running my klipsh speakers i purchased in italy while serving in the navy in mid 80's. those puppies have some miles on them, and still performing like new. thanks again.

[@jeronunkoffunk9437]

Hello sir I appreciate your resto projects, I do really like the history you give behind the equipment you acquire I am an affecionado for the back stories as well. I actually had a spec 2 for a few years many yrs ago that didn't work when I bought but I couldn't afford to fix it and didn't have the patience as I had a Situation arise. I do regret having to let it go 7yrs ago fortunately it went back to the friend I got it from. Good video keep up the great work 👍🏾👍🏾

[@saqibsami7967]

I am 24, I enjoy watching your videos on these vintage audio amplifiers.

[@luisnunobrito3132]

Always loved Pioneer! This thing is a beast. Magnific audio gear and great video!

[@RUfromthe40s]

in 76 my father bought this with all high-end components from the 76 catalog of Pioneer ,i can say that either than doing maintenece to the cassette deck and the reel deck ,the CT-F1000 and the RT-707 ,till today only had to clean the tone control knobs and with a pair of HPM-150 and other from the executive line from Pioneer ,looking very close to some older altec lansing and also some JBL´s ,i was told that it was the same engenier who developed them ,it´s working today still sounding perfect.Later in 84 a uncle of mine who brought from New York state while working there , when he arrived to Portugal he had a SX-1980 and a HPM-1000 (not real HPM´s ,but very good sounding with woofer in vynil on the speakers ).When going to his house an apartment in the 20th floor of a very high building ,i always asked him "when will you give me your system" ,who only had a PL-540 turntable either than the receiver and speakers and a large colection of LP´s ,he ended up giving to me his system because the neighboors were always complaining and he sometimes at night drinked a lot of whiskey and at 24 hours he would put the volume very high and i in return gave I him a SX-1050(also very powerfull, but i in return wouldn´t be fair to gave him my SX-450 )without power meters and some litle JBL´s also a cd player because he lived near the river and sea and with lot´s of humidity the records were getting noisy allthough when the songs started it still had perfect sound ,so he was the first to enter in the compact disc colection ,that´s what i ofered him a early Pioneer cd Player, he used to order from the U.S. cd´s because even having to pay transport ,the customs he didn´t pay their % because he worked in that minister(don´t know if it is the correct denomination) as a civil servant so he never paid customs , making the cds being 1/4 of the price sold at the time in Portugal, who were built at the time with a more resistant material ,that changed in the early 90´s making it more afordable to people ,so i also have a SX-1980 that only had to clean the tone controls and reduce the gaps on each potenciometer. Some told me to install new capaciteurs or condenseurs(don´t know which is the right word for it) but it still sounds very powerfull and perfect ,lot´s of information important to me in the video, thank you

[@TNPFan]

Really appreciate you sharing the history and story behind this particular piece. I wish I had a similar story to share, but this level of gear was not in my “paper route” budget at that time. Ha! But it does bring back memories of a neighbor who did have some good gear that I admired each month when it came time to collect for his newspaper. Thank you!

[@Conan568]

I bought the amp and preamp shortly after I saw Led Zeppelin play in Seattle back in 77.

[@yardbomber9099]

Pioneer has built some beautiful pieces and that SPEC-2 is no exception. I love the clean look of it and those meters are just awesome. Thank you for taking the time to post up!

[@dylanmonahan5909]

Good on you for taking the time and putting in the effirt to preserve the history of the vintage equipment you restore alive! My fathers Sony MDR-7905 Headphones from the 70s have outlasted mine purchased in 2005 or so. He gifted his Pioneer receiver and other gear to charity before he passed away. I wonder if their new owners appreciate what they have.

[@russfelger]

Very nice instructional video. The details and opportunity to see the vintage equipment actually performing, in spec, is a great part of why I watch your videos. Another part is you demystify a lot of the huge undertakings of restoring the vintage legends to their optimal condition. Thanks for posting! 👍🏼

[@btu45nh]

Wow! Lucky guy,a friend of mine has the spec1 and spec2 set up,he bought it in the late 70s and he still has it. Very sought after,a true powerhouse indeed.👍

[@scratchback2001]

Spectacular, especially the Amcron DC300 which is a wonderful amplifier!

[@praisegod.jesusislord.256]

Good job with your videos. You do a great job at explaining everything. I have a sx-1010 that I love. It's the nicest stereo that i have ever owned. We still spin vinyl and it sounds great. I have three teenage kids and they all are amazed at the full range of sound. Especially with the new music. It was so well built that it still surpasses modern equipment. Keep up the good work. I've learned a lot from your videos.