You NEVER make a mistake buying a 70's model Pioneer stereo reciever. You'll be happy with the sound quility, and all the features it will offer. Yiur fortunate to get something this fantastic!
3 years ago I picked up my first vintage receiver a Realistic STA 2000. Realistic usually takes a lot of crap because they've made a lot of lower end stereos back in the day but the STA line is top shelf. I've been running mine for 3 years and I can't say a bad thing about it. The STA series we're built to compete with the high end receivers selling in the 70s. Great receiver and not to be underestimated.
I bought my SX-980 over 40 years ago. It’s been played daily since and often stays on for weeks at a time. Other than cleaning, it has never required service. I drive two impedance matching switch boxes, one through A and one through B. Each box has 4 speakers, meaning I drive 8 pair of speakers effortlessly. No regrets on this investment.
I love my SX-980. I'd recommend that you consider recapping the power supply board and going through the procedure to adjust DC offset. My phono switches also had that issue - dirty switches are a common problem on old receivers and luckily, there is an easy fix as you noted.
Thanks for sharing your purchase. True vintage audio needs maintenance, after all it’s ~ 40yrs old. But at least you can still get parts to repair them, unlike a lot of 90’s + era equipment. Also the better known brands generally hold their value.
My favorite piece of vintage gear is my 1980 Pioneer SX-3800. It was recapped when I purchased it so I had piece of mind. It's rated at 60 watts and sounds incredible. The 3800 also has the pre out/in option just like the receiver in this video, which allowed me to connect it to my Pioneer 7-band equalizer (with spectrum display) I recommend to people interested in buying vintage gear to consider buying a receiver that is being sold either by a seller who runs a stereo repair business or a reputable seller who has recapped receivers.
Things were changing with that later pioneer series. Besides the obvious change in build quality in the electronics department there was also no more anodized steel in the chassis.
@@savagedick1462 That's interesting to know; frankly I wouldn't be familiar with many of the particulars regarding what Pioneer was doing in '80. For some reason the 1980 lineup, particularly the SX-3700, 3800, & 3900 seem to draw a fair amount of attention regarding recaps and interested buyers including myself. I bought my SX-3800 as a recapped receiver for the piece of mind of trouble-free performance from the start. What I can tell you is that the guy who recapped my 3800 has recapped several of that model including the flagship SX-3900. He did mention that he used some upgraded interior parts that were better than the original materials chosen by Pioneer in 1980 which is why I bought it. I don't recall the exact parts by name but some particulars of what my receiver currently has is better than what it had originally. He also mentioned that it was the last year Pioneer used a certain part...a particular amplifier maybe? I don't recall the specifics, but it was the last model year that they used a certain interior part that was really good in his opinion. The performance on my SX-3800 is nothing short of fantastic. The phono stage, CD, Cassette and bluetooth playback has exceeded my expectations. What really impressed me, in a surprising way, was the FM Tuner. For some reason FM stations sound incredible. I have a Sony STR-ZA3100ES A/V receiver which is fantastic for both music & movies yet the FM Tuner does not sound like the Pioneer's FM tuner. I don't know why but it does with this receiver. If you can explain that to me I'd be grateful. Regarding quality, at least to me, Pioneer, Marantz, & Sansui seem to have a much better universal rep among techs regarding what I call the "silver-face" era of stereo receivers between roughly '70-'80 for being what they often refer to as "over-built" and easy to work on. Whatever Pioneer cut back on a bit, in their 1980 models, were likely still superior to the materials used by Kenwood & Technics, for example, whose receivers were good but not built with the same manufacturing standards as Pioneer, Marantz or Sansui. That's how it's been described to me by those who work on these things for a living and my own experience of interacting with those brands as a consumer. What gear (receiver, speakers, etc.) are you running these days?
I have Pioneer 1010,1970 ,200 Rms power. Works great after 52 years. Showing signs of electrica caps leaking. Have a Teac 2400 reel to reel, technic turn table (new) and Kicpech speakers. The 2 outlet in the back max 2 amp input. Toster is 14 amps,; that burn up reciever. Those are made turntablesm
I use a Marantz 2325 I bought a few years ago and was restored along with the original wood case. It's gorgeous, has an awesome phono stage and will most likely last longer than any modern gear.
You can never have enough vintage audio. I would like to leave some of mine to my grandchildren but their dad,(my son) has more vintage gear than I do!
I had the SX-880. Loved that thing. Bought it new in '78. Just sold it 3yrs ago, the buyer was happy to give me $400 for it. He also got my SX-650 for $225.
I just bought one today for $1,000 is in great shape the auxiliary light does not light up and that's it I also have a Marantz 2265 and a McIntosh 1700 I can't take it no more I like to listen to loud music
I bought an SX-980 late last year. Fully restored it with new caps, transistors, and everything. It now works flawlessly and will for many years to come!
Why get rid of a beautiful receiver because the measurements that doesn't make sense cut a piece of plywood or nice pretty wood the shape and size you want it then screw it onto the bookshelf where You want to place the receiver then you have a bigger spot to put your receiver that will fit and everything will be fine.
Hi brotha, help!! I just got one of these at an estate sale. I don’t know much about them but I have no sound. I noticed that you said on the video at (5:45) that it won’t have sound if it first have the jacks in the rcas? Mine doesn’t have them in
eBay solds are between $500 and $1200 depending on condition. If it's been professionally serviced and restored, you'll get a higher price. But of course, the value is really whatever people are willing to pay in the market you are selling in, lol.
650 is a good price and you can get it back or even more if you sell it .... I had a SX 3900 rated 120 watts per channel and it was very robust in sound and the FM receiver was the best one I ever had and the appearance of the digital analog display was laid out perfectly
Finding one that hasn't been in a moldy shop or hot storage shed and hasn't been skated across the thrift store parking lot -can make the difference in love and hate.
For me it's my Pioneer SX-1250. I love that beast. Still, it has it's issues. There's only one aux port. That's easily sorted by a DAC. The other issue is that the thing is approaching 50 years of use. Thankfully I live in a town that has a few competent electronics repair shops. I can have it repaired when it breaks. The only problem there is that all of these shops have a backlog of work. When I drop it off I generally have to wait a month or more to get it back. In order to avoid that inconvenience I keep a spare setup, a Carver preamp/amp. Normally it's my bedroom system, but when the Pioneer goes into the shop it goes into the LR until my Pioneer comes home.
@@ForeverAnalog You should! It feels like Carver has fallen off the map. I know that some people loved them, some didn't think highly of them. I like mine (CT Seven & M0.5t), but I wouldn't classify them as seriously high end gear. More midfi. Still, not bad for a bedroom system.
I’ve owned and used a Pioneer SX-1000TW as my daily driver for years. After about 10 years I’ve been thinking it’s probably time to get something to replace it. I got an SX-680 for a good price and was not as happy with the sound. It sounds harsher and not as natural as the SX1000TW. It also has a fast volume. I can’t turn it past 2 without blowing the windows out. And that’s a 35 watt unit 😆. I hooked my old SX-1000TW back up but I know I will need to get it serviced soon! The SX-680 needs some new phono stage transistors so I’ll be dealing with that as well, then deciding if I’ll keep it or sell it.
I am a new proud owner of a Pioneer SX 980 and absolutely love it! Question if you can answer it. Can I take off the jumper between the pre and amp and install Y RCA connectors and keep using the amp part of the receiver AND have the second set go to another amp? I want to add a subwoofer that I really love to add that missing low bass (50hz and below) to my sound. Any issues you can think of by doing that?
I just walked away from a nice looking Sansui 7070, fair price, 3 hour drive one way, for the reasons you first listed. I love vintage audio but after waiting months for my Marantz 2270 to get restored (lack of correct transistors), I have become wiser. There is no perfect "sound" and if you find a nice piece of vintage audio, STOP, unless the next discovery is really cheap and works. Great video.
Thank you, David. My Marantz 2270 needs to be rebuilt as it has the normal 50 year old transistors that are starting to fade. It's really hard to find someone interested in doing the work! That was in my mind when I bought the 980!
I have one it was about 600 dollars when I got itat end of model year I saw one come to waste transfer station I asked if I could have it they said it has to be shredded and it did
Killer instrument separation, super clean mega power, relatively warm tone, pretty much the best you can find. Thx! And you can be guaranteed of getting your $650 back whenever you want. There are multiple reasons why they sell for twice as much, they're one of the best in terms of audio equipment. Listenable and super balls.
You do not need to turn up the volume much with the Klipsch speakers because they are sensitive. I saw the Andrew Robinson video where he uses the 2-amp Decware tube amp with Klipsch speakers, and he loved the sound. Yet, the speakers can handle a lot of watts also.
I wish I started buying equipment like this 20 years ago. I could have afforded back then. I am lucky enough to own a kenwood kr 7700 which is really guite powerful and has all the the right hookups
Boomer here. I just took the plunge got my first vintage amp. Beautiful sx 950 on eBay. Hard to get these down under so very excited for it to arrive. 😃
I have read that the Pioneer SX-1250 is the highest quality stereo receiver ever made. I do not know if that is true, but I want to get an SX-1250 and find out for myself.
I have a Pioneer SX 1280 connected to 4 speakers, it easily handles them. "Roses are red, violets are blue. When I listen to Iron Maiden, the neighbors do too"
I'm so glad you shop local, but when you buy used gear that old they should have refurbished and checked the capacitors at that price. That's notan 'as is' price. They should have replaced the lights and fixed the switches at the very least
Maybe so but they also offered a two week warranty if anything went wrong immediately. I’ve sold plenty of vintage gear over the years and it’s impossible to sell something this old as anything other than as is unless you completely replace every component inside.
@Forever Analog I'll never stop with the Vintage audio I have the 980 receiver and I have a pair of Cs 88a speakers as well that have to get new speakers put in because of the severe foam rot and the rear crossovers need to be replaced as well since the knobs came off of them wish I could find somebody who would be interested in taking all this stuff off my hands because I'm not able to put that much money towards things anymore and I'd rather it go to someplace where somebody has the time and money to be able to rejuvenate all this stuff I've got any suggestions would be welcomed
Onkyo was always under the radar compared to Sansui Marantz & Pioneer in the better mass market Japanese amplifier & receiver market. They were very well built with big power supplies. Until the mid 80s when cost cutting really kick in with all the Japanese companies
I have an SX1050, and SX950. I see several changes they made from the 50 series. No more "adapter" switch (essentially an extra aux/tape mon) and man, they made the balance knob much smaller on these. Also, the loss of a third speaker output. I like the look of the 80 series but I don't like the functionality changes.
@@ForeverAnalog i'm still using the speakers today with a pioneer receiver...they sound great ! and receiver had a real wood cover...after so many years the volume control started to act up...i found a receiver somewhere that had a similar volume control i took the bad one out and soldered in replacement worked like a charm.. over time i think the transformer went up and i tossed it. today i took a look on ebay and found the same model i had for a little over $ 100.00 ,,i'm tempted to buy it~ for old time sake! then maybe not~ i know manufactures will make a receiver and stores like radio shack etc will buy from them and just put their own label on them , when actually they are being sold as a Panasonic as well..
That's because vintage gear is in more demand particularly regarding what I call the Big Three (Marantz, Pioneer & Sansui) However you can find fully serviced or recapped stereo receivers by Kenwood, Yamaha, Harmon/Kardon, & Onkyo at cheaper prices. They're not particularly over-built like the Big 3 but they can still perform very well and in many cases with upgraded transistors, capacitors when applicable. Check out OfferUp and eBay. That's where I got my recapped Pioneer receiver.
I had a pioneersx1050 and I loved it it hasn't dad any work done to it in a while and ai come across a guy with a sx980 that jut got out of the shop and they went through it and replaced anything weak replaced a bunch of parts I have all the parts they changed and he put a good warranty behind his work any way we made a deal and traded I went from 120 watts per channel to 80vwatts which is plenty of power for my very nice hpm 100 speakers and have a SG9500eq which I like a lot but not sure if the sx1050 was getting weak but the 980 with the new parts to me has a brighter sound don't know if the 80 series is naturally brighter than the 50 series or not I had a sx780 receiver that I loved the sound of it but anyway ivlove the 980 sound and like I said the 80 watts is plenty of power I never had the sx1050 past 3 it was so loud and the hpm speakers go great with all the 70's pioneer receivers
That is a very nice unit, and if serviced, will provide many more years of enjoyment. I recently purchased a Yamaha A-S1200, and it is a beast. It’s an all analog amp, and has the throwback look, including VU meters. This will probably be the last amp I buy.
Not a reciever but a family member gave me their dad's old Montgomery wards airline record player, with 8 track, and AM/FM radio. I want to restore it and keep it and it just looks soo cool. But in my head I'm thinking about it it worth it. And can I find anyone in my area to restore it also
Let me say this: In my opinion, a vintage receiver will out perform and last longer then any new receiver you buy now. As a Example: I have a Technics Receiver from 1989, bought it new, I use it at least three hours a day, it is 60 watts per channel and it works perfectly. Have never had any issue with it and never had to have service on it. A new receiver now will maybe last 5 to 8 years, if your lucky, it is the same with a TV, whatever. Back in the 70's and 80's manufactures made things with pride and made them to last. One more example. My Dad received as a graduation gift from his mom, a 1946 Philco Record player table Console with am radio, and it still works perfect today. You can't say that about new products they make now sadly.
Possibly. The way I look at vintage everything needs to be replaced so you are really buying a nice chassis. But the sound will be from modern components not the og 70's component sound.
You can adjust the tone controls, but at a sacrifice to sound quality. All decent gear with have a tone defeat (direct) button, or a detent at the center position (direct) of the tone controls. A direct signal goes through a highly conductive copper wire. When tone controls are engaged the signal must go through a bunch more circuitry and the carbon resistors in the potentiometers, which degrades the signal. Most speakers dip down to 4 ohms or lower in the lower bass frequencies, thus will suck double or more power from the amp. If the amp isn't up to the task, the bass will be weak and often sloppy as well. For instance, Kef speakers dip down to lowish 3ohms. Vintage amps do tend to handle the lower frequencies much better than modern budget amps. Especially mass marker receivers, which are current limited, thus can't even handle 4 ohm dips, let alone 3ohms or lower.
On the outlets in the back. Running a low wattage or low amperage is OK, BUT running something that draws high wattage and heavy amperage isn't good at at all for any receiver, it's makes it over heat at the outlets and draw more current,
These old receivers look fantastic but you have to realize they are 40-50 years old and the controls are getting physically weak.. If they were not stored in a controlled environment (not a cellar or garage) there will be corrosion issues. I just worked on a 880 receiver and after replacing a bunch of caps it sounded good but some of the controls are not great and they are VERY hard to source. To be honest I preferred the older Sansui's to the Pioneers, they just had a better build quality. In either case realize they will need further work after being restored because of their age, if you like that look you might want to look at the Outlaw 2160 receiver because it's a steal at the asking price.
The AC outlets on the back are meant for low wattage consumption devices such as cassette decks, turntables etc. irons and toasters are high drawing devices and could damage the receiver. The Japanese had a great sense of humor when writing the user’s manual.
Makes sense! As we know, a lot of folks never read the manual so I bet they got a chuckle sliding that in wondering if people would notice. Thanks for the comment!
if working properly it´s better than most of the new amplifiers around 1.000€ or more, i have older newer and from the same year so all are good till 1980
@@ForeverAnalog always at your service ,just ask if any doubt i have a lot of pioneer receivers since the 60´s and i know how they work and sound,mainly because i had a pioneer family and all that was old came to me
Never buy the 80 series only the 50 series. The latter is better built. You won’t lose on any pioneer sx series receiver from the late 70s. They are the best of the best.
I love the soundbar craze...wives making husbands give up huge $$$ systems for $500 soundbars that cost $80 to build... I've scored so many nice speakers for cheap...
Don't buy vintage unless you're planning on paying to have it fixed or learn to repair it yourself. I have all vintage equipment that I rebuild myself. IIRC, the power supply and the protection boards should be rebuilt at a minimum. It'll keep your unit from going/staying in protection. Also, the dial lamps are socketed and warm-white leds are available as drop-in replacements.
Try a SX1980. I have had this for almost 43 years and I wouldn't trade it for nothing in the world. Sure it breaks down and sure it needs work at times, but the specs are clean, and the power is worth its cost and up keep. What you get in now receivers are solid state that when break will never be repaired. So we are talking about lights? Thats nothing to ever worry about.
Um.. just think of it like this. These were meant to be fixed. New Stuff is meant to be Tossed! Acual sound quality will always be better. You know all this you silly knowledgeable man! Just Saying.
Yes, you made a huge mistake! I'm kidding. Only you know if you made a mistake or not. I grew up with this stuff and I was never that impressed with most vintage Japanese gear. My neighbor has one of these 980's that was restored by a place called "Stereo Rehab" a well known and respected restoration service that will not do mods, partial repairs, or work on equipment that was poorly worked on elsewhere. He only does full restorations and fully warrants his work. You get back something that will last another twenty or more years. Oh, and no LED lights. That said I think that this and most other vintage gear, Mcintosh, Marantz sound like a bunch of MUSH. But if you must have vintage, get a full restoration done from someone who actually knows what their doing and stop wasting time fiddling around with bunker repairs. And don't get me started on vintage turntables(damaged bearings) and especially cassette decks(what doesn't need to be replaced on them. I owned cassette decks where the repairs over the years were more than I spent on the decks themselves and that's new decks, not used. P.S., the neighbor with the 980 has some Onkyo integrated amp that is much better than the Pioneer. I will say Pioneer makes some nice tuners, used to own a TX-9500II.
Phono swith is just Deoxit & nothing more. Good deal. Scew eBay it is a joke and not a trusted market to buy there. Stick with CL, local or and audio website. I
What is your favorite piece of vintage audio gear in your collection?
Well I disagree
Pioneer SX-3900
@@mrfroopy
Disagree with what?
Pioneer SX-2500.
Pioneer SX-1010
You NEVER make a mistake buying a 70's model Pioneer stereo reciever. You'll be happy with the sound quility, and all the features it will offer. Yiur fortunate to get something this fantastic!
Thank you, Dan! I’m having fun with the the 980 for sure.
3 years ago I picked up my first vintage receiver a Realistic STA 2000. Realistic usually takes a lot of crap because they've made a lot of lower end stereos back in the day but the STA line is top shelf. I've been running mine for 3 years and I can't say a bad thing about it. The STA series we're built to compete with the high end receivers selling in the 70s. Great receiver and not to be underestimated.
Love realistic!
I've got a STA 2000 too, sounds as good as my Marantz 2270...
I bought my SX-980 over 40 years ago. It’s been played daily since and often stays on for weeks at a time. Other than cleaning, it has never required service. I drive two impedance matching switch boxes, one through A and one through B. Each box has 4 speakers, meaning I drive 8 pair of speakers effortlessly. No regrets on this investment.
Awesome! Thank you for watching and sharing!
I love my SX-980. I'd recommend that you consider recapping the power supply board and going through the procedure to adjust DC offset. My phono switches also had that issue - dirty switches are a common problem on old receivers and luckily, there is an easy fix as you noted.
Thanks for sharing your purchase.
True vintage audio needs maintenance, after all it’s ~ 40yrs old.
But at least you can still get parts to repair them, unlike a lot of 90’s + era equipment.
Also the better known brands generally hold their value.
Very true! Thanks for watching!
My favorite piece of vintage gear is my 1980 Pioneer SX-3800.
It was recapped when I purchased it so I had piece of mind. It's rated at 60 watts and sounds incredible. The 3800 also has the pre out/in option just like the receiver in this video, which allowed me to connect it to my Pioneer 7-band equalizer (with spectrum display)
I recommend to people interested in buying vintage gear to consider buying a receiver that is being sold either by a seller who runs a stereo repair business or a reputable seller who has recapped receivers.
Yes, the 3800 is an awesome unit. Congrats!
Things were changing with that later pioneer series. Besides the obvious change in build quality in the electronics department there was also no more anodized steel in the chassis.
@@savagedick1462
That's interesting to know; frankly I wouldn't be familiar with many of the particulars regarding what Pioneer was doing in '80. For some reason the 1980 lineup, particularly the SX-3700, 3800, & 3900 seem to draw a fair amount of attention regarding recaps and interested buyers including myself.
I bought my SX-3800 as a recapped receiver for the piece of mind of trouble-free performance from the start.
What I can tell you is that the guy who recapped my 3800 has recapped several of that model including the flagship SX-3900. He did mention that he used some upgraded interior parts that were better than the original materials chosen by Pioneer in 1980 which is why I bought it. I don't recall the exact parts by name but some particulars of what my receiver currently has is better than what it had originally. He also mentioned that it was the last year Pioneer used a certain part...a particular amplifier maybe? I don't recall the specifics, but it was the last model year that they used a certain interior part that was really good in his opinion.
The performance on my SX-3800 is nothing short of fantastic. The phono stage, CD, Cassette and bluetooth playback has exceeded my expectations.
What really impressed me, in a surprising way, was the FM Tuner. For some reason FM stations sound incredible. I have a Sony STR-ZA3100ES A/V receiver which is fantastic for both music & movies yet the FM Tuner does not sound like the Pioneer's FM tuner.
I don't know why but it does with this receiver. If you can explain that to me I'd be grateful.
Regarding quality, at least to me, Pioneer, Marantz, & Sansui seem to have a much better universal rep among techs regarding what I call the "silver-face" era of stereo receivers between roughly '70-'80 for being what they often refer to as "over-built" and easy to work on.
Whatever Pioneer cut back on a bit, in their 1980 models, were likely still superior to the materials used by Kenwood & Technics, for example, whose receivers were good but not built with the same manufacturing standards as Pioneer, Marantz or Sansui. That's how it's been described to me by those who work on these things for a living and my own experience of interacting with those brands as a consumer.
What gear (receiver, speakers, etc.) are you running these days?
That thing is SOOOO clean, I'd say you got a good deal. Kudos 👍
Thanks Jay! Appreciate you watching!
Love this pioneer it is definitely one of my top ten receivers ❤
Big fan myself!
I have Pioneer 1010,1970 ,200 Rms power. Works great after 52 years. Showing signs of electrica caps leaking. Have a Teac 2400 reel to reel, technic turn table (new) and Kicpech speakers. The 2 outlet in the back max 2 amp input. Toster is 14 amps,; that burn up reciever. Those are made turntablesm
Awesome thank you for watching!
I use a Marantz 2325 I bought a few years ago and was restored along with the original wood case.
It's gorgeous, has an awesome phono stage and will most likely last longer than any modern gear.
Love Marantz. I have a 2270 but unfortunately never picked up a wooden case! Thanks for watching!
You can never have enough vintage audio. I would like to leave some of mine to my grandchildren but their dad,(my son) has more vintage gear than I do!
Haha that’s amazing!
mine his has you said but this because without telling me he took several from me
I have a 980, bought it in 1978. Just got it recapped. Sounds amazing. I also have a 1050 and a 950.
Awesome!
I'm jealous
I had the SX-880. Loved that thing. Bought it new in '78. Just sold it 3yrs ago, the buyer was happy to give me $400 for it. He also got my SX-650 for $225.
Awesome. Thank you for sharing!
I wouldn’t sell mine for $1000. Unless you have a pair of Klipsch LaScala speakers you’d like to part with 😅
I just bought one today for $1,000 is in great shape the auxiliary light does not light up and that's it I also have a Marantz 2265 and a McIntosh 1700 I can't take it no more I like to listen to loud music
Awesome. Congrats!!!
What's a hieth?
Do you mean hight?
SO - did you fix it - is there video?
Nice unit. I have a similar unit Technics SA-5770. The quality of the types of unit makes it very enjoyable.
Awesome thanks for sharing!
I bought an SX-980 late last year. Fully restored it with new caps, transistors, and everything. It now works flawlessly and will for many years to come!
Yes. That’s awesome! Thank you for watching!
Why get rid of a beautiful receiver because the measurements that doesn't make sense cut a piece of plywood or nice pretty wood the shape and size you want it then screw it onto the bookshelf where You want to place the receiver then you have a bigger spot to put your receiver that will fit and everything will be fine.
Hi brotha, help!! I just got one of these at an estate sale. I don’t know much about them but I have no sound. I noticed that you said on the video at (5:45) that it won’t have sound if it first have the jacks in the rcas? Mine doesn’t have them in
Try connecting them with rca cables instead.
I have this same stereo it kicks a hell of punch. Have had it for 20 years still jams
Awesome
That is a gorgeous receiver. The price for that receiver in December 2024 is north of $2,000 in that condition. Prices here are nuts.
My friend has a 980 in good condition could you give me a idea what is worth? Thank you.
eBay solds are between $500 and $1200 depending on condition. If it's been professionally serviced and restored, you'll get a higher price. But of course, the value is really whatever people are willing to pay in the market you are selling in, lol.
650 is a good price and you can get it back or even more if you sell it .... I had a SX 3900 rated 120 watts per channel and it was very robust in sound and the FM receiver was the best one I ever had and the appearance of the digital analog display was laid out perfectly
Finding one that hasn't been in a moldy shop or hot storage shed and hasn't been skated across the thrift store parking lot -can make the difference in love and hate.
Skated across the parking lot - lol that made me laugh - so true. Thanks for watching!
I bought a SX-1080 for 800 dollar a few years ago, recently Aux light bulb went out, but still sounds really good.
Awesome! Thanks for watching.
For me it's my Pioneer SX-1250. I love that beast. Still, it has it's issues. There's only one aux port. That's easily sorted by a DAC.
The other issue is that the thing is approaching 50 years of use. Thankfully I live in a town that has a few competent electronics repair shops. I can have it repaired when it breaks.
The only problem there is that all of these shops have a backlog of work. When I drop it off I generally have to wait a month or more to get it back. In order to avoid that inconvenience I keep a spare setup, a Carver preamp/amp. Normally it's my bedroom system, but when the Pioneer goes into the shop it goes into the LR until my Pioneer comes home.
The 1250 is a beast!!! I have a Carver preamp that I should review here soon.
@@ForeverAnalog You should! It feels like Carver has fallen off the map. I know that some people loved them, some didn't think highly of them. I like mine (CT Seven & M0.5t), but I wouldn't classify them as seriously high end gear. More midfi. Still, not bad for a bedroom system.
These are amazing . I collect them just to look at them .
Agreed. Thank you for watching!
I’ve owned and used a Pioneer SX-1000TW as my daily driver for years. After about 10 years I’ve been thinking it’s probably time to get something to replace it. I got an SX-680 for a good price and was not as happy with the sound. It sounds harsher and not as natural as the SX1000TW. It also has a fast volume. I can’t turn it past 2 without blowing the windows out. And that’s a 35 watt unit 😆. I hooked my old SX-1000TW back up but I know I will need to get it serviced soon! The SX-680 needs some new phono stage transistors so I’ll be dealing with that as well, then deciding if I’ll keep it or sell it.
Yeah these vintage 35 watt receivers are still louder than most people think!
I am a new proud owner of a Pioneer SX 980 and absolutely love it! Question if you can answer it. Can I take off the jumper between the pre and amp and install Y RCA connectors and keep using the amp part of the receiver AND have the second set go to another amp? I want to add a subwoofer that I really love to add that missing low bass (50hz and below) to my sound. Any issues you can think of by doing that?
Awesome. Check out my channel for a video showing you how to separate the amp/pre and connect to another!
Mine. When I turn it on, I hear a click sound and then it mutes?
I just walked away from a nice looking Sansui 7070, fair price, 3 hour drive one way, for the reasons you first listed. I love vintage audio but after waiting months for my Marantz 2270 to get restored (lack of correct transistors), I have become wiser. There is no perfect "sound" and if you find a nice piece of vintage audio, STOP, unless the next discovery is really cheap and works. Great video.
Thank you, David. My Marantz 2270 needs to be rebuilt as it has the normal 50 year old transistors that are starting to fade. It's really hard to find someone interested in doing the work! That was in my mind when I bought the 980!
I have one it was about 600 dollars when I got itat end of model year I saw one come to waste transfer station I asked if I could have it they said it has to be shredded and it did
Killer instrument separation, super clean mega power, relatively warm tone, pretty much the best you can find. Thx! And you can be guaranteed of getting your $650 back whenever you want. There are multiple reasons why they sell for twice as much, they're one of the best in terms of audio equipment. Listenable and super balls.
Thanks for watching!!!
Great find and good price considering it’s 80wpc !
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for watching!
You do not need to turn up the volume much with the Klipsch speakers because they are sensitive. I saw the Andrew Robinson video where he uses the 2-amp Decware tube amp with Klipsch speakers, and he loved the sound. Yet, the speakers can handle a lot of watts also.
Yep
I wish I started buying equipment like this 20 years ago. I could have afforded back then. I am lucky enough to own a kenwood kr 7700 which is really guite powerful and has all the the right hookups
I love those Kenwood models!
Yup. $9.99 with occasional issues.
Just got the SX850. What a beast. Just as heavy as my Onkyo 506rs!! Early Christmas present for me!
Merry Christmas indeed!
Boomer here. I just took the plunge got my first vintage amp. Beautiful sx 950 on eBay. Hard to get these down under so very excited for it to arrive. 😃
Awesome. Congrats!!!
I have read that the Pioneer SX-1250 is the highest quality stereo receiver ever made. I do not know if that is true, but I want to get an SX-1250 and find out for myself.
I’d say anything that’s the “best ever”would be a subjective claim but always fun to try and find out!
I have a Pioneer SX 1280 connected to 4 speakers, it easily handles them.
"Roses are red, violets are blue. When I listen to Iron Maiden, the neighbors do too"
Hilarious - love the poem! Thanks for watching!
I've got a 980. Its a beast. Love it.
Awesome!
I'm so glad you shop local, but when you buy used gear that old they should have refurbished and checked the capacitors at that price. That's notan 'as is' price. They should have replaced the lights and fixed the switches at the very least
Maybe so but they also offered a two week warranty if anything went wrong immediately. I’ve sold plenty of vintage gear over the years and it’s impossible to sell something this old as anything other than as is unless you completely replace every component inside.
@@ForeverAnalog if it were 300 maybe but not at 600
@Forever Analog I'll never stop with the Vintage audio I have the 980 receiver and I have a pair of Cs 88a speakers as well that have to get new speakers put in because of the severe foam rot and the rear crossovers need to be replaced as well since the knobs came off of them wish I could find somebody who would be interested in taking all this stuff off my hands because I'm not able to put that much money towards things anymore and I'd rather it go to someplace where somebody has the time and money to be able to rejuvenate all this stuff I've got any suggestions would be welcomed
I have an email address on my website - shoot me an email and let’s chat!
I got a pioneer SX 1280 185 watts per channel in HPM 100s both in real decent shape got it all for 400 bucks I would say that was a steal
Very good STEAL!!!! Thanks for sharing!
Great score. Cool supporting your local
Thank you, Anthony!
Boy... They made em big back in the day, huh? My 1979 onkyo tx4500 mkii is the same. All analog.
Awesome!
Onkyo was always under the radar compared to Sansui Marantz & Pioneer in the better mass market Japanese amplifier & receiver market. They were very well built with big power supplies. Until the mid 80s when cost cutting really kick in with all the Japanese companies
Very nice unit that thing puts out real watts none of that “ PMPO” bull
Lol very true!
I have an SX1050, and SX950. I see several changes they made from the 50 series. No more "adapter" switch (essentially an extra aux/tape mon) and man, they made the balance knob much smaller on these. Also, the loss of a third speaker output. I like the look of the 80 series but I don't like the functionality changes.
Great points thank you!
Of course you knew it would fit and everything was working right. It looks gorgeous, enjoy it!
Thank you!
looks just like a radio shack brand called realistic...awesome sound and speakers bought it back in the 80's...from radio shack..
There are definitely some huge Realistic receivers out there!
@@ForeverAnalog i'm still using the speakers today with a pioneer receiver...they sound great ! and receiver had a real wood cover...after so many years the volume control started to act up...i found a receiver somewhere that had a similar volume control i took the bad one out and soldered in replacement worked like a charm.. over time i think the transformer went up and i tossed it. today i took a look on ebay and found the same model i had for a little over $ 100.00 ,,i'm tempted to buy it~ for old time sake! then maybe not~ i know manufactures will make a receiver and stores like radio shack etc will buy from them and just put their own label on them , when actually they are being sold as a Panasonic as well..
Awesome thanks for sharing!
It's a nice clean example of the generic Japanese receivers of the era. If you like it then it's worth the price.
Our local record store has such components. The markup is completely outrageous.
Yeah I’ve seen crazy prices too!
That's because vintage gear is in more demand particularly regarding what I call the Big Three (Marantz, Pioneer & Sansui)
However you can find fully serviced or recapped stereo receivers by Kenwood, Yamaha, Harmon/Kardon, & Onkyo at cheaper prices. They're not particularly over-built like the Big 3 but they can still perform very well and in many cases with upgraded transistors, capacitors when applicable. Check out OfferUp and eBay. That's where I got my recapped Pioneer receiver.
I had a pioneersx1050 and I loved it it hasn't dad any work done to it in a while and ai come across a guy with a sx980 that jut got out of the shop and they went through it and replaced anything weak replaced a bunch of parts I have all the parts they changed and he put a good warranty behind his work any way we made a deal and traded I went from 120 watts per channel to 80vwatts which is plenty of power for my very nice hpm 100 speakers and have a SG9500eq which I like a lot but not sure if the sx1050 was getting weak but the 980 with the new parts to me has a brighter sound don't know if the 80 series is naturally brighter than the 50 series or not I had a sx780 receiver that I loved the sound of it but anyway ivlove the 980 sound and like I said the 80 watts is plenty of power I never had the sx1050 past 3 it was so loud and the hpm speakers go great with all the 70's pioneer receivers
Awesome!
The SX-980 is where that series starts getting good.
Yessssss. Thanks for watching!
I have an 1994 JVC AX-44 receiver. It's rated at 100x2 but geez this thing sounds so powerful.
Awesome. I enjoy power but it’s not required to get great sound. I have low powered gear that sounds fantastic in its own unique way!
@@ForeverAnalog I like to have a night club, concert feeling so I need my power lol. The JVC gives me plenty.
Love it
That is a very nice unit, and if serviced, will provide many more years of enjoyment. I recently purchased a Yamaha A-S1200, and it is a beast. It’s an all analog amp, and has the throwback look, including VU meters. This will probably be the last amp I buy.
Ooh those Yamahas are nice. Congrats! Every time I say I bought my last amp, a new one pops up to tempt me again! 😂
My sx 1010 is dead in 2023 and now ı have a new Yamaha As 1200...No .! . My pioneer sx 1010 was better than AS 1200..
Not a reciever but a family member gave me their dad's old Montgomery wards airline record player, with 8 track, and AM/FM radio. I want to restore it and keep it and it just looks soo cool. But in my head I'm thinking about it it worth it. And can I find anyone in my area to restore it also
Those units are fun but can be a pain to work on! Lol. Thanks for watching!
I sold this model 20 years ago for $30.
But even if I pay a few thousand dollars now, I miss that sound.
I have a Technics 5570 paired with Lg Advents. 85 watts of wow.
Nice!
Let me say this: In my opinion, a vintage receiver will out perform and last longer then any new receiver you buy now. As a Example: I have a Technics Receiver from 1989, bought it new, I use it at least three hours a day, it is 60 watts per channel and it works perfectly. Have never had any issue with it and never had to have service on it. A new receiver now will maybe last 5 to 8 years, if your lucky, it is the same with a TV, whatever. Back in the 70's and 80's manufactures made things with pride and made them to last. One more example. My Dad received as a graduation gift from his mom, a 1946 Philco Record player table Console with am radio, and it still works perfect today. You can't say that about new products they make now sadly.
Great point thank you!
I got a Pioneer SX-850.....mint cosmetically.....but electronically it has issues.
The fun of vintage gear lol
Great look at a nice piece of vintage kit!
Thank you for watching!
Bought the SA-5770 = $375. Tens years plus, great unit.
Also have the SA-5760, 5660, 5570
You made a great purchase ..........
Thank you! And thank you for watching!
Possibly. The way I look at vintage everything needs to be replaced so you are really buying a nice chassis. But the sound will be from modern components not the og 70's component sound.
I have a SX-980 paired with HPM-60's. Sounds fantastic
I bet it does! Thanks for watching!
You can adjust the tone controls, but at a sacrifice to sound quality. All decent gear with have a tone defeat (direct) button, or a detent at the center position (direct) of the tone controls. A direct signal goes through a highly conductive copper wire. When tone controls are engaged the signal must go through a bunch more circuitry and the carbon resistors in the potentiometers, which degrades the signal. Most speakers dip down to 4 ohms or lower in the lower bass frequencies, thus will suck double or more power from the amp. If the amp isn't up to the task, the bass will be weak and often sloppy as well. For instance, Kef speakers dip down to lowish 3ohms.
Vintage amps do tend to handle the lower frequencies much better than modern budget amps. Especially mass marker receivers, which are current limited, thus can't even handle 4 ohm dips, let alone 3ohms or lower.
Great info. Thank you. I try not to mess with tone controls myself but I know lots of people love them.
It is 80 Watts per chanel sx 980
Yep!
Pre in/out i always tied an Equalizer in here (preferably a minimum 15 bands per ch. 1/3 oct is always the best) IMHO
Interesting! Thanks
@@ForeverAnalog or a sub if sub doesnt have speaker wire connection.
On the outlets in the back. Running a low wattage or low amperage is OK, BUT running something that draws high wattage and heavy amperage isn't good at at all for any receiver, it's makes it over heat at the outlets and draw more current,
Drooled over that model after seeing it in a trade publication in 1975...for $1000!! Got one 13 years later for $125. Sold it last year for $100! lol
Amazing! Thank you for sharing!
These old receivers look fantastic but you have to realize they are 40-50 years old and the controls are getting physically weak.. If they were not stored in a controlled environment (not a cellar or garage) there will be corrosion issues. I just worked on a 880 receiver and after replacing a bunch of caps it sounded good but some of the controls are not great and they are VERY hard to source.
To be honest I preferred the older Sansui's to the Pioneers, they just had a better build quality. In either case realize they will need further work after being restored because of their age, if you like that look you might want to look at the Outlaw 2160 receiver because it's a steal at the asking price.
Totally agree! The fact they are ticking time bombs often makes me question why I keep buying them, lol!
The AC outlets on the back are meant for low wattage consumption devices such as cassette decks, turntables etc. irons and toasters are high drawing devices and could damage the receiver. The Japanese had a great sense of humor when writing the user’s manual.
Makes sense! As we know, a lot of folks never read the manual so I bet they got a chuckle sliding that in wondering if people would notice. Thanks for the comment!
Fun fact, the 980 is the exact same size as the 1080 and 1050. They all use the same case. They are all great.
Awesome!
Minor Threat! 👍😍
Nathan McKee is the artist!
i bought 2 0f these 25 yrs ago and sthave them- at a thrift store for 300 for both
Amazing!
I just bought one I love it
Awesome!!!
$1,000 going price now.
Vintage prices are quickly getting out of control.
Whoa that’s crazy!!!
LOL...Always breaking, I collect vintage stereos and even have a SX-980 and they aren't always breaking...
Awesome. Maybe I just have bad gear luck, lol!
I would have bought it too LOL!
im a new subcriber a guy has one for sale 1100 dollars
That’s pricey! Thanks for subscribing!
I thought so a guy on facebook marketplace crazy
if working properly it´s better than most of the new amplifiers around 1.000€ or more, i have older newer and from the same year so all are good till 1980
Awesome. Thanks for watching!
@@ForeverAnalog always at your service ,just ask if any doubt i have a lot of pioneer receivers since the 60´s and i know how they work and sound,mainly because i had a pioneer family and all that was old came to me
I have same one it was over 600 dollars and I won't part with it
That’s awesome. Thanks for watching!
@@ForeverAnalog if it breaks where can I get it fixed I'm not using it so it doesn't break
Nice "MINOR THREAT" picture I see there!!!
The artist is Nathan McKee!
Maybe not. It could be a collector's item one day.
Never buy the 80 series only the 50 series. The latter is better built. You won’t lose on any pioneer sx series receiver from the late 70s. They are the best of the best.
Decent price, what I paid for mine 2 yrs ago.
Awesome!
I love the soundbar craze...wives making husbands give up huge $$$ systems for $500 soundbars that cost $80 to build... I've scored so many nice speakers for cheap...
Thanks for watching!
I Own a nakamichi statis receiver $400.))Designed by nelson pass .(supposodly ) ..Ive gone back words & Luv Vintage) but not for every body thiough..
Awesome. Thank you for watching!
Don't buy vintage unless you're planning on paying to have it fixed or learn to repair it yourself. I have all vintage equipment that I rebuild myself. IIRC, the power supply and the protection boards should be rebuilt at a minimum. It'll keep your unit from going/staying in protection. Also, the dial lamps are socketed and warm-white leds are available as drop-in replacements.
Very true!
Im not interested in any receivers. Separates are the Way to go. I have pioneer elite c90 /m90a combo
I love my separates as well!
Try a SX1980. I have had this for almost 43 years and I wouldn't trade it for nothing in the world. Sure it breaks down and sure it needs work at times, but the specs are clean, and the power is worth its cost and up keep. What you get in now receivers are solid state that when break will never be repaired. So we are talking about lights? Thats nothing to ever worry about.
Those 1980s are HUGE but awesome! Thanks for watching!
You made a huge mistake, its garbage. Send it to me and I'll dispose of it for you. 😁
😂. Thanks for watching!
Um.. just think of it like this. These were meant to be fixed. New Stuff is meant to be Tossed! Acual sound quality will always be better. You know all this you silly knowledgeable man! Just Saying.
Ha ha yes. Very true!
Yes, you made a huge mistake! I'm kidding. Only you know if you made a mistake or not. I grew up with this stuff and I was never that impressed with most vintage Japanese gear. My neighbor has one of these 980's that was restored by a place called "Stereo Rehab" a well known and respected restoration service that will not do mods, partial repairs, or work on equipment that was poorly worked on elsewhere. He only does full restorations and fully warrants his work. You get back something that will last another twenty or more years. Oh, and no LED lights. That said I think that this and most other vintage gear, Mcintosh, Marantz sound like a bunch of MUSH. But if you must have vintage, get a full restoration done from someone who actually knows what their doing and stop wasting time fiddling around with bunker repairs. And don't get me started on vintage turntables(damaged bearings) and especially cassette decks(what doesn't need to be replaced on them. I owned cassette decks where the repairs over the years were more than I spent on the decks themselves and that's new decks, not used. P.S., the neighbor with the 980 has some Onkyo integrated amp that is much better than the Pioneer. I will say Pioneer makes some nice tuners, used to own a TX-9500II.
Haha! Love it. Thanks for sharing and watching!
Sir, it's not your fault for
buying it.
Thanks!
Phono swith is just Deoxit & nothing more. Good deal. Scew eBay it is a joke and not a trusted market to buy there. Stick with CL, local or and audio website. I
Yeah looking forward to getting it all cleaned up. Thanks for watching!
great