We had two pet receivers in our component room in 1973...The Pioneer Sx 828 and the Sansui 8....The Pioneer was 429.88 and the Sansui was 529.88....Really great time to sell audio.....had a blast...

I am still using the Pioneer SX-727 that I bought at the Navy Exchange in Yokosuka Japan. Other than cleaning controls/switches and changing bulbs this 1972 receiver is going strong.

They all look great, but i especially love the black dial units, it looks fantastic imo.

Thanks for this video! It's great to see these receivers getting the love and respect that they deserve. I've been a fan of Pioneer receivers since I bought my first, a brand new SX-525 back in 1972 or so. Right now I have an SX-1010 (that I'm listening to right now) as well as an SX-1250, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. I found them locally, and bought them at different times fifteen or twenty years ago, back before the prices went crazy. I did have to spend some money on them, because I'm not a technician myself, but I have had them both worked on by people who really know what they're doing, and that was money well spent. These Pioneer receivers are a continuing pleasure to listen to and to look at. Whatever else was going on in the seventies, it really was the "golden age" for stereo gear. Thanks again!

Just bought a clean SX-780 for $200 after my old receiver died. Very pleased with my purchase, sounds great!

In over 50 years of being an audiophile, I have only owned three audio receivers. These include a Pioneer SX-626, Pioneer SX-850, and a Pioneer SX-1250. I sold the first two receivers mentioned and I am still using the Pioneer SX-1250 today. It has never given me trouble at all. I bought it from a co-worker (who found it) for only $75.00. Yes, that is correct - $75.00. It wasn't working and he didn't know why. I figured it out immediately. Whoever first owned it had disconnected the jumpers that go from the pre-amp to the main amp. I also have two audio/video receivers - Pioneer VSX-9500S and a Pioneer VSX-D814. Although the two audio/video receivers work well, the sound just can't compare with my Pioneer SX-1250. It's sad that those days are over. I miss them.

I’ve played my Pioneer SX880 since new in 1980. Damn thing has never failed. Wish modern day factories could build stuff as good as these are.

I picked up a pioneer sa-8500,series 2, for $20 from a friend for helping clean his garage, it was buried in a corner of the garage and he said he had no use for it, what a lucky score, Liked the video

I have a SX-424 up in the attic with original speakers. It was my Dad's. Looks like new. Seeing this video makes me want to see if it still works. I do really like the styling of the old Pioneer Stereo Receivers much better than the newer Receivers of today.

I have an SX590 i bought in about 1978. Still as new unmarked with a pioneer turntable. Lovely kit.

I got such a kick from your video! My SX 525 has outlasted two newer stereos and is almost in near mint condition. I just started using it again with my Pioneer turntable to convert my vinyl collection.

My brother had a Pioneer system back in the 70s with CSR700 speakers. The best sounding system I've ever heard.

The chart is greatly appreciated :) I am thinking of buying vintage Pioneer and this video is great...thanks for the post...this is what KZfaq should be :)

Hah. I guess my Pioneer SX-440 receiver pre-dates your chart. I think I bought it in 1970. That early family of Pioneer receivers were all black face - ALL black face, not just the tuner section. They looked really cool. Wish I still had mine. It was my first stereo - first venture into the hi-fi world. I remember relishing the "thump" from my speakers when I turned it on, even though it was a mere 12 watts RMS per channel (8 ohms).

I bought an sx-1250 new in 1977. It’s been sitting in a closet for 20 years. Now you have me wanting to get it out and start using it again. Thank you.

You completely skipped over the pre-X2X receivers such as the SX-990, SX-1500TD, SX-770, and SX-330... introduced in 1970. Nice video. I enjoyed it.

About 5 years ago I tested one of these in an antique shop. I tried it with headphones and got A LOT of static, so I walked away. Now I wish I had seem this video first. Good work.

I got myself an SX 550 a little over 1 year ago, clean, was recently serviced and it looks and sound great. Rated at "only" 20 wpc but with the volume at 4-5 it produces over 90 decibels of sound. You're right, prices have almost doubled in this last year, but......, still better than a plastic box at similar prices.

Early 2002, not once but TWICE I had the opportunity to purchase a Pioneer SX-1980. $450 and the other was $525. I just didn't have the money at that time to afford it. They worked and looked perfect. Oh well.... I still have my 1982 Champagne A-9 system that I bought new in 1982. Service Merchandise! PL-L800 linear turntable and HPM-900 speakers still work just the way I bought them. I do have the F9 tuner and CT-7R cassette deck but not in the system because I only have room for the RG-9 SG-9 and the SR-9. This was a very expensive system in 1982. I was told I was nuts to "waste all my money" on stereo equipment. But....I still have it all 40 years later.

Just found your video, I was the owner of a Pioneer SX636 which i purchased while in London on a day visit, the build quality was superb as well as the looks, owned it for many years, it was faultless and coupled with my Celestion ditton 25 speakers it sounded superb, the feel and quality of all the switchgear as well as the tuner knob was super smooth, great video and presentation 👍

I am listening to you now thru a SX-3800. I've had this for about 15 years. Love it. Thanx

Started off w an sx650 at a church thrift shop. That lil sweetie got me into collecting vintage rcvrs. I will say I bought a KR6030 back.in 81 and is a clydesdale up there w the sx950. A KR 6600 is a hot looking rcvr as well and Im kerping them but leaning to Pioneer.

Thanks AH-Fix-it, I look forward to the up and coming restore videos

The black dial we love: That was advertised as a feature called a BLACKOUT dial. When the power was off, the whole display disappeared into deep blackness. Later receivers and tuners lost that awesome styling cue, including my beloved Pioneer TX-9500 II tuner.

Great video, I own a SX-950 that I bought new. It's in great shape, I bought the receiver with a Pioneer PL-71 direct drive turntable.

Another great video ! Thanks for the blooper outtakes 🤣 I just got my multimeter today an picked up another amp cheap it’s a Technics SU 8600 73 w per Chanel . The guy said it’s for repair or parts . All I see missing so far was the 2 250v 4 amp speaker fuses at the back . I plugged it in hoping I didn’t blow a house breaker and it turned on and heard the click ! Good start . Tested it with headphones everything works . Next have to find some fuses , I’m hoping they just blew the fuses and removed them to purchase more and never got around to it ! Fingers crossed . 👍🏼. Update on the Marantz 2250b took out the preamp board as per your video and cleaned all the pots and cleaned up the board itself . I’m toying with the idea that maybe my first attempt at changing out the old parts with that kit you purchased . Changing those huge capacitors on the output looks a bit more scary to do haha plus they didn’t have any in stock that I could find as of yet ! Thanks for keeping me motivated to do this 👍🏼

Had a SX838 and SX1280 back in the day. Great looking receivers, but today have little use for tuners when there are better media choices out there now. Plus I like having a remote control. Had a Sony TC758 R-R and a Carver M500T amp back in the day which was cool also, today still have my 4 Realistic Mach 1's and 2 T-100 speakers and 2 Technics SA R330 receivers. Vintage equipment is still cool history.

Nice video. I have a Pioneer SX-650 and two SX-3700's. Always loved Pioneer stuff.

My SX 780 has served me since the 70’s , won’t die. Will outlive me,lol

I have an absolutely mint condition SX-1280. I've bought it when it came out, and love it.

No thanks dude, I already have 6 of them 650, 750, 850,and sx950 + 2 sx 780,'s. These are great receivers, Got mine at eBay that needed work but did work . Noisy transistors and dirty pots or potentiometers, phono amp rebuilt. Fed into cerwin vega, SL-15 and an SG9500 Eq and F-2121 tapedeck. 2 thumbs up to you.

Got my first Pioneer today. A lovely 727 in fantastic condition.

I have an SX-535 that I got at a local online estate auction. It's a fantastic little receiver.

1979. I bought a 780, HPM 100s and PL 530. Hot damn. Still kicking some seriious butt today.

I have an SX-737 and an SX-535. I love them both.

I bought a SX-1250 new in the previous century. It's long gone. Now I've got a SX-1980 I've had for 25+ years

I just bought a sx-980 from a friend and he told me there was no tuning needle light bulb but now I know different thank you very much

Great video, looking forward to the restoration project. I just got myself a mint SX-720 (SX-3600 clone), original non-restored. Sounds awesome, I love it. To your good advise, I would add: when you shop for an amp, make sure you carry headphones (with the 1/4" adapter plug if required) and a 1/8 stereo-to-RCA cable and your music in your phone. This way you can test all inputs (except phono) with the phone, and using headphones allows you to hear defects hard to detect using the speakers, especially if the listening environnement at the seller is not optimal. Listen with the speakers too, but don't "listen" to them: listen to the amp, check for audio issues not audio quality. Also crank the volume with nothing plugged in any inputs, check for cross talk between inputs (especially phono). Look for scratchy knobs, distortion, difference between L & R, hum, etc at low and high volume. Don't expect perfection, an 40-50 year old unit won't be perfect.

Another great spot. Sx727 and sx980 - like'em both.

Picked up a marantz mr220 and a concept 2.0. Quite happy with those because I just lurked on CL and got them for dirt cheap.

Ive owned truckloads of this stuff. The sx 440 , 10 watts, simple, is my favorite sounding piece by Pioneer. Yes 10 watts. Thats it. Black face and blacked out dial was ahead of its time. Very warm sound. 1969-1970 model year.

Man, I grew up with the SA730, but most recently found the SX434 and I love it. Still wish I could find the original SA730 and the (I think) CS-203 Speakers that came with it. That’s the speakers it looks most like. Both my dad and uncle had the same stereo set, with the Pioneer branded black Glass cabinet, tape deck, tuner, record player. The thing that gets me is the greenish theme the SA730 had, I seem to remember the grille for the speakers had green on it, and I have yet to find even a picture that looks identical to the speakers I had. I hope to find them one day, and recreate the sound that first made me fall in love with music and kicked my guitar playing into serious mode.

I have the sx535 and has totally recapped and a full service and it sounds better than anything out there today and sounds way better that my Sony ste-gx10es

Big fan of the 50 series- typically excellent sound and in some ways much easier to service than the 80 series

Great video, my parents had a SX receiver when I was young and I just started looking into getting a similar model but don't know much about the differences and what to look for. This is the best video explaining the models and how to check them for quality. Definitely subscribing!

The SX-1980 is the Holy Grail of receivers. Paired with the HPM-100's is the set-up of choice.

I bought an SX-850 for 450 dollars at a local record store that looks like it was made last week. A little Deoxit in the pots/switches and it sounds fantastic. I'm currently using it as a preamplifier for my ST-70 tube amp kit from Tubes4Hifi, but I used it for months previously as a receiver and it's a powerful beast. I will eventually recap it but for now the Pioneer is sounding pretty darn good.

I got hooked in the 70's! Then they sold me 2 turntables and a mixer! Walla! Disco was born! GQ....

I bought a 40 year old SA 6800 Amplifier to drive my 25 year old Boston Acoustics CR 6 and 7 speakers. Sounds great!

I owned 20 years ago an SX-450. Pretty good receiver.

great channel - my loudspeaker manufacterer says "buy the amp that gives you a distortion free listening experience at your volume level...." - AHA 😊

I love these recievers, but I have a MARANTZ from 1976 I love the way it looks

I regret allowing my hifi system to slowly disappear. I can remember jamming to it back in the late 70 up until I put everything up in the early 90s so my kids didn't mess with it. Since then I've moved twice and I honestly don't know what happened to all of it.

Thank you so much for all very helpful videos and learning a lot of things 👍👍👍👍

here in the UK i have an L-X 550 only 25 watts pc but you would think it was a lot more and the sound quality is still excellent all these years later

I'm going through what my wife calls "Another one of your phases". Yep, I'm buying old stereos especially Pioneer brands. My first was a QX8000 my brother sold me while home on leave. Years later I sold it to a friend...quad was by then dead. Im back!

I purchased a very well cared for SX-780 on eBay this year and absolutely love it.... I looked a long time before I found one that was in mint condition, many look beat up for some reason

The X50 Generation can be argued endlessly and mostly accepted as their best built receivers. Good Video!

I love my sx3700. I can't imagine needing more power. It has a really sweet sound and everything works as it should. I had a sx650 before and it sounded fine but I really like the fluoroscan meters.

I snap up vintage receivers whenever I see them for reasonable dosh. Wife has a Pioneer SX-990 in her office and listens to it daily. The 990 pre-dates your list, I think. Cheers!

Very good job. The chart really is helpful.

I have an SX-525. It has absolutely the best AM tuner than anything I've had. Am sounds like FM and it's super sensitive with a long wire. If you like to AM dx this one is a blast. I'm sure the models above this one are just as good

I agree with you. Very beautiful reciever.

Had a 1980 1080 1050 1250 and my favorite one is the 1010 which I still have today it is for me the prices of these things oh my God I remember the first time I got a 1980 was at a pawnshop outside of Fort Bragg in the late 90s the guy had it in the box 800 bucks I bought it I terrorize the Barricks with it and I kept it for years then I sold it for about 1800 bucks my God I would’ve kept it if I knew the prices would do what they do today I always like the 1010 it seem to have a little bit warmer sound don’t let the models and wattage fool you because that 1010 only had 100 to 110 watch per channel we used to judge how fast we can get the MPs at our house in less than five minutes running a 1010 on a Rf5 klispch oh yeah lol . My mom had a realistic 2100 non-D models and I believe Pioneer sued them for the power supply I have that too and I need to get a hold of a 1080 again and see how those compare . Yes I quit selling on eBay because I remember when eBay bought PayPal and that’s when everything went to shit . I use to only deal with postal money orders and it’s like soon as PayPal was bought there’s the extra fees I remember Quitting after that but it’s nice to see these beauties making a comeback

I believe my Dad had the Pioneer SX 535 Receiver, as kid back in the 70's I thought it was cool!

I have a sx- 3700 family owned since new.

Thanks for the good vid! Would also be interested to see pre-1970 units.

I have a Vintage Pioneer SX 880 reciever and 2 Hpm 60 speakers, some inside cleaning needed. Looks great! It does work . I would clean my self, but forgot how to hook speakers back up!! Lol

I'm wondering who made my Realistic STA-76 receiver. It's a gem and looks alot like your Pioneer in design and panel layout. In addition, couldn't help but see those KLH17S in the background. They are gems. I run a pair of them along with a Polk subwoofer, and they sound surprisingly good, even by today's standards!

I found a 30 foot single wire for FM works pretty good as compared to the T style dipole. I hear the SX880's quality took a BIG dive in weight, down to 27lbs from 42. Wattmeters on the sx780? Funny 45vwatts a channel w wattmeters I like the sx850 and sx950 very much, 2 real work horses with great options for inputs.

Nice video, I have the Pioneer TX7100 Turner with Pioneer SA8100 Amplifier, built like a tank...

Very interesting video of some swell receiver lines. My first "component" stereo receiver was an SX-434 in 1974. I traded up to an SX-650 in 1977. Only caveat for the SX-650?? That damn combined power/speaker selector switch. With no muting this could lead to switching noise as the receiver aged. A healthy 35wpc was all I needed but I didn't like the one way dubbing. I traded up (again) to a Hitachi SR-804 in 1979 and still use this as my main amp. I did add an SX-434 receiver to my kitchen system and it powers a Nakamichi BX-1 cassette deck and Synergistics S12B and Boston Acoustics A-40 speakers. Nice walk down memory lane. The 1970's in NYC was a sweet time for hifi nuts like me. Favorite store to shop???? Tech Hifi hands down with Harvey Sound a close second, fuhgeddaboudit. Honorable mention goes to Great Sounds, Audio Graveyard, Stereo Warehouse, Churchill Audio, Uncle Steve's, Lafayette Electronics, heck even E. J. Korvette's sold audio.

Love Your content. Thank-you for sharing.

I like your brand buyer guider videos

I had X50... over 30 yrs ago. My last until last yr and I now have Sony rcvr.

I had a SX-626 that I bought for $75.00 from Schack Electronics back in 82 . That thing cranked ! till the right channel fried out , and could not find anyone to fix it , so righjt to the trash it went , I got 10 years out of it and my moneys worth from it , But wish I still had it today ...

I own my dads SX-626. I love it. I do have an issue when going to Phono 1 to Phono 2. A bit scratchy. Until I can have it properly serviced, I am adding a separate pre-amp, and hooking one turntable through the tape input. Then just position selector knob to Phono 2 and leave it their

lol SX1250 and HOLY GRAIL 1980 are the BEST hands down!

Great video! You mention the absence of the Relay Click (Speaker Protection) on the receiver but do not state if a missing Relay Click will or will not impact the performance of the receiver.

Hey hey hey I recognize that SX-1010. Good video!

I found an SX 800 tube receiver at a church sale! It powers our synths!!

I just bought a Pioneer SX-1250 at a thrift store for $40.00 with 2 cheap tower speakers in Great condition. It powers up but I can’t get any sound out of the speakers. I will be sending it to a shop soon.

I’m looking forward to becoming reacquainted with my SX-737 and Large Advent Loudspeakers. ❤ My “daily” system is an Emotiva 7.2 system, Polk towers main, Polk FX4 surrounds, (2) HSU ULS-15 subs. Nirvana.

While waiting to get my Kenwood KR6030 back with a left Channel I picked up a rather sweet SX650. I gotta tell ya, I am very pleased, much nicer looking than the Kardon Harmon all black rcvr which pushes 40 a channel. I'll gladly take 5 watts less pr. channel and have a real tuning dial with a weighted knob.The 650 can take a turntable and two tape decks which is very nice a dipole or T antenna sucks up the stations.

I have the one. that really started the show. the first to hit 3 digits RMS. its recapped and looked over :) its the sx-1010. got it for 600$ I just saw a renovated sx-1010 2200$ the pricing is getting nuts!

I still have my SX-1050 that was pulled from the Garbage truck 20 yrs ago.

So Steve Rogers can assemble, and repair too… I have SX-828 and it’s good to know a lot more details of it.

Great receivers I own an SX 535 the I bought brand new and also have An SX 737.... Listening to the 535 right now and we use them both... I use the 535 for Radio and watching DVD's.... The 737 is used with our Turntable...

Id love to see someone take a unit like these and not just restore them, but add in some form of remote control to it, even if its just simply a soft on/off and motorized pot for the volume. That would be ULTIMATE in my mind ; )

That was great... a fun walk through my era and great Pioneer equipment. . Back then I had a simple Marrantz 2230 with some humongous Utah speakers and a Dual 1225 turntable (early 1970s) .. it made plenty of noise and kicked the butt of the Silvertones, RCAs, and GEs we grew up with... it was a great time to enjoy music. The Utahs were replaced a few years later by a more space efficient pair of EPI 100s ... that to this day I think was one of the most pleasant sounding speakers ever. Lol... though my current Klipsch RP 8000Fs.... by no means Klipsch best ... powered by 80 watts of NAD and a Project 2Xperience turntable ... well it's an interesting reflection comparison... I still have the Utahs and EPIs and Dual ... with now a Marantz 2226 B ... a bit off the 2230... to compare. Well I will admit ... Art Blakey sounds like he is actually in the room on the NAD set up... but... but ... Roger Daltrey still rocks the world on the 1970s set up. ... I have a Pioneer SX 727 ... and deeply love my Pioneer SX 580... very low power but when wedded to my old Baby Advent IIs...and an old Technics TT ... well God just loves the meek ... that set up just sounds so sweet. Oh and there is a very nice Sansui 4000 and a shocking to me due to little notoriety a JVC JRS81W near 40 watts I think ..which my wife does not remember but had in college in the 70s... all these are connected to speakers and turntables... ok I go on and on ... I have a ball with all that... and i bet together they still cost less than one 100 plus watt vintage stereo (i am not including the NAD set up in that math) and for me it's just more fun to have all that variety.... but who knows if i ever got my hands on a 2325 or the BIG Pioneer i might regret my buying habit... but i don't think so ... generally 25 to 40 watts will do everything most of us need. Still I may be wrong... but a sound l in every room I sure fun! Lol! Thoughts?

Had the SX 1250 if anybody is interested still got the hpm 100s and they are in very good shape.

Good information, thank you. I'd like a review of the models for Marantz.

Your very good and know what your talkin about..great vid

Picked up a restored (caps/regulators/etc) SX850 last year. Love those late 70s/early 80s units with VFD's but those fade/fail over time, while analog dials and meters don't, or can be repaired ;)

Pioneer was top notch stuff the common man could own. I'd stack it up against the best.

Nice, like your videos, thank you :)

You are obviously a young man. Where did you learn about repairing vintage electronics?

Great content.

I had a new sx-626. It had regular speaker terminals.

😂 I have one as well. An Sx-990 in Good to Excellent condition tested etc. Its Classic Analog looking and I like the Design Esthetic Black and Silver Knobs. Blue Meter abd Dial Lights. I also like the Sx-1010 as well as another two or three. I've found my first options the HK Twin Power 630, and 730 as they actually are dual mono units and plenty powerful 40 and 60 or 80 RMS...exceedingly dynamic range. Excellent Build Quality easy to work on and easy to repair. Missed an offer on a 630 in Primo condition for $350...Ouch...I also have an 8080 Sansui in excellent condition with new kights and some replacement parts with only as far as I know a jinky speaker selector works excellently going from A to B to A+B. However on the return its kind of ragged my just ve dirty, but we'll see. I plan on takung it in and having it soec'd again and see about the selector. And I'll redue the Wood case as its vynal skin is rough. Plan on Teak veneer with acid wash.