I has a '73 SX747...sounds great! Replaced with ceramic fuses and LED bulbs. But the warm glow from the face and real metal knobs is just pure magic...

I had a Marantz 4415 Quadradial with SQ decoder. I took very good care of it and had it serviced. I wish I still had it.

The vintage units from the 70’s are the way to go. I have two Pioneer receivers. An SX1000TW and an SX680. They have very different sounds. The SX1000 has a dark, warm tone and the SX680 has some bite to it. I pair the SX1000 with sensitive speakers and the SX680 with less sensitive speakers to take the edge off just a little. Both are fantastic.

I used to have a Pioneer SX-450 from 1977 up until 2001 when I got a divorce and forgot it in a spare room, and I haven`t had anything decent quality since with just Amazon Echos that didn`t do music any justice. I finally said to myself that I missed a decent system that wouldn`t break the bank so I bought a Sony STR-DH190 with Sony SSCS5 3-Way 3-Driver Bookshelf Speakers and a Sony SACS9 10-Inch Active Subwoofer, and I have to say that it sounds so good that I almost feel like it`s 1977 again!

I purchased the Pioneer along with Altec Segovia speakers in 72, while stationed in Germany. Great memories.

Good one. I like the relaxed, conversational approach. I understand we all are subject to being biased based towards our gear's characteristics based on emotions, sentimentality, sweat equity, nostalgia, etc. Nice bonus at the end.

I found a sx 828 probably fifteen years ago at a yard sale and didn't have to pay much for it. My brother was very good at working on old radios and did all the necessary repairs to it. He passed away a few years ago, so I hope it stays running well. Sansui was what I had in the 70's.

This vid came up on recommendations. I noticed the Pioneer because I have the Pioneer SX-990 I got from my father who bought it in the early 1970s. As a kid I remember we were not aloud to touch it at all. I still have it in storage and for the most part it still works although some of the pots need cleaning and some of the bulbs are burnt out. I have the original Pioneer speakers it came with. I currently use them in my garage.

Thanks for the video I've been buying and fixing electronics for 50 years I'm old but I found a Yamaha dspa1 in snowbank about 5 years ago I dried it out figured out that the display was gibberish and after reflowing 132 pin jacks on a display board it works like a million bucks what an awesome amplifier look it up Yamaha dspa1 it was their flagship I use it in two channels it's wonderful but if someone don't have the skills to figure out what's wrong or solder all those connections well there's issues have a great day good luck hunting I'm done buying anything I have enough to fix have a great day

I also might add that I bought the Sony STR-DH190 from Amazon for $179 and I would be hand pressed to find a decent Pioneer SX-450 for that price and I get the added bluetooth with the Sony so I think I would go with the Sony now.

I meant SX-737...mine is clean as a whistle, gud caps, cleaned the pots with Deoxit. Also own a SX-424 and SX-550 and a few Sansuis.

I bought the Yamaha a few years back for 30€ , use it with Pioneer Hpm 60 speakers . I like it a lot and friends also say that it sounds very good . Thanks for this video !

I have a sansui 6060 that recently crapped out and a friend gifted me an old optimus 90 watt pro logic receiver that ive been using until i get it fixed. The differences were immediately apparent but its really not that bad. I miss the og though! Also bought a sansui au101 to start kinda fiddling around learning electronics with. Should be here any day now... The next would be a tube amp once i can learn how to build a good one. Really like your videos.

Yamaha (like Technics, Sony, Kenwood) has the integrated Smiley face, while the Pioneer (like the Sansui, Marantz, Grundig) covers all freqs equally. It does filter the edges a bit with loudness off, but just as much as it's necessary to eliminate the mud and uplift the precision.

Ha! That RLJ is one of my primary reference discs as well. Good stuff.

I think your analysis is pretty spot on. I have some vintage Marantz's that sound noticeably better than a 2010 Marantz but it's not a huge difference. If I hook up my 2005 surround sound Denon, it holds its own. I think the best value right now is in the 2000 to 2010 equipment. It's plentiful and one can buy for pennies on the dollar originally spent. The same was true of the vintage stuff 20 years ago. People were throwing it away. Now it's shocking how much my old stuff is worth. But I won't sell the old stuff. I get the most satisfaction from my old stuff and it's not all about the sounds, though in part it is. But it's also the way it looks and feels, and the fact that I love it. It has character. I own Marantz receivers not because they sound better than Sansuis or Pioneers or similar vintage. They don't. But the way they look left me willing to pay the Marantz tax. We're human beings. We're not meant to be overly logical. The mind can guide and temper the heart but the heart is where real satisfaction resides.

Yup a real good tuner in the Pioneer, a variable capacitor. Probably 54 w pc as the 850 is 65 watts. Pioneers have beefy amps. My SX650 at 12 pos on volume cranks my CV SL-12s very nicely

A little off topic but.... what transformers are you using in the DGSE-1? I've always wanted to build one but never found the time. As far as time is concerned, I should spend some to check out the SX-828 that I have in the garage in it's original box. I can't remember where I got it but if I remember correctly it's in excellent physical condition. Don't know about it's electrical condition, I've never even plugged it in. Also, I share your love of ADS speakers. I have 5 or 6 pairs. Great sounding! Keep up the good work!

Probably a better rcvr for certain genres of music. I had no problem spending a grand for an sx950+ gettin it cleaned and new transistors. Go for the spkrs had a pair of jbl A180s but the CV SL-12s have much better bass mids and upper end is very good.

It’s a matter of how we perceive the sound. You could have the best speakers and receivers and if are kind of hearing impaired you’re done.

Your comparison is on point and accurate, IMO. The Yamaha has that clean/clear and LEAN "house" signature sound no matter if it is amplifier, speakers, signal processor, etc., maybe too much so. The Pioneer is just more tuneful with forward midbass and midrange. Not a double-blind test, but I bet you would know immediately if your long-term amp was switched without your knowledge. The Dg-SE1 bonus is a nice touch! Nice-relaxed tube sound.

Undoubtedly, the sound is better on the Pioneer receiver, otherwise the gramophone inputs on the old devices are much better done than on the new ones...

I like these comparisons. I'm even more interested in vintage vs. new speakers. The consensus seems to be that speaker technology has now progressed so much that, all things considered, they are better than vintage speakers. Or at the very least that you can get new excellent - even "end game" - speakers for a fraction of what you used to have to spend. I haven't been able to do enough comparisons on my own, but i think it's an interesting topic. Anyway, thanks for the video. You got another subscription. - Cheers

Way late here. good stuff - being old - I bought a much less expensive version of this pioneer new way back... the Yam. would look way better in silver / alum , as mentioned. I think Sansui was the first to switch to ugly black.? probably plastic knobs rather than metal but... I wonder do digital type modern controls have more durability, less vulnerable to developing clicks and pops ? or with the current extreme emphasis on products saving every Penny in parts choice are they worse ? oh, I'ver never gotten more than 7 or 8 years from any stereo amp... pioneer, Carver, NAD , Sony - all decent good companies but 7 or 8 years - develop one problem, get it fixed, another problem - trash. currently an ' Outlaw'. which to me is shockingly perfect. looks great, has all the inputs etc , 110 legit w/ch... real good review from ' Stereophile' , etc . only thing - it's now. 1 /1/2 years old. so - reliability is the huge ? . KEF meta 50 spks + sub. I have a mid 70's Sansui 5050 which amazingly is in I'd say ' near new' condition. very seldom used. Koss 1020 spks from like '78 bought new , good reviews from ' Stereo Review'....A mid 70's Pioneer T' table still works fine , got a new thorens 103 a bit back for no real reason ( my thought 95 % + of the sound comes from the cartridge, ) & my ears don't hear much over 8 kHz on a CD of test freq. so I'm not commenting on sound >

As a vintage collector, using a totally restored Sansui 9090 DB for my main receiver, I totally agree on all counts mate. The Yamaha sound is pretty darn good for the money, but you'll be more than likely be buying a new one every 3 years & it'll end up in a scarp pile, while the Pioneer will last for decades & looks 10 times better.

Oil the Pioneer's cabinet.. with good furniture polish, orange oil, lemon oil etc.. I have a couple of Yamaha integrated amps to restore but I'm not sure what really needs the most attention as far as capacitors.. the A-1000 and A-1020

Looks like u love the tube amps.that is cool.

The Yamaha had more channel separation but the pioneer head more depth in the stereo image.

Modify pwr transformer by removing part of core so u see the windings, hook 12 vdc to 120 vac coil u have an electromagnet that might lift that Yamaha rcvr.

I would like a honest opinion. I am not an audiophile but I love the sound of vintage audio equipment. The problem is I cannot afford it. At least in the video I could hardly tell the difference. This Yamaha is discontinued but their later model 303BL is probably equivalent. Will I be wrong to buy the Yamaha.

I feel like the Pioneer was warmer, not as detailed as the Yamaha. I liked the Pioneer.

Just another black box w no knob tuning which is better.. No problem sayin um a sucker for a GOOD LOOKING receiver..Rather have an SX850 w 65 watts pr channel than a 120 watt job all black.

I’d bet a dollar that Yamaha has a bunch of global negative feedback to hit that SNR spec. No guesses about which might sound better, it’d likely come down to the speaker you’re driving, but I’m doubtful either would compete sonically with a 90’s era Harman Kardon or Marantz. Listening to the sound clips comes across as the Yamaha being a little more zippy in the top-end, maybe a bit thinner/lean. Was that what you heard in person?

Change all sky blue sanyo electrolytic capacitors on sx-828. Noisy pioneer transistors as well and you will be good

Looks like u have 2 beefy tube amps behind you 2 thumbs up.

Sir, what do you think about Pioneer SX-939..?

The problem in some country's you can not find parts for vintage receiver. This is big risky to buy expensive vintage receiver. This is the issue to buy it .. most time you have maney but you think in the same time how to fix it if damage and no parts it will be yousless this is the most important story in vintage receiver and if you find parts it will be fake parts not original so it will be tottaly yousless lose your maney it happens with me befor tottaly not eazy to find most important parts on it .. this is my opinion. Of course vintage more long life and quality and look so nice in room

Páči sa mi zvuk pioniera, hlavne nižšie stredy.

The Pioneer sounds much better it has a punch in bass over the yamaha

That is dumb comparison you should have compared it to a Emotiva TA1 60 watts, the Emotiva would have won challenge hands down.

Depends on your age, I was a teenager 1976-1979, so this is my preference on buying. Thanks for showing inside of S-300, not too impressing but is bottom end and yes those are plastic knobs. SX-838 too old for me, any turn knob for power not for me and much prefer Pioneer SX-980, bought 31/2 yrs ago. Did buy a Yamaha A-S1200 in 2021, all 53 lbs. I am more a Integrated Amp FM Tuner person. In your test, like my A-S1200, newer stuff brighter and less dynamic.