What receiver does MTF, MattSD and Echowars run

Stevescivic

Active Member
To above three veteran Pioneer techs MTF, MattSD and Echowars.. (and to any other dedicated Pioneer tech that I am not familiar with on this forum)

What is your preferred Pioneer receiver? I am going to hazard to guess you all three likely run a SX-1980 or a SX-1250?

Why one over the other?

Thanks
 
In the late late 70's I was a bit cash limited, even being on the Pioneer Employee Discount plan. I had access and long time auditioned many units (out on the sales floor) and speaker combinations. AND I was one stingy essobee, with only one 11 foot square room to fill - and only at times.. I have made no secret of the fact that I owned a SX-636, a pair of Project 100a speakers and a Rotel Turntable, ALL demonstrator units that had been retired. Along with those was a brand spanking new CT-F9191 cassette deck that had me banging my head in frustration because just a week or so after I ordered that 9191, Pioneer announced the CT-F1000 at a price that would only cost me an additional $75 or so from what I had paid for the 9191. Tried MIGHTILY to intercept and change that order, to no avail.
All units are still in my possession, and the personally owned models waiting in line for the fixer's touch might be mind boggling.

SX-1980, specs galore, SX-D7000, SX-3900, (and 3800, 3700 and 3600) SX-1280, SX-780, SX-680, SX-1250, SX-1050, SX-850, SA-9500, SA-9100, A-80, oodles of CT-F9191's, CT-F1000, SX-1010, SX-990, SX-626, SX-525 just off the top of my head. Some are really rough, none are perfect - but a few have cosmetics that will knock socks off.
 
Wow Mark that is mental!

Given that you have owned so many units how do you feel the SX-1250 sounds vs. SX-1050?

As you may vaguely recall I amrunnin a fully recapped (and finally working) SX-3800 that I love to death.

I just snagged myself a SX-1050 but I have yet to take her home to try out - it was working so I wouldn't hesitate to try it on my speakers to compare sound but it wouldn't be a fair comparison against my newly refreshed sx-3800.

I am tempted to get myself a SX1250 just because it is top of the line but from what I gathered from other threads it seems as though there isn't much of a difference between it and the sx-1050. Thanks!
 
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I have
1) a sx-950 from new(living room)
2) recently required qx-9900(basement), great for a 4 or more speaker setup.
3) Sansui G-7500 with a sx-1050 power supply, new amp LME49830 driver w/ dual die lateral mosfet ops, protection kckts/relays. I like this lat fet amp!
4) Tuners, crown 1 and 2, kenwood Kt-8300
5) Speakers, Dynaudio Gemini's, Altec Lansing model 9, Avant 6A

To be honest they all sound good. The speakers make the most difference.
If you want the best FM tuner, go for the 1250 over the 1050, if you do not care about the tuner or have a real good separate tuner, then the 1050 or 950 are fine.
I like my QX-9900 but it is a beast to work on and parts are scare.
I auditioned Accuphase P-300, C-200 recently, nice powerful gear as well.
 
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Holy hardcore list. Here I am thinking that I had way too much gear and your guys' lists is as long as my family tree!

Way cool.

SX-1250 for FM huh? Is it because it is a 5 gang tuner vs the 4 on the sx-1050? I was doing some reading on the # of gangs and how one of them is always used by the local oscillator effectively making the gangs 1 less than actually being marketed.

FM is somewhat important I guess it in all honesty my sources are either MP3's, LP or CDs. Hell I listen to the AM radio more than I do FM!
 
A SX-1980 and SX-1250 are my main units, the 1980 is in the main listening room and the 1250 pulls music/2 channel home theater duty in the living room. Other than that, I own or have owned pretty much every receiver Pioneer made at one time or another, and what I haven't owned yet I've had in for repair or restoration. I like the 1980 for the fact it has a neutral (comparatively) and very clear, transparent sound. The 1250 is warmer with a "fatter" sound that sounds really good with some LPs.
 
Interesting point Matt. I gather you have owned the SX-3800/3900 as well then? How does the 1980 or the 1250 or perhaps even the 1050's sound compare to the SX-3800/3900?

I currently have a recapped SX-3800 that I love. I just snagged myself up 2 SX-1050s but haven't had a chance to get them home to play with (plus they are in need of a full rebuild before a fair comparison can be made).

From what I have read the conclusion seems to be:
1. Sx-1010 - most tube like warm sound and according to some the nicest sounding Pioneer of them all.
2. SX-1050/1250 - fatter sounding but not as warm as the SX-1010
3. SX 1980 - big power, neutral sound, somewhat clinical.

I guess what I am wondering is how does the SX3800/3900 fare up then since I have no other reference to any other vintage Pioneer gear.

As badly as I want to get a SX-1250 they are at this point overpriced. Some argue that sound wise thereby is hardly any difference between the 1250 and the 1050 while other says there is a big difference. Thoughts?

Thanks
 
I don't own any Pioneer receiver but if I did it would be the SX-1250. My favorite of all the Pioneer models I have worked on.
 
My Pioneer models include a SX-434(bought new in 1975), SX-737, SX-939, SX-790. Sold my SX-1010, SX-535 and QX-9900 for good money. My overall favorite of the group including the sold one's is the 737. My 2nd choice is the 939 but it's a beast, and doesn't get the play time the 434 does (bedroom duty for music and TV setup). I do like the 939 over the 1010. It has a smoother sound to it than the 1010. The QX-9900 when overhauled is a goofy looking beast but it had a sound that was better than the 939 and the 1010. But at 24" wide and 60+ lbs it was a back killer.

The Rest include Sansui 1000A, 2000, 2000A, 2000X.
FISHER TUBE. 400 (x2), 800c (x2, 1 is part of a console), X-101-B. Multiple tube tuners.
Fisher S.S. 160-T, 250-T, 500-T, 550-T, 700-T, 500TX
14 consoles of which 9 are Fisher, the rest are Magnavox, RCA, DuMont, Nordmende(German).
Plus all the ancillary gear to fill it all out. Turntables, Reel to Reel, cassette decks.

All have been electronically overhauled. I've gravitated to mostly tube use now but keep the 434 running in the bedroom. It's just right for what I need in there, and it's simple enough that the wife can operate it without screeching "what the hell are all these knobs for"! Plus it's a good little headphone amp.
 
SX-1250 for FM huh? Is it because it is a 5 gang tuner vs the 4 on the sx-1050? I was doing some reading on the # of gangs and how one of them is always used by the local oscillator effectively making the gangs 1 less than actually being marketed.
Well it is a combination of the differences in the whole tuner design, 1250 has 2 RF gain stages, better shielding, one more gangs/filter stages, more IF gain and filters using higher grade ceramic filters, are about it, the rest is the same as the 1050.
As badly as I want to get a SX-1250 they are at this point overpriced. Some argue that sound wise thereby is hardly any difference between the 1250 and the 1050 while other says there is a big difference. Thoughts?
You know opinions about what people hear are just that, opinions. What you prefer, what you hear can and usually are different than the next guy so take it for what it is worth. I do not go too much for that. I look at the designs and compare them first. then listen to them. When me and the bro evaluated our system back in 1978 we and the sales guy came to the conclusion the sx-950 sounded the best at that time with the 15" woofer 4-way totl speakers we bought. Soem may agree and some may not, to each their own.
 
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