Pioneer SX-3700
- Thread starter Eilati
- Start date
- Status
Register to hide this ad
Macdaddy
Active Member
SX-3700
Ewww, I got screwed then. Paid $109 last month on E-pay. Now it is in near mint condition, I can't find a scratch on it. However there is a bit of noise on treble, balance and volume pot. Seller said it was checked out by tech, his reply e-mail was that dust settles in transit sometimes.
I wish I had discovered this forum and a few other sites first. Of course it was toward end of auction so I jumped! I assumed this model had the non switching amp, of course it doesn't. Still it is a decent reciever.
Bill
Ewww, I got screwed then. Paid $109 last month on E-pay. Now it is in near mint condition, I can't find a scratch on it. However there is a bit of noise on treble, balance and volume pot. Seller said it was checked out by tech, his reply e-mail was that dust settles in transit sometimes.
I wish I had discovered this forum and a few other sites first. Of course it was toward end of auction so I jumped! I assumed this model had the non switching amp, of course it doesn't. Still it is a decent reciever.
Bill
crooner
Tube Marantzed
It's a very nice receiver, IMO. In certain aspects I like it more than the SX-780. Tuner is much more accurate, and it has a signal strength meter for FM (an absolute "must" IMO). The '780 only has a center tuning meter.
Outputs on the SX-3700 are discrete vs STK Darlington Packs on the '780. The SX-780 does have better speaker connectors, and the power transformer has nice end bells. Overall they perform very similarly.
Plus, you can't beat the Floruoscan meters and digital display. Pretty me thinks!
Outputs on the SX-3700 are discrete vs STK Darlington Packs on the '780. The SX-780 does have better speaker connectors, and the power transformer has nice end bells. Overall they perform very similarly.
Plus, you can't beat the Floruoscan meters and digital display. Pretty me thinks!
Last edited:
Macdaddy
Active Member
sx-3700
Crooner, I agree it is very nice in fact I got it to go with my CTF-800 that I bought new back in high school in 79. I have to get that back up and running again I replaced the motor a few years ago and think I fried it adjusting the small pot inside the motor. It went into a high rpm mode and I shut the deck down immediately! Thank goodness Pioneer still has that in stock yet.
It's funny the toys I couldn't afford as a kid I can now get for 1/3 of the price on E-bay all these years later.
Crooner, I agree it is very nice in fact I got it to go with my CTF-800 that I bought new back in high school in 79. I have to get that back up and running again I replaced the motor a few years ago and think I fried it adjusting the small pot inside the motor. It went into a high rpm mode and I shut the deck down immediately! Thank goodness Pioneer still has that in stock yet.
It's funny the toys I couldn't afford as a kid I can now get for 1/3 of the price on E-bay all these years later.
Hmmmmm, I dunno.... I think the 3700 is a decent receiver, but if I had to choose, I like the SX-780 alot better. The SX-3900....3400 came out in mid-late 1980 to replace the 1978/79 SX-1980...480 Line.
Replacing the TOTL, 270W, SX-1980, with the SX-3900 seems like a major step down to me, and along the same lines, I feel the same way about the 3700 vs 780.
The blue power meters are nice, but I like the classic style orange/black vu style meters on the SX-1980....Line better.
B/F
Replacing the TOTL, 270W, SX-1980, with the SX-3900 seems like a major step down to me, and along the same lines, I feel the same way about the 3700 vs 780.
The blue power meters are nice, but I like the classic style orange/black vu style meters on the SX-1980....Line better.
B/F
Macdaddy
Active Member
Featurewise the 780-1280 models had them beat , but when they introduced the non switching amp circuitry, those win hands down for sound.
After the new models came out I went down to the local stereo store. And the guy was doing an A/B between the 780 and the 8800 with an album I think through some HPM-100's and I thought the difference was night and day.
He was using the Dark side of the moon album and the clarity was there with the new amp design.
I was just blown away with how much more detail in the music came through.
Bill
After the new models came out I went down to the local stereo store. And the guy was doing an A/B between the 780 and the 8800 with an album I think through some HPM-100's and I thought the difference was night and day.
He was using the Dark side of the moon album and the clarity was there with the new amp design.
I was just blown away with how much more detail in the music came through.
Bill
crooner
Tube Marantzed
Well, what I understand about the Fluoroscan series was that pretty much the receiver power wars were over. The emphasis was now on things like digital frequency readouts, quartz locked tuning and such.
Evidently, there was cost reduction going on at Pioneer. Fortunately, quality was not compromised {in the fluoroscan series}. For instance, they reduced weight by using a different design of heat sink, that had the same surface area but less cost. They also did away with the power transformer end bells.
I don't believe a SX-3900 would sound significantly less powerful than the SX-1980. Remember, doubling the wattage yields only a 3 dB perceivable increase in loudness. IMHO, though impressive and an engineering feat, the SX-1980 was overkill for regular music listening with normal speakers.
Regards,
crooner
Evidently, there was cost reduction going on at Pioneer. Fortunately, quality was not compromised {in the fluoroscan series}. For instance, they reduced weight by using a different design of heat sink, that had the same surface area but less cost. They also did away with the power transformer end bells.
I don't believe a SX-3900 would sound significantly less powerful than the SX-1980. Remember, doubling the wattage yields only a 3 dB perceivable increase in loudness. IMHO, though impressive and an engineering feat, the SX-1980 was overkill for regular music listening with normal speakers.
Regards,
crooner
Last edited:
What's this - an over kill? Oh come on there guy.:uzi: The SX 1980 is for the big boys who can handle such awesome power there dude. Boy, I would love to add this bad boy to my collection.
BH
sixt8mopar
Well-Known Member
I would have to agree.The sx-1980 is overkill for regular music listening.A little too much for me.100-200 watts a channel is more than enough for me.When I first discovered vintage audio a few years ago I had a serious wanting for a 1980.Now I think I would much rather have a 1050,1250....1080,1280 series receiver.The 3800,3900 are solid preformers as well.
Last edited:
I have both sx1050 and sx3900. I like the 3900 much more with its beautiful fluoroscan lights that make the 1050 look so plain. Sound wise, they are all the same with my ears. I think the 3900 looks very cool and matches well with my other Marantz, Sumo Charlie, and tube systems. The 1050 is just too classic ... so I have to put it in my bed room. My wife also likes the 3900 when it is turned on. :thmbsp: I'd love to own a 1280 too but have not had a chance to see a CHEAP one locally yet 
crooner
Tube Marantzed
Benny Hill, please let us know what kind of speakers do you have that can actually use all that power.
Having gobs of power is great, but speaker efficiency (SPL) is a much more important spec, IMO. Time has proven this to be true.
And I do love all my Pioneer receivers, BTW.
Having gobs of power is great, but speaker efficiency (SPL) is a much more important spec, IMO. Time has proven this to be true.
And I do love all my Pioneer receivers, BTW.
Last edited:
Toasted Almond
RIP 1952-2016
I picked up a beautiful SX-3700 recently. Still have it. The only flaw at all is the power knob is GONE. Luckily it failed in the "on" position, and all you have to do is plug the receiver into a switched outlet or surge protector thing.
TA
TA
SX-3700 value
In my mind a SX-3700 is worth anywhere from 5 dollars to 500 dollars depending on condition. . .
An ordinary unit typical of what you see in a Thrift Store would be 25-35 bucks.
A perfect one with original box and manual and all of it in as new condition, I dont mean shined up to look good but a truly MINT+++ one that is a one owner, perfect(and I mean perfect, not almost perfect) case, perfect face, prefect back, bottom, feet, all nice sharp edges, bold like new lettering, no scorched boards from heat, all original working lamps, nothing but normal maintanance would of course bring much more money.
I value a receiver's history almost as much as the unit itself. . .
Paying upwards of 200 bucks I would feel no discomfort at all if in this condition.
If I owned one in this condition you can bet I wont take less than 200 bucks for it and you can also bet I would get my price.
Saying that it had better be right, every nut and bolt untouched, all original or at least if it has been serviced (a plus if by the right person) it was done by someone like EchoWars who's judgment we all trust and value highly.
In my mind a SX-3700 is worth anywhere from 5 dollars to 500 dollars depending on condition. . .
An ordinary unit typical of what you see in a Thrift Store would be 25-35 bucks.
A perfect one with original box and manual and all of it in as new condition, I dont mean shined up to look good but a truly MINT+++ one that is a one owner, perfect(and I mean perfect, not almost perfect) case, perfect face, prefect back, bottom, feet, all nice sharp edges, bold like new lettering, no scorched boards from heat, all original working lamps, nothing but normal maintanance would of course bring much more money.
I value a receiver's history almost as much as the unit itself. . .
Paying upwards of 200 bucks I would feel no discomfort at all if in this condition.
If I owned one in this condition you can bet I wont take less than 200 bucks for it and you can also bet I would get my price.
Saying that it had better be right, every nut and bolt untouched, all original or at least if it has been serviced (a plus if by the right person) it was done by someone like EchoWars who's judgment we all trust and value highly.
Toasted Almond
RIP 1952-2016
You'd pay $500 for a 45wpc receiver? You sit tight while I make it a quest to track down 3 or 4 of those with boxes and manuals for you. Okay, don't go anywhere now!
TA
TA
crooner, one doesn't need any kind of special speakers in order to use the 1980, just knowing one has all that power is a nice feeling. It may be an over kill for some but I can handle the massive power.
BH
Last edited:
500 bucks
I thought I was pretty clear I would pay 200 bucks if it was in the description I described. . . There are people who would and do pay more. . .
My point is providing it was as I described it. Remember last year the NOS 780s that poped up on eBay?? As I remember a couple of them got damned close to 500 bucks.
I also stated I would not pay over 25-30 bucks for a Thrift store or Garage sale version. . .
Show me a NOS or a one owner unit in absolutly perfect condition, with the original box, manual and accessories (also in mint condition) and you bet I would pay 200 plus for it 45wpc and all. . .
I thought I was pretty clear I would pay 200 bucks if it was in the description I described. . . There are people who would and do pay more. . .
My point is providing it was as I described it. Remember last year the NOS 780s that poped up on eBay?? As I remember a couple of them got damned close to 500 bucks.
I also stated I would not pay over 25-30 bucks for a Thrift store or Garage sale version. . .
Show me a NOS or a one owner unit in absolutly perfect condition, with the original box, manual and accessories (also in mint condition) and you bet I would pay 200 plus for it 45wpc and all. . .
Last edited:
Hey crooner read this...!!!
The SX-1980 was not for everyone; Pioneer had receivers for consumers who did not need the power and performance this receiver was capable of. But then, Lamborghinis and magums of champagne are not for everyone either. The SX-1980 is the most sought-after Pioneer receiver today, oftentimes being bought over the internet at its original list price.
If Pioneer built a receiver with this level of power and build quality today, what do you think it would sell for? According to S. Morgan Friedman's Inflation Calculator, it would list for $3,638.00!
BH
The SX-1980 was not for everyone; Pioneer had receivers for consumers who did not need the power and performance this receiver was capable of. But then, Lamborghinis and magums of champagne are not for everyone either. The SX-1980 is the most sought-after Pioneer receiver today, oftentimes being bought over the internet at its original list price.
If Pioneer built a receiver with this level of power and build quality today, what do you think it would sell for? According to S. Morgan Friedman's Inflation Calculator, it would list for $3,638.00!
BH
Last edited:
- Status
