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For a gift...which one?

B

bd1886

Super Member
Going to put together a set-up for a friend and it has boiled down to a receiver choice. Pioneer SX-626 (excellent+++ but needs lights) @$50.00 or an SX-650 ($70.00) that is a little rough case wise (needs an FM meter light) and described as smooth running.

Person I will be gifting it to has no need for wattage so which receiver would be better? I have heard the SX-650 has a couple issues that tend to crop up but is it worth a worry? Read the heck out of stuff on the next bump up in gear but how is this stuff?

Sorry for popping this in here but about to move on this quick as I'll be in the area of both. Appreciate it guys.
 
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Does he like black and blue or silver? Relamping is generally pretty easy and you will have to work on either. Buy both. Give the nicer one to your friend and restore the other for yourself.
 
Get the one in better shape. Replacing bulbs is easy but you can't really smooth out scratches on the faceplate or chipped corners of the case.
 
drabina said:
Get the one in better shape. Replacing bulbs is easy but you can't really smooth out scratches on the faceplate or chipped corners of the case.
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That's probably what I'll end up doing. Chipped corners are easy for me to fix as I do furniture resto. (If anyone needs tips,PM.) Aluminum with anodized is impossible to get 100% unless a re-lap and silk screening replacement but "much much better" is do-able. Wasn't able to grab but will at least communicate now. Thanks guys
 
I'll admit to being biased, but I have an SX-626 and I absolutely love it. For a modestly-powered receiver it packs a nice punch and to me it sounds very smooth and detailed. In the interest of full disclosure, it has been recapped and had the preamp transistors replaced, but it sounded very good before that was done. The amp and preamp can be separated, the phono section is quite good, it has lots of inputs (two turntables, two tape loops, one aux) and it will support 3 sets of speakers (2 sets at a time). Extremely versatile. Plus that blue glow is so relaxing at night in a dark room.

One potential downside is the requirement for special speaker plugs and often they are missing. But Pioneer still sells them or you can craft your own. There are threads in the Pioneer forum that tout easy to build replacements using readily available components.
 
webdog2010 said:
I'll admit to being biased, but I have an SX-626 and I absolutely love it. For a modestly-powered receiver it packs a nice punch and to me it sounds very smooth and detailed. In the interest of full disclosure, it has been recapped and had the preamp transistors replaced, but it sounded very good before that was done. The amp and preamp can be separated, the phono section is quite good, it has lots of inputs (two turntables, two tape loops, one aux) and it will support 3 sets of speakers (2 sets at a time). Extremely versatile. Plus that blue glow is so relaxing at night in a dark room.

One potential downside is the requirement for special speaker plugs and often they are missing. But Pioneer still sells them or you can craft your own. There are threads in the Pioneer forum that tout easy to build replacements using readily available components.
Click to expand...






THAT is the cincher! I never looked at the specs for the 626 and to see that on a receiver of this level is nice. Watts or not....it is all about the sound at normal listening levels for me still (and my friend). Thanks!
 
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