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Just picked up a Pioneer SX-2000 - Value? I may be outta my league here.

Outta Ammo

Outta Ammo

Active Member
Lucky me, I just picked up a SX-2000 from Goodwill for chump change.
I know it's a good unit, but just how good? Dollar-wise?

This is my first tube amp and, honestly, I feel overwhelmed.

Is it worth paying someone to service it for me?
I'm not a pro like you guys and from all the posts I've read, it appears to be difficult even for you seasoned fellas. I'm not going to recap it myself - that scares the crap out of me. I can do basic stuff like change the tubes, deox the pots, etc.

Here are a few quick pics - before cleaning:
No Scratches, no rust, no external oxidation. Haven't taken the screwdriver to it yet.

20170201_180903.jpg 20170201_180930.jpg
 
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Congrats on the nice find. Looks like it's in really clean shape.

I've had two of the same model pioneer and one kenwood/trio version. Restored the first one and it was real pain. First of all, the space underneath made recapping real challenging - at least for me. Second, I had to pretty much replace everything. After the initial recap and replacing a few larger value resistors, I had to reopen the cover and replace more resistors - it was a lot of work over a few months of using it. I think I still have the other pioneer in my garage somewhere.

The sound was good, but far from how restored Fisher and Scott sounded.

So, to answer your question, if I had to pay to do it, it would've costed me a lot, and for just "good" sounding receiver.
 
Too bad.
I was hoping to hear "Man, get that thing serviced and crank it up."

I did the quickest check...the back fuse was blown. Maybe that's why they donated it.

One can hope (fingers crossed).
 
Don't get me wrong. It's a nice receiver that will sound good once up and running.
See if one or two of the output tubes (7868) are blown or showing signs of bias failure.

Here's a schematic in case you need it.
sx-2000.jpg
 
If you have the basic skills, no reason not to try recap yourself. While working on tube amp is nothing to take lightly of, many people do it, and they're not all electronic engineers or highly experienced. I'm sure you can do it if you are careful and patient.
 
You don't have a tube amp. You don't have a tube integrated amp. You have a tube receiver.

I've got a Dynaco ST-70 that I scored a while back. I got lucky. Like you I had no idea what I had at the time. It took me a year to get into it as there was so much to learn and it was intimidating. And it was a simple amplifier. Probably spent twenty hours reading the pinned threads on the tube forum and various safety threads (one hand in your pocket so you don't die) before I got into it. Very rewarding in the end, but a lot of work.

Don't even plug it in till you've done some reading. Pull the tubes, in the oven upside down . . . get the moisture out of the transformers . . . etc. I wouldn't start with a receiver as there is just so much more complication. I don't want a tube receiver and from what I've seen not many people do. I think there was a SX-2000 a while back locally and I passed.

One working sx-2000 but with bad FM sold on the bay for $225. From what I've seen most tube receivers are not worth much.

I'm sorry for sounding so pessimistic. However, you really did score in a way. If you put it on the bay, it would sell for $100-250 (others with more knowledge please correct me) even if listed as "as is, untested." To get it serviced it will cost you at least several hundreds of dollars to get it fixed up.

BUT, don't quit. You need TUBES. The dark side awaits you. Yes this is a good thing. What you have may not be the most practical or best starting point, but it is not a horrible one. You would be a hero and very happy if you restored that baby. Yes, find a local tech and get to work on it!!!!
 
Yes. It was meant to be something you would not understand until you had visited the tube forum and read some of the sticky threads.

If you are like I was, then visiting the tube forum will not produce a bright light, but rather a very dim glow. That is ok. It takes a while to digest all of the new info, but it is worth it.

My 23 y/o son was over last night. The power went out. Then came back on. (If that doesn't mean anything to you, you need to do some tube reading -- hot restart.) I ran into my den. I reported to my son that "my baby" (ST-70) was ok. Power conditioner does not come back on after being tripped off. Yea!!!!

Here is what I'd do, with a little bit of experience. I'd pull the tubes and follow the oven/de-humidifier protocol. Then I'd put low voltage into it through a variac to test the input transformer. Then I'd test the OPT (variac into the speaker terminals). If all good, then I'd bring it up slowly on variac (treads on tube forum) while testing voltages (warning high voltage, one hand in pocket and more, read, read, read). If all voltages ok then I'd test the tubes and then put them in. BUT before all that I'd read, and re-read the service manual and every thead I could find.

Some people will just change a fuse, plug them in, and get lucky. However, the most valuable component on those tube units are the transformers. If you don't follow the careful protocols, then you can damage them and make the unit not worth repairing.

Tubes are worth it. But it takes an investment of either money or time.
 
Nice. Thanks for the clarification.
I don't plan on plugging it in until I have thoroughly cleaned it, read a ton of threads, watched videos etc.

If it all goes well, I will be enjoying the soft glow.
 
I agree with the advice above that you consider selling this unit as is and maybe make a bit on it. Then get something simpler to work on that will likely sound better when you're done. A Fisher integrated amp, perhaps. A receiver is way more complicated than an integrated amp. If you don't need or use the tuner part, you'd probably be better off with an amp anyway.

Disclaimer: I have never heard a Pioneer tube receiver so it may sound great after restoration. I'm going by what I've read. If it's on the internet, it HAS to be true, right? :dunno: I DO know that my Fisher 400s and X-101-B sound really nice.

I picked up a Pioneer SM-Q300 tube receiver a while back in a collection of gear. After doing some research and looking it over (without plugging it in), I concluded that I didn't want to do the considerable work of restoring it when it wouldn't sell for much and might not sound as good as other units. It went to a new home untouched and I'm listening happily to a Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-11 feeding a restored Dynaco ST-70 driving Altec 604E's as I write this. :thumbsup:
 
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Agree with what's mentioned above. Too much money will be poured into it. Almost every capacitor, resistor and maybe tubes will need to be replaced. I had a tube kenwood of around the same vintage after doing a quick tally on parts I was going to be into alot more then it was worth. I recommend sell it and put the funds towards a dynaco st70. Or hold onto it maybe they will go up in Value?
 
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Find a Variac and bring it up slowly. Decent chance it'll work fine. Have the fine folks in the Tube Forum walk you through it. Don't worry about recapping and what-not yet.
 
I don't think anyone mentioned yet, but don't run a tube amp without a load. Hook it to speakers or a dummy before you turn it on. OPTs don't like to be driven without a load.
 
The Pioneer tube receivers do sound nice when recapped. Problem is they are not worth the big bucks like the other tube receivers (Fisher) or like the big SS Pioneers.

I could understand doing it as a labor of love but you will not get that money back if you decide to sell it.

Plus like others have mentioned, there is a lot to change in one of these. I did the tally on the SX800 I had and it was going to be too much. Even with me doing the work! Of course mine had the 7189 output tubes. They were unlabeled and tested weak. Just buying a new quad of those would have cost a bit

I don't base what equipment I buy/restore solely on the resale value, but it is nice knowing that I can at least get my money back if I decide to get something else.

I would think somewhere around 200-250$ for your receiver. Less if a local sale. I traded my SX-800 for a Marantz 2230 that needed a tune up
 
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Good news....
She's up and running. Three-hour warm-up. Playing just fine.

Just a test so far; plugged an old iPod into it and running it through some small Polk shelf speakers.

No issues to report as of right now.
 
Good for you! Listen to and see how you like it. Given that it's unrestored, don't leave it on when you aren't around. If you like it a lot, restore it yourself.
 
If you don't want to deal with the receiver part and are willing to take on a project you could always make it a straight power amp. I've always been on the lookout for a old beat up receiver to do this to, have not found one yet though.


Pioneer sx800a power amp conversion that I found on the web.Screenshot_20170204-161757.png
 
LexDM3 said:
Good for you! Listen to and see how you like it. Given that it's unrestored, don't leave it on when you aren't around. If you like it a lot, restore it yourself.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I was paranoid about that. I stayed in the same room the entire time, just in case.
 
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