Pioneer SX-1050 vs. Concept 11.0

[monsterzero]

My birthday is approaching and my wife wants to get me something.

I currently have 2 Sansui(881,5000a) and a Marantz 2226b.

I use these receivers exclusively for driving headphones...the difference between my 26wpc Marantz and my 60wpc Sansui is significant....

Im wondering would upgrading to a monster will continue that upward trend.Ive narrowed it down to a Pioneer SX-1050 or a Concept 11.0.

which do yall prefer,and which would have the most distinct sound signature from what I already own?

 

[BobHol]

At some point it would make more sense to buy equipment optimized for headphones. A monster receiver in good shape is going to be pretty expensive.

 

[monsterzero]

Been there,done that...had a Woo Audio OTL tube amp,which is designed to drive 600 ohm headphones,which it did remarkably well,but when I tried my other headphones that werent 600 ohms,but more power hungry(HE-500)it failed miserably.

I have found that most every headphone I throw at a vintage receiver works very well.

 

[GD70]

I may be wrong, but I'm surprised that you would really hear a big difference with headphones on a receiver depending on the rated wpc. I've listened on my various pieces of my gear, and honestly, they pretty much sound the same, just more or less volume depending on the gear. Speakers are a different story.

 

[monsterzero]

im kinda a newbie on this site,but on that headphone site im quite the avid poster.We have a large number of members who use vintage receivers for headphones.It seems to be nearly universally accepted that sound scales with WPC,esp in the bass region.

TBH ive never heard a dedicated headphone amp power my HE-500s the way my Sansui does...might be psychological burn-in,but regardless its the sound I prefer.

Back to the original question:anyone have experience with both of these receivers and what are your thoughts?

 

[just dave]

Get both,problem solved.

 

[Chrisxo55441]

I have the SX-950 and 1250 havent heard the 1050 but i do like my Concept 11.0 better sound wise then the pioneers but not by a lot. The pioneers look better to me concept is kinda plain. edit- the 1250 and 11.0 are full recaps the 950 is original

 

[monsterzero]

I have the SX-950 and 1250 havent heard the 1050 but i do like my Concept 11.0 better sound wise then the pioneers but not by a lot. The pioneers look better to me concept is kinda plain. edit- the 1250 and 11.0 are full recaps the 950 is original

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My memory of what Concepts sound like are long gone...I just remember liking my dads....can you tell me what the sound signature is like?

Does it lean towards Marantz warmness,Pioneer,or Sansui?

 

[KingBubba]

I would get the Pioneer. It is a more well known item, easier to have repaired, you can get the service manual and work on it yourself. The 1050 is just a small step below the 1250 and those that own one on AK speak very highly of them, Concept never made service manuals available, but you can get schematics online.

 

[monsterzero]

I would get the Pioneer. It is a more well known item, easier to have repaired, you can get the service manual and work on it yourself.

Thats a very good point.Thanks

 

[Chrisxo55441]

My memory of what Concepts sound like are long gone...I just remember liking my dads....can you tell me what the sound signature is like?

Does it lean towards Marantz warmness,Pioneer,or Sansui?

Both are fairly recent purchases and i havent had much listening time with either so i dont think i could really comment on what the signature sound is. But neither had that warm tube like sound that my favorite Marantz's have and tend to get most of my time. They were a little less punchy in your face then my Sansui 9090DB which i also prefer over both of them. The Pioneer and Concept had a pretty similar sound. The bass was little tighter on the Concept and maybe why i like it better but that all could have been the music choices like i said i havent listened enough yet.. but really i think either one is good. Pioneer looks better to me and would be the way i would lean if i didnt have either.