Pioneer SX-828 Bulbs

[gkhashem]

Guys I just picked up a SX-828 since I love my SX-727. The unit works great and is a 9.5 out of 10 cosmetically.

I decided to change the bulbs on the dial to blue LEDs since the dial looked a bit dull but all bulbs worked. I did not play with the meter bulbs which are the same bulb since they were OK. Also cleaned up some minor dust and the face plate and dial. The inside looked like new.

The reason I skipped them because I did do the bulbs on my SX-727. The meters only at the time and they were a PITA. Since they are enclosed in a metal case and there are soldered wires connected to the case and it was a bit scary for me since I do not do repairs of such a sort.

Is there any easier way to get at those bulbs since the SX-727 and 828 look the same there.

The dial looks much nicer after picture does not do it justice.

 

[gkhashem]

So I got ambitious and finished the bulbs in the SX-727. I had white LEDs in this one behind the meters so I put the remaining white ones behind the dial and guess what looks better since the dial is tinted blue anyways.

I like it. Any shortcut on the meters as I asked above?

 

[gbroot]

No short cuts on the meter housing. It's been awhile since I've done an 828 but am pretty sure it's the same as the 727.

 

[gkhashem]

Thanks for the response just thought I would ask in case I was missing something. It is a PITA.... so need to tackle it since meters look weird with old bulbs while dial looks cool.

 

[gkhashem]

Here is the SX-727.

 

[gkhashem]

I figured it out, but boy you better be patient.

You need to loosen the black metal plate that holds the dial face and the dial pointer. When that is done you can pull the whole assembly away towards the front but not too far as to maybe damage some wires and the pointer. Along with loosening the meter housing then you can barely get in there with a small screwdriver, tweezers and fingers. Fortunately I have small fingers. After some effort I popped the bulbs out and put the blue LEDs in.

As I thought the blue is too blue since the meters are now a bit hard to read unlike my SX-727 above. So as a warning to all use the white LEDs in the SX-x2x models. Maybe be SX-x3x models can handle the blue LEDs since the meters are a bit whiter in color. Someone did my TX-9100 all in blue LEDs before I got it and it looks fantastic. So I think I will get some white LEDs for the meters for my SX-828.

I did have a scare since the tuning meter was not lit after the change but I forgot the selector was on AM!!! Whew... thought I busted something, man it is tough to get old and senile!!