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Pioneer SX-9000 - Pricing/worth it?

cambam8905

cambam8905

New Member
Hi all! I currently have a Marantz 2220b that needs a total refurbishment. The cost to refurb at this point (per a few conversations with some audio repair shops here in Chicago) is seeming to outweigh the worth of the receiver as a whole.

I came across a Pioneer SX-9000 in Madison, WI that is cosmetically in great condition, in complete working order, and fully serviced by the shop. They're selling for $399 - is this worth the price? I've been seeing these listed online in various conditions with pricing all over the board and I'm not educated enough in Pioneer products to know what a SX-9000 in good shape that works and has been fully vetted by the shop should be going for.

Any advice, input on price, or things I should be on the lookout for? Things to ask the shop that they did when the serviced the unit?

Thanks in advance!
Cameron
 
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The double volume controls on them are often problematic. Impossible to replace without a working donor unit. Good sounding unit, but personally I would look fora bit newer Pioneer, perhaps an 838, 939, 1010?
 
That's an interesting unit. Don't know about the price but I'd have it over that low powered Marantz... like Marantz but between the two I'd have the Pioneer for a variety of reasons including the look and features. I'd have it knowing I could fix any issues it might have, otherwise not so sure... it is fairly complicated and up in years. A nice piece of Pioneer history though and in proper working order will have good sound. I like that style which biases my opinion. I would ask the shop what they did, what they mean by completely serviced and report that here for feedback. All the usual questions apply such as what speakers would you use it with and what do you expect from it... kind of music you enjoy, that kind of stuff. It is capacitor coupled, not direct like later designs, not necessary a bad thing but something to know.
 
spicer said:
That's an interesting unit. Don't know about the price but I'd have it over that low powered Marantz... like Marantz but between the two I'd have the Pioneer for a variety of reasons including the look and features. I'd have it knowing I could fix any issues it might have, otherwise not so sure... it is fairly complicated and up in years. A nice piece of Pioneer history though and in proper working order will have good sound. I like that style which biases my opinion. I would ask the shop what they did, what they mean by completely serviced and report that here for feedback. All the usual questions apply such as what speakers would you use it with and what do you expect from it... kind of music you enjoy, that kind of stuff. It is capacitor coupled, not direct like later designs, not necessary a bad thing but something to know.
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Thanks! I'll check in with the shop tomorrow to see what all they have done to the unit. At home it would be paired with some JBL C56 Dorian speakers and the turntable I have is a Thorens TD-320
 
cambam8905 said:
Thanks! I'll check in with the shop tomorrow to see what all they have done to the unit. At home it would be paired with some JBL C56 Dorian speakers and the turntable I have is a Thorens TD-320
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That's good stuff. In proper working order the Pioneer and the speakers should work fine together and the speakers will probably be happy with the higher power from the Pioneer, at least at higher listening levels, working properly the Marantz is a good sounding unit too and is direct coupled... capacitor coupled designs have a characteristic sound often described as being warm for lack of a better term, nothing bad... I think the Pioneer would be very good with the speakers. Nothing like a listening test though. See if they'll let you try it... maybe money back type arrangement. If you like it the Marantz won't be hard to sell. You'll probably like it. Ask them what they did to it to qualify as completely serviced... besides fixing problems that might have existed what preventive maintenance did they perform, know problems they might have fixed... like certain problematic parts they might have replaced... did they test for output power and make certain adjustments such as main stage bias and center voltage adjustment, that kind of thing. The center voltage for the main amplifier, output stage, would affect sound at higher output levels. I'd like to hear what you think after an at home listening test.
 
That’s a fun receiver with built in reverb - known for noisy transistors - so give it a listen before buying. I think around 85 Watts per channel - TOTL in it’s day. If it hasn’t been serviced (caps and transistors) - count on doing it. I’ve got one on the bench now for transistors (there are a bunch - on every board).
 
visman said:
That’s a fun receiver with built in reverb - known for noisy transistors - so give it a listen before buying. I think around 85 Watts per channel - TOTL in it’s day. If it hasn’t been serviced (caps and transistors) - count on doing it. I’ve got one on the bench now for transistors (there are a bunch - on every board).
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62wpc at 8 ohms/ 85 at 4 ohms.
 
EastPoint said:
Too many caps and transistors in those that go bad. I wouldn’t touch it.
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My common sense agrees with you, but there is just something that draws me in to it's mystique. I may be the red dot tuning needle, or the extremely fancy wood cabinet. Or maybe it's the fancy tone shaper wave display. Or the reverb? I'm not sure.
 
ukfan4sure! said:
My common sense agrees with you, but there is just something that draws me in to it's mystique. I may be the red dot tuning needle, or the extremely fancy wood cabinet. Or maybe it's the fancy tone shaper wave display. Or the reverb? I'm not sure.
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It's the unit itself... it's the piece, they outdid themselves in early Japanese. If I came across a nice one I'd go through and make it new.
 
Lot of known noisy transistors in those.

Serious piece of work to recap and replace those noisy bastards.

Totally worth it.

Done 3 of them.

I have two beauties waiting for me to get around to it.

Oh, the function lamps are a real piece of work to fix also.

Like all TOTL units, they just are not easy.
 
I just read that the transistors are noisy in the reverb unit even when the reverb is off. Can anyone confirm that? Also, what is the preferred replacement for the 2SC458's? I've read of at least 3 possible choices: 2SC2240, KSC1845F or E. Any brand known to be better?
 
KSC1845F is the common replacement. KSC1815 is usually fine too. 2SC2240 and KSC1845E are not commonly made anymore and aren’t used as subs because of this.
 
visman said:
That’s a fun receiver with built in reverb - known for noisy transistors - so give it a listen before buying. I think around 85 Watts per channel - TOTL in it’s day. If it hasn’t been serviced (caps and transistors) - count on doing it. I’ve got one on the bench now for transistors (there are a bunch - on every board).
Click to expand...
Are all transistors noisy? Just got one in dead. A flipper so I would rather not replace all transistors.
 
cambam8905 said:
Hi all! I currently have a Marantz 2220b that needs a total refurbishment. The cost to refurb at this point (per a few conversations with some audio repair shops here in Chicago) is seeming to outweigh the worth of the receiver as a whole.

I came across a Pioneer SX-9000 in Madison, WI that is cosmetically in great condition, in complete working order, and fully serviced by the shop. They're selling for $399 - is this worth the price? I've been seeing these listed online in various conditions with pricing all over the board and I'm not educated enough in Pioneer products to know what a SX-9000 in good shape that works and has been fully vetted by the shop should be going for.

Any advice, input on price, or things I should be on the lookout for? Things to ask the shop that they did when the serviced the unit?

Thanks in advance!
Cameron
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I have an sx-9000 hooked to pioneer HPM 1500's and they sound great and can get LOUD!
 
axiompioneer said:
I have an sx-9000 hooked to pioneer HPM 1500's and they sound great and can get LOUD!
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Hello, I’m new to the forum looking to sell or for guidance on where to sell. I have a Pioneer SX-9000 that my dad purchased overseas when in the navy, late 1969’s. The receiver is in excellent condition but no longer have the speakers. Any idea where I could sell and for how much? Thanks in advance for any info you could offer.
 
JDSailor said:
Hello, I’m new to the forum looking to sell or for guidance on where to sell. I have a Pioneer SX-9000 that my dad purchased overseas when in the navy, late 1969’s. The receiver is in excellent condition but no longer have the speakers. Any idea where I could sell and for how much? Thanks in advance for any info you could offer.
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First you have to subscribe to become a member. Then you'll have access to the Barter Town forum where you can buy from or sell to other members.
 
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