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Potential Purchase | Pioneer SX-980 vs SX-1250

mmsean

mmsean

New Member
I have a couple of opportunities to purchase a couple of items and wanted to see y'alls thoughts. Although I wish I could get the screaming deals from yesteryear those times are few and far between apparently.

I'd like to add that I'm a first time buyer so vintage stuff is new to me. I am trying to find something good but will appreciate a bit.

Pioneer SX-980
I have a lead on a SX-980 that I would rate a 9.5 cosmetically on the faceplate. The owner states that it's been taken apart and cleaned and but not recapped. States that everything works as it should.
$600.00

Pioneer SX-1250
I have another lead on a SX-1250 which I would rate a 9.0 cosmetically on the faceplate. The owner said it was looked over and it's original and everything works. Potentially it will need to be refurbished like the SX-980 at some point. States that everything works as it should
$1000.00

Anyone have a suggestion on which might be the better deal both short and long term?
 
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I agree with above. 1250! As far as the 980, the owner did very little, as that is the very basic I do with anything I get. I only do recap if I think I’m going to keep it for a while.
 
Well there you have it.
I was never terrible impressed with the xx80 series - though the big one is nice.
The SX-1250 is one of the greats - go!
 
You could throw a full recap into that 1250 and make enough money selling it to buy a 980 free and clear.
 
Just found out a full recap is going to be 800-1000. I was hoping for lower but dang! Oh well going to look at the unit this week.
 
"full recap" is not what the 1250 needs. A full rebuild / restoration is.

The last one I did got every EL cap including the four big PS caps, tantalums, transistors (including outputs), relays, some resistors and diodes, and I believe the entire parts bill was less than $350.

Made it pretty much a new SX-1250 and if the cosmetics are excellent that's a $2,000+ receiver (maybe more now, I don't know). Well worth the effort.
 
SaturationPt said:
"full recap" is not what the 1250 needs. A full rebuild / restoration is.

The last one I did got every EL cap including the four big PS caps, tantalums, transistors (including outputs), relays, some resistors and diodes, and I believe the entire parts bill was less than $350.

Made it pretty much a new SX-1250 and if the cosmetics are excellent that's a $2,000+ receiver (maybe more now, I don't know). Well worth the effort.
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IMG_1605.jpg
I would say the cosmetics could be better, one small scratch that I saw on the face and the cabinet isn't perfect on the left side. Going to look at it this weekend. Wish it was mint however I'm sure I'd be paying more than what I'm going to pay.
 
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mmsean said:
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I would say the cosmetics could be better, one small scratch that I saw on the face and the cabinet isn't perfect on the left side. Going to look at it this weekend. Wish it was mint however I'm sure I'd be paying more than what I'm going to pay.
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Very Nice....I had a SX-1250 and it's a very nice sounding receiver. My 1st Recap/Rebuild was SX-1050 then SX-1250...This will need Love and I followed "mattsd" recap thread. There are a number of SX-1250 threads and I would check the Main Caps as mine on the
bottom was cracking as well the Power Boards needed a full Rebuild as to bulging caps. Post some pics on the boards. Start a Thread on Pioneer section....Look forward to the journey.
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/pioneer-sx-1250-recap-and-restoration-thread.420950/
 
The
sx1250, for sure! Word of advice: NEVER post information about a potential purchase BEFORE you buy it. There are ways to determine where the unit is and someone unscrupulous might just buy it right out from under you while you're making up your mind. If you are truly unsure, buy them both and after trying them out, sell the one that you like the least.
 
Well I went and looked at the receiver and there is a small gouge in the faceplate where something must have fallen on the 100hz knob and gouged the face and bent the shaft on the knob. The cabinet isn't bad but needs to be refinished on one side. I don't care much about the cabinet but the faceplate is something that I haven't been able to find a replacement for and the knob is a bit of a concern.

Am I crazy for passing up a deal like this for those two items?
 
Put it this way - the receiver is 40+ years old, the scars are just a testament to its history.
It’s unlikely you’ll find a replacement faceplate.
You may be able to sand out the scratch a little bit but it’s always going to be there.
A bent shaft can be straightened or replaced.
An SX-1250 these days for a grand is a deal.
 
mmsean said:
Well I went and looked at the receiver and there is a small gouge in the faceplate where something must have fallen on the 100hz knob and gouged the face and bent the shaft on the knob. The cabinet isn't bad but needs to be refinished on one side. I don't care much about the cabinet but the faceplate is something that I haven't been able to find a replacement for and the knob is a bit of a concern.

Am I crazy for passing up a deal like this for those two items?
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If you can get it for 1,000 and you're nitpicking that, yes, you're crazy. I would buy a 1250 even if it was completely blown up for that much.
 
I've had 1250s, they're great receivers, but there are other great receivers. The reason to own an SX-1250 over other receivers and amplifiers in the $1,000 plus restoration point would be because looking at and listening to it makes you smile more than other (~1,600+ after restoration) comparable pieces.

For me, I wouldn't have bought it, I only buy cosmetically perfect pieces. For others it might have been a good deal. You went with your gut and I would have also.
 
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