Yes, the SX-1010 is to classic receivers what the '57 Chevy is to classic cars, understated yet dignified. I don't own either unfortunately.
Even the midrange 50's have personality imho, all those models made in Japan from the SX-650 up. The SX-650 itself is a little special, I've read somewhere, maybe on this forum actually, that its near-perfect symmetry exemplifies the epitome of mid-70's Japanese industrial audio design. Very clean aesthetics without a single push-button on its front plate, just the elegantly fluted study knobs and toggles. Simple without being simplistic.
Spec-wise, the Allied 495 is pretty similar to the Pioneer SX-6000 which quotes 36wpc rms @ 8 ohms from 20hz - 20khz at less than 1% THD. I would imagine the Allied 490 would be about 20 to 24wpc rms, 20-20k <1% THD. That's an educated guess. The Allied 395 was supposed to be replaced by the 495 which provided improved cosmetics, two meters, newer IC's, etc. When Radio Shack took over, they dropped the new Allied line-up and bought more of the 395's one last time to take advantage of its positive reviews. Pioneer probably offered them a good price in order to use up the parts they had on hand for the Allied line-up.
Total output at 4 ohms. See post above for real-life specs
