Scored SX-1080 today!!!
- Thread starter crooner
- Start date
crooner
Tube Marantzed
Yeap, static RMS figures not always tell the whole story.
You've got to take into account other factors like the ruggedness of the power supply. The Realistic units had really good power trannies and filter caps.
That was the point that proponents of the old "Music Power" rating had against the FTC back in the 70s. They said dynamic peak music power was more representative of a receiver's actual performance (with real speakers).
The problem with "music power" was that it was absurdly inflated by some manufacturers.
Curiously, the FTC's rule apparently is no longer enforced in the lower end of the market. Wal-Mart, Circuit City and the likes are filled with plastic stereos boasting "300 watts" of power.
You've got to take into account other factors like the ruggedness of the power supply. The Realistic units had really good power trannies and filter caps.
That was the point that proponents of the old "Music Power" rating had against the FTC back in the 70s. They said dynamic peak music power was more representative of a receiver's actual performance (with real speakers).
The problem with "music power" was that it was absurdly inflated by some manufacturers.
Curiously, the FTC's rule apparently is no longer enforced in the lower end of the market. Wal-Mart, Circuit City and the likes are filled with plastic stereos boasting "300 watts" of power.
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1050/1080
Actually the 1050/1080 have several differences not just the meters. Notice how much heavier the 1050 is over the 1080 . .
The 1250/1280 thing. . . the 1250 is a TOTL model and the 1280 a runner up. . . again some differences . Pioneer actually started their cost cutting with the 80 series not the next series, however the series after the 80 series show it most . . A good example is the 850/880. . . big difference. You can see some of their cost cutting from comparing the 1050/1080. . .
crooner said:
Actually the 1050/1080 have several differences not just the meters. Notice how much heavier the 1050 is over the 1080 . .
The 1250/1280 thing. . . the 1250 is a TOTL model and the 1280 a runner up. . . again some differences . Pioneer actually started their cost cutting with the 80 series not the next series, however the series after the 80 series show it most . . A good example is the 850/880. . . big difference. You can see some of their cost cutting from comparing the 1050/1080. . .
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B3Nut
tubes and spinny things!
Actually, if you compare feature sets (tape mon loops, single or bi-directional dubbing, etc) the 80 series lines up with the 50 series thusly:
450->580
550->680
650->780
and so forth. Little more power at each level, but feature sets and overall build seem to follow the above linkings more than calling the 880 the successor to the 850, when the 980 is closer in feature set and form factor. The 780 inherited the 650's tape monitor config, and the 880 inherited the 750's config (1->2 and 2->1 dubbing toggle).
I do think overall the 50 series to be better built than the 80 series, and I'd take a 1250 over a 1980 or 1280. 1080 vs. 850 would be a tough call if I had to choose which could stay and which could go. I'd have to find an excuse to keep both or I'd likely end up like this --> :cry:
TP
450->580
550->680
650->780
and so forth. Little more power at each level, but feature sets and overall build seem to follow the above linkings more than calling the 880 the successor to the 850, when the 980 is closer in feature set and form factor. The 780 inherited the 650's tape monitor config, and the 880 inherited the 750's config (1->2 and 2->1 dubbing toggle).
I do think overall the 50 series to be better built than the 80 series, and I'd take a 1250 over a 1980 or 1280. 1080 vs. 850 would be a tough call if I had to choose which could stay and which could go. I'd have to find an excuse to keep both or I'd likely end up like this --> :cry:
TP
crooner
Tube Marantzed
The only notable physical difference I see between 1050 and 1080 is the added shielding at the tuner's front end. Also, the dial lamp bulb connectors and sockets plain suck on the 1080. They break very easily. Also, Pioneer used only 3 dial lamps on the 1080. The 1050 has 4.
The brushed metal on the front panel also differs slightly. The newer 1080 is brighter. Silkscreening on the 1080 is lighter but appears to be more resistant to wear.
The heatsinking configuration changed on the 1080 but in square ft. it appears the same. The change was done to accomodate the newly encapusulated power transistors. The "chimney" design was also claimed to be better at dissipating heat.
The 1080 also employed improved ICs in the FM tuner, a relay thermal shut-off system, among other small details.
I was comparing the spec sheets of both my 1080 and 850 and the improvement is quite remarkable. Lower noise floor, better frequency response in the phono section. Improved MPX performance....
The brushed metal on the front panel also differs slightly. The newer 1080 is brighter. Silkscreening on the 1080 is lighter but appears to be more resistant to wear.
The heatsinking configuration changed on the 1080 but in square ft. it appears the same. The change was done to accomodate the newly encapusulated power transistors. The "chimney" design was also claimed to be better at dissipating heat.
The 1080 also employed improved ICs in the FM tuner, a relay thermal shut-off system, among other small details.
I was comparing the spec sheets of both my 1080 and 850 and the improvement is quite remarkable. Lower noise floor, better frequency response in the phono section. Improved MPX performance....
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gonzothegreat
Super Member
crooner said:
Mine worked with the marginal caps. Still would be a good idea to replace them. Especially the black one that is domed on yours.
Look closely at the blue cap closest to the heatsinked TO-220 devices. Looks like the outer plastic has shrunk (from heat expsoure?) and probably needs to be replaced.
Before you get too comfortable with it, replace the caps. At some point they *will* fail and possibly take out other parts. Its cheap insurance to replace all the lytics on the PS board with Panasonic caps from Digikey (FC series is the line EW recommends iirc)
Since Mr "Amplifier Distortion, DC offset and You" hasn't chimed in on this thread, what's the DC offset? Chances are the bias needs touching up too. Anybody here have the bias current settings for a 1080?
My 1080 wasn't on my trade list but Auditech had a pair of *nice* AR speakers that he wasn't attached to. I always wanted a big pair of ARs and these were as close as my budget would ever get me to a pair of AR-9s. I have a soft spot for any speaker that takes cabinet diffraction seriously.
Besides, I found a fixer-upper Marantz 2325 for $20. Roughly the same weight/power class. No toroidal tranny but the Marantz has gyro-touch tuning! Too bad the Marantz is a bitch to take apart. Been dreading taking the front off after my last attempt.
51 pounds
Other than weighing 51 pounds. . . I dont know what the 1080 weighs??
Here is what the Silver Pioneer ref site had to say. . .
The SX-1050 was introduced in 1976, right beneath the top-of-the-line SX-1250. It reflected Pioneer's new styling of matching the silver analog tuning dial with the brushed aluminum front panel. It was capable of pumping out 120 watts per channel. Like the SX-1250 it was beautifully finished in walnut veneers and solid walnut trim. It had a list price of $700.00 and tipped the scales at just over 51 pounds.
Like its more powerful and expensive big brother, the SX-1050's beauty was more than skin-deep. The SX-1050 featured a hefty toroidal transformer and two massive capacitors. However, Pioneer did not center the transformer, but placed it to the left of the component bay in the back, as can be seen in the photos. Having less requirement for heat dissipation than the SX-1250, the SX-1050 did not get the massive wrap-around heatsinks used on Pioneer's top-of-the-line receiver. The SX-1050 measured 20.75 inches wide, 18.00 inches deep, and 6.75 inches high. It was available again in 1977.
In 1978, Pioneer brought out the SX-1080. This receiver was also rated at 120 watts per channel. There were other specification improvements as well. Total harmonic distortion was reduced from 0.100 % (SX-1050) to 0.05 %, as just one example. Intermodulation distortion was also reduced.
Cosmetically, the greatest change was to the stereo reception and power meters. There were now two power meters, one for each channel, as well as the stereo signal and tuning meters. The meter faces were changed from a white face with black characters to a black face with white characters. This made it easier to read the meters. The toggle switches and push buttons were also changed slightly, but you have to compare the two receivers side by side to catch it.
The price of the SX-1050 remained at $700 for 1977. There was no price increase for the SX-1080 when it came out in 1978, but price finally rose in 1979 to $750
Other than weighing 51 pounds. . . I dont know what the 1080 weighs??
Here is what the Silver Pioneer ref site had to say. . .
The SX-1050 was introduced in 1976, right beneath the top-of-the-line SX-1250. It reflected Pioneer's new styling of matching the silver analog tuning dial with the brushed aluminum front panel. It was capable of pumping out 120 watts per channel. Like the SX-1250 it was beautifully finished in walnut veneers and solid walnut trim. It had a list price of $700.00 and tipped the scales at just over 51 pounds.
Like its more powerful and expensive big brother, the SX-1050's beauty was more than skin-deep. The SX-1050 featured a hefty toroidal transformer and two massive capacitors. However, Pioneer did not center the transformer, but placed it to the left of the component bay in the back, as can be seen in the photos. Having less requirement for heat dissipation than the SX-1250, the SX-1050 did not get the massive wrap-around heatsinks used on Pioneer's top-of-the-line receiver. The SX-1050 measured 20.75 inches wide, 18.00 inches deep, and 6.75 inches high. It was available again in 1977.
In 1978, Pioneer brought out the SX-1080. This receiver was also rated at 120 watts per channel. There were other specification improvements as well. Total harmonic distortion was reduced from 0.100 % (SX-1050) to 0.05 %, as just one example. Intermodulation distortion was also reduced.
Cosmetically, the greatest change was to the stereo reception and power meters. There were now two power meters, one for each channel, as well as the stereo signal and tuning meters. The meter faces were changed from a white face with black characters to a black face with white characters. This made it easier to read the meters. The toggle switches and push buttons were also changed slightly, but you have to compare the two receivers side by side to catch it.
The price of the SX-1050 remained at $700 for 1977. There was no price increase for the SX-1080 when it came out in 1978, but price finally rose in 1979 to $750
crooner
Tube Marantzed
gonzothegreat said:
Yes, excellent idea. This area of the receiver runs pretty warm. The surplus shop where I bought the receiver has a nice stock of electrolytics. I will take note of the values and go there tomorrow.
The TO-220 regulator transistors on this board are all "mitsubishi" brand. I was wondering if they were replacements.
gonzothegreat said:
I haven't checked the DC offset on it. The speakers survived the initial "smoke test"
and the receiver is sounding pretty good. I have noticed the sound is a tad strident tho. Highs are more prominent than with the SX-850. Perhaps the bias needs to be checked. One positive thing I noticed is that the power heatsinks run very cool even when driven at moderately high levels. Haven't cranked her too hard for fear of damaging my B&Ws.I read on the SX-1080 brochure (posted here in AK some months ago), that the SX-1080 has some sort of DC monitoring and self-adjusting feature. Gotta investigate this further.
Regards,
crooner
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mentalmonkey
Active Member
Congrats on your nice score Crooner! You might want to relocate one of the receivers to another rack. I think I can hear your rack creaking with all that weight.
e2e4c7c5
Super Member
gyusher said:
I have both the SX-1050 and my original SX-1080 and while the conventional wisdom is that the 50 series was built better, they seem more logical to this amateur in their layout, I can not hear any difference between the SX-1050 or the SX-1080, in fact if anything the SX-1080 seems to be a little better sounding if I were to nitpick, but both are Pioneer through and through.
I do like the cosmetics of the 80 series over the 50 series.
I have a SX-1250 that is a SUPERB receiver. It just has that EDGE over both the 1050 and 1080 in sound, it just sounds a little richer, deeper, just a killer receiver!!!
Can't wait to get the SX-1280 up and running to compare it to the SX-1250.
They're all keepers!!! :yes: :thmbsp:
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Hard to find
These guys are getting harder and harder to find in decent condition. A couple years ago you could find mint 850/950/980/1050/1080s for less than 100.00 on eBay. . . Not so today otherwise I would still be buying and selling these old girls.
Take care of these guys they are about gone never to return. . . :cry:
These guys are getting harder and harder to find in decent condition. A couple years ago you could find mint 850/950/980/1050/1080s for less than 100.00 on eBay. . . Not so today otherwise I would still be buying and selling these old girls.
Take care of these guys they are about gone never to return. . . :cry: