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Should I upgrade?

Hetbie989

Hetbie989

New Member
i've only been back into vintage equipment for about a year and I'm currently running a nice Pioneer SX-535 receiver, Technics SL-D2 turntable and Smaller advent speakers. Thinking of moving to a Onkyo TX-4500 MKII. I can get the Onkyo for $100, should I pull the trigger?
 
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If in good working order that oink is a very nice unit. Good Quartz locked tuner, more power, past those small 20 watters into the meat of the receiver market around 60, great looks not that those blue lights aren't something sweet and a few years newer.
 
I've not had those two exact models but have had the TX-4500 (which is very similar to the Mk2) and some various Pioneer gear of that vintage and would definitely give the nod to the Onkyo. It really is a very sweet sounding receiver.
I'm totally a separates guy with not much love for receivers outside of appreciating their looks and I'd still go for a good priced Onkyo of that vintage if one were to show up.
 
Thanks for the input. Going this afternoon to check it out in person. As long as it's as nice as described, I will have it home and hooked up by this evening. This site is great, I really appreciate the knowledge that is at my fingertips since joining.
 
Hope you are able to get the Onkyo, as I love mine and the price mentioned is fair in my opinion. As much as I like that series of Pioneer receivers (have previously owned an SX-737, SX-939 and currently own an SX-1010), I would go with the Onkyo over a comparable Pioneer SX-838. The TX-4500 MkII is elegant looking and has a smooth, precise feel to the switches and controls that I really like. It sounds terrific and about the only similar powered receiver I would rather have is a Concept 6.5 or a Sansui Eight, which these days goes for about 3x (Concept) to 5x (Sansui) the price of a TX-4500 MkII.
 
Well…the Onkyo is home, set up, and kickin'! It sounds so good and looks so beautiful I could almost cry. Thanks to everyone who gave their 2 cents worth, I really appreciate it.
 
Excellent trip report. The group leads another one to a nice upgrade. Party on. Now sell that Poineer if you don't need a garage, shop, bedroom unit for what you paid for the Onkyo.
 
I would but my granddaughter is already begging me for it. It's because of her that I got back into vinyl, so I have to take care of her. She's only 14 but loves the vintage equipment like I do…I am so freaking proud!
 
Well that sounds like a bedroom unit for her then. Perfect.

I gave my niece a Marantz 2238B one Christmas when she was about that age and she looked at it like it was worthless, asking 'what do I want this for?'. I told her that her father has a pair of speakers to hook up, you can plug in the discman I got you last year and it will play radio stations. Fine, now let's open more presents.

I got a call that night or the next day and Jessica said, "I don't know what you gave me for Christmas, but I Absolutely Love it."

Fortunately, your granddaughter knows what it is and how to use it. Jess learned in minutes after it was hooked up.
 
It's great educating the youth of today, isn't it? When all they've known is mp3's or streaming music, you put their music on vinyl and run it through a nice system and it blows their minds!
 
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