SX-850 compared to the bigger models?

onemug

onemug

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I've been wanting to add a Pioneer receiver to my small collection of some Marantz's and Sansui's. I just got an 850 in great condition physically and electrically yesterday and first impressions are good.

For those of you that know the sound of this unit, how does it compare to the 1050 and 1250 especially at low levels?

I listen at very low levels (it's at the 8 o'clock position now) so don't need the extra power and "sometimes" lesser power units will sound a little sweeter at these lower levels than their bigger brothers.

Mainly just interested in this silver SX series right now, maybe a 1010 later on as I read/hear they have a softer sound.

Thoughts and opinions?
 
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The 850 is a fine mid-power receiver. I think it sounds as good as the 950/1050, and I like all three of those a little more than the 1250.
 
IMO All the x50 series sound the same pretty much.It depends on how much power your speakers need to play a certain volume.I have all the receivers that you mentioned and the only one i use anymore is the sx 1010.
 
satellite65 said:
The 850 is a fine mid-power receiver. I think it sounds as good as the 950/1050, and I like all three of those a little more than the 1250.
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That's good to hear. Thanks

Silversleep said:
IMO All the x50 series sound the same pretty much.It depends on how much power your speakers need to play a certain volume.I have all the receivers that you mentioned and the only one i use anymore is the sx 1010.
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Yeah, I have a 1010 on my radar. What is it about the 1010 that makes you use it over the others?
 
Tuner is great! 1010 sounds like a very, very warm tube amp to me.The bass is very pronounced and clean. The other Pioneer units i cannot tell much of a difference when i turn the bass up, or engage the loudness function. Everyone likes different sound, i prefer the 1010 sound by far of any Pioneer receiver. Bye the way, the other Pioneer units i have are restored, i still use the 1010 for the sound.
 
Silversleep said:
Tuner is great! 1010 sounds like a very, very warm tube amp to me.The bass is very pronounced and clean. The other Pioneer units i cannot tell much of a difference when i turn the bass up, or engage the loudness function. Everyone likes different sound, i prefer the 1010 sound by far of any Pioneer receiver. Bye the way, the other Pioneer units i have are restored, i still use the 1010 for the sound.
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Thanks. Having a good tuner is important to me.

"Everyone likes different sound"...agree, it's only what sounds best to the individual. The Marantz's and Sansui's have a warmer sound to me so I don't mind having one receiver that goes more toward that, what shall we call it, "non-tube"? sound...as long as it doesn't get hard or brittle.
 
I have the 850 and 1010. Both are restored. Neither are "hard/brittle", although I'm not sure how you make that determination. The 850 I own measured 94 watts when it was done. With the 850, you begin to approach the big time. A friend of mine just bought one from a lady for 25. I never find those deals.
My speakers are very efficient, so I often need to use the 50 hz knob on the 1010 for an added push. It is a great amp.
 
I have the whole lineup of sx50/80 receivers, from the 6"s to the 12"s, I run em all through Klipsch Heritage, so it don't matter really. I went from my 1080 to a 850 in my shop and no dropoff, pushing a set of Heresy with double subs, just 1 watt sounds incredible...Roost
 
Dave1384 said:
I have the 850 and 1010. Both are restored. Neither are "hard/brittle", although I'm not sure how you make that determination..
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"hard/brittle"...Just words trying to describe what someone feels. The "how" I come to the conclusion, for me, would be rooted in the harmonics and decay in the music and if my ears hear it or not. Good tube amps seem to do it well, some ss does it better than others.

Years ago I had a musician listening to my system (tube fwiw), he remarked, "that sounds more like a piano than I've ever heard, it has a cushion to the sound". That observation has stayed with me.
 
My 850 drive a pair of HPM-100s and it sounds clean as the 1250. Granted, the 1250 can power more speaker to higher levels before clipping, but the 850 is hardly a slouch. It was the first unit in the "big boy" lineup for a reason.
 
The SX-850 goes to 8.
The SX-950 goes to 9.
The SX-1050 goes to 10.
and, of course,
The SX-1250 goes to 11.

They all sound good, the bigger they are...the bigger they are.
 
^^^^
Thanks for your opinions.

Only my third day with the 850 (and it does have some new parts in it) and I'd say it's a keeper at this point.

Going to do some comparisons this weekend. Just fired up the Sansui G9000 for a prelim.

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parman said:
No matter what else those Pioneer SX receivers look fantastic
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Agree.

Looks are important to me. I looked at many pictures of this SX series on the net but nothing prepared me for when I unboxed this unit. Put it up on our kitchen counter, stepped back and said "wow, this IS a beauty".
 
Silversleep said:
Nice 9000!! I bought one but it was damaged in shipping so now it is a parts unit!:tears:
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Sorry to hear that. The G9k is the biggest receiver I've ever seen and it's weight matches it's size. I got mine out of a friends collection, put it on the passenger seat of my car and drove it home. This will be a challenge if I ever decide to let it go. Boxing and shipping would be a nightmare. I'm on the west coast and if someone on the east coast wanted it...I'd consider meeting him in Nebraska. :D
 
The 859 is no slouch. I serviced a SX 1980 and got the bug again. Can't afford those. My forth 850. Here is my take. I like it. Lots of power but I run it at lower levels most of the time. Not as warm as say a 828 or 838. Those have more of a tube like sound. The. 850 is more solid state. I need the extra bit of power as it's powering my ADS 810s. My Pioneer SA 9100 conked out and my SA 7100 at 30 watts wasn't cutting it. The FM section isn't bad but I am used to my Pioneer TX 9100. The tuner is much more sensitive. What ever is in my bedroom is the daily player. I just brought up the 850. I am looking for another 9100. So far it's not bad I. My quarters. It was just ok in the livingroom. My Marantz 4270 killed it. I usually am not a Marantz fan but their quad receivers are really good. The 850 got sent to the man cave for about a year as my bench amp. A little too nice to live down there. Hope this helps. Off to bed now to end my day with a LP! Off to play mine!

Eric
 
I am really surprised at the difference in size of the 850 and 880, both 10"s are the same size, both 12"s are too, noticeable difference in the 8"s...Roost
 
IMHO the 50 series all sound similar with the exception being the SX-750. For whatever reason, the 750 has a more laid back sound than the rest and I prefer it for that reason. :thmbsp:
 
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