Technics SA 5370- my entry into vintage audio

[xs650shawn]

Just got a Technics SA 5370 on eBay. Fully functional. Finally got it set up in my cabinet after having to blow dust and cat hair out of it. This thing rocks! Only using cheapie Sony SS-MF400H speakers, sounds clearer and stronger than the Sony it replaced- and it had a subwoofer! If a Technics sounds this good, I can't wait to get my hands on something higher end!

 

[horizon]

Hi! I've got a 5360 which I used for some time a couple of years back. A solid and reliable workhorse putting out about 55wpc if memory serves. Plenty of bottom end but a bit lacking in definition and sparkle at the other. Nevertheless very good to be getting on with. If in the future you want to step up a bit the Hitachis from the same period sr703 for example will give you a brighter more precise top end without losin the bottom. Great this old stuff, eh!

 

[hugeroost]

shawn, when you get ready look at a pioneer sx1080 or 1050, hook either of those up to any klipsch heritage speakers and your ruined for life....Roost

 

[MacPhantom]

Bullshit. As if a Pioneer would be better than the 5370 just by its name…
…or just because you favor it…

Sorry, couldn't resist, but everyone has their own favorites and regards them as the holy grail. But eventually, these devices don't give each other that much.
Anyway, the SA-5370 is a great receiver! Not the best audio device ever made by Technics, but a solid one.

 

[Baron K Rool]

If a Technics sounds this good, I can't wait to get my hands on something higher end!

Why? Why not just be happy with what you have? Getting more stuff can never lead to happiness.

This is an excellent amplifier. It's not likely that you'll ever be able to find something that's more than marginally better.

 

[krowmagnum]

Bullshit. As if a Pioneer would be better than the 5370 just by its name…
…or just because you favor it…

Anything Technics did, Pioneer did bigger and better...
Not an opinion. It's fact.

One possible exception might be turntables. Maybe

 

[Daunia 70]

Congratulations on the Technics SA-5370...Great buy!

The Technics 5170,5270,5370,etc receivers were all excellent,therefore sold very well.
In my opinion,they're just as good sounding and well built as any other mainstream Japanese made receiver in their same size/class category at that period,and in some cases even better.
They look supa cool too!
I still adore my SA-5270

 

[mhardy6647]

That era of Technics receivers was, IMO, substantially better built than were the later SA-x00 and subsequent SA-x0x families.

The 5370 and its kin were nice basic receivers.


SA5370 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

 

[MacPhantom]

Anything Technics did, Pioneer did bigger and better...
Not an opinion. It's fact.

One possible exception might be turntables. Maybe

Typical statement by somebody who yells "receivers!" when it comes to hifi. I agree that Technics receivers are not the best of what this brand could do. But for all the rest: name me a TOTL Pioneer device, and I give you a way better Technics one.
Control amp: did Pioneer ever do something like the SU-A2? Or SU-A4MK2? Or SU-C7000?
Power amp: Pioneer's Exclusive or SPEC line may reach Technics' SE-9600, but they never even get close to the SE-A1, SE-A3 (MK2), SE-A100 or SE-A7000
Integrated: SU-MA10 anybody? SU-8099?
Equalizers: have a look at the SH-9010, SH-9090, SH-8075 and SH-GE100
Turntables: you nailed it. Pioneer's Exclusive line turntable had a better SNR than the SP-10MK3—only because of another way to measure it. So you can't take these specs for granted. But the SP-10 was the studio standard (not by Fisher) at its time. Same goes for the tonearm (EPA-100) or cartridge (EPC-305MC, EPC-100C): what did Pioneer do there? Nothing!
Loudspeakers: yes, Pioneer made the amazing 2401 speakers. Technics did the SB-10000, presumably equal in performance. Oh, and also the SB-1000, SB-M1/2, SB-AFP10/100/1000, SB-M10000, SB-10, SST-1WT/SST-35Hz/SST-25Hz, SB-E500, SB-8000, and so on and so forth.
Crossovers: Pioneer crossovers are really great. The SH-9015C is better.
Tuners: the Exclusive Tuner by Pioneer must be one of the best ever made. Too bad this is only stated on thevintageknob but nowhere else as this thing never really got into serious production. From Technics, you will see two candidates among the top ten: the ST-9700 and ST-9038, both regularly produced.
Reel to reels: one simple name: RS-1800.
Even receivers: Pioneer's SX-1980 sold better than the more powerful Technics SA-1000 for just one reason: it was substantially cheaper. But both share the illness of all oversized US market receivers: their flimsy heatsinks. I would never ever dare hooking up an SA-1000 or SX-1980 to an Infinity Kappa 8.0. They would simply burn out. Both. So the only story behind these monsters was the receiver war. Not build or sound quality. But Technics won that one (too).

So long…

 

[newzealand]

i like the technics gear

the pro system treats me very well,had good pioneer stuff as well ,however i have to say that technics is the gear i use mostly ,

 

[kermit z]

The 5370 is a nice sounding receiver. Enjoy it

 

[mhardy6647]

Yes there were one or two rather nice products that (at least in the US) bore the "Technics" label

e.g. (and, it probably goes without saying, not mine...)

images all from www.vintagetechnics.co.uk

 

[MacPhantom]

Ok, let's toss in the real high end!

 

[moejr]

That Technics is nice looking unit. I am sure you'll get tons of enjoyment. The Japansese receivers from the 70's from Kenwood,Pioneer,Sansui,Technics and others all had their hits and misses. None of them were perfect.

Technics are nice but not the end all Mac wants you to think they are.

 

[MacPhantom]

You got me wrong, moejr. I know it looks as if I wanted to proselytize you for Technics, but I did not intend to do so. Also Technics made a lot of entry level gear, nothing special, etc. Also Pioneer made some really high end stuff. Eventually, all did everything (you will find the best and worst from Pioneer, Sansui, Sony, Technics, JVC, and all the others very similar to each other).

I just had to overdo it a little because of krowmagnum's ridiculous answer. If one claims Technics made only second order stuff and the other states the opposite, both ends shall meet at the (really true) center, ain't they?

 

[SVI2004A]

Anything Technics did, Pioneer did bigger and better...
Not an opinion. It's fact.

One possible exception might be turntables. Maybe

You running for senate?

They're your only rivals in the bullshit department.

Pioneer is good equipment though.

 

[krowmagnum]

Typical statement by somebody who yells "receivers!" when it comes to hifi. I agree that Technics receivers are not the best of what this brand could do. But for all the rest: name me a TOTL Pioneer device, and I give you a way better Technics one.
Control amp: did Pioneer ever do something like the SU-A2? Or SU-A4MK2? Or SU-C7000?
Power amp: Pioneer's Exclusive or SPEC line may reach Technics' SE-9600, but they never even get close to the SE-A1, SE-A3 (MK2), SE-A100 or SE-A7000
Integrated: SU-MA10 anybody? SU-8099?
Equalizers: have a look at the SH-9010, SH-9090, SH-8075 and SH-GE100
Turntables: you nailed it. Pioneer's Exclusive line turntable had a better SNR than the SP-10MK3—only because of another way to measure it. So you can't take these specs for granted. But the SP-10 was the studio standard (not by Fisher) at its time. Same goes for the tonearm (EPA-100) or cartridge (EPC-305MC, EPC-100C): what did Pioneer do there? Nothing!
Loudspeakers: yes, Pioneer made the amazing 2401 speakers. Technics did the SB-10000, presumably equal in performance. Oh, and also the SB-1000, SB-M1/2, SB-AFP10/100/1000, SB-M10000, SB-10, SST-1WT/SST-35Hz/SST-25Hz, SB-E500, SB-8000, and so on and so forth.
Crossovers: Pioneer crossovers are really great. The SH-9015C is better.
Tuners: the Exclusive Tuner by Pioneer must be one of the best ever made. Too bad this is only stated on thevintageknob but nowhere else as this thing never really got into serious production. From Technics, you will see two candidates among the top ten: the ST-9700 and ST-9038, both regularly produced.
Reel to reels: one simple name: RS-1800.
Even receivers: Pioneer's SX-1980 sold better than the more powerful Technics SA-1000 for just one reason: it was substantially cheaper. But both share the illness of all oversized US market receivers: their flimsy heatsinks. I would never ever dare hooking up an SA-1000 or SX-1980 to an Infinity Kappa 8.0. They would simply burn out. Both. So the only story behind these monsters was the receiver war. Not build or sound quality. But Technics won that one (too).

So long…

Technics party was over long ago, Pioneer continued on with Reference, Elite and TAD.

So long...

 

[MacPhantom]

What a bullethead.

Here's just a little bit more from the later Technics era:

http://www.audiokarma.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6416

Everything Pioneer did, Technics could do equally (or better). Period.

 

[SVI2004A]

What a bullethead.

Everything Pioneer did, Technics could do equally (or better). Period.

Let alone make nearly all their components (resistors capacitors transistors diodes ICs motors transformers etc)

The fact is that Matsushita always had an edge, One hasn't got to look hard to see that they are capable of doing with their components.

There will always be buttheads that surface on here, I would like to see the Technics forum return.... Much more peaceful place that was

 

[Vistance]

Technics party was over long ago, Pioneer continued on with Reference, Elite and TAD.

To be fair, there are more than a few brands that made great gear that are now out of business while others have continued on. I wouldn't say those that are still around are all so much better than those that haven't lasted, only that they have more business sense.

Great example would be Sansui. While I'm no Sansui fan, they have their strong following and I'm certain there are plenty who'd prefer Sansui over equipment which is still being produced today. Personally I am a Technics fan myself, but there's nothing wrong with Pioneer. I wouldn't rank either better or worse than the other as both made good and not so good models. Not many examples of either of their best offerings, since most people couldn't afford the best of the best. I have a Pioneer A-27, part of the Series 20 line so I certainly appreciate equipment of its level. At one point I actually had almost every piece from the Series 20 line, great stuff ranked only beneath the Exclusive line.