todays garage sale find - Pioneer Elite A-88X integrated amp

[Danger Boy]

Yes, i was quite happy when I asked the guy how much he was asking for his Pioneer Elite A-88X 120wpc int amp. $15 with rosewood side panels. I didn't even try to talk him any lower.. I didn't want to be arrested for stealing it.

I also picked up from him a Pioneer TX-7800 tuner for $5

$20 for both. not a bad day I'd say.

From what I've been reading that A-88X int amp is somewhat rare.. at least I can't seem to find to much info about it online. This integrated amp is so heavy. 40 lbs - 3 power transformers and 7 power supplies :jawdrop: dual mono amps I think. :yes::thmbsp:

 

[Urizen]

Excellent find. Here's a bit of info on it:

http://www.elitestereo.netfirms.com/a88x.htm

 

[pioneernut]

Very lucky man to find that. :thmbsp:

 

[bolly]

bluebook says;

A-88X: 1985, msrp$700, used$308

 

[ybaolywa]

Yowza.....that is a great find on the 'east' side. Congrats!

 

[af0h]

Would you like your $20 back? :thmbsp:

 

[siamac]

Great amp :thmbsp:
$ 15,- :tears:

 

[VinylHanger]

I'd like to see the insides of that sucker. :yes:

 

[ZeroJunk]

I had one of those.I think it was one of the first Elite models when Pioneer decided to make a statement that they could still build top notch equipment.
The A88X I had was fantastic.Unfortunately,lightning got in to it and after some repeated trips to the local electronic and washing machine repair,I threw it in a dumpster.

That was before these type forums where you could find people like Mark,Ew,Fred who actually new what they were doing.
Man, I wish I had it back.

 

[Urizen]

I'd like to see the insides of that sucker. :yes:

Seconded.:thmbsp:

 

[Danger Boy]

i'll see about opening her up and cleaning out the dust... then snap a few pics for you all. :yes:

 

[superdog]

Nice find for $15.Don't these kind of finds just make your day.I mean nice find for $20.I love those Pioneer tuners.

 

[Tapehead47]

Way to go, Dangerboy! Let us see the guts.

 

[Luckyman]

Very lucky man to find that. :thmbsp:

Did someone say Luckyman?

 

[Danger Boy]

Nice find for $15.Don't these kind of finds just make your day.I mean nice find for $20.I love those Pioneer tuners.

agreed... i guess as with most any hobby.. finding "deals" like this make it so much fun..

 

[Danger Boy]

guts pics

Ok. before anyone flames me.. I know it's dirty and dusty and needs a good cleaning. I just got it yesterday... and the deep cleaning it needs is beyond what I can do with my limited skills at something like this. I would think it needs to be taken completely apart and cleaned really good. I need someone who restores older gear and had done this type of deep cleaning before.. any help would be appreciated in the name of someone who maybe does this restores in their spare time.. esp if they are in the Northwest US. :yes:

on with the show..

 

[Fedallah]

:jawdrop:

I'm not sure, but I think one of these may be what they have in the basement kitchen here in the dorm, driving a pair of crappy Sony speakers (the ones with the flat woofers, I don't know, they're on vintageknob). It caught my eye the last time I was down there. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but it was large, black, and had a hell of a lot of knobs. The first thing I thought when I saw it was Sansui, but I ruled that out.

Unfortunately, looking at it proper would be very difficult. Obtaining it even more so.

And DangerBoy, I highly doubt anyone's going to flame you. :thmbsp:

Nice score.

 

[Danger Boy]

a few extra pics :thmbsp:

 

[Danger Boy]

fired her up last night... and man does it have some nice dynamic range. smooth and detailed highs, mids are nice as well... bass is thundering. The pre amp section of this integrated sounds better than any other stand alone pre amp I've ever owned. Very nice sounding with CD's. Tonight I'll hook up a turntable and spin some albums.. I hope the magic is there as well with vinyl.

I'm looking online for a users manual for this integrated amp.. but so far haven't been able to find one. If anyone knows where I could find a photo copy of the users manual for a Pioneer Elite A-88X integrated amp.. please let me know.

 

[Danger Boy]

update

update. the right channel has been cutting in and out the past couple of days.. and I've smelled a burning smell as well. I think the right ch amp may be going out.

to rule out anything with the speakers.. I checked all the inside speaker wires and crossovers, and purchased new speaker wire. So far so good.. but every once in a while the right ch will drop down in volume by about 40 t0 50%.

So I'm going to take it in for service.

anyone know if this amp is suppose to be able to handle 4ohm or lower loads?