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tuner / Receiver displays

Stink Bear

Stink Bear

Active Member
I'm sitting here looking at displays from some vintage units and considering which are the most pleasing displays. I should start reducing the inventory, and I'm thinking about what can go, a nice display is one consideration.
I have in my view:
Pioneer SX-939
Sansui Eight Deluxe
Kenwood KT-5300 KA-3500
Pioneer SX-650
Pioneer SX-990

My thinking is that the SX-939 is the most pleasing in dim light. A close second is the Eight Deluxe, and maybe better with more light. I really dig the green display, but it's a little on the bright side in dim light.
The SX-990 has nice color, but the radio scale is too small for the unit, it just looks out of proportion to me.
The SX-650.........I really like the silver face Pioneers in the daylight, not so much at night, but I have seen pictures of silver face units with blueish colored LED's that look very nice.
The KT-5300 is just okay, it could be better.
The 650 is a project, it loses the FM station after running for anywhere from an hour to 3 hours, and it needs veneer. I'm thinking this one is a good candidate for custom LED lighting.
The KT-5300 might be a good candidate for custom LED lighting as well. I like the looks of the face of the unit, other than the color of the tuning scale. It is a recent acquisition, I bought it after a long battle with an amp. I finally fixed the KA-3500 amp that it feeds. I'm impressed with the sound of this pair.

I'm curious as to what displays members really like.

I had a Fisher RS-1040. I thought that was a very pleasing display, unfortunately, the cabinet was in pretty poor shape, otherwise I may have kept it and put discreet outputs in it.
I also had a Marantz......2215B? IIRC, I like that display, I didn't like the tuning knob...............just couldn't get used to it.
 
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I've always loved the look of a larger stack, it can really tie things together, so I try to get the tape deck that went with the series and sometimes the EQ. The black component Sansui's are pretty easy to find, have that tough as nails look and the parts have the same footprint. Marantz is a little harder, the recievers all have a me, me, me look to them and the components tend to be smaller so the stack doesn't usually match.

Then you throw in different age ranges, quality 80's equipment has a completely different look then late 70's. I kind of like some of the busy late 80's recievers that have several buttons and displays but the cool stuff is very difficult to find.
 
The Luxman R-1040/1050/1070/1120/1120a has a sophisticated look that some like and some don't. They seem to exude quality in the way they look. But the lights have to work or a meter might not be lit or one end of the dial will be darker. Add to that one of the nicest looking vinyl wraps, rosewood and the slightly darkened metal and they look good.

Just don't put them up against the Pioneer Black/Silver receivers like the SX-55--series. The 5580/5590 are just great looking in their tuxedos. The 5580 is a 1050 the 5590 is a 1250. There are others in the line.

Pioneer Black Face Receivers - post your info!

Call them black face receivers, or the "Euro Versions" if you so desire, or better yet, BlackSilver. But, let's look at this with some supportive data. If you have a: SX-5530 SX-7730 SX-9930 SX-5560 SX-5570 SX-5580 SX-5590 Please post the following information in this thread...
audiokarma.org

I think it has been determined that these units were built for the AAFES exchange stores the military had access to with their switchable voltage.
 
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The SX 939 not only has a great display (blue on black) it is one of the most musical Pioneer receivers as are all the X3X series. Matantz looks nice lit up so does the Sony STR series like the 7035.
 
Onkyo TX-x500 and Kenwood Kr-x400 series have nice displays. Had a Marantz 2238b over a decade ago and still remember the dial kinda sparkling. I find putting in LEDs where they dont belong can ruin the look of even the most beautiful display.
 
petes'picks said:
Onkyo TX-x500 and Kenwood Kr-x400 series have nice displays. Had a Marantz 2238b over a decade ago and still remember the dial kinda sparkling. I find putting in LEDs where they dont belong can ruin the look of even the most beautiful display.
Click to expand...
The trick is the right leds ! Warm white can look just like incandescent and look great in my sta2080 ! Got the right kit for my Mac 1900 they turned out great , thanks Dr Audio ! And cool colors in some of the less collectibles breath new life into them , I seen one posted hear I believe a realistic low powered one customized with multiple colors looked cool ! And my draw a younger person into the hobby !
 
jheu02 said:
Is that Pioneer stack the equivalent of the Spec 3? Must be foreign market.
Click to expand...
I'm not a tech to know what's what on the inside,I just know what I've read about the set in my research.
The C 73 pre is the same as the SPEC 3.
The M 73 amp is a scaled down SPEC 4 rated at 85 watts x 2.
Yes it is a 100 volt unit made for the Japanese market,I do use a step down transformer with it.
Sounds fantastic!
 
Blue Shadow said:
The Luxman R-1040/1050/1070/1120/1120a has a sophisticated look that some like and some don't. They seem to exude quality in the way they look. But the lights have to work or a meter might not be lit or one end of the dial will be darker. Add to that one of the nicest looking vinyl wraps, rosewood and the slightly darkened metal and they look good.

Just don't put them up against the Pioneer Black/Silver receivers like the SX-55--series. The 5580/5590 are just great looking in their tuxedos. The 5580 is a 1050 the 5590 is a 1250. There are others in the line.

Pioneer Black Face Receivers - post your info!

Call them black face receivers, or the "Euro Versions" if you so desire, or better yet, BlackSilver. But, let's look at this with some supportive data. If you have a: SX-5530 SX-7730 SX-9930 SX-5560 SX-5570 SX-5580 SX-5590 Please post the following information in this thread...
audiokarma.org

I think it has been determined that these units were built for the AAFES exchange stores the military had access to with their switchable voltage.
Click to expand...
I replaced some lights in a Luxman R-1040 for a friend. I do remember thinking the cabinet was pretty nice. I think I liked the display in daylight, but the lighting was pretty dim, and considerably brighter on the sides than in the middle, IIRC.
I had to look up the Pioneers you mentioned. They're nice, but I think I like the earlier black-faced Pioneers better, like the SX-9930.
 
I'm quite surprised no one besides me said anything about Sansui. I had a 2000A, I wasn't crazy about the display. I sure like the Eight Deluxe display though.
Thanks everyone for the input.
 
Bone Yard said:
I've always loved the look of a larger stack, it can really tie things together, so I try to get the tape deck that went with the series and sometimes the EQ. The black component Sansui's are pretty easy to find, have that tough as nails look and the parts have the same footprint. Marantz is a little harder, the recievers all have a me, me, me look to them and the components tend to be smaller so the stack doesn't usually match.

Then you throw in different age ranges, quality 80's equipment has a completely different look then late 70's. I kind of like some of the busy late 80's recievers that have several buttons and displays but the cool stuff is very difficult to find.
Click to expand...

Yes, I don't think Marantz meant you to stack with a receiver. The preamps, amps, tuners, cassette decks, and turntables line up fairly well.

The tuner dial, cassette meters, and amp meters all yell for attention about the same. Preamp VU meters, a little lesser.
 
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