What are the best Pioneer receivers?

JohnMac

JohnMac

Addicted Member
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I would like opinions on the best Pioneer receivers made. I have come across a number of them and none have really done it for me. I recently got a nice SX-939 and am not impressed. I thought some of the 25-35 WPC units sounded better. If I were to own one Pioneer receiver, what should I look for?
 
Register to hide this ad
The SX1250 seems to be the choice of most. I have a 1080 and I love it although I understand it's a little easier to get parts for the 1050. All are pretty powerful.
 
The "monster" receivers (SX 1250/1280, etc) are hard to find, expensive, heavy, and not easy to place. A more approachable receiver with excellent power and sound is an SX 750. The SX 850 and up are bigger and quite good, while not being over the top in terms of size. The specs for those in the SX__50 series are all the same-the only difference being wattage.
 
If it's strictly sound quality your looking for, the non-switching SX fluroscan receivers are ones to consider. I prefer these receivers because of the styling (SX-3800, SX-3900, SX-D5000 & SX-D7000). I believe it boils down to what sound you like, power your looking for and appearance.
 
lplover said:
The "monster" receivers (SX 1250/1280, etc) are hard to find, expensive, heavy, and not easy to place. A more approachable receiver with excellent power and sound is an SX 750. The SX 850 and up are bigger and quite good, while not being over the top in terms of size. The specs for those in the SX__50 series are all the same-the only difference being wattage.
Click to expand...

The specs vary some aside from power, especially when considering the tuner specs. The higher the model, the better the tuner. The differences are not merely going to show up on paper, but will matter in actual use if you listen to FM.

I personally like the SX-850 for a bang for the buck kind of deal, but I would not rule out models from other years, nor would I worry about what is generally a good deal when making a specific purchase.
 
JohnMac said:
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I would like opinions on the best Pioneer receivers made. I have come across a number of them and none have really done it for me. I recently got a nice SX-939 and am not impressed. I thought some of the 25-35 WPC units sounded better. If I were to own one Pioneer receiver, what should I look for?
Click to expand...

The SX-939 was available from 1974-1975:

http://www.silverpioneer.netfirms.com/900_series_receivers.htm

By now, it would not be surprising if it were not performing up to specifications. Has it been serviced recently?

With old 1970's models, current condition will matter more than any other factor. Of course, if you are willing to pay to have a unit serviced, a higher model, from a more recent year, will be better. Still, the SX-939, if it were performing up to spec, should be decent.
 
From what I have heard the sx 939 1010 have a more tube like sound probably not as crisp in the high end as the 1050 1250's but to my ears warmer/more musical .although my ears do not handle the crisp highs of any reciever well.
 
What type of servicing would benifit these receivers. I have to think that I'm not realizing the full potential, sound wise, of these receivers. I clean them and get them functioning properly but what should be done electonically? I don't use radio much and am mostly concerned with sound when using a tt or cd.
 
I'm no Pioneer expert (in the past two years I have owned a SX-580, SX-939, SX-1280 and SX-3800). I can say this...the 939 and the 1280 sounded completely different. I liked the sound of both (and preferred the SX-3800 for sound, actually, which also sounded different than all of the rest) but they are really very different sounding receivers. To ask which is best is a question that really has no answer. It depends on what you like.
 
As to what would servicing involve pretty much all the caps would be replaced as well as any other part no longer up to spec or causing any kind of problem. It really depends on the condition of the paticular unit.
 
Yeah, it's all in the tone. I don't want to ruffle any feathers on this forum but I've liked almost every M-----z that I've plugged in. More punch and sparkle. That being said, I'm determined to find that Pioneer that I love.
 
This 939 is in very nice condition and everything functions properly so maybe it would be a good one to recap. That is something that I con do. Anything else I should look at?
 
John you might start a thread that you are going to recap your 939 and ask if there is anything else to do while your in there and the various techs here might have some pointers.
 
Sounds good. I'll test it a little more thoroughly in a "real life" then post a thread on restoring it.

Thanks,
John
 
There is only one the Legend, the Beast, the SX-1980

I also have a SX-980. The 980 is a mid level receiver with a good amount of power at 80 WPC. Has great sound, clean and crisp. IMO, pund for pound, one of the best mid size receivers Pioneer put out. Nothing against the 1050, 1080, 1250, 1280. But I think of those as more of a big Receiver then a mid size.

I wouldn't mind a 1250 or a 1280. Actually a 1280. I love those meters!!!
 
the 939 is an excellent receiver and a very good choice to recap and make the amp adjustments..get the service manual. i would check the dc offset and the bias adj before i did anything.
 
jgmacv said:
If it's strictly sound quality your looking for, the non-switching SX fluroscan receivers are ones to consider. I prefer these receivers because of the styling (SX-3800, SX-3900, SX-D5000 & SX-D7000). I believe it boils down to what sound you like, power your looking for and appearance.
Click to expand...

+1 :music: (he be right). On this note, I am a firm believer that the early Eighties were the height of vintage solid state audio design and manufacture. This puts me at some odds with some other enthusiasts who prefer stuff from a bit earlier, but that's my story and I'm sticking to it. That means the fluoroscan receivers win my vote, even though I prefer the looks of the xx80 series that preceded them. Aesthetics do count for something.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom