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XX50 Vs XX80

S

Surfacetension

Well-Known Member
I have an 850 and I have had a 1250 , beside the meters what is the difference between the 2 series , I see some of the 80's for a lot less than the 50's . I have heard that the 1280 is a bit of a challange to rebuild and souce parts , anyone with an opion?
:scratch2:
 
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The no longer made integrated circuits are widely sourced across the x80 model line (plenty of donors), and the "unobtanium" outputs are replaceable by modern TO-3p output transistors with a hold down bar. There is one exception, the higher number models use a PA1002a chip that is a dual op amp and a muting circuit in the tuner. No great mystery. Can be worked around. (I've got that one as a back burner issue that I occasionally put time in on.)

Don't let the parts question decide the matter.
 
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I knew I read somewhere about the parts issues , I keep seeing 80's that look like a real buy and it seems like the 50's are going out of sight. I keep looking for less WPC and more warmth , Like the Marantz I have . I know I'm going to wind up buying more stuff just to try it out . and when the dust settles I could just go and get a restored SX. I don't need the power of a 1250 but I do want the build quality. ,
 
50's and 80's are BOTH going out of sight. Almost NOBODY is parting out 1980's or 1280's anymore, and those that do are asking almost incomprehensible prices.
 
I like the quality of the 50 series better except for the 1980 which is really in a league of its own. I agree, the 80 series was the beginning of the end.
 
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I had a SX-750, for years that I bought new. It had great sound, great tuner, the only thing I hated was the speaker selector/power switch, very stiff.
They sounded good, much better then the 80's series IMHO.
The meter were coll on the 80's, but the sound was thin IMHO.
I recently had a friend bring over his refurbed SX-750, and it has that same sound.
However, I didn't really like the sound through my Magnepans, nor my hot rodded AMT3's, as it was fairly colored in the mid bass, and mids.
It sounded excellent through my recapped DLK 1 1'2's though, and that was the real sound that I remembered.
The 1 1/2's are almost a perfect match IMHO. Fairly efficient, and the sealed enclosure helps makes up for the poor/average amplifier damping/woofer control.
The Schaack upgraded Mach 1 system (- Omega 300's + DLK 1 1/2's)
It brought back some fond memories for sure, but I personally will stick with my more modern H/K amplification, as they seem to get the best out of any speakers I throw at them, old or new.
I still dig the silver plates and styling, but my taste for that type of sound as a daily listener moved on in the mid 80's, as I prefer a bit more resolution, and less veiling.
 
IMO Aesthetics wise, both the X80 and X50 are BLAND! ALL Silver, no contrasting frames, or glass. Hard to see controls due to glare from all the Silver. To me the 750 and 780 sound pretty much the same. I have a 790 and with the Black DIAL it just looks so much better. Compare the 790 with my 737 and the 737 wins all catagories except total WPC (10 less per channel). I'll take the X3x series any day.
 
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