2. amps-preamps
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Anyone done A / B listening to compare vintage stereo receivers with today’s Amps/Preamps?

I bought a Pioneer SX-1050 new in 1977. It was my first serious audio purchase and set me back around $3000 when adjusted for inflation to today’s dollars. IOW, quite a lot.  In 1985 I made my second major audio purchase when I bought Quad ESL-63 electrostatic speakers and a Quad Amp and Preamp. The Pioneer wound up in my closet where it has set until 2018 (34 years) when I put it to work in my second best system, the TV room. Last month I decided to have it refurbished and I have to confess it set me back way way more than I expected, but it does sound very good indeed.  

But I’m definitely wondering if I made a good investment. And how the Pioneer, specifically the SX-1050, but others of similar character,  compares to present day equivalents.  

Has anyone done any comparative listening to electronics in the $3000-$5000 range? How does the Pioneer compare?  

Answering that question would go at least some way to answering the question whether the vintage electronics are as good or better than those designed and built for today. And whether I made a good investment.

My TV System
Vizio 60” Ultra HD
Spendor FL-6 floor standing speakers
Arcam SR-250 two-channel AVR used for video only
Pioneer SX-1050 used for audio only
Video sources:
1 - Dish DVR
2 - Oppo UDP-205 DVD
3 - Roku streamer
4 - Pioneer Elite CLD-99 Laser Disc Player
128x128echolane

Showing 5 responses by echolane

echolane's avatar
echolane OP
90 posts
 
responding to comments about so many switches the signal must pass through, I have to admit most of these sorts of techie comments are over my head, but I feel safe in commenting that I very much agree in principle with a “less is more” philosophy.

With all those many parts and it’s age, I fear it might be a maintenance problem though I certainly hope I am wrong about that. If I had unlimited funds I’d almost certainly not keep the Pioneer, but my investment to refurbish it was cheaper by far than I would have spent to replace it.   At the moment, I’d much rather spend money on streaming and I’m presently only a few steps away from bringing Roon to all four of my household stereo systems.

echolane's avatar
echolane OP
90 posts
 
To lowrider
who asked if my Pioneer was sounding any better:

Quite a bit better!  I am confident it has benefited greatly from a breaking in  period.  One of these days I will find an easy way to compare how it sounds with something else if that something else happens to come my way.   Until then I am super pleased And hopefully I will still be as pleased if I get an opportunity to do comparative listening.
echolane's avatar
echolane OP
90 posts
 
I will pass on some advice my long time audio repair fellow  has given me, which is to rotate knobs and move switches fairly often so any tarnish is not given a chance to accumulate.

So, for example, every time I switch sources on my big tube amp, I rotate the knob through all five of its possible sources before settling it to the proper source.

I ought to mark my calendar to every month rotate all the knobs and move all the switches on the Pioneer.  Hopefully that won’t wear things out before their time!
echolane's avatar
echolane OP
90 posts
 
To ndevamp Who said this. 
Echolane, +1 for moving the switches regularly to keep them working well.
I help maintain a studio mixing console with hundreds of mechanical switches. The advice given in the service manual is to do just that, operate them regularly to keep tarnishing to a minimum. Some of the switches are so stubbornly tarnished though that I have to disassemble the switch and scrape the delicate contacts clean manually. That’s from years of not moving them enough previously.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don’t always live up to my own advice!  I’ve just put a monthly reminder in my calendar so I won’t forget.  I’m glad I don’t have as many switches as you do :-)
echolane's avatar
echolane OP
90 posts
 
To riaa who said this:
As somebody that has had over 100 Vintage 1970's receivers I can tell you that PIONEER...all of them...cant touch the Higher End Sansui's, Sanyo's, Onkyo's or Kenwood's. I mean its not even close. The Sanyo JCX2900K is the biggest bargain of all of them for 400-500 or less in great shape.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I can only respond by saying ignorance is bliss :)
A big reason I had the Pioneer redone was that I already owned it.  I also admit that there was also a big dose of nostalgia involved, after all it was my first big audio purchase back in 1977, and it was also something that gave me a great deal of pride and pleasure at the time.   It’s a looker, too with its real walnut sides and top and a fancy looking front face,  so I’m satisfied for now.  If I should happen to come across something that makes my heart beat fast for its much better sound, I’ve had my fun and I could let it go.  But I have to add that  it would most  likely not be a vintage product.

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