Pioneer SX-1050: worth repairing?

I would probably get fixed because it would be hard to replace it for the price. But I would send it to someone who specializes in rebuilding vintage equipment and have it completely gone though and have any parts likely to break replaced.

A reputable shop will usually, on an older piece such as this, elect to include a complete re-cap when doing this sort of work. I had a Pioneer sx-2500 with a blown channel, and when I took it in for repair the tech said that a complete replacement of all electrolytic capacitors was advised and it would run about $300. This included a year warranty.
New caps shoould be good for ten years plus, so if you like the 1050 and can justify amortizing the expense over ten years it's really pretty cheap. Selling it with a blown channel is pretty hard to do unless someone really wants it for parts.

I also vote for fixing it. The SX-1050 was one from top of the line in what many think were the best built receiver series Pioneer ever made. I have it's big brother the SX-1250 which I fully recapped, and its a very nice receiver.

If you go to the AK board, they have a Pioneer section. The folks there can reccomend some good techs who specialize in vintage Pioneer - there'a guy called Mark the Fixer who has a very good reputation (I've never used him, but I've met him and he seems like a straight shooter).

I think its good to have different opinions from different repair shops/technicians. Repairing is the way to go.

i like this pioneer series alot, but i'd be hesitant to drop $350 on a repair. repairs of 70s receivers is always kinda iffy--i've had some bad luck w/channel imbalances--and working units seem to go for around $400-450 on ebay (the less powerful, but also excellent models of the same series are much cheaper). you might consider selling yours as a fixer-upper and getting a fully operational unit.