Is Vintage HiFi BETTER? - Pioneer SX-450 Stereo Receiver Review
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- Опубліковано 20 кві 2020
- Is Vintage HiFi BETTER? - Pioneer SX-450 Stereo Receiver Review
For a list of products used to test the Pioneer, check the description below.
Is vintage hifi equipment better than new hifi products? We review the Pioneer SX-450 stereo receiver from the late 70s to see how it compares to modern audiophile components. Adding DACs and wireless audio capability such as Bluetooth or Apple AirPlay to a vintage hifi receiver or amplifier isn't difficult. You can even "modernize" a vintage stereo receiver like the Pioneer SX-450 for two channel home theater use.
► REVIEWING THE PIONEER SX-450 STEREO RECEIVER
Pioneer SX-450 Stereo Receiver
► TESTING THE PIONEER SX-450
Klipsch Heresy IV: bit.ly/heresyiv
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Amtake DAC: amzn.to/34TsN0d
Schiit Modi 3 DAC: amzn.to/2XSNd8b
Cambridge Audio CXN V2 Stereo Network Streamer: amzn.to/3eIJu3c
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Audioengine B1 Bluetooth Music Receiver: bit.ly/3mbLvXS
★ MORE ANDREW ROBINSON REVIEWS
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Klipsch Heresy IV Review: • MIND BLOWN!! KLIPSCH H...
Hisense H8G Review: • Best Cheap 4K TV Hisen...
Guide to GREAT Audio in Small Spaces: • HiFi in SMALL SPACES! ...
► MY FAVORITE DEMO MUSIC
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Musical Fidelity Integrated Amp: bit.ly/M5si
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Q Acoustic Concept 300: bit.ly/C300wsA
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Kanto Bookshelf Speaker Stands (budget): bit.ly/Kanto26
SolidSteel Speaker Stands (best): bit.ly/SolidAA
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Audio Technica LP140XP: amzn.to/33OfgXO
Cambridge Audio Direct Drive Turntable: bit.ly/AlvaCA
RECORD PLAYER CARTRIDGES
Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge (better): bit.ly/BlueAA
Ortofon 2M Black Cartridge (best): bit.ly/BLKAA
HEADPHONES
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless NCX Headphones: bit.ly/WH1000xm4
SOUNDBARS
SENNHEISER AMBEO: bit.ly/35yLQO1
TOP SMART TVs
LG 8K TV: bit.ly/LG8K99TV
Hisense H9G: bit.ly/H9GTV
TCL 6 Series: amzn.to/35Vn9NO
BLUETOOTH / DESKTOP SPEAKERS
Naim Mu-so V2: amzn.to/33ASZxI
Klipsch The Fives: bit.ly/fivesUS
Kanto YU: bit.ly/YUdesk
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#audio #vintageaudio #pioneer - Розваги
What is your favorite piece of vintage hi-fi gear and why? What vintage piece or BRAND should we review next?
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Picking a particular model would be hard for me (closet full of gear). Everyone always wants to hear about the monster receivers from the 70s; but very few could afford them then and now. Sure they were big massive and beautiful. I think you should do a shoot out between middle of the road receivers from the same era with maybe a little more punch (35-45watt into 8 ohms). A receiver that I grew up with for example the Pioneer SX-3700 was amazing for its value and made 45 watts into 8 ohms; THD and frequency response was also excellent for a value added receiver. My brother took my Dad's when we all were moving out of the house years ago; he still has it and uses it in his listening room. So maybe do comparison between similar models from Sansui, Kenwood, and Marantz if you can find something that is not an arm and a leg. Go after the models people don't covet; Philips ownership of Marantz era do they really suck that bad? Just some ideas. I enjoy what you do on your channel.
I have tons of vintage gear, and it is hard to pick. But I'll have to go with my Marantz 2275. Why? It combines what I feel is about the best looking vintage receiver out there, with simply amazing sound quality. I'm talking separates good. It's incredible. But they're not cheap. And there's really no need to spend that much (I paid a G for it restored) to get the same experience. It's just something I've always wanted since I was a kid, because my older brother had a Marantz. And I've always loved the gyro tuning wheel.
I highly recommend talking to the fine folks at Audiokarma if anyone wants to learn about some of the hidden gems out there. And there are many. It's best to avoid the big 3 (Marantz/Pioneer/Sansui) if you're looking for deals. Sherwood and Scott both have some great solid state pieces (some even built in the 🇺🇸 😉) that don't cost much, for instance. ✌️
review sonus faber sonneto II
Magnaplanar smga floor speaker mid century modern speakers a pair, I say these speakers to see if they sound as good as they look.
There average audio engineering of the 1970s-1990s had a lot more passion behind it than today where such a product will be engineered by a bunch of junior engineers in China who checks the sound by listening to some Chinese vocal focused music and with a boss that keeps pushing them to save yet another Dollar on the BOM to sell it cheap on Amazon while still having some profit.
Any old power amp or receiver will at some point likely experience issues due to electrolytic capacitors losing capacitance. This is especially likely to reduce the peak power handling of the amplifier where the capacitors help provide the power. For a few Dollars you can replace those capacitors by yourself, if you dare.
How to bring a Pioneer SX-450 into the modern era: 1. Connect Turntable 2. Connect Speakers 3. Mix Cocktail 4. Sit back and enjoy
I love it.
Preferably with vintage vinyl... I've turned into an antique shop animal with my "list" digging for vinyl treasures.
Fuckin a right
Love it!
Simplicity, a singular beauty!
I bought the Pioneer SX-650 in 1977. Sold it in 2012 for about the same price I paid for it. One of the best purchases of my life. Used it for 35 years and it was paired with Advent speakers in Utility cabinet.. It produced better sound than any Stereo equipment I've had since.
Bet you could kick yourself for even selling it in the first place.
I still have my SX-450 that I bought in 1977 and love it!
Still have my Pioneer SX-1250. 160 watts per channel. Sounds better than the$1000 Denon my ex bought. People look at it and ask why I don't buy something new. Then I turn it on and let them listen
No more questions about something new.
I bought an SX-980 only because as a teenager I didn't have the extra change to buy the 1250. But wow they sound so good don't they?
The build quality of older Pioneer components is still amazing.
its filled with fifty-year-old dried out caps, ceramic disc capacitors, lots of negative feedback, and simply does not sound as good as what you can get today, brand new for $100 more. Why bother? by the way, the older units were not measured in the same way we do for the last several decades. By law, we have to specify the bandwidth and distortion. In those days they would use things like peak power and music power which may not be emblematic of the performance of the unit. The current measuring scheme is much more accurate and meaningful. There was no legal definition for power back then. There has been now for many years.
@Sam Mencia Sam, the problem is the circuit architecture and the ceramic disc capacitors. we were in a horsepower race, and I have no issue with that. but we were in a race to zero unmeasured distortion. by using copious quantities of negative feedback, we destroyed the units' capability to follow transients accurately. this bad engineering, a remnant of the transition from simpler tube circuits to complex solid-state circuits, was prevalent through the 70s.
@Sam Mencia Sam, you bring back a lot of memories. I'm surprised to see Sanyo in this list but maybe they did some OEM work; that was very common with companies like Lucky Goldstar (LG), Sharp, Samsung and others. I worked at Allied radio Corporation in the 60s while in school. it was a remarkable experience. we had four full-time adult men in the tape recorder department alone. that was supplemented by three part-timers. The audio rooms were filled with many brands including Marantz, HK, McIntosh, JBL, Electro Voice and the names you mentioned. Unfortunately, by 1970 things began to unravel for the American manufacturers as the Japanese launched a full on attack in the audio business. Fisher and Scott, still American companies, had difficulty being competitive and a higher failure rate than the Japanese units. When Kenwood, Pioneer and Sansui finally changed their output configuration, the products became bulletproof. We could sell them with confidence that the consumer will not be back. With the audio industry exploding, due to the never ending parade of great albums, the distribution of audio gear became a nightmare with constant discounting. Most of the dealers would fail as a result. Yamaha saw the gap and jumped in. They were picking up dealers. That's when I started Onkyo in the United States in 1976 because of the opportunity. Now, for the last few years, the receiver business has been shrinking about 5% per year; that's an enormous number. Now with the pandemic, we see Denon and sister Marantz changing ownership once again, same for Pioneer, same for Onkyo and Integra but that fell through and the future remains uncertain even for companies like B&W! For myself, the answer is the high-end. Bob Carver and I have been manufacturing tube type equipment only and were holding our own. Wouldn't want to be in the receiver business these days. Of the large manufacturers, only Yamaha remains profitable. By the way, you mentioned Roland. I thought that was only guitar stuff but then again my memory is not what it used to be. Thank you for your contribution.
@@fmalitz , the oldies are goodies.
@Kris Mcfrory Hi Kris; it's important to me that you realize I'm not trying to attack you nor am I trying to validate my position. You accused me of being close minded. Perhaps I am. but my opinions are based on 55 years of experience as the founder of Onkyo in the United States, Integra in the United States, 17 years with Yamaha as an independent contractor, and the representative or founder of the following brands in the United States: Stax, Monster cable, Denon, Kenwood, Sherwood, Newcastle, Acoustic Research (AR), Dahlquist, audio alchemy, Apogee, Advent, ADS, Jensen, Audiovox, Totem, Sonos Faber, ELAC, Cambridge audio, Arcam, and far, far too many more to name.
The volume level, is not determined by the "quality" or output of your amplifier section; it's related to the sensitivity of the loudspeakers. Your receiver wasn't taken seriously by the industry because it was marketed by JCPenney! But, in fact, most of these units were made by either NEC or Matsushita while the AM tuning was done by Sanyo and the FM by Hitachi and NEC. I'm sure you knew all that. They weren't bad units compared to the other products made at that time. Despite being loaded with negative feedback in an effort to produce a more impressive specification sheet, many of these units, especially yours, were down 3 to 6 dB at 15 kHz-- pretty grim. They actually were honest and published that the unit was down at least three decibels at fifteen kilohertz. All that negative feedback created a fair amount of TIM (transient, inter-modulation distortion). Don't fret; the MCS product was not the only brand employing that faulty engineering. Don't get the idea they were unreliable; I'm only referring to sound quality. The product quality was equal to the major brands.
I'm concert trained on the big horns and played in a Symphony Orchestra but I know that my experience pales in comparison to yours. I've also been a working professional guitar player for 55 years and I was honored, just last year, at Chess Studios where I recorded in the 60s. it's now a museum.
Finally, the very idea that vintage products complete with dried out capacitors, ceramic disc capacitors, shitloads of negative feedback, and mediocre phono sections are superior to today's products is laughable. But, as I said, based on your attack, you know a lot more about this than I do despite the fact that I own the Bob Carver Corporation. if you don't know the name Bob Carver, you don't know audio. How about this Kris: our Amplifires have the longest warranties in the history of the world-- 10 years including tubes and five years including tubes on our entry level product-- more reliable than any solid-state product and it's all handmade in the United States, and all tubes-- no transistors, no integrated circuits.
By the way, what you call a drummer without a girlfriend? Homeless... What you call a drummer in a three-piece suit? Defendant. How do you get a drummer away from your front door? Pay for the pizza!
I hope you learned something today and I hope you enjoyed my humor. I certainly did not mean to offend. You on the other hand, had the temerity and balls to state: "Sorry to destroy your theory with reality". Your relationship with reality is tenuous at best. Unless you can match your experience in the electronic industry with mine, I suggest you apologize. Now, please tell the rest of us of your accomplishments in the world of electronics. I can hardly wait.
The real issue with, Vintage Stereo is you can repair them. As can download the schematics from the factory. And once you have them cleaned. Recapped. Tuned they will last another 30 years...
That's right master chief
Many systems came with the schematics. In my opinion, vintage is better. The Japanese components were and still are superior, and all the boards were manually were assembled. A average electronic technician can repair one. And the biggest advantage was, yes expensive at the time, offered much more bang for the buck. Today's components are way over priced.
Yes… i have a 1973 Sx-626… i just completely recaped it and it’s a beatiful sounding beast…
Or more..
Or more..
I owned this receiver in 1978… it was amazing…. Me and my friends did an insane amount of blow off of the top of it….
One word that puts everything modern back to sleep. ANALOG. I have a simple ( but quality ) vintage system Kenwood receiver, Pioneer Turntable and Polk Audio speakers. Every time I listen to my records I am in love with the sound. I do have a big digital setup also, has a million bells and whistles, can't hold a candle to the ANALOG.
You never forget the feel of a tuner knob with a big flywheel, or the satisfaction of spinning it a bit and hitting the station you wanted perfectly!
Yeah especially if you have a 50 series Pioneer with those large VU-meters
and those bouncing analog meters, then the horizontal fluorescent light bars with peak indicators.
I'm from México and 3 years ago I was living in Wisconsin, a friend gave me a Pioneer SX-1280 just because it was too old and didn't work anymore. But everywhere I took it to be fixed the cost was too high, between 300 and 400 dollars. Last year I came back to México and I brought it and a friend fixed it for me for only 50 dollars. Sounds spectacular with my Polk speakers. Yes, I love the sound of these vintage receivers, warmer and profound. Great video man! I just subscribed...
Fifty bucks? What was wrong with it that only cost $50, out of curiosity!
@@gustercc He told me there were some bad things with it, like the output transformer was blown (I don't know if that's what it's called in english) and the left channel didn't work. But actually, servicing receivers and amplifiers is very cheap in México. That's why I've brought lots of them from the US to fix and resell them.
@@IsraelQuezada999 That's a pretty good business plan. Hows the vintage market doing in Mexico?
SX-1280 that is truly a monster. Close to Nuclear :)
@@gustercc I was doing very well last year, I used to go to the border 3 or 4 times a year and I would get about 3 or 4 broken vintage amplifiers and I would sell them at 4 or 5 times the price I paid combined with the cost of repairing them. But now with this pandemic I haven't been able to go back to the US, I hope this will end soon.
You hit the nail on the head with your comment about, "forming a relationship" with it. That was the fun of stereo systems from back in the 70's. I lived it, I've had, and still have, vintage equipment. Wouldn't be without vintage equipment. Good review!
That was my first receiver that I got for my birthday in 1978. I was 14. First album listened to was Rush. Good times.
Rush. Moving pictures album.
@@rl7487 It was actually the self titled first album RUSH. The one with Working Man on it. But of course Moving Pictures was greatness as well. Many high school memories of that one.
The Pioneer SX 450 is an excellent piece of audio engineering, it is solidly built unit. I purchased one in May of 1977 for my 17th birthday, I’m 60 now and I still have it and it is excellent condition because I took care of it and use it every day. It has never even blown a fuse or a bulb over all these years, I DJed using it with Pioneer HPM 700 speakers and Pioneer Belt driven turntables, unfortunately I sold those other components. I treasure this unit, because they just don’t make them like this anymore. I really enjoyed your review of this fantastic piece of equipment, thank you!
As a professional musician, who also runs a proaudio repair shop, I find to argue what sounds "better" to be an exercise in futility. The most accurate model amps from a spec point of view will please some people and be so-so for others. Old worn out opera records are reported to sound "warm", probably because the more one plays them the sharp edges are worn away and the high frequencies get attenuated. Playing a Beethoven piano sonata through a tube amp, which has compression characteristics that if listened to next to the real original piano would be laughably inaccurate, can still sound wonderful. Back in the 60's we could not wait until digital came out with the full dynamic range that magnetic tape was unable to reproduce. Now people are buying tape decks just to obtain that limiting dynamic range in a particular recording. Our ears are all have different frequency responses. Sometimes a beat up set of speakers can be really pleasing to listen to a certain kind of music. Sometimes an old vintage amp sounds better simply because it is different from what we are used to listening to. It is all a very personal, not objective experience.
Yes we all hear differently however only vinyl and true analog will give the orchestra pit effect in your home. Now with quality vinyl not that 70s shit US pressing. Many records were pressed and sold to market well past the stampers 5k limit.
Metal tapes sound as good as cd, it depends on your equipment.
60's? In the 1960s we were just acquiring stereo sound. The term "Digital-ready"promises of optical-discs carrying "perfect" audio were told to us and equipment didn't reach the consumer masses until the 1980s.
I got my first CD player in 1984 for $400 when nobody else I knew had one, and there were maybe 20-30 CDs or so available in the Tower Records store catalog. I came home with a new player and 2 CDs (Dark Side of the Moon and Paradise Theater), ready to be blown away.
I hooked it up to my AX-4 and a pair of Cerwin Vega 12" 3-way loudspeakers, fired it up........ and was SO disappointed by how harsh and tinny the sound was. By then I had heard both albums dozens of times in LP version and knew what to expect. That was a letdown, and IMO the beginning of the degrading of quality audio in stereo systems. With Rap, Britney Spears and the like to listen to today, who cares about quality reproduction anymore? Beside me that is. ;-)
Let the music play!
I had this one as christmas present when I was a teenager, I love it and I still use it and it sounds brilliant.
Don't underestimate the phono sections in these vintage receivers. Remember these were built in the heyday when turntables ruled....
Andrew, I run a McIntosh 4100, Klipsch Heresy speakers, and Thorens Turntable, all bought in 1976. All still run perfectly.
That's a really nice system. I bet it sounds great! ✌️
Iddi
I was always more than happy with my Dual.
@@amb3cog That Thorens is a real GEM. The tonearm, when properly setup, floats like a butterfly. Heavy and balanced platter. They live forever. Klipsch Heresy speakers were very efficient and even 10 watts R.M.S. would drive them nicely. In 1976 that was a top system. Today it still holds it's ground firmly.
@@charlesmcgehee3227: "Holds IT IS ground"? Huhh, what?
I found this channel by accident and love it and love how Andrew gives his reviews on old vintage stereos, I am 70 years young and remember having at least 5 of these type of receivers. My first one was the Kenwood Jumbo I can't remember the model number but it was huge and I purchased it in of all places at DaNang Air Base in Vietnam in 1972 then later had it shipped back home and wow I loved that receiver and regret later selling it. My second reciever was a Peioneer similar to the one you have but it had two meters on the front and both of these receivers were great and I miss them now. I later had a Marantz model and a Sansui and actually loved all of these and they all had their different qualities that I loved and now Miss them very much.
I still have my Sansui Quad receiver with my Bose 901's along with501's rocking my house.......all purchased through the Navy PX while we were coming back from Nam in 73' USS Saratoga
@@robbusheay4258 yes now i remember i had also the Sansui Quad receiver but never got the Bose 901 but I do know they were great I had a friend that had them and loved em ... I miss all the stereos I had from those times in Vietnam and Thailand now I live in the Philippines for almost 30 years and love it and still visit Thailand sometimes at least before this virus started. Its nice to hear about Sansui and the Bose 901s, damn I wish i had them here now i just listen to UA-cam hahahahaha
Couldn’t believe it when I saw you were reviewing your Pioneer SX 450 Receiver ! I bought one as a 16 year old and that was back in 1978, I’m 59 now. I loved it and spent many an hour listening to vinyl under the golden glow of the front panel of that receiver. Something to cherish for many years to come. Mine actually had a fault which meant it buzzed for a bit when you first switched it on, probably a loose connection but even that became part of its charm. It sure packed a punch for a 15W pc amp. Back in the day, I had mine paired with a Pioneer PL112D turntable (a review on one of those would be awesome) and Pioneer HPM 40 speakers. Pure heaven !! Love the channel, keep up the great work .....
Back in the day, 15 watts was *RMS* and pretty solid. Then came exaggerations on exaggerations by manufacturers!
15 watts is fine to be honest, I can't turn the knob on my 2x120W amp further than half cause thats already waay too loud.
@NickoLps Do tubes make a difference in decibels? I thought RMS was RMS
@NickoLps I get what you mean but I don't see how that's even possible
@@gideonkloosterman in my opinion tube watts is louder than transistor watts. I had an Admiral record player that had a small push pull amplifier it used 2 6aq5 tubes and one 12ax7 tube. It also had a 5y3 rectifier and a real power transformer, not these cheap wired in series setup. If you turned up the amp you were blasted out of the room with sound from the 8 inch woofer that was in the record player cabinet.
All this kind of vintage audio equipment up to let's say1995 can be repaired indefinitely by simply replacing dryed out electrolytic capacitors, broken resistors or even faulty transistors if necessary.
And yes 15-40 real Watts per channel is fine if you don't live in a church.
You were talking about aesthetics in your last video. These old amps are freaking gorgeous!
1975..bought pioneer sx-750....50 watts/channel....with pair ofJBL L100......incredible then and now..still working...never serviced.no lights out......that vintage look..dials...looks great...the thing has had > 10 moves...just thrown in boxes...just keeps going..like energizer bunny....50 watts..in JBL..L100....nice match!
Vintage is warm.
Digital is cold
I bought a Luxman LV100 in 1987 for $425 and that was a ton of money for me at the time...Bought it from my local electronics shop called Wackey Weatlys! I owned a Hitachi Receiver at the time, also purchased there and was completely happy with it.The sales guy said “You will be pleasantly surprised by the difference” and to call him after I got it home and played the the first song....I called him and thanked him over and over! I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! I purchased the matching Turntable, Tuner and eventually the CD Player over time. From that day forward I was hooked on Audio. I still have the system today and still thoroughly enjoy it.
Those old Pioneers, Sansui and Marantz units were so sexy... I would love to see a new vintage line of these receivers brought back.
It’d be nice if they could manufacture cassette mechanisms that are better than the bottom-of-the-barrel pieces that you find in all modern devices. I don’t see it happening though.
@@RobCamp-rmc_0 You have to get older cassette decks from the early 1980's or before. Check around: you can still find belts for many of them. In fact, check around for the right belts, then buy the used cassette deck!
@@RobCamp-rmc_0 I know there will never be cassette deck factories built again, but with today's CNC and 3D printing technologies it has to be possible to put a quality transport back into production.
@@thomaskendall452 earlier this year I got an AKAI deck from the late ‘70s/early ‘80s; it needs some hopefully minor refurbishing to get it into top shape, but it works pretty decently now as is. There’s no way I’d have bothered getting a modern piece of equipment these days.
@@RobCamp-rmc_0 Hee hee, Rob! Excepting really expensive professional studio gear, you can't buy a new reel-to-reel deck. But much of the vintage gear was well designed and built and, like vintage turntables, capable of being repaired. (Moving parts = eventual failure.) Plus you can still get parts, both new-old stock and newly made.
I bought that same Pioneer receiver in May 1977 when I was 19 and boy was I excited. I paid $119 for it. Until that point I had owned cheap record players and very low end stereo systems. The all-in-one type with the turntable built in on the top.
That Pioneer was SO shiny and pretty when I took it out of the box. The look and feel of it is luxurious. The following week I went back to the same store and bought a Pioneer turntable. I was happy with the speakers I already had. I kept that Pioneer system until 1982 when I passed it down to my brother when he got out of the navy.
I’ve been getting into your vids during the lockdown, and I couldn’t believe that you just pulled out my dad’s amp!
When I was kid, my dad had a Marantz 2405 receiver. I can still remember the feel of the knobs and the dancing level meters. I would love to have that thing back and build a system around it.
You young guys amuse me. The 70's was an amazing time for music and hardware. Don't think for a moment you are at the pinnacle now. Back in those days there was a lot going on and the current scene pales in comparison.
Totally agree, my old HK Citation 19 with the 17 preamp is hard to beat. I use the setup to drive my JBL 4315 speakers. 😏
My son sold his high end amps and I had to get him same as my own. So much better sound voices, bass, treble sounds more natural. -60,-70 to mid -80, 25 years of pure sound evolution. After that fancy names and high prices for ....... design.
@@gx1400sc Im 65', the older equipment from back then is absolutely wonderful to look at remember and to even listen to.
That depends on your budget I imagine...
I agree Billy, an excellent time for audio late 70s, early 80s! The era of excellence...
Times change, audiences change, lifestyles change. Staying home on a friday night dusting your equipment is not for everybody. As a kid in the 70s, i was enamored by the rise of FM radio and emergence of "classic" rock: Eagles, Petty, Fleetwood mac. And vintage audio played a major role. However, the convenience of bluetooth and the fun factor of Spotify/Utube can not be denied. Its more of a visual world we live in today, and 70s home AV experience pales in comparison.
Thanks Andrew! Love your UA-cam channel and the wide variety of topics. I purchased a restored Pioneer SX-450 receiver based on several reviews, your video and my love of older Pioneer products. I have been into home audio since 1969 and am now putting together a vintage system for music. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much for the kinds words and support. Larry! We hope to see you on the next video!
Andrew, if the unit is running hot you should check the DC offset and bias by yourself or have someone qualified check/adjust it.
Also, the older vintage units are not paper weights when something goes wrong. They mostly have discrete components that, unlike newer components, can be easily replaced.
My wife has a 1978 Sears receiver. Hooked it up to my $4,000. Castle Winchester towers ($8K adjusted to inflation) just to see how it sounds... what a surprise! Still haven't replaced it with my Naim Audio front end I bought with the Castles, and I don't think I ever will. It just has a sound you don't get today and I love the green internal lights in the view meter and tuner section. p.s. also bought the Castle Winchesters used for $400. (immaculate condition) and they sound excellent.
Great review! I had someone give me a Pioneer SX 650 a few years ago and I love listening to it. It has 35 watts per channel. It's all original and nothing has been replaced. I love the sound of it and the vintage look is so cool. Now my 700w Sony AV surround sound receiver sits on a storage shelf in my crawlspace now.
I bought a SX 450 new in 1979 for 8th grade graduation. I'm still using it and love it.
You were a rich 8th grader!!
@@bozep7712 i had a job lol. lots of paperboy money added to graduation money.
I bought an SX450 new 42 years ago when I was still in High School. I still have it and it still works. Exceptionally reliable unit. Apart from needing new light bulbs for the Power and Stereo lights, it is good as new
I believe vintage is better built, may not sound better in some cases but definitely better build quality.
I have a Tascam 112 tape deck that recieved damage during shipping process causing bent front frame, yet it works like a clock.
This is the 3rd time since new that I have listened to this review. And I love it more each time. I have a Pioneer SX-580 very similar numbers... 20 watts. And I have modern equipment. I feel the same way ... the Pioneer surprises me all the time... I really enjoy it... mine is on vintage speakers... Advent Baby II ... they love one another! It fits! Thanks for doing this... I bet I have said this before. LOL! I think I am going to go listen to my Pioneer new ... we have it in the bedroom now.
I don't think I will ever stop watching this or you sx 780 project .... what a great story. I bet I mentioned... but just in case my ex 580 that is awesome pairs extremely well with my old (rebuilt) Advent Baby 2s...I dont recall how old... I've had them since new and bought them just after they came out... they seem made for one for one another... if you ever have access to a pair check them out with your. 580 has 20 watts .. very similar to yours. Man we love you two Andrew! Thank you so much for all you do!
I own 2 vintage receivers,
* Luxman R-1120 [restored]
* Akai AA-1200 [mint condition]
both are incredible and powerful.
Vintage is just different, if like me, your pursuit of hifi happiness includes beautiful looking things that sound nice, that don't cost a fortune and have an honesty about them, then vintage is a superb option. I have a Pioneer Spec 1 pre, Spec 4 power amp, a PL-71 turntable alongside a mid 70's Linn LP12, I haven't spent more than 3k on the lot and yet the aesthetic value is far far higher. Sounds awesome too! There's something for everyone for sure.
Mat Richardson what you said!
I run old pioneer stuff, I run an old Pl51 record deck I don't think I have seen a pl71, it's obviously classy as that's what pioneer do.
You have brought me back to my childhood.we had one SX-450 I remember my father bought it from his brother around 1978
It stay in the family till around 1984.
But I can’t take the beautiful sounds out my ears
I will definitely try to find one that will make justice to the first we owned
Excellent video, Andrew! Detailed, articulate and very informative. I grew up during this era in the 1960s and ‘70s but never owned a Pioneer SX-450. That is one beautiful receiver!!! In fact, the whole Pioneer line-up during the ‘70s is just gorgeous. A fine product indeed! I currently have a cheap Pioneer integrated amplifier tuner from the 2000s, VSX? 100w per channel, but my 3-way stereo speakers with 12” Pioneer woofers were custom built for me in 1987 and I get incredible sound out of those! In today’s dollar, they’re worth about 3k. I really enjoy your videos. Well-done!
Nice review. As someone who was very much into stereo systems in the 1970s, I can remember the staggering amount of equipment available at that time. I recall fondly going to a stereo show that was held in a hotel. Each room had a different manufacturer displaying their products with a company representative to answer questions. So many different brands. It was really fun.
Purchased mine new in 1979 love it. What a flashback!
Bought an SX450 a year ago for my daughter who wanted something to listen to her music and radio. Attached to two small old French-manufactured speakers I had. The family and I got instantly blown away by the quality of the sound, its warmth and as you said the presence of vocals. All for 80 euros ($90) for a unit in mint condition. A real eye opener about vintage hifi. Thanks for the video, I could not have described the SX450 any better.
Since you posted this video I've been obsessed with finding an SX like the one I had when I was a teen. I finally pulled the trigger on a vintage Pioneer SX-780 receiver that I’ll get next week. It’ll be the heart of a vintage two channel setup like I had as a kid.
Have fun!
Old Pioneers are awesome, I wouldn't change any parts on this amp, those old caps and resistors are part of that magic sound that you get from vintage hi-fi gear, thanks for the review, well done.
My first receiver, purchased in the fall of 1978. Still works
Great episode, congrats on the very nice camera work showcasing the beauty of this vintage receiver. I recently purchased Yamaha Cr-1020 from 1978 and just can't stop looking at it, and listening too of course.
First review video I see from this channel. Thumbs up! Clear, concise talk, deep knowledge is present without the overcomplicated words and adjectives found on many reviews. I enjoyed it very much, and concur on most qualities of good ol vintage audio. Fan of Pioneer myself with a SX-1010 on my rig. Use it sometimes as a Subwoofer amp with great results. Keep up the good work.
This receiver was my entry into hifi when I was a kid, and I loved it! The feel of the tuning knob is a wonderful, incredible experience, and the new generations of people have no idea what they're missing! Fine-tuning a radio station when your reception is marginal just doesn't exist much in the modern digital age. Hearing snippets of every radio station while the dial moves from one end to the other is a lost pleasure. Even the SX450, which is on the bottom end of the line, had a similar beautiful look and feel to its bigger brothers. In general, I do agree about the amplifier sounding good. However, the phono preamp is so bad I had to build my own. The highs are severely rolled off for the phono section only. The other problem with it is that the FM tuner has a severely bad selectivity, meaning that if there was a strong station next to the one you are trying to listen to, your station will be drowned out. Pioneer's bigger brothers had MUCH better selectivity. Keep in mind, the SX450 is on the BOTTOM of this line of wonderful SX__50 Pioneer receivers, and there are good reasons it was so inexpensive. I would highly recommend one closer to the top of the line, however, these things are getting very expensive due to their being highly sought after.
Goddamn 1970 was 50 years ago.
Also, Pioneer is a company that seems to consistently produce products which perform impressively for the price point they were sold at, whether it be their receivers, amplifiers, or speakers. Their products are generally good to exceptional, depending on the market segment they're angling for.
great looking unit. i remember my parents set one of these up in my room when i was in 4th grade. and miraculously i didn't break it either. i loved that thing.
Also, this video of yours, brings back some WONDERFUL and SAD Memories for me! I was 19 when my 59 year old father passed away in February 1980. I bought my first stereo in the summer after my father was laid to rest, that's why I remember it so well.
Huge vintage audio guy here, and I really appreciated this video. I have heard new high end equipment and it does sound good, but I have also heard vintage equipment that literally is jaw dropping. The sound of this particular Pioneer SX-450 was not " jaw dropping " but everyone watching this needs to know that this particular vintage model receiver is at the absolute bottom of the Pioneer vintage audio line up from that Era. If this review was done with let's say a Pioneer SX-780 or 1280 or the legendary 1980 I know the outcome would have been mindblowing for these guys. Even this little 450 had been restored the results would've been quite a bit better. The build quality of these machines is why they sound so good. Almost 50 years later and they are still sounding great. Try that in 50 years with anything that can be bought new today? Not a chance..
Gosh, that is beautiful. There is something about vintage. I guess it takes me back. I am 60 now so it seems familiar to me. I love the back end of the video. Especially "Be well, be kind to one another" How refreshing in this crazy world we live in.
I have a Pioneer SX-650 that I bought new around 1978. I had the on/off switch replaced about 12 years ago but outside of that absolutely no problems, still using in my office. Meanwhile many other receivers have come and gone that were used in the other parts of the house.
My dad had one of these when i was a young boy. It took me to the moon and back.
Loved my SX-650 while it worked. Gorgeous warm sound. Being 45 years old...it crapped out. There's a guy fairly close to me that restores vintage equipment so I'll probably have him refurb it at some point.
These things are pieces of art.
My SX-1250 is a kick ass piece of kit. I will own and enjoy it for the rest of my life.
Someday.......Someday......
I bought one of these new in 1977. I used it on till about five years ago. It served for many years as my amp to drive my studio monitors. Thanks for the review.
I envied this stuff as a teenager in the 70s. So glad you reviewed this pc of vintage gear, thanks!
i'm a collector of vintage pioneers (seeing how thats all i have in my collection)
personally out of all my pieces the two pioneer SX990s I have (68, 69 years) are my favorite out of the bunch. Although I do have a selection of pioneers, ranging from a 424, those 990s, a 626, an 828, a 750 and a 1010. restored a sx650 recently for a customer and it certainly is a beautiful sounding unit with a few modifications.
Those Vintage receivers were Monsters! My dad had Pioneer SX-1080 that he bought in the late 70’s
just received mine last week, have to say i love it. This by far exceeded all my expectations and i need to purchase a new pair of speakers to really enjoy it. thanks for the review
I have this same unit. One of many vintage receivers I aquired over the years. When I got out of the hobby, this is the only one I kept and continue to use to this day. I kept this one because of its snall size and weight and it still sounds damn good even after 4 decades.
Nice to hear these hold up, I actually have my dad’s 450 in storage and need to bring it out and give it a go!
This is not "only" 15W/channel amplifier, because it is more than enough for normal/usual conditions of use. That's because the power figures of today's equipments are way out VERY INFLATED. Vintage equipment where usually specified according IHF'66 or IHF'74 rules, which specifies the MINIMUM power delivered with all channels driven for at least 30 minutes measuring, at human hearing full bandwidth (20-20K Hz), at a reference impedance (usually 4 or 8 ohms) with THD less than 1% - this is part of the "Hi-FI" category specification. It is easy to get far greater values by narrowing down the bandwidth, reducing the impedance, and measuring peak values at clipping. This is what is currently designed as "RMS" power measure ("R"oot "M"ean "S"quare power, a measure which computes the MEAN power ponderated by frequency in a large time interval, not microseconds). There is a current [unfortunate] general assumption that "more power = more sound quality" alone which, in general, is false. Of course, there are other technical characteristics other than output power which implies in better or worse sound quality/fidelity, as well as parts quality, build construction, circuit architecture and so on. And the fact that technical specifications won't give you all the picture of what you'll get from an audio equipment.
Could not have said it any better then that you are 100% right. My hat is off to you..
Hear! Here!!! Right on the money. Back then they under estimated the power handling so you would be more impressed. It was really around 45 watts per channel. It need a an EQ to get the full measure of sound out of them.
Great review, thank you. I purchased my SX-450 in 1978 and paired it with a Dual 502 turntable. Billy Joel was awesome on this unit and that matches your assessment on vocals. I paired it with a pair of Project 60 speakers due to budget constraints. But the combination worked well. I still own these but they have been on the shelf for decades, I just can’t stand the thought of giving them up. I’m just addicted with the convenience of digital.
I bought the Pioneer SA-408 from 1979 and I paired with 2 bookshelf speakers. I feel like I’m listening to music for the first time and it’s incredible. I easily get lost just listening to music, I just sit in between the speakers and listen to any album from start to finish. The sound is clean and sonically satisfying. I bought it for £30 and it’s my favourite purchase of the year. Thanks for the great review 🙏🏽
Back in 1975 I wanted to buy a Pioneer SX-727, but I also had to buy a wedding ring. The wedding ring won and I never got the SX-727, I will never forget the model of that receiver. The ring was a good investment because I have been married now 45 years.
Vintage is better. No menus. Just turn the knobs or flip a switch.
My wifi connected player keeps disconnecting and it makes me want to commit murder..
I bought a brennan b2 (to sell on as good price) wi Fi, hard drive and Bluetooth. Whilst testing out I found it far too much hassle and button pressing.
Vintage turntable and receiver for me
Even if you want some modern conveniences just plug in a chromecast or a wiim or whatever streamer. Control the volume with your phone.
I agree! Nothing beats old school! 😊
Your video was the inspiration to the purchase of a Christmas gift for my 12 year old niece. I jumped on eBay and found a very clean and updated SX650 with new caps, LED’s, and it had new sides replaced with real walnut in great shape for $400 shipped cross country. I had no idea she was into oldies and she fell in love with her new stereo. I had to get her a bluetooth adapter for her digital needs. I’m sure she’ll get years of listening pleasure out of it. Thanks to your video.
Great review and perspective on vintage audio equipment. I bought a Kenwood KR 6400 new in 1975 and though I have been through many sets of speakers, it is the only receiver I have owned since. And after 45 years of regular use, it has never needed to be repaired.
The Pioneer SX-450 has one of the finest preamps ever sold. When I learned this in 1970-something I disconnected the lines from the preamp section of a friend's receiver, soldered some cannibalized interconnects to it, and ran the interconnects to a much beefier amp. Then we ran the interconnects to two of the same amp so that we had a quick-and-dirty dual mono amp setup. We played a lot of records that night, listening to all the details we'd never heard before. You can find the SX-450's schematic online if you feel comfortable doing a bit of soldering.
Mom still has '78-79, SX 770, receiver. Unbelievable!! Really well made stuff!
What a FUN video! Your enthusiasm for the SX-450 is contagious and your assessment of analogs nostalgic warmth and musical character are SPOT ON! Makes me regret not having kept and reconditioned my JVC JR-S400 mkii. What sold me on this unit was its built in "SEA" graphic equalizer with the ability to mix the sound you wanted to hear to the tape medium of your choice. An all JVC system coupled to a pair of Janzen 410A electrostatic speakers gave me incredible highs and mids with a respectable bass. Ravel's Bolero or Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon equally at home!
PS I still have the speakers, am looking now how to employ them as the audio bug has bitten.
My dad's got a SX-636. Every musical memory of my childhood (until I was teenager and bought my own hifi) revolved around that receiver. It's mint and still a great bit of kit. He's currently retired it so gonna get it hooked up somewhere. The tuning knob is still one of the all-time great tactile experiences.
I was in high school in late 70s it reminds me of the good old days when they were simple to operate and awesome power
There's definitely something classy about vintage hi-fi I had gotten a Kenwood integrated amp from my cousin circa 1970 and it was a beautiful piece nice sound. Thanks for a great review
Loved your incredibly unbiased take on old school electronics.Its fantastic to see someone get excited about analog equipment.
Back in the late 70s one of my first stereos consisted of a Pioneer SX-650, JBL L26’s with a Thorens TD160 Turntable and it was/is still one of the best sounding equipment compilations I’ve owned.
Eventually graduated to Marantz with larger JBL and factor in reel to reels as well as Nak deck....but that first system is always very special to me.
Sound was amazing...to this day it has always been my benchmark to all other equipment I would purchase.
Thanks again to your amazing insight into this phenomenal era of what I believe to be the best In audio.
I just now totally stumbled upon your review, and I played a couple albums on my SX-450 this morning! Bought in 1977, original owner, works like new! The case is a little rough (the laminate or board siding is blistering pretty good), but the functionality is perfect! As I recall, the 450 at 15 watts was the very bottom end of the Pioneer receiver line. I also felt like I should own more power (I guess both performance- and vanity-wise), since I purchased the bottom end of their line, but as far as experience goes this receiver has always performed just fine. Thanks for the review!
These vintage models will probably still be working after all of our modern junk breaks. I miss the days of non-expireing merchandise.
My NAD Model 140 is humming very loud... :( It was great while it lasted though.
@World Viral Daily I have left mine running for months on end to no ill effect! BTW, since upgrading to the LED kit, the unit is probably 50% cooler. Seriously, the incandescents generated most of the heat.
And when the old stuff breaks, it can be repaired, and frequently by the owner if he/she masters some knowledge and skills and makes a modest investment in inexpensive tools and test equipment.
The reason I left it running was that all the dial, power and stereo lamps were burnt out, couldn't tell from a distance if it was on or off. Thats all fixed now :)
Remember you all! If you throw everything away. You teach our children that everything we make is trash? And everything is not worth having or keeping! I still have the stereo I bought in 1978. It took me 2 years of working 2 jobs to buy it. I will own it when they plant me in the ground! Not because it took me so long to pay it off. But because I still love it! I have heard some great sounding new stuff! PS audio in Denver has amazing stuff!!! But I could have my house torn down and rebuilt for the cost of replacing my system!! My Grandson is awestruck by my system. So Job done!
Youngsters. They just do not know how good we had it in the 1970s.
TRUTH
I collected silver face receivers around 13 years ago, was obsessed.... bought them ALL from goodwill, or garage sales. They have sat on my shelf for a decade, waiting for me to develop the skills to recap them and mod them.
Glad I kept my old pioneers, the sx-950 (I think it is) is one of my faves, so deep and great bass response.
Thanks for this! I have one of these sitting here from my childhood. I had no idea it was good. It's about to be my first amp to be recapped.
I have a Harmon Kardon 680i and Polk studio monitor 10, on floor stands. Bought new in 1983. Buying a stereo back then was a big thing. I spent about 4 hours listening to Pink Floyd The Wall on numerous stereos and speakers. This combination sounded the best to me. I turn the stereo on every day and it still empresses me
I bought one of these in 1979 with money earned from 5 or 6 years being a paperboy. I wish I still had it!
You can probably buy one on eBay for the price of a newspaper nowadays.
We had this Pioneer (probably a model or 2 higher, it has some flip switch called -10dB mute function) purchased in the last 70s. My parents still have this at their home. It looks really nice and has great sound. The sound is distinctive. I'd love to hear this again.
First time viewer on your channel, glad to see this vintage equipment again.
oh man! Bringing back childhood memories! My dad has a Pioneer receiver from the late 70s that looks just like this. I grew up listing to music on it. Takes me back to listening to his 8 tracks. Thanks for doing this review. You inspired me to see what is out there.
I had to call my dad to see what it is. A pioneer sx-780 that is still to this day his only receiver he's ever owned.
Let's face it, Vintage Stereo just looks so damn great!
Yes vintage hifi looks great , I'm not an hifi audiophile so can't really comment on the technical side of things but modern hifi units faceless
I love when people are shocked that stereo systems from the 1970s and 80s sound amazing. It's like they thought everything still sounded like a Gramaphone until digital came around.
That's the crap they tried to sell us with digital
I just got a SX450 and its beautiful, sounds great. the RADIO!! THE RADIO i never cared for radio sound and this this thing make every radio station sound great.
Old rock, blues and jazz records give me nothing but joy in this receiver, the smell when is warm is lovely.
Hi - Because of this video, I ended up buying an SX-550, along with a Pioneer PL-12D, paired to a pair of KEF Q150, for a warm, natural sound. (I’ve also connected an iFi Zen Blue for streaming.) I’ve long wanted to get back into vinyl, and started researching this fall. I was thinking of a U-Turn Orbit with built-in pre-amp connected to some powered speakers. Then, I saw this video. Thanks for leading me down the vintage path. I think I’m going to be on this one for awhile.
Vintage gear is serviceable. It can be repaired easily. This is what I like about vintage gear. It is not designed to be thrown away once it breaks down. My favorite was Dynaco for years. Separate components. It was a kit and the 70's version was a tube preamp and was fantastic. I went with the 120 watt solid state power amp and skipped the receiver. You can still get Dynaco gear on eBay at decent prices. Parts and schematics are available in abundance.
I don't think that serviceability in older gear was intentional. Manufacturers built products with what was available at the time.
I want a Dynaco amp and preamp! Years ago, my first boss in the audio repair biz had a Dynaco 120 and a PAT-4 preamp i think. And this guy called Mc Intosh McIntrash! LOL!
I always loved the buttons and high quality brushed metal look.
Same all my stuff is brushed metal ;D
@@hifi.david. I love it too, a friend of mine actually hates how there's too many buttons and it makes it feel over crowded.
Thanks so much- this exact model was my first piece of audio equipment. Great memories and great sound!
I had a Kenwood KR-4070 in the Navy. Just bought another and similar speakers. Love it.
BEST place to find these treasures are at the Goodwill and resale shops. Bought a mid-level Marantz receiver for $10 once and it worked like a charm. Glad to see the younger generation appreciate the equipment that I listened to back in the day. Back then, watts per channel (RMS) was not the measure of a good receiver, almost zero total harmonic distortion (THD) was. Most of the equipment from back then rivals today's high end equipment in that area.
cbocker We tested this theory before ultimately buying from one of the local record stores. At least for our area, this route proved fruitless.
@@KristiWright You need to scout out resale shops in affluent areas - many times you will come home with nothing, but every so often you'll find some real high quality gear.
This used to be soooo true, but in the last few years all of the thrifts figured out that they can turn anything with a silver face over for a lot more money on the auction site and the well is pretty dry right now. Even if you do find one it is usually pretty beat.