SX-1980 - The Most Powerful Pioneer Receiver Ever! Vintage Stereo Repair Restoration & Testing.
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- Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
- A Pioneer SX-1980 stereo receiver repair and restoration video. Old electrolytic capacitors and heat stressed/troublesome transistors were replaced. The power supply assembly(AWR-154) which is known to be heat stressed and a major in the Pioneer SX-1980 receiver was completely rebuilt. The EQ amplifier, flat amplifier, tone control, filter, and meter assemblies were rebuilt. In addition, the four filter capacitors were replaced. This Pioneer SX-1980 was then bench tested with an audio analyzer. This was a top to bottom repair and restoration that after 40 years of service this vintage receiver needed. This Pioneer SX-1980 receiver now sounds great and will be reliable for decades to come.
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Phenomenal Attitude, Test Equipment and Experience shows throughout this excellently instructive video. I was blessed to be able to learn Electronics in 4th grade, and had a business card for Transistor and Tube Radio repairs in 1965. We lived in rural NNJ but my Dad had a studio in NYC so I could go to my favorite radio electronics and stereo stores, Lafayette, Radio Shack and Heathkit. I bought books how to repair electronics, restock tubes and parts and get my Ham license in 1969. In High School, summers and vacations I landed a Electronics Service Tech job at Alltronics Service Labs, in the same building as Lafayette Radio on RT 46. There we did lots of Lafayette stereo repairs under warranty for replacing bad uA703's with the epoxy tops, many Sansui 3000 and 5000-X which returning Vets brought home and the unstable DC coupled power driver boards shorted and burned out the expensive beautiful wood grille Sansui speaker woofers by DC output imbalance. Later the Greek owners moved and reopened their own store with Pioneer and Revox ect, in Flanders NJ. There I continued servicing all audio radio & stereos, under Pioneer Authorized Service, and saved up all summer in 1974 for a new SX-1010 110W/CH Receiver for Employee Discounted $470, a $699 receiver alone, before Fair Trade prices were dropped! Still have it, and strangely the large 18000uF/63V caps LEAKED prematurely - but I got to order new ones and put my receiver on the bench to repair under Pioneer's excellent Warranty, myself. Other issues are the dirty pushbutton switches cutting out, AND the persistent Tuning Meter off center drift so bad that Stereo almost won't acquire. Also I think one of the TWO wonderful FM RF stage 3SK45 Dual Gate Mosfets went bad, as FM sensitivity is down from the former 140 mile reception of KSHE-FM in St. Louis to Quincy Il, where I worked at Harris Broadcast Products in 1979, and the big Winegard FM monitor antenna picked it up do I used it as my home built Clock Radio controlled it from big relay, playing into Ohm F Speakers I got at college through a ham in our radio club! I recently bought a recap kit and sourced ALL the transistors for the front end, the mixer is hard to find, but is still working because the dial calibration SO ACCURATE you can place the lighted pointer between even markings and it was perfect! Never seen that nor so many FM and AM tuning gangs, and oscillator buffering as well as tight shielding. My Greek Boss, Fedon was a mentor to me and recognized and highly appreciateed the quality and innovation Pioneer evolved into. Still have the KP-500 SuperTuner Cassette from my Renault Gordini now at my desk at work, WITH higher value coupling, filtering caps, 3 terminal regulators, AND the official Pioneer FM Noise Blanker installed into the FM IF chain - into those classic RS Minimus 7 speakers for my PC audio. Highest Regards, Hilary W4HDL
By looking at those ‘70s receivers vs. today’s, it’s definitely a race to the bottom.
My father used this receiver to teach me hundreds of life lessons through music and lyrics.
It was the stereo of my youth, and helped shaped the person I am today.
And it sounded great!!!
Man, great story! Thanks for sharing. This equipment brings back so many good memories.
Ah, yeah, but you can't beat the sound of valves. I grew up listening to my Dansette radio gram. :-)
🤘
Your Dad is a great Father having done so and with a right proper piece of equipment to boot. Cheers.
go get yourself one of them!
As a teenager I read stereo review and just drooled over this stuff.
A couple years ago I bought a Marantz Receiver at a Thrift store. Not the Vintage model with the beautiful blue back light. I already have a 2265 which works great. This was a later model but it did have the walnut laminated case in beautiful condition so considering it was only 24.00 bucks I picked it up. It still works but when you turn the volume knob the sound distorts a little. I will get it worked on eventually. When I took it to the counter, this young girl (about 20 years old) asked me "what is that thing?" I explained this is how we listened to music when I was her age and the receiver was basically the heart of your stereo system. She sort of rolled her eyes as if to say that it seemed like a lot of fuss for nothing. I then explained we didn't have social media, no internet, no twitter, etc. Music was extremely important to us, and when you matched a good receiver with a good turntable, good speakers and a great album it was like an event. I don't think she will ever understand.
Great story! Thanks for sharing.
Damn beautiful, 70s receivers were a world of their own.
Thank You! So much good gear from back in the day.
Audio review 2017 did a SX-1980 vs the top modern receiver of today $220,000. The Pioneer destroyed the competition in range and power , during testing it was hitting almost 460 WPC and climbing when the test was stopped. Nothing like it will ever be produced again.
My grandfather gave my cousin a Pioneer SX-580 back in the 80s. My cousin gave it to me and I gave it to my brother. He was able to find someone who previously worked at pioneer and was able to have the unit completely renovated. He still has it today and it looks and sounds better than most modern day receivers.
Great story! You didn't have to have the big dog in the lineup back in the day to still get a quality piece of equipment. The SX-580 was built with the same engineering and build quality as the SX-1980.
This is by far my favorite component from Pioneer. I, was just 17 years old back in 1978, when I saw the advertisement of the SX1980, in Stereo Review magazine. I clearly remember the advertisement saying "At 270 watts per channel even the most demanding piece of music will hardly cause the SX1980, to flex its considerable muscle". That statement and reading the specs from the advertisement I fell in love with this beast. Still looking to purchase one. By the way, this was the same year the Sony, came out with one of the best Moving Coil cartridge for turntables.
Thanks so much for sharing. Vintage audio gear brings back great memories for most of us.
What a trip down memory lane. I knew many people who had Pioneer Receivers. USN 1971-92. The only thing I have is my JBL 4312 Studio monitors. Thanks for the post.
Your welcome and thank you for your service!
Thank you so much sir for your incredible vintage knowledge, I met my wife in 1982, she thought I was crazy because I picked up every television that was on the curb, of course today that would be crazy because you have to pay to get rid of them LOL, but I found a man in his 80s who was a television technician and he took me under his wing he sent me home with color charts of transistors, eventually I had 40 televisions in my house that I had picked up off of the curb, I think I did repair about 10 of them! But now I have some vintage amplifiers in my possession, that my family says I should throw into The garbage, I'm stubborn and I refuse LOL, I would just like to thank you for your great explanations and for your vintage knowledge!
Did not know they made wives that put up with collectors. Been looking for one for years.😁
There is a guy in Toledo Ohio, this man has three floors of audio stereo and short wave equipment, many of the old tube testing stations you used to see back in the day like at Kmart and Sears, thousands of tube and capacitors, all in original packaging, he is in his late seventies, very smart fellow, did some boiler work for him, had to check each floor for heat, this would be a good mine for a restoration of radio and tv ham and short wave, he said he had brand new zenith, pulsar tv tubes and huge I mean huge tubes and capacitors for the electronic audio for church organs, it was amazing, had to share that.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD hey, not sure how this works, would like to reply to your vintage stereo repair man reply, I think it would be really cool to go today old man in Toledo Ohio, actually he's not much older than me LOL, but I would love to see what he has, and yes I have repaired many boilers and furnaces, Kind of gave me a connection to you one nation under God! Thank you for letting us know.. Because sometimes there is no family or no one and everything goes into the trash, maybe it would be worth talking to the man and see if he is willing to sell and of course be fair in your offer, especially if he does not know the worth of his fortune
Sorry, I only speak to my iPad, and it does not always say exact words that I intend, and sometimes I pressed send too soon, just wanted to correct what I was trying to say please respond if you are still listening
I have had an SX-1250 since 1978,I still absolutly love it.I always believed the SX-1450 was the top of the line.The SX-1980 I did not know of,what a gem.Thank you for sharing this !
I bought SX1050 new in 1976, lasted 25 years, took a few years to replace it with an equal, now i have Sony DA3000ES
I remember, as a college kid in 77, working the electronics dept. of Wilson's Department Store.....and being in awe of the SX-1980 @ 270 watts. Demo'd it a LOT. I've owned two of it's LITTLE bros.....SX-727 and SX-737. Still have the 737.
Very cool that you still have SX-737. The SX-737 is a great performer.
Wow, I'm drooling!!! What an amazing era for audio, and I was a teenager lusting after this wonderful machine!
Man, you like me. I was a teenager then also. I had some equipment back then but nothing like a SX-1980. My pizza hut wages would not allow it, LOL
Yeah, I was poor until I was in my 30's. That was the 1990's, and I treated myself to a pair of absolutely wonderful high end Thiel speakers. By that time the SX1980 was hard to come by, and there was no Ebay back then. Maybe one of these days I might buy an SX1980, but I'm not sure if it will drive my speakers without damaging the amplifier. They go down to 2 ohms at some frequencies!
I picked up one of these before Christmas just gone.It was owned all of its life be one owner a gentleman who had died and had left it to his son whom I purchased it from.Its had a partial re cap which I will turn into a full one at some point.Ive had a new cabinet fabricated and it’s nearly looking as good as new..I’ve taken it apart done various cleaning etc..but the rest I will leave to people such as yourselves who are more experienced than me..Great educational video.
Thank you for your kind words and congratulations on obtaining a SX-1980. It's a great receiver that was engineered and built to last and it has. A great find for you!
Vintage Audio Addict .. A quick question for you sir..when changing the 4 main lamps for leds do the old lamps just pull out?
Thanks
I bought a SX-1080 in 1979. Exceptional quality and performance. Gave it away years later and moved on to Carver equipment. Had the Carver equipment rebuilt 7 years ago and still going strong. I still use my JBL L-112 speakers (1982). They usually get re-coned every7-8 years.
Thanks for sharing!
One of the best and most beautiful receivers ever made!
These older radios are beautiful to look at
They truly are work's of art.
Nice Pioneer receiver. i had a monster Technics SA 1000 receiver 330 watts per channel, most powerful receiver of all time. i found it in a thrift store in Tampa Florida back in the 90s for $75. Super powerful and awesome sound and worked great for about a year and then it went out on me. i ended up selling it as is for $50 in the weekly flyer.
My GF and I scored an SX-1050 2 years ago and immediately found it needed repairs on the protection board. I finally felt I had some extra cash on hand so I dropped it off at the shop back in October. Got it back 2 months later and I couldn't be happier. It's paired with JBL L110s and it sounds amazing! These old machines are absolutely worth all the potential trouble!
Congrats! I have a SX-1050 also. It's a great receiver and teamed up with your JBL's I'm sure it sounds awesome. You did the right thing to get your SX-1050 repaired and there's now a good chance that you'll have many more trouble free years ahead.
Vintage Audio Addict I'm in the very slow process of learning how to work on these machines. The 1050 still could use some old components replaced which I hope to be able to do within the year. I've got over 20 receivers in my collection and nearly all of them need some kind of work done so I'm looking forward to being able to do those repairs myself.
My buddies father still uses this exact receiver. Brings back memories.
The tactile experience of the 70s audio equipment was awesome.
Thanks for sharing. This old equipment does bring back the memories and it's usually good ones.
I'm not knocking brands
like Sansui or Kenwood.
Didn't I mention Technics turntables?
I daily the SX-1250, the second most powerful Pioneer receiver ever. These things are built like tanks. You did a good job.
I had an SX-1250. Bought in Germany, and brought home.
I ran a pair of JBL studio speakers, then a set of Pioneers's with 15" woofers.
Sadly, I was in need, and had to part with the system a few years later.
I can remember being a teenager and going to the "stereo store" at the mall and ogling over the equipment and thinking I'll never have it. It took a few decades, but I love my Pioneer monster receiver. It was made to a standard of quality that doesn't exist anymore.
Same here. I had several small stereo shops in my town that I visited often to look but coming home with something was pretty rare. I believe much of the vintage audio equipment will still be operating decades into the future.
They still make quality amps , receivers Yamaha A-S3000 put you have to pay 7000 dollars lol
My father had one of these. Started my love for pioneer
I bought an SX-580 back in 1979, the bottom of the line. I was 14 and got a job bussing tables at local restaurant. First thing I did when I earned my own money was buy that receiver. Still have it, is at my brother's house, and it still works.
Man, your story is my story. Working at pizza hut as a teen my first "real component" was a used Kenwood KA-3500 and like your SX-580 is still in service today.. Thanks for sharing.
@@vintageaudioaddict I also had a PL-518 turntable and a CT-F500 cassette deck, but the receiver was the first purchase. Speakers were a pair of Stromberg-Carlson that my dad gave me. Speakers, turntable, cassette deck are long gone, sadly. Thanks for stirring up old memories :)
@@SteveLowe65 SC speakers now we're talking old school.....Okay older school. For most of us the old days were good days.
I have always been enamored by these vintage audio products especially Pioneer and Kenwood. I have rebuilt a few other 40's & 50's radio's, but I luv the attention to detail that needs to take place when opening up one of these box's. Once I retire I plan to do something similar and just do it for fun, but who know's maybe even make a little beer money on the side. Thanx and take care.
just purchased a pioneer A-90 200 WPC at 8 ohms @ .002%THD can't wait to get it set up and running!!!!
Remember those pacific stereo days. Huge Sansui beauties and these. Later some Hitachi wonders ...class g
I hope it brings back some good memories for you. I know it does me. Hitting all the small audio shops long before Best Buy and Circuit City came to town.
@@vintageaudioaddict Wandered through pacific stereo all the time looking and listening and dreaming. Even radio shack had some cool receivers with that magic tune circuit that if you got just anywhere close to an fm station it would lock it in instantly. Loved that back then more late 70's stuff. great video
I used to get great deals at Pacific...Bought an Akai r2r for hundreds off brand new
@@BigEightiesNewWave oh yes. Bought a phillips sensor touch turntable with an audio technica cartridge. Got robbed and that was stolen. Was such a killer table.
Oh, hey I recognize this set. My uncle had one up in his old bedroom back at Grandma's
Grandma must have been deaf.
My dad gave me his old sx-727 in the late 80's, I was about 9 y/o at the time. I miss that little beast, you could cook eggs on it.
I had the 626. Not real powerful but still nice back then.
I used to keep a small fan on top of my SX 780 plugged into the receiver. It would come on every time I flipped the switch up.
Before the 80's "Black Plague".
And oh look, real components on the board...no SMT crap.
Bless you sir. And thank you for saving this amazing receiver. That's a LOT of work!
Your welcome and thank you for your kind words. Yes, it's a lot of work but I enjoy it. Thanks again.
What a project! ... that's one awesome classic machine!
I'd love to have one but its WAY More power than I need, and Way More over my budget! lol
thx for sharing👍
Great lesson, I like old-school audio gear, fun audio gear, real talk
Thank you for your kind words,
Looks like the amp my mother has been wanting fixed for years. So hard to find competent, trustworthy service people.
You are correct about that. It is tough to find a good vintage tech.
I am one leave phone number
Wow man so cool that you're saving vintage audio equipment great job keep up the good work. ✌
Thank you so much for your kind words, I appreciate it.
What an awesome piece of equipment. I was in high school during the receiver wars era and I lusted mightily over these brutes, but of course they were way, way out of my budget range. For many the SX1980 is the holy grail of receivers.
I'm about your age it sounds like. I worked at pizza hut as a teenager. I didn't earn a lot but still living at home I had a few extra bucks that I spent on stereo equipment. Like you, I wasn't buying the expensive stuff. Your right just an amazing piece of history. I can't imagine what a piece like this built today would cost. $3000 - $5000 if I were guessing.
@@vintageaudioaddict I know the prices these things bring on eBay is pretty impressive. Your unit is in awesome cosmetic shape, sure makes the refurb worth the effort.
@@rickbarton9130 Thanks, The gentleman I purchased this SX-1980 from was in the military and he purchased it on the way home in West Germany.
@Mark Godfrey I had a Pioneer 626 that I got from my parents as a Christmas gift in 1971. I donated it to Goodwill in the mid-1980's. Still worked -- needed to be cleaned.
Anyone else see this auction?: www.ebay.com/itm/Pioneer-SX-1980-Vintage-Stereo-Receiver-Mint-Condition-Open-Box/114069889751?_trkparms=aid%3D1110001%26algo%3DSPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131231084308%26meid%3D61a94a12bafa4f6e94ff91c0d2a6240a%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D223705810655%26itm%3D114069889751%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109
Great googly moogly!
This video came up on UA-cam, so I had to take a look. I'm a fan of Pioneer. I have not so vintage Pioneer stuff; 4 VSX receivers (acquired so I can watch my VHS, DVDs, Blu-rays, HD DVDs, and antenna TV with surround sound), CD changers (magazine type), and audio cassette tape players (one is a 6 cassette changer). I also have a number of Design Acoustics speakers and a good amount of video gadgets from different manufacturers (including gadgets that record antenna TV programs on flash drives). "Some" of the stuff is stored. It all works. As a side note I could get all my electronics fixed locally (small town in central PA) where most of the repair costs were not more than $35. Sadly the place has been closed for a number of years. Before that, even though I live out in the sticks, my neighbor had a repair business and he was pretty good but he passed away. Oh well, such is life. If you made it this far, thanks for reading my post. All the best.
Thank for viewing and sharing your story. Your can tell I'm a vintage audio guy but electronic devices in general interest me. Yes, a big problem in today's world is getting your electronics fixed. Almost all electronics would have been repaired back in the day. Now your electronic device breaks and you throw it away. Not many new service techs are coming up into the business of repair and the older ones are disappearing.
I bought a SX-880 brand new back in 1979 and a pair of HPM-100 speakers. Sounded great! I remember seeing the behemoth 1980 in the showroom but was out of my price range then.
Your SX-880 is a fine receiver. Like you back in my youth I couldn't afford a receiver like the SX-1980.
Wow Pioneer and Marantz made some of the most beautiful stereo systems
There was/is so much great looking vintage audio equipment.
I picked up an old Sherwood S-7300 for $50 from a flea market a little over a year ago which is what got me into this. Owner said it didn't work, but the chassis was in great shape for it's age. I plugged it in at home without knowing about the light bulb-load-test trick at the time and smoke rolled out of it. I opened it up and saw a burned trace on the power supply board. I bridged it with solder and noticed two of the bridge rectifier diodes (i guess is what they were called) were charred looking. I replaced them and the receiver came to life. I also installed a fuse between the power supply transformer and board that it feeds for added safety. It has some of the cleanest sound i've heard when compared to modern junk. I hope to one day learn enough to be able to rebuild this receiver and bring it back to it's glory, but for now it's set up in my living room with two 150 watt KLM floor speakers connected.
Sherwood made some great audio equipment. Experience is the key with almost anything and working on vintage electronics is the same. You learned from your experience and you did a great job getting her going. Great job!
@@vintageaudioaddict I just recently acquired a Sansui AU 717. I was absolutely loving it paired up with a pair of Tannoy system 115 DMT"s. Everything was sounding wonderful. Dim the volume potentiometer stuck. Locked up tight i I'm hesitant to try and fix it. It really isn't any repair shops around here anymore. Any help you could give me regarding this I would greatly appreciate it.
Bob
Wasn't really a fan of 70's equipment, but the more I watch your videos, the more I'm diggin them. That SX-1980 is a beast. I also think a big thing in restoring anything is a place to work when you can leave stuff and come back to it, the kitchen table NOT being one of them. I know from experience. LOL!!
Thanks so much. I grew up with them. When I was younger all I cared about was that the equipment played my music. As I got older I could appreciate the engineering and the build quality of the vintage audio equipment. Your right the SX-1980 is a beast. You do need a pretty good sized work area and it's heavy. My workbench is actually my Mother's old craft table. It's an old oak table but just like the vintage audio equipment man is it sturdy. No worries about it collapsing. Thanks again!
Pioneer sx 3700
THE BEAST of THEM ALL !
my first piece of stereo was a Pioneer Receiver a small unit - but what impressed me was the way it came packaged - this was in Europe - in Heidelberg and i got it in the '60s from an airbase store. I eventually after many speaker large and small and many receivers went just straight wire with a Marantz 8b - will not bore with other equip.
Thank you for sharing and thank you for your service.
I was stationed on Okinawa 76-77. I bought a SX-950 I don't remember the specs but boy did I ever like that amp. The SX-1980 of course didn't come out until the later part of the 70s but I had rotated back to California by then. Thanks for the video. Great stuff I agree after 40 years replacing all of those components only makes sense.
Your welcome and thank you for watching. The SX-950 is a great receiver. Every bit the engineering and build quality that the SX-1980 has. Thank you also for your service!
Wow, I think my father had one of these. I love the classic look of the interface and fonts. He parted with it when moving in the military, so sadly I can't do a restoration of my own.
Thanks for sharing and for your Father's service to our country.
you own a piece of history there 👍🏻
Yes, it's a great piece of audio history.
I've got a 980. It's been a great receiver. Bought it used a decade ago for 250 bucks. It's worth more today. I'd love a larger unit, but they are out of sight and RARE.
Your SX-980 is engineered and built just as good as his big brother the SX-1980. You have a fine receiver.
I used to sell these,many years ago pioneer was hard to beat.They would raise the roof on the showroom we demonstated them in.
I bet you have some wonderful memories from back then. Such fine built equipment.
very nice receiver from pioneer , amazing product ever made by the company
I love those old school receivers with all their switches and knobs and the way you could "scan the dial" by taking advantage of the flywheel on the tuner
They are special pieces of audio history.
Awesome vintage
Pioneer equipment.
A name always synominous with quality.So saddening to compare their current product line and quality with what it used to be.I have recently heard a restored Pioneer system including the wonderful 909 tape deck through the new JBL Century speakers all wired up with Chord Cabling and a Linn Sondek at the Front. The envy stills exists. A wonderful video yet again Thank you
Thank you so much for your kind words. The vintage audio equipment can hold it's own when operating properly. The engineering and build quality was top notch.
Ooo lala! What an awesome unit! My first real stereo was the SX-780. Purchased in 1980. The digital stuff was coming and they were moving these out at good prices. At 45 WPC, it did an amazing job. I still have it in the man cave pushing HPM 100's. Back then, I wanted the SX-850 but could not swing it. A really nice system with turntable, cassette deck, speakers back then could easily cost 3k. Or a down payment on a house! Great vid. Cheers!
Thank You! I got my first real stereo in late 70's so I think we have a similar story. Not a lot of money working at pizza hut as a teenager and the audio equipment was expensive. I purchased a used Kenwood KA-3500 integrated amp, then came a Sansui TU-717 tuner, etc. etc. No way could I afford a $1295 dollar SX-1980. Your SX-780 is a fine receiver. The cool thing is that your SX-780 is engineered and built every bit as good as a SX-1980. With your SX-780 still operating today, proves it. Oh and your HPM 100's are bringing some good money in today's market. Thank you again for your kind words.
i had a 13 piece system i bought in the early 80's i wish i still it, it beats anything they sell in stores today, more sound, better tuning, etc., wish i still had it instead of what i'm stuck with today.
Wow, a 13 piece system. You must have purchased it all at once. I'd buy audio equipment a piece at a time. I would have brought the whole store but I didn't have the cash to do it.
What a beauty.. Love those old silver face Pioneers!
Thanks, she is a looker. Amazing engineering and build quality in the vintage audio equipment.
So much nicer than the crap black of today's world. Never liked that look from day one (mid- to late-80s, maybe?)
Omg, they sound so good cranked up. I always had my dad beating on my bedroom door to turn it down.
Man, you had a SX-1980 growing up? I would have been over to your place all the time.
These cost a small fortune when new back then so I highly doubt you had one as a child
My dad had one when i was a child in the early 80s and me and my brother would crank that sucker up all the time
@@diyguy928
People were just throwing old recievers in the garbage ,
Yardsales or just giving them away until the last 15 years or so .
I saw a small kid that had a Hitachi 9500 LO-D on UA-cam in the states .
That type of amp was in the Sony president's office sytem at sony in the late 70's ...
Its definitely possible
Went through this process with my sx-980. It may be the little brother but it is much loved. Everything works perfectly now and it's the center piece for our living room. Also those selection switches come apart easily and can be fully cleaned and reassemble. Being careful not to break the plastic clips. Also a weak channel can be the fault of the protection relay. I had a devil of a time tracking that problem on mine. New relay and all was well.
Thanks for sharing. The SX-980 is a great receiver. Engineered and built with the same care as the SX-1980. Yes, the intermittent problems are many times difficult to find. Good job getting your SX-980 back up and running!
The idea of using a relay in protection circuit is fundamentally flawed. I've yet to see a relay correctly rated to break signal to a speaker driven at max power in a DC fault condition. You are lucky to find them DC rated or even half of what a full fault voltage / current potential is. DC contact rating is significantly lower than AC rating.
If your lucky the relay contacts don't weld together, but after opening once under moderate output level the contacts will never close clean again, hence the 'weak' or noisy channel outcome. It's not something stuff like deoxit will ever patch.
This is especially the case with high power amps like this... willing to bet this uses relays that wouldn't even suit an 80W Amp.
The best replacement for relays are FET's with the correct optodriver chip that can be be mounted on a small PCB the same footprint as the relay. NO need for heatsink because they have a very very low resistance (they never get hot under full loading, relays probably get hotter due to the coil being permanently energised while in use.)
You are differently a man on a mission with this project ! Beautiful machine ....... that one should be kept under glass !
Thank you! Pioneer and the rest of the audio companies back in the day made amazing audio products.
Believe it or not, there was a Radio Shack version of the this amp under the 'Realistic' brand. A lot of 'Realistic' stuff was junk, but they sometimes did deals to re-badge high-end stuff. I had some scratch and win ticket that gave me a great deal on Radio Shack stuff including sale merchandise. This (Realistic) receiver was on sale and I got an amazing deal. I didn't know I was buying Pioneer at the time, but discovered it later.
I loved this super heavy beast. I remember I gave up a school trip to Portugal to buy this, speakers, turntable, cassette deck and stereo cabinet. I gave up some amazing memories I am sure, but this thing gave me some great memories too. Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells really used to rattle the windows when this thing was cranked up.
Radio shack did have some good gear. They had several different contract manufacturers produce their equipment over the years. Thanks for sharing your story. I enjoy the equipment but I also enjoy the stories that go together with the equipment.
@@vintageaudioaddict Yeah, I got some great stuff at 'The Shack' over the years. They really should have had a high-end and a low-end brand though as some 'Realistic' gear was not good. At least it taught you to trust your ears.
Man , I so wish I had your talent. Subbed and will be watching a lot more. Thank you for this.
I thumbs up before even looking at the video.
Thank You!
I still have my old vintage stereo equipment love the stuff and have it rebuilt and recapped no one in my area anymore so I will have to go somewhere
Yes, it is very difficult to find techs that are still repairing the vintage audio equipment.
i own one that was given to me by a uncle who worked in new york in late 70´s with the turntable PL-560 and a hpm1100 pair of speakers , this when he return to Portugal in mid 80´s ,i conect to it a CT-a1 and a pd-7100 to upgrade the system, still works today very good ,only the capaciteurs need to be changed but it sounds incredible loud with a perfect sound, the loudness it´s a powerfull one with these speakers, regards
Wow, Nice Uncle! He gave you some wonderful stereo equipment.
@@vintageaudioaddict yes since he brought it from the U.S of A. i´ve been making his head burn ,each time i saw him ,i asked him ,when will you stop hearing music loud, i want it!!!and he did gave it to me ,regards
This is a gorgeous receiver
Thank you!
Wow I had a 45 watt a channel Pioneer I purchased in 1978. It was similar to that one but less all the buttons and knobs. She stopped working around 2004. By then I had a Yamaha separates but that Pioneer had some clean sound.
Even the smaller receivers of the day were quality build. Less power and features but still excellent sounding.
Thanks for sharing all your videos you make. I really enjoy watching them. Very fun hobby.
Thanks a lot! I appreciate it!
very good professional work
Thank you very much
Never saw a SX 1980 , Bought a SX 780 new back in the late 1970's from LaBell's store which is not around any more . Its still in service for me . The UA-cam tunes sound great through it .
the flip switches some any how could use a cleaning as you can tell there not making good contact so I have to work them to clear up .
The SX-780 is a nice receiver. I'm glad that you have had it all these years.
The SX 1980 was an absolute beast of a receiver! id kill to own one now.
It sure is. The receiver power wars didn't last for many years but many of the Japanese companies engineered and built some amazing equipment.
I have a SX_737 I've owned since I was 15 and just love the sound quality Pioneer puts out on my Ventage Nova 8b speakers . Best combo everrrr. Sure wish I could buy a SX-1980
The SX-737 is a very nice receiver. All the the build quality of it's big brother the SX-1980. It's great that you have had it sense your teen years.
I have the SX 737 also, picked it up at a yard sale for $35. Around 18 years ago. Still going strong. Also have the pioneer supertuner from the late 70s I used in my car back in the day
Thats my dream receiver, my older brother had one when i was a kid n i can remember how amazing it sounded and how powerful it was. I swear he had some klipsch speakers hooked up to it and they would literally scoot across the floor
Thanks for sharing. Like you this equipment brings back good memories.
One day i hope to be able to buy one restored and enjoy it. Receivers today sound great but not built and sound like the ones from my youth.
I “only” have the SX-780, which does seem to be much more powerful than its 45 watts/channel. The 1980 though is a whole different beast. Enough settings just for the tuner alone that could keep a listener very busy and satisfied. Love your videos, you have great taste in equipment.
Thank you so much. I always appreciate your comments and the kind words. Yes, the SX-1980 is an amazing piece of history. It's hard to imagine back in the day when I walked into small stereo shops and they were filled with so much quality equipment.
Vintage Audio Addict Somewhere down in my basement I have a box that has some of those little blue catalogs that Pioneer used to print out and give to consumers. I drooled over this receiver, as well as their tall racks with all the silver components. Naturally, the reel to reel decks were lusted over by everybody.
I own a SX780 and still use it today.
The SX-780 is a wonderful receiver. All of the Pioneer audio equipment from that time frame was.
When I get rich or win in lotto the first thing would buy is the SX 1980 . This is the holy grail of amplifier.
I tell ya, they are big bucks in today's world. I purchased this one in 2006.
I bought my Pioneer a few years ago before the prices shot into the stratosphere. Some of the vintage equipment is getting ridiculously expensive, but darn it looks awesome like a piece of art in my house.
im in high school the closest i ever got to the 1980 was a sx 1250 that had epic amp failure i mean the thing caught fire and someone still bought it for 250$ and the thing was in trash condition with it having burnt up completely but i still have a sx 1080 i got both for free from a neighbors attic who wanted them out of there house
Very good video with excellent information!
People that don't really know the extent of the labor involved in restoring these beauties will never understand why.
This is why!
20-25 hrs in labor alone...
Nice job!!
Beautiful piece. I have a SX-1250 and one day I hope to find a 1280
Thank you! I have a SX-1250 also. The SX-1250 is one of the classic receivers of all time. Congrats on owning her!
I hade a SX-1280 in Sweden back in the days...sold it for 300 bucks. It neeaded repairs.
The SX-1280 was/is a wonderful receiver.
I commend your efforts highly 👍🏼
Thank you very much!
I wouldn't throw money away on a vintage Reciever. They are Beautiful Machines. You just can't trust people. And they sell them for too much money. Im happy with my Sony STR DH130. Stereo Receiver. It's The Best One you can buy.
Some years ago I got a SX-980 on a flea market, a little over a year ago i dug it out of storage where it had been sitting unused for a long time. was still fully working but I decided to do a recap as some of the electrolytics in the PSU had high ESR (and was discoloured from heat). Except for the two main filtercaps all electrlytics are replaced. I didn't see no reason to replace any transistors..
It is now the heart of my system and it sounds great.
lol i had the same luck just the system up sx 1080 and instead of a flea market i got one out of my neighbor's attic a year and 1/2 ago when i was like 16 now its under my dad's tv as he has kind of commandeered my amp FOR NOW lol im takeing that back when i have a place to put it
The SX-980 is a very nice receiver. The great thing about the vintage equipment is that every model in a manufacturers lineup was a quality product. You didn't have buy the top of the line. By you getting those old electrolytic capacitors replaced that SX-980 will probably still be operating for decades to come. Great Job! Enjoy!
This is definitely on my list of things to own....
She's a great receiver
Amazing attention to detail in the repair. I've wouldn't have thought to test the HFE of the transistors , hell we never even had that equipment in our workshop.
I've restored a few Quad amps in my time, but really more of a video engineer than audio.
I sold mine back in 1992 after i brought it over to my Uncles house and listened to his Marantz 2500 against my Pioneer on his HD880 speakers that handle 250 wpc..i could hear the SX1980 get grainy as i pushed it above half gain..The Marantz kept its transients and had better impact..This is when i dropped the brand and started chasing more high end gear like SUMO, US made Marantz, then Threshold and later Krell..
Thanks for sharing.
My grandparents had that same system you are working on in the late seventies..Didn't realize it was considered end..
You had cool Grandparents if you ask me!
Love still to this day my SX-880
The SX-880 was/is a fine receiver.
I purchased a SX-1250, 160 watts per channel in 79. I gave it away in the early 90’s with a blown channel.
My best friend back in it's day, bought an SX-1980 new, He paid $800...… NEW. I had a Pioneer SX-3700. Tiny compared the SX-1980......LOL. I recently acquired a Pioneer SX-3900 in perfect working and cosmetic condition. Love these vintage Pioneers.
Man $800 was a great price for the SX-1980 back in the day. The SX-3700 and the SX-3900 you have are great receivers. Plenty of power from that SX-3900 for almost any speaker and listening volume.
I have an SX-980 that I bought as a teenager the year they brought out digital so I got mine on sale. It needs to be fixed. It was a work horse. I used it for a 2000 sq ft dance hall using 4 speakers at half volume and it was definitely pumping out the music. Mine was rated at 80 watts per channel. I was told never to get rid of it even though my wife has had the desire a number of times.
Thanks for sharing. Your SX-980 is a fine receiver. Keep her around, I mean your wife of coarse, LOL. But seriously your SX-980 has an issue that could probably be fixed and then the SX-980 can make music again.
@@vintageaudioaddict Excellent video by the way. The last time I had it in for service I was told that there's soldered connection between the amps that gets hot and then cold and then hot and finally snaps. I wish I had the money to get one of the higher end models but back in 1977 when I bought it, I think I paid $350 was a lot of money to me and the one you worked was about $1250 if I remember correctly. Where do you get the flip handles for the front? One of mine came off. thank you.
@@vintageaudioaddict I just had it fixed and cleaned by Dr Dan's in Denver. Love to listen to it again.
Amazing collection sir specialy Japanese vintage tuner turntable amplifiers 70s from india
I'd like to see, if you haven't already done one, a video on how you go through and determine what common caps you get. Like where and how you order them you know, for the newbies.
I have an SX-1250 and live in a decent sized metro area, but finding someone who can restore these things is pretty tough.
I know. I hear the same story over and over. The old techs are gone and there are not many new techs coming into the electronics repair business as most electronics when they break you throw them away now a days. Your SX-1250 can probably still be operating well in 50 more years if there is anyone left to repair her. Great Receiver!
Damn, that thing is a thing of beauty!
Thank you, Sir. She is a looker.
Back in the late 70's the SX1010 was king of the hill, I was a Sansui guy so I have the AU20000, its rated at 170 RMS into 8 ohms, its a beast. I still have it but needs a restore, a guy on ebay does them for about 800$ and up. Maybe someday, I still have my JBL L300's, rock on.
Thanks for sharing. So much great gear back in the day.
Good show...
I have an SX-3900 that I bought new when I was 18 years old. Another awesome Pioneer making the transition from analog to digital. Only 120W/channel, but at .005% THD (yes two zeros).
Sweet! Plenty of power. Great looking receiver also. Congrats on having your SX-3900 for all these years. I'm working on my next video to upload. It's my Pioneer rack system with those beautiful blue fluroscan displays like your SX-3900.
@@vintageaudioaddict I also have the somewhat matching dual cassette deck with fluoriscan display.
Damn!, 270 watts per channel!, I thought the SX3900 I had back in the 80's was kick ass @ 120 watts per channel, man, I miss that receiver!
@livey oone That's easier said than done, honeybuns! 👍
I miss the "floating" radio dial, barely turn it and it spins like crazy across the grid.
Wish they made those again.
Very nice receiver you got there! I wish I had one of those in my arsenal!
Thank you very much. She's a great example of audio's past.
great video I still have the 1980 driving a pair of cerwin vega 380se,s
Thank You! You have a nice setup!
Vintage Audio Addict thank you
this is the amplifier of my father when I was only 6 years old the more it gets hot the better
I'm glad that it brought back a memory from your youth.
Howdy, This is the first time I've been on this channel ! You do some serious work !! Could you do a show, about the test gear you have on your bench ? And on the subject of capacitors....... What are your top 10 cap maker's, according to type ?? By type, I mean electrolytic, non-polarized, ceramic disc, styrene, etc......! Thanks for all of your effort and hard work !!
Thanks for watching and for your kind words. I've done several video's that you may want to checkout on test equipment, capacitors etc. I have provided the names and links to the video's below.
Troubleshooting Failures In Vintage Audio Equipment -
Replacing Old Electrolytic Capacitors - ua-cam.com/video/RaWrYJ6amcA/v-deo.html
Vintage Stereo Repair - ua-cam.com/video/N3e9C4mUui0/v-deo.html
Phono Repair And Troublesome Transistors - ua-cam.com/video/lkcP1z-KcPA/v-deo.html
Hakko 808 Desoldering Tool A Must Have - ua-cam.com/video/NtSn_HPT-sE/v-deo.html
Hazards Of Reel To Reel Tape Deck Repair - ua-cam.com/video/KvXwN5igzDg/v-deo.html
No Audio In Vintage Equipment - ua-cam.com/video/pKqxlT9sgZY/v-deo.html
Troubleshooting In Vintage Equipment - ua-cam.com/video/xk5gjq5ehK0/v-deo.html
Reforming Speakers - ua-cam.com/video/ttbgeDagRus/v-deo.html
Checking DC Offset On Vintage Amplifiers - ua-cam.com/video/ZvBoxhpa-v8/v-deo.html