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Top Ranked Products from Pioneer.
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Rating
Reviewed by:
slm0x
(AudioPhile)
Review Date
March 11, 2009Overall Rating
 5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
More than 1 year Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
1.00 votes
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Review 1 of 23
Price Paid:
$0.00 Summary:
This may be the best receiver ever made, in terms of sound quality. This beast was manufactured in the late 70s, early 80s - so no surround sound. What it does have is limitless, high-current, power. Take a look at the innards of this brute. The power section looks just like a Mark Levinson No 33. The capacitors are gigantic. I've never found another receiver that can even approach the dynamic headroom of this monster. Hook this baby up to a great set of speakers (I've listed to this receiver connected to RBH T-2s and a pair Status Acoustics Titus speakers), and you'll have a listening experience that can be matched by only the finest in separates. If you get a chance to buy one of these at a good price, don't hesitate. They are extremely rare, and unbelievably impressive.
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Rating
Reviewed by:
lloydie
(Audio Enthusiast)
Review Date
July 6, 2007Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
More than 1 year Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2.00 votes
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Review 2 of 23
Price Paid:
$600.00
from hawthorne stereo, Se Summary:
I bought this reciever for 600 bucks after seeing it a friends house, prior to that, I was sworn to seperate components. The vintage stereo shop had two of them, I should have bought them both. This Godzilla is virtually a power amp mascarading as a reciever, with heat sinks, weighing 80+ pounds, and cranking out 270 RMS. I play drums and when I crank em up (on my Speaker factories with dual 12" drivers) I can barely hear myself. This monster is not for the faint of heart, for those who want light and cheap, go to the neighborhood garage sale, and pick up one of those five in one component sets that you can buy for 10 bucks. I listen to jazz, r&b and rock. The Pioneer brings it alive with multiple bass and treble settings, we even used her as a PA system. It has a wonderful Quartz tuner, and along with the brushed aluminum finish, it lights up beautifully. I am totally pleased. Did I mention it weighs 80+ pounds? Strengths:
With great power comes great responsibilty. Be careful you only get one set of ear drums. Solid sound and beautiful craftsmanship. Weaknesses:
What? Similar Products Used:
Not a chance!
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Rating
Reviewed by:
lloyd holloway(Unregistered User)
(Audio Enthusiast)
Review Date
July 6, 2007Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Used product for
More than 1 year |
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Review 3 of 23
Price Paid:
$600.00
from hawthorne stereo, Se Summary:
I bought this reciever after seeing it at a friends house, I used to be a seperate component guy until feasting my eyes on this notable exception. It's Godzilla mascarading as a reciever, (it weighs in excess of 80lbs)! There were two units at the vintage audio place where I bought it, I should have have bought em both. You'll hardly ever see anything like it. With 270 watts RMS, I power my speaker factory towers (two twelve inch drivers each cabinet) with it. Whatever kind of music you like, r&b, jazz, rock, it redifines the listening experience. It not only sounds good but has a beautiful brushed aluminum face, knobs and switches. If you see one, get it for the value alone, (unless you are one of those people who like a nice tidy five in one, two pound "mega sound" boom boxes), that are avaliable at your nearest garage sale. This is a rare bird, and increases in price over the years (still fetches at least the 1978-80 price of 1200.00). Did I mention it weighs over 80lbs? Strengths:
With great power comes great responsibility. Quartz lock tuner, two each bass and treble adjusters, pa system capabilities, I could go on... Weaknesses:
You have more than it does...... Similar Products Used:
Nothing, absolutely nothing..
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Rating
Reviewed by:
denisjhs
(Audio Enthusiast)
Review Date
January 27, 2007Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
 3 of 5
Used product for
More than 1 year Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
3.00 votes
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Review 4 of 23
Price Paid:
$1200.00
from ? Summary:
The SX 1980 is a receiver for a fortunate few. I've owned it for a while and say what you will about the Marantz, Kenwood, and Sansui of the same period (1978-1981) and it matches up with them and exceeds it most areas. A very good tuner is part of the reciever (but truefully, my Yamaha cr 2020 is better), but the power output is the story here. I left the receiver on by accident for more 24 hours on more than one occassion and have never seen it fail. Clear, clean, high out put is the hallmark of the reciever. Make no mistake, the heat sinks are large for a reason; they need to be. I suggest giving the receiver ample clearance to allow for the heat issue...The build quality matches the best of the Marantz's, and the frnt styling is as clean as the Yamaha. I know that there are people who say solid state amps are junk; they have not heard or used the one in this receiver. Strengths:
Build quality. Output of amp, ability to run continously for hours without issues, able to hit peak output without shut downs. Controls light, ease of use and for those still using turntables (I have 4, with different cartridges), able to select resistance and impedance for a stereo cartridge.
Weaknesses:
FM tuner very good, but not great, having said that its better than most. Weight,
heat generation, cost of service for this unit. Parts specific to this unit are priced like gold (recently seen one dealer sell a bass/treble knob for 25.00! that wasn't perfect!). Too much power for most speakers, have blown out more than one pair driving them with this receiver! Similar Products Used:
Yamaha CR 2020; Harmon Kardon 930, Marantz 2285. Yeah I know the HK and Marantz don't have the output of the SX 1980, but they were the best each maker had at the time of build circa 1972-1973 and so in that sense, they are comparable.
By the way, the Harmon Kardon has an excellent amp in its own right, even if its low in power (50+ waits).
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Rating
Reviewed by:
guydean
(AudioPhile)
Review Date
June 28, 2006Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
 4 of 5
Used product for
More than 1 year Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5,
3.00 votes
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Review 5 of 23
Price Paid:
$1250.00
from Custom Hi-Fi, Euless Summary:
It's still pumping it out, and I'll continue to use it until it doesn't. What I'll always remember is friends bringing friends over ot my home in 1978-'79 just to hear it. Years later, in 1995, someone I'd never have recognized remembered me after seeing my name in print and exclaimed "You're the guy with the STEREO"! It made my day. Anyway, I believe the SX-1980 is one of the best receivers Pioneer ever built, and I've never regretted the purchase. Strengths:
270 Watts per channel! Less than .03 THD! Weaknesses:
Variable-capacitor tuning; produces a good bit of heat. Similar Products Used:
None since 1978
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5 of 5
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