Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
This is also for the SX-939. It was a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect it to sound as good as it does. A very warm and detailed sound. The best Pioneer I've heard so far. Comparable to any Marantz's I own. Doesn't seem to get hot like my SX-980. I could listen to it all day and not get tired. I paid 150$ for it and well worth the price. I don't know of any other receiver that you can get this cheap, that has that much power and sounds this good. This one is a keeper for me. Internally some controls are hard to access when using Deoxit or other contact cleaner.

Price Paid:  $50.00 from ebay winter 2005

Summary:
This review is for the pioneer SX 939. The sx 838s big brother. You can get these units real reasonable. At 75 wpc (100) at 4 ohms. They are one of the best sounding and powerfull for the money. Once you clean all the switches and controls it performs wonderfully. The tuner on mine is a little touchy. Have to zero it in real close to get signal. Works well just touchy. This is a perfect 10 on value. I had a sx 1010. It didnt sound as good, too boomy in the bass department and the s/n ratio not as good. It may have just been old and tired. I also have a sx 850. That is a slightly better sounding unit (Near Perfect).It would have to be the best 65 watt receiver I have ever heard. I also have a kenwood kr-6600. Its nice and sounds smooth. At 60 watts(Kenwwod) its good but the sx 939 is a step up and the sx-850 is a slight step up from the sx939. On ebay the sx939s are going cheeper than the sx850,950,1050 etc. all of which are wonerfull receivers but expensive. If your looking for best bang for your buck grab a sx-939. Otherwise might as well jump up to a sx-1250, Kenwood Kr9600 or a Marantz 2325.

Strengths:
Pretty blue display, pioneer quality from 1975. Marantz 2270 is 2 to 3 times the price, which sounds simular. One of the best values out there.

Weaknesses:
Mine has a touchy tuner and controls were dirty when I bought it. Not quite as good as a sx-950 but half the price.

Similar Products Used:
pioneer sx-750, sx-850,sx-3700,sx-1010,kenwood kr-6600,Marantz 2245, Yamaha cr-1020, I can't remember them all.

Price Paid:  $100.00 from eBay

Summary:
This is for the SX-939, not the SX-838 but they are almost the same.The 939 is 75 wpc RMS and the 838 is 50. I bought it on Ebay a few years ago from a seller who had 0 feedback and advertised it as an old receiver. What I got was a near mint(no scratches at all!!) in the original box with all the paperwork SX-939 receiver. I hooked it up to a pair of CS-99 speakers and this thing sounds AMAZING!! I never intend on getting rid of it. It sounds better and plays 100% louder than any new stuff you can find at bestbuy. I recommend it for anybody that wants lots of power, good sound, and about $300.(Its gone up a lot in value lately)

Strengths:
The look, the power, the feel of the knobs. The tuner section is the best I've ever heard.

Weaknesses:
Vinyl veneer on the sides. I wish it was wood, but nothing to speak of besides that.

Similar Products Used:
CT-F9191 tape deck, CS-99 speakers

Price Paid:  $71.00 from Ebay

Summary:
Wanted a tuner but decided to see if I could get a better deal on a receiver. Back in 1974 I had envied the top of the line Pioneer receivers settling at that time for the SX 424. What a twist of fate - my patience paid off and I picked up the Pioneer SX 838 30 years later with shipping for 71.00 It was worth the wait! The receiver needed a few lamps replaced and a thorough cleaning. It is dynamite. Not only did I get a top notch tuner (superior to my old Sansui G6700) the preamp and amplifier are solid, partiularly when driving my vintage AR-2a sperakers from the same era. What I had purchased primarily for a decent FM raido and the nastalgic blue look of the Pioneer tuner is now at the hear of my entire system (and it has the hookups for everything including a feature that lets you record between differnt sources while listening to a third source. It also allows equalization by centering the bass and treble at two difference frequences (bass 200 and 400 and treble 2.4 and 5 hz) The spatial qualities are excellent. One more thing, it is rated at 50 watts - This is quite conservative it drives my AR2a's and JBL L110s better than my old Sansui G6700 which was rated at 90 watts.

Strengths:
Bass frequency reproduction is excellent. Hookups for everything. "Classic" 1970s appearance. FM excellent with honest signal strength meter. Weaker station signals appear relatively weaker although sound quality istill good.

Weaknesses:
I am spending entirely too much time listening to it. Actuallyl, I haven't found any yet.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer SX 424, Sansui G 6700, Pioneer 535, Sansui 2000.

Price Paid:  $20.00 from little secondhandsto

Summary:
I've had a Harman-Kardon Amp, it gave up 2 years after i buyed it. So, what to do ? I went to the little electronics second hand store at the corner near my app. I found this thing, heavy, old, ok. 20€ (Germany), why not. Connected it to my CD, DVD, PC, to the speakers. Switch on, pull up the volume - great ! I never had a so well balanced relation between a good bass, clear voices and crystalclear highs without anoying highsounds, or too much bumping basses. And a very warm sound, unique !

Strengths:
Power, clear and warm and strongful sound, at low and high volume.

Weaknesses:
I have the same Problem with the left speaker, sometimes it weaks down, dissapers. After "switching/trying" the selector, it works again...

Similar Products Used:
none