Longevity

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I purchased this from a friend who had picked this sx850 up at an estate sale. He was moving and needed to unload some things so without hesitation I feel I stole this from him. You see at the time I presently owned a Pioneer SX750 which I purchased in 1978 new.It has never has seen the inside of a repair shop. It has cranked like a MOTHER for over 23yrs so I felt the sx850 would be worth it. I wanted to use this reciever for my outdoor parties, I used to rent a 1000 watt amp. and two large outdoor speakers you know the ones with the 15" woofers and large horn tweeters, the black ones covered with some kind of fabric that used to cost me 100.00 each time I rented them. So what the h-ll I had some old Marantz speakers I replaced the 12" woofers and put some kicker midranges in and use this 850 and WoW!! Power Power and more Power. I just got finished cleaning both of my units up, I sprayed the guts down with Blue Shower, cleaned the tuner so the tuner knob just floats across the anolog scale, waxed the Walnut cabinets, replaced the blowen out indicator bulbs which they no longer make anymore, but I did find a suitable replacement for them [they are a glass wedge base #168] there not quite as bright but neither am I so I won't tell if you don't. So all I can tell Ya'll is that iffen you can lay yar grubby filthy stinken hands on one fer 60 or so bucks you'd better do it. otherwise you're a stinken sunken ditch! hey in all seriousness there good machines have fun. Eddie

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I bought the SX-850 receiver back in the May of 1978. It was my first and still over the years, my favorite. The SX-850 was developed during the vintage years of the high power receiver wars. The receiver was about the third model down from the flagship unit SX-1250 in the 50 series. Specifications on the SX-850 is as follows: A massive sheilded transformer, four discrete transistors per channel for a total of eight power output devices. This provided a very conservative 85W rms. at 8 ohm loads and 105W rms. at 4 ohm loads with .05 %THD. The receiver has two 15,000uf 70 WVDC capacitors to handle the large music peaks. I've owned several different amps but this one cranks and is very neutral. There is no substitute for clean neutral power. Those who say powerand size doesn't matter have no idea of what audio is about, poor guys!! The manufactures of audio equipment have loss some craftmanship and definite quality in this price range after this time era. They don't build-em like this anymore, all brushed metal front panel with brushed metal control knobs, real walnut wood case, analog dial, white faced analog tuning meters, conventional dial
backlighting,an awesome size, sight and weight(65 lbs).

I never had a problem with this receiver and used it daily in the 21 years since I've had my unit and paid $350.00 dollars in 1978. Incredible !! I do have a factory service manual on the SX-850.

After 21 years, technology changes to Home Theater and I did purchase a Yamaha RX-2095 7 ch. A/V receiver 3/26/99 with a service manual. The craftsmanship and quality is there but today the price is $1200.00 dollars and the all brushed metal front panel with brushed metal control knobs are now black, metal case
is black,"no wood". Weight is there, but yellow digital readout and processor controlled, no analog dial, no analog meters or conventional backlighting of
the dial with light bulbs.

Yes, the technology has changed, more features and less quality unless you pay
a lot more today. But I feel lucky to have the new system of home theater and
if I want to go listen to music in the other room in the dark and the SX-850
is glowing,it does bring back golden memories. I can only hope that the
Yamaha will perform 20 plus years from now.

Thanks for reading,

R.L. Faucette

I read R.L. Faucette's review of this receiver with great fascination and I have to echo all that he wrote. I too bought and still own the Pioneer SX-850. I was a senior in High School and worked all summer long to have enough money to buy my baby. It has survived two kids growing up playing with the knobs. It still works great and sounds wonderful. I've owned other receivers since this one, but none are connected to such fond memories (my first love).

Lot's of clean bass and power can realy push speakers

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Wow I was amazed when my dad bought me this pioneer sx 850 reciever it has moe power than his newer kenwood(1994) 100 watts a channel reciever that he has to put on volume 4 before you can even hear the thing on bose acoustimass series 5 speaker an dwhen we recieved my pioneer he tried it on his bose speakers and wow on notch 2 they were cranking and actually pushed the subwoofer. Heh I am never gonna buy a new reciever they are made like $hi@ today. i have it hooked up to avid model 102 speakers (yes they are old) and they sound great at notch 3 the house is shaking and you can hear this thing up the street

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