Build quality, looks great and sounds even better. Plenty of clean power. Very punchy compared to newer plastic junk.

Heavy

What's to say that hasn't already been said? They really don't make them like this any more. More's the pity. I got this receiver from a friend's dad, who, believe it or not, was going to throw it away! There's nothing wrong with it, he just didn't use it any more. Other than a couple of burned out bulbs and a bent tuning knob shaft where apparently someone once tried to use it as a handle, it's perfect. The tuner section is better than you'll find in any receiver made today, and in fact you'd have to go with high end separates to even equal it much less do better. The preamp is more than adequate, with switchable turnover frequencies for both bass and treble, and for the audio purist, the tone circuitry can be bypassed completely. There are provisions for two turntables, two tape decks, and the auxilliary input can easily accomodate a CD player or a third tape deck if you're really into dubbing. The real strength of this unit, however, lies in the power amps. A true 80 watts RMS per channel of incredibly clean, punchy power, with bass so tight and mids and highs so clean, smooth and detailed you'd swear you're listening to expensive separates. Absolutely none of the harshness or "brittleness" so common with today's "home theater" receivers. I have it hooked up to a pair of $300 Advent Prodigy Towers, and even with these bargain speakers, the sound is unbelievable. These silver-dial models are the ones that made Pioneer's reputation, and deservedly so. This review is of the SX 980, but the entire silver-face series, the 50s and 80s, simply radiate quality in every way. If you can get your hands on one of these, don't pass it up! Your new high-dollar AV receiver might just end up in the closet.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz 4300, Sansui QRX 9001, Pioneer VSX D701S

Great sound, power, and longevity.

As it grew older (20 years+) I've had problems with channels becoming intermittent or weak.

This was my first receiver and I've had it for about 20 years! It has served me quite well. I've always thought the sound was excellent and the power was strong enough crank out the Led Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd at a high school dance way back in my high school days. My tastes have changed over two decades and I still think it sounds good even now at lower volumes playing jazz and classical. I'm finally retiring it because it recently seems to need a repair every year for weak or intermittent channels. I hate to replace it but I guess I've gotten my money's worth. Now I have to sort through all this surround sound, Pro-Logic, Dolby Digital garbage when all I really want is a good old-fashioned STEREO receiver that I can listen to my vinyl on. I'm thinking of the Onkyo TX-8511. NOTE: The website forced me to choose a model year but it didn't offer an early enough date. The SX-980 came out in the late 1970's.

Beautiful classic looks; phenomenal sound

NONE whatsoever

This review is for the SX-780, the next lower model with about 45wpc (and they are conservatively rated). As a previous reviewer mentioned, these SX models from the late 70's are total gems to behold and hear! They are truly classics in every respect. Back in the 70's, I had the lowest SX model with around 25wpc, and I remember how excellent it sounded. It was stolen but never replaced back in the early 80's in college (I can understand why), and just recently I won an SX-780 on Ebay for a song (only $100)!!! This beauty is in mint condition, and is easily the buy of the century for me. This is how receivers should be built! The unit has gorgeous twin power meters (now that's class!!!) in addition to the FM tuning meter (remember, this is a classic 70's analog tuner), and the wood cabinet is downright gorgeous as well. The unit is also very solid, with a silver brushed real aluminum front panel, with solid aluminum knobs that remind me of an expensive hi-end Audio Research unit!!! And the sound... OH the sound!!! Hooked up to my Polk Audio Studio Monitor 10's or my Magnepan MMG's (I alternate them depending on what I want to hear that week), the Pioneer is breathtaking!!! I myself just cannot believe the unfatiguing warmth, detail, and dynamics this receiver's amp is capable of reproducing!!! And this comes from a very critical ear. I can go on and on, but I won't. If there were an 'Antiques Roadshow' TV program for audio equipment, this should subjectively be worth at least many hundreds if not more!!!

THE SOUND,THE INCREDIBLE SOUND!Classic looks,thick
alluminum face,and knobs.Beautiful wood veneer sides,
Did I mention the INCREDIBLE CLEAN SOUND?

I spend all my time listening to this thing! None!

Well where do I start,I picked this up a pawn
for $69.00.I had lucked out and found a pair of Bose
601 IIs for $99.00 a couple of weeks earlier at another
pawn shop. I had been wanting to put together a classic
system for awhile,I allways remembered how good my
Sansui had sounded. I shop at pawnshops alot because
you never know what you might find, or in this case
steal. There it was with a $69.00 price tag,I could'nt
believe it, so I hooked it up to some bose 301s they
had sitting close by, and low and behold it worked
perfectly, with plenty of power.( I'm very carefull
when buying used electrical equipment ).
I've had this unit for a couple of months now
and It just sounds so good, very clean, lots of power,
I've had it cranked a few times and the sound just
gets better. I do'nt know if warm is a good description
but it has a warmth my Denon 2700 do'snt have.
I think the pairing with the 601s are perfect
because they are some great sounding accurate speakers
good highs and bass.( although I'm not a big bose fan),

So for $169.00 I have a system that in 2 channel
stereo sounds as good and in some ways better than my
main Home Theatre setup.

My Home Theatre setup
Denon 2700
Sony Dvp 7000
Klipsch ksf 10.5
klipsch ksf 8.5
klipsch ksf c5
klipsch ksw200 sub
sony slv720 hf VCR

Similar Products Used:

Sansui G7700,other receivers from the 70s.

Dials and knobs :-) 2 tape in-out pairs. Too loud for my bedroom!

Tone controls not defeatable. Bleed-through evident on tape monitors.

This is actually a review of the SX-780, a slightly smaller 45WPC model.

I picked this up at goodwill for $20 knowing that at least some part of it didn't work. I got it home and discovered that the tuner and pre-amp section were still fine - still a good deal for $20 - but both power output transistors were blown. My local stereo shop was able to replace them with OEM Darlingtons for around $100 and I'm glad I did! I hear that the output stage often has problems in these models, so be careful when buying.

This is an amazingly clean amp with a great sound. I have it hooked up to a pair of Small Advent speakers and I'm very pleased with the results. The power output meters have made me appreciate the value of a true watt - with the meters hovering around one it's as loud as I'd ever need it to be for normal listening.

Things I miss, however, include defeatable tone stages. It probably doesn't make a big difference, but it certainly makes me feel better about the cleanliness of my signal.

Overall I ended up spending a little more than I would have liked, but I'm certainly pleased with my purchase. It's not a flashy amp, but it does a great job of doing what I want it to: play music.

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood KA-8100, Technics SA-80

Boy, did Pioneer screw up when they stopped making these. I bought one on ebay from a dealer for $160 a couple of months ago. I couldn't be happier.
These are rated at 80 watts at 8 ohms but as you may know, that rating is ultra-conservative. The Walnut cabinet and brushed aluminum face look better after all of these years. (I had the little brother 780 20 years ago) These put the black plastic receivers to shame, not only in appearance, but performance as well. You'll never hear cleaner sound, I guarantee it! Next stop...the 1280.

I haven't heard that many receivers in my life time but of what I have heard, this is really good! My friend, an Audiophile, said that this receiver is very rugged and sounds really good.

This thing is great. it shuts off if u try to play it too loud.

Old, balance knob dont work, left channel cuts out, tuner is shot, some other minor things.

This is the SB-780, and this is a great receiver. This thing is very old, you can tell just by looking at it. It has a very vintage look. I got it from my dad, he used it when he was a kid, and he has a newer receiver now, and i get to keep the pioneer. Im very happy with it. I have a pair of Technics speakers hooked up to it, and they sound very life-like and the first time i hooked them up to this thing i was blown away. This thing will go very LOUD too, my speakers cant take all of its power. The good thing is, I'm not worried about this thing burning out, i never play it louder then my speakers can handle anyway, but this receiver will shut itself off for a couple seconds if you're pushing too much power through it. I like that, i don't want it to bust on me, EVER! And u'd think sense this thing is so old, it'd sound old. nunt uh. This thing gets great sound quality, i have no complaints about it. i dont think much stuff u can get now is better than this. and the thing is, u can find one of these for cheap! i went to the old people hospital one time, and they had one that they never use, they would've easily sold it to me for under 50 bucks if i had any money. I love this thing, anyone else with a brain will too.

Now, after all that good stuff, there is still alot wrong with this unit, but thats just because it's older than i am. The sound is great like i said, its clean, pure sound. But the left channel cuts out sometimes, and i have to flip all the switches on this thing to make it come back, and then play a lot of bass through it. also, the balance knob doesnt work very good, but i dont use that thing anyway. The tuner is shot, i cant pick up anything but mexican music. But thats minor compared to how great this thing sounds. it's all worth it for the sound u get out of this thing. And i probably could have better sound if i had a better cd player, all i have is a sont discman i hooked up to the receiver. Ill try to upgrade when i can fidn a job in this stupid town with 4,000 people in it. yeah its huge. But oh well, this is a great receiver, its really one of a kind. My friend has one like it too, its a little different, but any pioneer receivers from back in the day are great. try to get ur hands on one. Another thing thats not good about this is that it cant be used for a modern home theater system, its just too old. But ill keep this thing forever for audio, it dont get much better than this.

aluminum and wood styling, twin power meters

mostly inoperable balance, and where are the optical outs? :)

I found a SX-780 at Goodwill for $20, and I'm in love. Keep your eyes open, because people have no clue what they are selling.

Similar Products Used:

Concord CR-210, Heathkit beast

Very full rich sound, especially low freq. From late 70s

No longer made like this

This receiver is a very powerful workhorse. It is the
centerpiece of my home entertainment system. The preamp
outs/amp in jacks have made it quite easy to add surround
sound to this beast. What has sold me on this line of
receivers is the rich full sound. For years, I had used
a more modern receiver with unfortunately, cheap speakers.
The rule of thumb says your speakers is where you need to
make your biggest investment, if they are cheap the system
will sound cheap no matter what. I got a very good
bargain on my SX-980, so I didn't expect dramatic results.
The instant I powered this unit up, I was astonished at the
results. I heard this very powerful and clean sound pour
out my speakers. The bass was very rich and the tone
control was still flat. This unit made my cheap speakers
sound incredible. The FM reception has certainly lived
up to its reputation. I use an outdoor FM ant from radio
shack, paired with this I receive stations crystal clear
from over 50 miles. I recommend this to anyone who likes
retro equipment, but demands the best in performance.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer SX-580