1st Impression Vintage Pioneer SA-6500II Amp

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  • kefranklin
    kefranklin Posts: 141
    edited February 2011
    The amp will definitely make more total power when it sees a four ohm load. Each speaker will see less power, but since he has both pairs in the same zone he will increase the amount of power in the room. If it can take the load, go for it.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,808
    edited February 2011
    Shouldn't be too hard to find a tweeter for the ADCs used (I, unfortunately, don't have such a spare at the moment).

    You could probably use the new production replacement from PartsExpress, available in 4 and 8 ohm versions.

    4 ohm: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=270-250
    8 ohm: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=270-252
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited February 2011
    Thank you Mr. Grand and kef for your insights. MrH I knew you would be the one to point me in the right direction for the tweet on the 303. I think I'll order an 8ohm pair and try to fashion a new backing board w/ cutout to fill the hole the previous owner made when he decided to put a car mid driver in place of a tweeter:confused: The amp is a nice starter, I've ordered a new face plate (well not as scratched up at least) for it and will do some cleaning and tlc for connecting the turntable. I'll try hooking the other set of Monitor 10's up tonight or tomorrow and see how it goes.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • jayman_1975
    jayman_1975 Posts: 672
    edited February 2011
    Nice amp. I have a SA-9500II sitting in my basement that doesn't work. I keep meaning to send it somewhere for repair. Im curious how it would sound.
    Onkyo TX NR 5008 modified by The Upgrade Company
    Oppo BDP 93 modified by The Upgrade Company
    Arcam CD37
    Monitor Audio Gold GS 60
    Revolver Audio Music 5 towers.(surround)
    Vandersteen V2W
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,808
    edited February 2011
    It would sound pretty good. Though I am not a huge fan of the vintage Pioneer amps and receivers, but the SA-9500II was/is a pretty serious piece of hardware.
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited February 2011
    jayman_1975 wrote: »
    Nice amp. I have a SA-9500II sitting in my basement that doesn't work. I keep meaning to send it somewhere for repair. Im curious how it would sound.

    For the amount of money spent repairing.... it would sound like an 80wpc Pioneer integrated amp from the 70's. I have had them and they are capable, but no sonic revelations there. Sentimental journeys are another story.

    The ADC reminds me of the KLH 6, another 10" two-way acoustic suspension job. I think the ADC might go down a bit deeper in the low end. Both lose tweeters pretty easy if you drive amps into clipping. No liquid cooling.

    There is a little tiny ADC 404 that really made an impression on me back in the 70's. A tiny acoustic suspension two-way that was deeper than it was wide.
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited February 2011
    @ Mr. Grand,

    I think I read some threads about that one on Classic Speaker website- was it referred to as the "brick" or some other nickname? The 303 that is in original shape actually sounds pretty nice. I only paid $20 for the pair and if both had been original ( I didn't even look under the grill when I picked them up) I truly would have been thrilled. Lacking in the upper freq compared to my polks but I really like the cabinets, they are very solid. I'm not sure if it's a wood veneer or a solid wood cab.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,808
    edited February 2011
    ADC 404:
    http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=259266

    sorry for the crrrrrappy scan...

    adc.jpg
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  • Polkersince85
    Polkersince85 Posts: 2,883
    edited February 2011
    George Grand wrote: »
    Sentimental journeys are another story.

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=51028&d=1281312675


    I keep mine up on the shelf just to remind me that I survived the 70's.
    >
    >
    >This message has been scanned by the NSA and found to be free of harmful intent.<
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  • DON73
    DON73 Posts: 516
    edited February 2011
    A Pioneer amp from that era restored to specs should sound about as good as most of the newer stuff we have today.
    To remove the volume knob you will need a small allen wrench and I forget which size. This knob probably has two set screws that hold it onto the shaft. The other Knobs/handles should just pull off. There are probably 4-5 nuts on some of the switches that need to be removed. Then you should be able to remove the face plate. The metal top just has a few screws holding it on.
    TO ERR IS HUMAN. TO FORGIVE IS CANINE.
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited February 2011
    Thanks for the tip Don, I found a service manual thanks to MrH with detailed schematics so that will help. I know it's a entry level (even in 78') amp, but for me its still fun and that's why I enjoy the hobby. My budget is meager and though I hope to be able to afford and try amps such as adcom555's, carver's, rotel's, or nad's for now I have to start somewhere. I do believe the enjoyment is in the journey. If I was a lotto winner it would be fun to buy anything I want, but for $40 I think it kicks a$$.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,808
    edited February 2011
    just to be clear - the 5500 was the entry level; yours is one up :-)
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  • DON73
    DON73 Posts: 516
    edited February 2011
    I hooked a used 9500 up to my B&W 801s and was surprised at how good they sounded with the old amplifier. I also have a 7500 that has had several caps replaced and it puts out enough power to drive the 801s to a very nice level.

    I found the allen wrench that I used to remove the set screws but the size marking has worn off. Pioneer used to provide it in an accessory pack but my manual on the 9500 doesn't list the size.
    TO ERR IS HUMAN. TO FORGIVE IS CANINE.
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited February 2011
    @ Don
    Like I stated this is my 1st amp so forgive the noob ?s. How do you determine if any of the capacitors need replaced? Is it just normal that they decay over time or do you measure w/ a multimeter somehow to determine. Up until 6mo ago I had never even looked inside a speaker and now I am trying to teach myself sodering in anticipation of upgrading some crossovers and now tinkering with amps too maybe. I'm having fun but for a semi intelligent guy I do feel like an idiot compared to others on these forums but am enjoying learning from everyone.
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • DON73
    DON73 Posts: 516
    edited February 2011
    TNHNDYMAN wrote: »
    @ Don
    Like I stated this is my 1st amp so forgive the noob ?s. How do you determine if any of the capacitors need replaced? Is it just normal that they decay over time or do you measure w/ a multimeter somehow to determine. Up until 6mo ago I had never even looked inside a speaker and now I am trying to teach myself sodering in anticipation of upgrading some crossovers and now tinkering with amps too maybe. I'm having fun but for a semi intelligent guy I do feel like an idiot compared to others on these forums but am enjoying learning from everyone.



    I'm very new to the technical side of audio equipment myself and before I started reading here I had never given a capacitor a second thought. I think the consensus here is capacitors age and dry out over time. Sometimes they show signs of leaking but I've never seen that in any of my equipment. I didn't do the work that was done on my 7500. It was done before I got it. I look inside of some receivers and see those tiny solder joints and I know I could never do that.:smile: (machine soldered?) I just keep on reading here and when my head starts spinning I quit. You'll learn over time with practice and absorb a lot just by reading here and asking questions.
    TO ERR IS HUMAN. TO FORGIVE IS CANINE.
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  • Vern47
    Vern47 Posts: 1
    edited May 2012
    Tnhndyman, you have a great amplifier in that pioneer sa-6500 ii. I bought mine in the 70s and it is still going and going, and has never seen the inside of a repair shop!!! The only thing wrong with it is the led on indicator light burned out years ago. I never had it fixed. Was going to try to fix it myself, but there would have been too much disassembly of the unit, and i wasn't up to the task. Vern47
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