Pioneer Elite Lovers Vintage Lineup.

Tony M
Tony M Posts: 11,159
edited November 2017 in Electronics
I just remembered the # of my forgotten Pioneer Int. Amp. The A-88X. Top of the line JUST before the Elite brand was coined. BUT it is still considered to be an ELITE for some reason.
Check out that distortion level..( .003

I remember now why I don't use it, even though I could, it had a cold solder joint in the volume circuit. The volume would go lower and back to normal a few times before it got warmed up. Then it would play just fine. I really think it's a solder joint.

Here is a cool page with interesting facts and Pictures of the earlier Elite line-ups. Anybody still using one of these ?

http://oyvind.servehttp.com/forsterkere1.htm
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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Comments

  • dolbyd
    dolbyd Posts: 430
    Cool link. Makes me miss the old days hanging out Saturdays at boutique Hi FI shops around town.
    I love the old Pioneer stuff. I always have called the pre Elite stuff Pioneer Reference .
    Sad to see all the mergers and money grabbing changes in electronics these days.
    Still have a PD65 in storage. I should get it back out.

    Main room- RTiA9 x4, CSiA6, in ceiling Atmos RT-70 x4, SVS PC 4000 x2, Marantz 8805A, OPPO 203, Emotiva DR3 G3, Emotiva XPA-2 G3, Emotiva XPA-5 G3, Emotiva X300, Sony 75" 940E, Panasonic Plasma VT50, PS Audio Power Port X2, PS Audio AC-5 x8, AQ Rocket 33 Biwire speaker cables, AQ King Cobra XLR IC, Furman PFi20 W/Cullen cable, SoildSteel S4-4 rack, Gik room treatments

    Office- Legend L600, in ceiling Polk RC80i, Marantz 7704, OPPO 203, Pioneer Elite PDF-59 CD, PSA Stellar 300, Sony 55" 800B, Gik room treatment

    Master BR- Signature ES60, Signature S35 Center, Signature S15 Dolby Height, LSI700 in ceiling, SVS-SB4000, Marantz 5012, Emotiva XPA5 G2, OPPO 203, Pioneer DVL-919 Laser Disc, Sony 55" OLED

    Patio- SDI Atrium8 x3, Emotiva A-100 amps x3
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,159
    I agree about mergers and the reliability of supposedly top tier brand name electronics not lasting 2 years sometimes. Not even 1 year even. Technology is supposed to progress, not regress. :/

    I do have a beautiful Elite receiver with the rosewood side panels that I bought with a speaker package. No speaker wire there but I plugged it in and ALL the functions lit and changed when buttons were pushed. The speakers were NHT 5.1 BIG system so the price was well worth the asking price.

    Well after getting the stuff home, no sound from that beautiful receiver. The speakers are awesome ! still have them.

    I put the Elite Rec. in an electronics repair shop. The tech called me a day or two later. " Tony, that receiver has a 5.1 digital computer chip that distributes the power to whatever is selected. " ...." And it's fried, and I can't find another one on the planet. It was common for the chip to die and ALL the spare ones are gone. "

    I asked if he could turn it into a 2 channel receiver or pre or 2 channel amp .

    His reply..." It's a boat anchor now " " The BRAIN IS DEAD ".

    I still have it. It's a pretty boat anchor !!!
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    @Tony M just for you! Look what CL is selling! :smile:
    3u8riho98434.png
    https://annarbor.craigslist.org/ele/d/novi-pioneer-88x/6882348677.html
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    Ahh MAN what cool memories. I've always been a Pioneer Elite kinda guy and kept it in my system one way or another for decades.
    Thanks for the link, cool find there.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,159
    verb wrote: »
    @Tony M just for you! Look what CL is selling! :smile:
    3u8riho98434.png
    https://annarbor.craigslist.org/ele/d/novi-pioneer-88x/6882348677.html

    If it works great, 350.00 is more than fair I think. :p

    I should put mine into a local fixer if he'd take it.

    The volume has a cold solder joint or oxidation. No static, just volume fluctuates on it's own after it warms up. It DOES sound great and powerful too.
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    Worth a try @Tony M my man! A lot more easily fixable than my Peachtree! :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,159
    I think your 100% right.

    This repair guy is only 1 mile away... :D
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    Yep, with my Peachtree, they'll swap out boards. Easy for them, but not for any local repair shop, as they'll have to buy the board from Peachtree first!
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
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  • Tony M
    Tony M Posts: 11,159
    I hope Peachtree just gives you a NEW one! ;)
    Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them.
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