Vintage Rescue: Pioneer SX-450 Stereo Receiver

dorokusai
dorokusai Posts: 25,577
edited April 2 in Clubhouse Archives
I found this locally when I went to look at some other stuff...spied it next to some Klipschorn boxes.

History - The owner was a now deceased woman(RIP), who's native Son came back home to "estate" the house and belongings. He told me he bought it brand new for her 30 years ago, and it was in the box when he returned. The current home for him was Colorado and he brought all his audio goodies for the temporary stay....which is way too much to list, but I hinted to the speakers already.

The unit was set up for his Mother upon purchase, but she mainly listened to the RCA console stereo in the other room...which happened to have a really nice replacement turntable, a DUAL 1229. It had an Andrews Sister's LP loaded, with ALOT of dust. A little dusting and some tube warm up revealed a very nice, nostalgic demo while we handled business.

The Pioneer included original everything...box, plastic, tissue paper wrap, foam, user manual and the kicker....original 21x15, fold-out schematic(Spec Sheet) for any future repairs. ALL MINT. I buy vintage gear all the time...and I only come across something this nice and original 3-4 times a year. The box has the local audio store it was purchased from stamped on it, Atlantis Sound, Fairfax,VA...currently out-of business :(

Anyways, it's a whopping 15wpc @ 8ohms, but didn't have a problem driving the hell out of some MINT Monitor 5 that dropped by the same day. Keep in mind when you look at the pictures....I did nothing, no cleaning at all, as it came out of the box like this. It works flawlessly with a very strong tuner section.

I took some pictures and plan on forwarding everything, including specifications information to Classic-Audio, for their Pioneer database.

If you find gear like this, especially in this condition, I would hope that you realize that there are alot of other folks that would really enjoy seeing this gear again, even if you don't. I know some folks could care less about vintage gear, but you're gear wouldn't exist if it didn't. Many of these publications are lost, incomplete or the "headspace" data is simply wrong.

Thanks for reading and remember to always help the idea, if not the cause.
CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on
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Comments

  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited May 2006
    Great find. I know some think highly of the old silver Pioneer gear and some don't. I happen to like it since I own a few pieces. It's always cool to find something that old in that good of shape with all the "stuff". A bit of a time capsule.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,505
    edited May 2006
    Nice piece. Thanks for sharing.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • candyliquor35m
    candyliquor35m Posts: 2,267
    edited May 2006
    Very nice. I kick myself in the rump whenever I get a chance for donating my Pioneer SX-3700 receiver (35 wpc early 80's model) with original box to the local pawn shop.

    Dumb question: what should we do if we find something like this? Sell it to you or put it on ebay?
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited May 2006
    candyliquor35m wrote:
    Very nice. I kick myself in the rump whenever I get a chance for donating my Pioneer SX-3700 receiver (35 wpc early 80's model) with original box to the local pawn shop.

    Dumb question: what should we do if we find something like this? Sell it to you or put it on ebay?

    Sell it to me? What are you crazy? I have enough gear around here to audiophile the homeless, but thanks for the thought :)

    If you find a MINT piece, with all kinds of goodies...take some pics, tell a story, photocopy the information and do whatever you want. I have a few things that are here to stay, but I'm not a warehouse. You should move it on to those that will appreciate the piece the most, bottom line.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited May 2006
    outstanding..!

    That`s a beautiful piece, Mark

    Congrats !
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
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    :cool:
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited May 2006
    Great peice, great post, even better forum member.

    Thanks Mark.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • .Jon
    .Jon Posts: 98
    edited May 2006
    thats awsome man.

    BUT this is really bugging me. wwhy you always put the stuff you take pictures of on top of that grey thing? this is like the 4th pic ive see nlike that. and what is it also?
    vsnares
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited May 2006
    .Jon - I just like to clean up the gear, test it and get it set-up in my personal rig. If I don't trust it in my rig, you shouldn't either.

    It's a BSA isolation platform.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • .Jon
    .Jon Posts: 98
    edited May 2006
    ahh, thanks
    vsnares
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited May 2006
    Great find!
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
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    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
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    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited May 2006
    Very nice Mark!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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