Pioneer SX-1280 vs SX-1250 - Cosmetic & Feature Overview

[@jonturner564]

I have the Pioneer SX-1250 and have been using it for over 40 years. It was around 1980 when I was doing satellite installations for apartment buildings in Philadelphia, when a co-worker found this unit. It was on the floor outside of an apartment. The owner had placed it out there since it was "broken" and waiting for the trash men to come and pick it up. My co-worker took it home and could not get it to work. I offered to buy it from him and he sold it to me for a whopping $75. Yes, $75! I noticed that the only thing wrong with it was the jumper cables connecting the pre-amp and the main amp had been removed. That was it. I used patch cords and voila! It was in brand new condition and cosmetically gorgeous! I still have it today and it is the heart of my audio system. I am using it with original Large Advent Speakers and Bose 301s. I wish that receivers were still made like this. I prefer the sound of analog over digital and like having buttons to push and knobs to turn rather than the garbage being produced today.

[@obeahman6286]

U were born lucky 😅

[@jonturner564]

If only that was true...

[@MuslinTree]

What do you use for FM antenna?

[@jonturner564]

@@MuslinTree Since I can't place an antenna on the roof of my home, I am using an Archer Color Supreme V Amplified Antenna. It works pretty well considering that most of the stations are about 50-60 miles away.

[@MuslinTree]

@jonturner564 Great, thank you.

[@herrtrigger7220]

The 1250 is awesome, bigger caps, better parts. It was the king when it came out everybody else played catch up. Marantz/Sansui were pretty but when it comes to sound the 1250 was the high water mark for the 70s.

[@bobbyboykin7137]

Plus the 1250 is 100% discrete electronics with no ICs inside. I would never trade my 1250 for either the 1280 or 1980. And it has nothing to do with resale value, I will never sell my mint SX-1250.

[@secondaryunit]

I actually owned the SX-1250, SX-1280 and SX-1980 all at the same time. I had all three redone and spent a lot of time switching the speakers out to see which I liked best. I have owned three 1250s and I truly want to love it but I do not personally care for the sound. The build of the 1250 and how it looks were two reasons I really wanted it. I plainly like the 80 series sound better. I think the 980 is best value of the big receivers. It sounds great. The 1050 is a favorite too. After owning a SX-1980 and using it daily I will not sell it. I own all the extra parts to rebuild. So I’m not worried about that scare tactic. I believe the 1980 to sound the best then followed by the 1280 and then finally the 1250. Don’t get me wrong I would be happy with any. If you don’t have the cash the SX-980 or SX-1050 will give you the majority of the flavor these monster provide. Have fun!!!

[@TheTarrMan]

I own a SX-1250, I absolutely love it.

[@UnboxFlix]

About 1980 I was 16 and my uncle owned Falcon International in Atlanta Ga. It was a tv production studio. I worked there the entire summer to make enough money to buy the exact receiver he owned, you guessed it, it was the Pioneer Sox 1250! I loved that receiver! I also bought a bad ass set of speakers and a recorder player. Oh did I mention what my job was that summer! Well my job was to top load 65 VHS machines with a blank cassette and press master record. Take all of them out of the machines, label them put them in the plastic case and do it again and again and again all summer long. Oh did I mention the movie we were duping? Star Wars A New Hope!!!!! I watched it about 350 times that summer, it was awesome. It was a time when vhs machine were not available nor was there rental stores either. BTW the job to dupe Star Wars was for my uncles client…. United Airline, they showed the movie as the in flight movie. I was the most popular kid in the neighborhood cause you could come over to the house and watch Star Wars on a top load VHS machine with my uncles stereo system. It was amazing! Good times!🎉

[@samsquanch67]

I own a 1280 and absolutely love it she’s a beast!

[@edmerkel2407]

Fantastic overview. I so wish a couple of receiver manufacturers today would bring out a 'Retro' Receiver. And yes, I'd be overjoyed to have analog tuning. Pioneer, Marantz, Yamaha, Sony, etc These are visual masterpieces. We don't always need gear that looks like it should be in a lab. I really don't think their supply could keep up with the demand,

[@AudioElectronicsChicago]

great receivers, highly desirable 👍🏻

[@les5376]

i have watched this several times. Very nice work.

[@ozgreeny]

The holy grail... They are beautiful

[@richardadelberg8961]

Talk about diff build layout , heat issues on 80 series and fact there’s no replacement for output transistors for 1280’s

[@NovaluxStereophonic]

That’s coming in a separate video. I touch on this In my SX-1250 deep dive. Only had time to do a very quick look at these before the 1250 needed to get packed.

[@grooveag25]

So, do you end up with a really expensive paperweight when the output transistors on the SX-1280 fail?

[@secondaryunit]

The 1280 outputs are easy to find. The outputs for the 1980 are a bit tougher.

[@richardadelberg8961]

@@secondaryunit where do u find 1280 output transistors that fit the heat sinks as originally made by Pioneer? Do you have something other then Chinese parts that require cutting original heat sinks??

[@secondaryunit]

@@richardadelberg8961 eBay buy used ones

[@romannowak5169]

I recommend taking an interest in the B 2102 MOS VINTAGE model. Once upon a time I accidentally bought this model and it is still my best amplifier. even SX 1250 or 1280 performed poorly in comparison

[@BTom16]

Both gorgeous. Thank you for this content.

[@ElectoneGuy]

The 1250 is the better sounding receiver.

[@secondaryunit]

That is the matter of opinion. Each person needs to hear them for themselves. I really wanted to love the 1250 over the 1280. Even though the 1250 is better built, to my ear the 1280 sounds better. My best buddy bought my 1250 and we talk about this all the time. He doesn’t like the 1280 either. I like my 1980 better than either. It also depends on what speakers you run and what you listen to for music. There is a special place in my heart for all SX gear.

[@4vinylsound]

I have the SX1250 and I believe that the 1280 has more wastage power per channel for the speakers

[@NovaluxStereophonic]

1280 is 185W per channel, SX-1250 160W per channel. Eventually I will get around to doing a video that goes into much more depth on the electronic and specification differences. This video is just for cosmetics and features.

[@richardadelberg8961]

The big 80 series run hot, burn boards around heat sinks and the original output transistors are not available. So keep them clean, adjusted and let them breath.

[@Zhorellski]

I prefer 1280's looks! VU meter 👍 but sonically which sound better?

[@maxkady9478]

Not even close. The 1250 is the bench mark.

[@harryt988]

You did a full restoration but you don’t know if the buttons are on the front or back of the unit ?

[@NovaluxStereophonic]

For 75uS switch yes. It’s something that never gets touched and I was too lazy to reconfirm on the back in the middle of shooting this short video. Someday I hope to have elephant grade memory.

[@kenkai6133]

Thank you.

[@D2112-o8f]

found a 1250 in garbage years ago got it fixed for 100 still cranks

[@jeanbosconiyitegeka4196]

Would you sell that 1280 ? Thanks

[@NovaluxStereophonic]

@@jeanbosconiyitegeka4196 that 1280 is long gone.

[@hendrixnut64]

The 1250 is nicer... although the SX 1980 is the King. it's in a league of its own...and double the price...I hate the black plastic tuner sliders...cheap looking imo... it is generally regarded that the SX 1250 is a better built unit

[@shanegarry6214]

How much for a restoration?

[@NovaluxStereophonic]

Price can vary based on current parts costs and a few other factors. You can find my business profile on FB.

[@samt1039]

Which model sounds better?

[@NovaluxStereophonic]

Too many variables to consider and one persons “better” could be another persons “terrible”. At the end of the day these are both very well performing units you cannot go wrong with either.

[@secondaryunit]

@@NovaluxStereophonicthis is the correct response because every persons ear is different.

[@Scott-hr7bn]

The Pioneer SX 1010 still sounds better

[@MichaelMichele-kq9ov]

Realistic sta95 45wpc, zenith mc7050 40wpc & onkyo tx4500 55wpc. who needs 100+ watts

[@HiepNguyen-xo2ys]

Làm sao tôi có thể có một amly sx 1250 khi tôi ở Việt Nam!

[@livingmaga6299]

Yup, I'm Definitely Jealous 👍