Top 5 Vintage Stereo Receivers Under $1000

[@skylabsaudio]

I'm sorry for the sound quality on this video... My mic slipped out of position and every farmer in Iowa must have been picking crops cause my allergies were totally kicking my ass. I only have one day to shoot these videos in order to stay on schedule, so thank you for cutting me some slack on this one. We absolutely have the best community on KZbin. I'd love to see your picks for best vintage receiver under $1,000 in the comments! Thank you- Kevin

[@corneliusantonius3108]

I have a Marantz 2250B with the secret extra power mesuared wich is it not expressed by it's model number. They go refurbished for 850 Euro's here in Europe. And yes mine needs a refurbushing to get up to spec again. And on the Dual mono side I have an refurbished Akai AA-2275 receiver.

[@Joan-u6p]

I have a non-working marantz 2285b. Is there a repair shop in the Phoenix area you can recommend? I would love to have it work again, if it can be.

[@skylabsaudio]

Those Akai's are awesome!

[@skylabsaudio]

Ask our discord about repair shops near you. discord.com/invite/hsdG5vgDvE

[@hanksta34]

No sweat man. Allergies kicked in for me yesterday.

[@rodtimmer2318]

I bought a HK 730 new in 1976 for $275, (my brother worked for a distributor) I had it setup in our basement. I had (2) 12" 3 ways and (2) 15" 3 ways, they were suspended from the ceiling and 35' away from each other. With all 4 cranked up the panel lights would flicker. I still have it and play it every day and still plays awesome. I'm 77 years old and this thing isn't going anywhere. Oh ya great vid.

[@Winterfell1066]

In 1977, minimum wage was $2.35 an hour. Even supplementing with money from cutting yards, it would take several months to earn and save the money for a $500 receiver. That is assuming ALL of your money went to that instead of gas, date money, etc. Man of these receivers were unobtanium for normal teenagers unless their parents were rich. Any teenager with these stereos back in the day were also the ones whose parents bought them a Trans-Am to drive!

[@skylabsaudio]

Sounds right. Thanks

[@jimcarter4929]

Yep in 1977 I traded a Ducati 250 scrambler for a Mirantz 2225 that I still own. But sometimes wish I still had the Ducati too.

[@karaDee2363]

I was 17 in 77 and you're right, 500.00 was Out of My League.. but I was able to buy a decent Kenwood receiver that was on sale for $200 that lasted me 30 years

[@Winterfell1066]

@@karaDee2363 That is sort of what I did. My first pioneer was the bottom of the line. Pioneer SX-450. Only 15 WPC. Men finally crapped out when I was about 40.

[@fifthbusiness1678]

Lol. Your comment brought me back, as that wage - $2.35/hr (CAD) - is exactly what I started at as a dishwasher at Mothers’s Pizza in Ottawa in 1978.

[@larryonoff6529]

I still own a Sansui 7070 I purchased in 1978 that was the demo unit at the stereo shop. This was my first 'high end' audio purchase ever and at $499.00 I saved up for it for a while. This unit has lived through some rockin' times in my (and its) younger days. It's hooked up in my living room mostly for background music now, but aside from a few burnt out bulbs in the dial, it works and sounds great. The 65 watts of power it has is easily enough to make the wife and kids shout "TURN IT DOWN!". I didn't know about the vinyl wrap, but mine shows no sign of peeling at all, so I never thought about it. Still have the original box too. Great video, Cheers!

[@richardbradley1526]

I have had a Yamaha CR820 since I bought it new in 1976. I have always loved the overall sound balance. The variable loudness is one of my favorite features. I used it as described in the manual and set the volume to a level that was at the "loud" end of how I normally would listen, and then used the loudness control to change the volume up and down. Didn't really move the volume knob very often after that. I found this to keep the tonality of what I was listening to well balance for frequency response, bass didn't drop out as you reduced output. Certainly more complicated than a button, but once you get used to using the loudness knob as the way to turn to volume up and down it works great!

[@kerryedavis]

Yeah, getting used to the Loudness knob (or on other models I've seen, a slider control) can be a learning curve.

[@neilrogers8931]

That's exactly how they were meant to be used. Full loudness compensation at low volumes that gradually reduced as you turned up the loudness control until you had no compensation when it was really "loud". It was meant to adjust the bass and treble boost as the volume varied as opposed to just on or off.

[@basher5107]

Back in the eighties in the military we weren’t charged taxes and since most of us were kids we spent money on stereo equipment! The clear winner in power and sound was the Yamaha m80 amplifier and pre amp Matched with speakers from Cerwin,Polk,klipsh Nakamichi tape decks It was just a great time to buy Hi Fi equipment at very affordable prices!

[@acrossthedial]

1977 was a great year for audio. I stood in awe as a teen looking and listening to these marvels of engineering and design. Now, I'm in awe at how they've stood the test of time and feel the same excitement when listening to a new find! Great video!

[@skylabsaudio]

1977 is the best year in consumer gear IMO. Thanks for watching :)

[@keithvincenttucker9923]

I will never stop mentioning that I bought a SX-880 at a garage sale, in 2023 for $100, with original box.. It was the best buy I ever made. Sounds great and looks great.

[@johnperiard9594]

Im so shallow id never buy a vintage receiver that didnt have a flywheel. Great video!

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks

[@SuperMcgenius]

I sold hi-fi in the 70’s, your description of these products is bang on. 👍

[@MrLangDog]

The look of 1970's receivers is just so awesome !! I wish I had a wall of them like you do 🤣

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks! I agree

[@rz1_1221]

Great video! Love that the Sansui 7070 made this list- probably my favorite reciever in terms of sound and design. Not many recievers at its price point have those dancing power meters, and it sounds amazing. Can never get tired listening to it

[@GlennBerrySQL]

It is nice to see Yamaha receivers "make the list". Many, many YT'ers act like they have never heard of 1970's vintage Yamaha gear, choosing to always talk about Pioneer, Marantz and Sansui. The Yamaha Continuously Variable Loudness control is a very useful feature that most people don't understand (or use properly). I have seen so many YT videos (from big channels) where it is pretty obvious that the content creator does not understand how the Yamaha Loudness control is supposed to be used. According to Yamaha documentation from owner's manuals, you should set the loudness control to Flat, and turn the Volume control up to the loudest sound level that you would normally listen at. Then, you turn the Loudness control to the left to reduce the overall sound level (mainly by cutting the mid-range) to an acceptable sound level for things like casual listening, late night listening, not disturbing other people in the house, etc. Yamaha is trying to follow the Fletcher-Munson curve. Maybe a better name for that control would be "Anti-Loudness".

[@Richard-jq6mq]

The attraction to and the appeal of a ‘Vintage Receiver’ is undeniable. Those of us that ‘came of stereo age’ during that magical time of the 70’s carry fond memories of watching those beautiful faces glow in the dark and the exclusive sounds they produce. The desire to relive those moments does not come cheap and it takes solid research to assist in making a solid purchase based on facts and not just emotional remembering. First and foremost of course is choosing the make, model that calls out to you. The next step( of course) is price point. It is natural to be drawn to a lower price. None of us wants to pay ‘more’ than we have to but sometimes…a lower price might deserve a closer look. Items from the 70’s are 50+ years old and parts and items do eventually wear out. Finding a qualified technician is not always easy nor is it cheap. There are providers out there that do sell completely‘refurbished’ units that match origional factory specs. This however can add $300+ to other prices. You need to decide if the peace of mind plus a warranty is worth the additional price. I wanted to enjoy my system without worry. For me the extra was justified. However, each must decide for themselves…

[@skylabsaudio]

Agree!

[@webman1956]

I`m not sure if it is still considered vintage but it sure is a lot cheaper for the money but I just bought a Harman Kardon AVR-130 from 2003 off of Facebook Marketplace for $50 and it sounds bad ass, crisp and clear and it`s only 40 watts a channel and it sound better than a 2022 Sony receiver that I paid $500 for.

[@darrylandrews7277]

After watching this video I found a Pioneer SX-850 in really nice condition, so I bought it. Your review was right on the mark! The sound is amazing, and I agree that the claimed 65 wats per channel is very conservative. I have wanted a vintage receiver for some time, so I was very glad to find your video. Thank you, and keep up the excellent work!

[@gearymarsolais962]

My first, in 1973, was the Marantz 2270. Real pretty, but not enough power for my inefficient 901's..... That led me to 'separates'. Marantz 3300 and 250 power amp... and so on.And it snowballed from there. I'm an amateur repair guy and as repairs became needed on some of my vintage collection, I found separates easier to work on, besides, AM/FM was dying and better sources became available, all I really needed was phono, tape and aux inputs...... Love the look of vintage receivers though. Keep the videos coming.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you! Will do :)

[@jeffk2503]

Just curious what series 901 you have. I've heard a set of 901 speakers using the 2270 amp and they sounded great.

[@gearymarsolais962]

@@jeffk2503 Series 1 & 2. When pushed they would clip bad.... Series 3+ much more efficient. I currently run four Series 2's (in parallel) with a Bose 1801. I also have a less powerful Bose 108787 (551) running a pair of Series 3's. Just some fun vintage stuff.

[@mr.goodwrench8273]

Thanks for a good video. I currently have a good vintage combination of a Sansui G-6700 receiver with a set of nice Pioneer CS-G303 speakers. I like the vintage looks and sound. I got an amazing deal on this receiver from a retired USAF Master Sergeant who was a communications troop back during the Cold War and he worked on radios and such. He owned and operated an electronics, TV and radio repair shop in Fairview Heights, Illinois. He repaired my Zenith TV, and he had the Sansui receiver tagged for sale at $40 dollars. Needless to say, I snatched it up and paid cash for it all. What a deal. I bought the Pioneer speakers from my neighbor on Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Illinois for $20 dollars at a garage sale he had that day. Another steal. This was all back in the early 2000's. I'm sure the value has gone up since then. I enjoy watching your channel.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you!

[@Carl-bd1rf]

I have a mint SX-1050. Listening to it as we speak!

[@skylabsaudio]

Excellent receiver :)

[@Carl-bd1rf]

@@skylabsaudio I like it. About 3 years ago I thought it was sounding a little tired. Took it to guy who specifically does restorations and he replaced the main filter caps some other components that were out of spec and it’s sounded great ever since.

[@bobgauthier1569]

Picked up my 1250 about 7 years ago for under that $1000 mark . Sounds great but I don’t move it too often. 😂

[@Carl-bd1rf]

@@bobgauthier1569 Lol, I suspect it’s only moved when you want to do a workout!

[@NateEll]

The SX_50 series all were excellent

[@bb57365]

Bought the Sansui 7070 in 1977, from a warehouse store in New Jersey, after I saw a full page add in Rolling Stone Magazine. Absolutely fell in love with it. Still have it in my office, but unfortunately not operational. But the cabinet is in great condition. So many great memories with this piece. Just love looking at it. I also bought a pair of ESS speakers to run with it. Killer combo.🎶

[@jeffbranch8072]

I don't need to go anywhere near $1k. I recently had my lowly little Pioneer SX-434 restored, which was a dry run for the tech's own project SX-434. I think he has very realistic views that mirror some of what Kevin says here, he thinks anything over 60-70 Wpc is pretty much a waste. But after working on mine he was really impressed with what this does with just 15 Wpc. And he explained something I haven't heard anywhere else yet: When listening at comfortable levels a receiver is typically running at only about 3-5 Wpc, maybe 7 tops, and that means that a 15 or 20 Wpc unit is running right at the sweet spot of efficiency, and why they sound so good. He says the Loudness button was designed for running higher powered units at this low level, to try to boost the bass so that they can sound good. For me personally I would add one more criteria: I try to avoid too many IC's as much as possible. For me the sweet spot of solid state is after discrete components were rationalized (i.e. not so many parts) and before the rise of combining parts into IC's. That's right around early-to-mid 1970's for most brands, and mine are all right about 1974. The 3 that I have are the Pioneer SX-434, Harman/Kardon 330B, and Sansui 661. To round out the top 5 I'm still shopping. I've warmed up to the Pioneer X50 generation, but not the X80, and I may want to try as high as 30-35 Wpc on one unit. So in my area I'm seeing SX-450/550/650, Sony STR-6046, Kenwood KR-3200, maybe a Rotel RX-152 or Technics SA-5200A, and I have a certain fascination with Heathkit. No rush, I really enjoy what I've got right now.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks

[@tpc3416]

I've got a pioneer 636, 580, 650, and 1080. They are all excellent. But the 636 has a sort of sweet sound, good bass, and that early transistor tube sound over the others. It may be just the elevated thd, or a hair of reverb. But it's got a certain signature. The 1080 is in my main room. It's a large room, and does warm up on some of my more demanding speakers. You really can't go wrong with any of these older units, just expect to get them serviced when needed.

[@ronwilgenbusch1961]

I grew up in the 70s with a dad system of pioneer sx434, turntable, speakers etc. that little 434 can put some other receivers to shame the way it sounds. As a teen, I went to local auctions and bought sansui black front, maranta, Dynaco etc. and still liked that 434 more than the others, why I ll never know. All the equipment that I got for cheap, and I mean cheap marantz integrated for 10$ etc. I sold most all of it for small profits to high school buddies who only had soundesign or Yorx all in ones. What I didn’t know then, if I’d only known..

[@cjackfly]

It just depends. If you're running outside or in a very large room or just have to have earth shaking bass the wattage really doesn't matter all that much. One oart of me loves the clean low watt amps. Another oart of me wants to destroy my everything with sheer power. That'll never happen under 100wpc.

[@VeryUsMumblings]

I have an sx-434 myself. It's a not-so-hidden gem. I have done very little repair, less than $150 worth, and it still works great. :keep rockin'!👍

[@crmixman]

I'm with you, Kevin. The SX-x50 series is hands down my favorite. It's mostly based on the looks. I did a full restoration of a H/K 730 and a quick repair on a 330B not long ago for a buddy and both of those receivers just sound great. Dare I say maybe better than my beloved Pioneers. The H/Ks are built well and pretty easy to work on, with the exception of the switch banks on the 730. Sadly, they just don't do it for me when it comes to the look.

[@skylabsaudio]

I get it. Thanks!

[@Darno369]

Munson Fletcher Curve compensation for low volume listening. A must as we can’t always enjoy a system at live levels. Nice to have that option.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks

[@trigliderider]

Still rocking my Pioneer SA-8100 Amplifier and TX-7100 Tuner. I am the original owner. Really enjoy your channel.

[@1stcontact590]

My main receiver to go to today is my Pioneer SX 850 ,I've had to clean it and replace a few things in it ,but the 65 watts per channel is like sitting in heaven . I run a pair of Bose 4.2 and a pair of rebuilt Pioneer CS-J625's .I have a ADC EQ hooked up on it and my listening chair is centered in the middle of the room. The sound is so sweet you'd think you were sitting in a concert hall . Everything from progressive rock to metal plays great to the point you forget where you are at times. I have the Bose positioned exactly to manufacture specs and have never had any problems listening to them. Love the shows ,keep them coming. Currently I own 4 Pioneer receivers ,SX 626 ,727,850 and a 90's SX 205 and not to mention my collection of Reel to Reels Akia and Pioneer and 4 Pioneer turntables along with some older Lafyette Speakers that I have rebuilt vintage cassette decks.

[@skylabsaudio]

Sounds fun!

[@bradc5921]

The Pioneer 50 Series was great, probably the best, for the time. Bought my 950 in 1976. Wonderful! Still miss it.

[@tenorman]

I think Yamaha agreed with you on bypassing the loudness with Pure Direct or whatever they called it. The whole Yamaha line is my favorite from that era.

[@doplinger1]

I’ve got a Yamaha CR-600, same one I had in college, and I love it. I love the looks of the Yamahas from back then, far more than the Marantz. I did have to buy a modern Yamaha because I needed at least 100w to drive my Dahlquist DQ-10s.

[@spurgear4]

I have a cr 820, I love it also. I think I might grab a pioneer someday just for the warmth

[@skylabsaudio]

Great setup

[@AryaStarky]

Nothing beats modern Yamahas for me tbh. Classic styling, VU meters, some new features like balanced and a remote.

[@WayneMerryman]

Thank you for another amazing video! In the last 40+ years I have bought sold or traded for all but 1 of these model's and I have to agree they are all built to stand the test of time. A little periodic cleaning and maintenance and they will run strong for a lifetime. I still have my first receiver, the sx850 which I bought new from Stereo Town in Valley West Mall in 1978 for $499. This receiver provided sound for countless parties through high school and college and still sounds incredible today. The bottom back corners are a little rounded and there are a few scratches but that adds character. I hope dad is getting back in the groove at the shop, he has such good energy!

[@skylabsaudio]

What I would give to walk into Stereo Town and Musicland again in Valley West Mall. Great times, thanks

[@rafacq]

I’ve noticed most of these have 2 phono, 2 tape loops, and several line inputs. I would be happy with one of each. In today’s world I don’t listen to radio anymore. The few times I listen to radio I can use tunein radio. So as someone suggested, perhaps you could make an AMPLIFIER list with a $500-$800 price range. What do you think? Love the videos. Thanks.

[@skylabsaudio]

On it! Thanks!

[@lilman1234able]

There's only one thing i don't like about your videos. They're not long enough. Love your knowledge and listening to you talk about vintage gear. keep up great videos and remember, a lot of people like long form youtube content. 🤙🏻🤙🏻

[@alberthilt]

I used to have a Pioneer SX-650.... loved it! I wish still had that receiver... : ( miss it a lot.

[@bobtowncarguy82]

I really like the looks of vintage receivers. Those VU meters and the back lights are beautiful.

[@skylabsaudio]

I agree!

[@tonybeef1142]

Have a 730 and a 430 both recapped.Fantastic units🙂😊

[@skylabsaudio]

Yes they are!

[@insolentstickleback3266]

There is a 430 on craigslist, Salem Oregon, right now for 300.00. Too much going on for me right now or I would add it to my 730 and 330b.

[@scottbohlmann7040]

I have a 430 and love the sounds it puts out.

[@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion]

Great video!!! I would love to see a similar list by you in Integrated amplifiers. Maybe moving the top dollar to $750 :)

[@skylabsaudio]

Noted! Thanks

[@davidsparling3505]

@@SafeAndSoundTXAudioExcursion Yes, such as my treasured Marantz 1060 ,with optional WC-10 walnut case. Purchased new in 1975 for $300?

[@RobertRuiz-o3y]

Hey Kevin, after this video I went and got me a HK Twin 730. What a fantastic receiver. I have Marantz 2270 and 2230B. Now enjoying the HK. Love it. Thanks!

[@skylabsaudio]

Great to hear!

[@ufarkingicehole]

Older H/K products are fantastic. Especially the citation line Also.. the 40 watts will drive just about anything to a resonable level. Its rated to a very low distortion point

[@user-zi9qv8rw5c]

Kevin thank you for your videos, a few years ago I started watching your channel and took your advice I found a really nice Pioneer SX-850 from the orginal owner, I sat with him for about 2 hours listening to it and bought it I have it paired with JBL 4311 Studio Monitors. This is a great sounding setup and unless someone wants to do permanent damage to there ears this is more then enough power. Thanks again, Lou

[@Cyberbronco]

Well, at least they WERE under $1,000 before this video. 😂

[@rongreen4536]

Not to worry, I don't know anyone looking for vintage 1970's receiver under a hundred watts. LOL

[@skylabsaudio]

Lol

[@phatsmitty]

Haha!!!! Yes, the price just went up on each one 🙂

[@tpc3416]

Kenwood's don't have the build quality and not as easy to work on.

[@johnperiard9594]

@@tpc3416 Some people think there's too much 'emptiness' in a Kenwood receiver. My answer is that the 'space' allows heat to escape, less overheating. Give me a beautiful Model 11 Kenwood!

[@normwetherbee3403]

I agree with Kevin on most of these picks. I have an ancient Marantz 2230 and 2245B (that needs work) and a Yamaha CR-2040. The Marantz has a definite "sound" while the Yamaha is effortless power with ANY speaker you could choose. I've had friends back when these things were new that had Pioneers, Sansuis, and Kenwoods (I'm really old) and while they all sounded good I've kept my two favorites. I have/ had Harman Kardon, Denon, Sony ES, etc, in the past but I keep buying Yamaha amps for the last twenty years or so. NONE of them have given me any sort of issues and still sound great.

[@Scott-hr7bn]

I bought my Pioneer SX-850 at a Midnight Madness sale at Pacific Stereo in the Southridge Mall in Greendale, Wisconsin (built in September of 1976) April of 2023 I took it to Mark at Sounds Classic in Rockford, Illinois for a comprehensive restoration. He also restored the crossovers of my original JBL L110's ("Speakers A") and my JBL L88 Nova 2-Way Loudspeakers ("Speakers B"). I stream with a WiiM Pro (Amazon subscription) and play albums on my Dual 1219/Shure Type II Cartridge with a brand new custom walnut plinth Thanks again for another great Sunday video

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you!

[@sauletto1]

Great video ! I love my "excellent" condition Yamaha CR-1040. I sold my CR-820 a few months after I got the 1040. Both are great receivers. I had a pioneer sx850 back around 1980-82 or so. I loved that one to. Memories .... 🙂🎧🎶

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you!

[@phatsmitty]

Kevin, always look forward to your latest vid on Sundays!!! I think my most expensive receiver to date, is my Sansui G 4500. Just bought it a couple of weeks ago. Repaired by a local tech, looks and sounds fantastic.

[@skylabsaudio]

@@phatsmittyI love those G series too! Thanks

[@helzapoppin9810]

There is something about the glow of a vintage receiver band dial that just makes me happy. I inherited an antique Victrola standing cabinet that my Dad had outfitted with a modern turntable and receiver when I was growing up. So when I got it I wanted the kind of vintage 70s era receiver I remember being in there as a kid. Something modern would never do. I picked up a low-end Sony STR-6036A - not a great receiver but it suits what I need and I love the look of it. Now I just need to find a decent 3-speed turntable to play the mountain of 78 records I inherited too.

[@skylabsaudio]

Never get old for me either :)

[@tallen6641]

While I've still got some time I'm going to find a way out to your shop. Not even for the stereo gear, but the look and feel of that place might bring back some actual youth. I started a subscription to Audio magazine in April 1979 when I was 10. The Pioneer brochure was like my catechism. But my older brother had the money and the SX1980 and CT-F900. My revenge was finding an RT-909 out on somebody's curb who's wife wouldn't let him move it again. I just discovered your material here. Thank goodness. This is therapy.

[@Winterfell1066]

Such a great video today. Thank you. I am with you on looks and feel. A lot about the vintage stereo hobby is just the nostalgia of what I wanted and dreamed about when I was a teenager in the late 70s and early 80s. I had mostly Radio Shack gear (much or which I still like), because I couldn't afford Maranta, or Pioneer, or Yamaha. In fact my first system was an MCS Receiver, Turntable (Technics made), cassette deck and 3 way-speakers than was on the back of the JC-Penny Christmas Catalog in about 1979. I am not completely sure of the year. I think it was all for about $250. My parents, which didn't make a lot of money, got it for me for Christmas. One of the best presents I ever received. It was pretty much my only present that year, but so special. Today, I put the feel, and look, and coolness over sound just as you described. This is partially because I am 61, was in the National Guard for 24 years, played in a rock band through High School and College, and my ears are just SHOT. I still know what sounds good to me, but I definitely need tone knobs. I am not bold enough to say I am an audiophile, because I am quite sure, I can't hear it like it really is.

[@skylabsaudio]

The important part is enjoying your music, to me. Thanks

[@mrshoning]

I'm loving my Pioneer SX-9000. Picked up a great working unit with all of the speaker terminals earlier this year for $400. It needs a few bulbs replaced but it sounds incredible.

[@jackiecooley8812]

Enjoyed the video. I got my Sansui 7070 a little over a year ago I love it! I’ve always loved listening to music & liked having a nice system. Started watching the podcast in 2023 & got interested in vintage Hifi. Thanks Kevin

[@peterockerman6215]

I agree I have the SX850 and she’s gorgeous and sounds gorgeous

[@renewHiFi]

Looks have my gear, including vintage, has always been high on my list. If I don't find it attractive, it's not for me! Beyond looks, is the sound and dynamics. Next is power, doesn't need to be high power, usually 25/35 watts or above, depending on speaker efficiency. Thanks for the video's and keep up the great work!

[@johndrx165]

I have a Pioneer SX-650 and a Harman Kardon Twin 430 that I cleaned up (put real wood veneer on Pioneer) and had re-capped. My listening room (music lair) is not big, so these are plenty powerful. The HK has the look with a red tuner dial LED. Great information and love the channel.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you!

[@ConcreteKid54]

Excellent and informative review. I was pleasantly surprised to see the HK 730 Twin Power so highly rated, that's my brand!

[@passqualecaiazza7728]

I will tell you in my opinion their are some really good receivers for even less. My Pioneer SX626. Having two Phono inputs, two tape in and outputs, Aux, and three speaker outputs. Sounds great Also, really love my STA 2700 Realistic receivers. I bought one new. I had little issue when new and Radio Shack techs were garbage. Finally took it to a local tech, with in that year. $100.00 later that receiver has been outstanding, that was 1987. I never stopped playing it. It has 1 phono input, 3 Aux, and 2 tape inputs. Using the phono for a turntable, the 3 Aux for 3 tables (using 3 preamps), one tape input for the 5th turntable, and 2nd tape output goes to my Victrola to burn CDs. I just love the sound.

[@skylabsaudio]

Absolutely! The SX x3x line is my second favorite Pioneer line.

[@MufasaRizz]

I have the Pioneer sx1250 and the Marantz 2385. Both fully restored last couple of month and in my opinion the pioneer is king but the marantz is right behind it. Maybe yours isnt full restored, gotta keep in mind that these babies are 40-50 years old and even though it might sound good to your ears, the capacitors, transistors, diode etc are out of their set value. So unless both your vintage are fully restored, you cant pick a side.

[@passqualecaiazza7728]

@@MufasaRizz It was restored 1 1/2 years ago.

[@trickfall8752]

I've got an HK 430 and wouldn't mind the extra power of the 730 but man it still sounds great. I also really dig the aesthetic of the HK gear. They were definitely on their own path.

[@skylabsaudio]

430s are excellent too!

[@ab3000x]

I picked up an SX-780 a number of years ago for $400 and it’s been great. It did have to get serviced a couple of times but it wasn’t an issue. If I had big speakers in a big room I might need something with more power but for my setup it works very well… and , I think, it’s good looking too.

[@henryrogers5500]

I grew up during the 1960s and ‘70s. Excellent video! Pioneer “50” series would my first and best choice. Wish my wife would let me buy one! 😂 Had to settle for a new Denon receiver for about $1k. My 3-way custom built stereo speakers, phenomenal! I have the Pro-ject Carbon Evo (or something like that) turntable that I’m quite happy with. But you can’t beat the vintage aesthetics of those 1970s receivers. Sound quality, fantastic also!

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks!

[@xbioman7882]

I worked in the stereo business from '76 to '81 and probably sold hundreds of most of these receivers except Harmon Kardon. The companies I worked for never carried them. I can't believe what these receivers bring these days. My favorites from back in those days were Onkyo and Kenwood.

[@heshammohei]

I have Sony STR-7045. Exceptional build quality. Would be sure on that list.

[@KeithSailer]

I bought a pioneer receiver when I was in Japan in 1978. I believe it was 45 watts per channel. It was 90 bucks thru AAFEES catalog. I matched it with Sansui SP-X40000 2 way speakers. The receiver is long gone but I don't remember which one it was. It also cost me $90. Can't beat the prices. Put the whole system together with turntable for $270. BTW still using the speakers today.

[@tdkz72]

I own a Pioneer SX-1050 and I will never part with it and my son knows it will be passed down to him to keep and preserve. I purchased it several years ago off of ebay of all places and it came well packed and in perfect working order. It's never been touched internally best I can tell. It's now selling for literally ten times what I paid for it!

[@robertsuszek2327]

Thanks Kevin, love these videos.

[@skylabsaudio]

Really appreciate it!

[@SwiszczypalaDanuta]

I just bought kenwood eleven. For me looks fantastic. He was standing next to pioneer sx-1250 and pioneer was to "modern" for me. I conected it to my speakers and souds perfecly. Almost like good quality tube amplifire. I have my own construct speaker, with are set to linear play.

[@ShavenShirts]

I have owned 2 of these 5 and I would just add the Panasonic SA-5055 to the list. Sound is better than both of my Marantz and Kenwood. Very nice unit and easily repaired, don't ask why I know!

[@kerryedavis]

Years ago I sold a Scott receiver from my collection to a guy in Phoenix who wanted to hear the low-power ASU radio station from Tempe, but nothing else he tried could pick it up, even with a big antenna. The Scott picked it up nice and clear, with just a short piece of wire attached.

[@robertbaxter8560]

Great video Kevin! I love your videos 👍

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks 👍

[@aeroman5239]

Gen Xer here - my go-to in 1984 (at age 15) was a Mitsubishi DA-R15 receiver, coupled with a pair of Polk Audio Monitor 10s. When Technics released their 1st CD Player, the SL-P1, I had to have it. It was a step-up from my Technics cassette deck, which had Dolby B, C, dbx. The DA-R15 could drive those Polks pretty good - the only time I blew a tweeter was playing Boston's "More than a Feelin'", where I drove the amp a little too hard and clipped the tweeter's voice coil into submission :(.

[@genehammond7239]

Kevin how about matching your favorite speaker for each of these amps in your next weeks video , great video once again !!! 😊👍👍🤌

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you!

[@donpettit7107]

I’m running the Marantz Imperial 6s on a newly repaired Marantz 2020. What a package!

[@michellevey9608]

I own a mint HK 630 with the wood case. Awesome would be a total understatement. It's not just the looks and sound, and build quality. It's actually using it! All the controls just have the most smooth solid feel. A real true gem! I say this owning many receivers, including a 2270.

[@skylabsaudio]

HK nailed it

[@michellevey9608]

They really, really did!

[@rkmklz7562]

The HK 730 was my favorite Stereo....It is still one of the best 😊....I would have one today 😊

[@tomsettles6873]

Kenwood KR-8050, KR-7050, KR-7400. These Kenwoods have fantastic sound and way better FM reception than any of the receivers listed in this video. The Onkyo TX-6500 II and Concept 6.5 also sound great with excellent FM reception. FM reception was a huge deal in 1970s and a lot of the manufacturers put mediocre tuners in their mid-level receivers.

[@bigcity2085]

I have the original 1975 Onkyo TX- 4500. Got it for 319.00 It's been rebuilt, so I've got 700 in it total. The history of these is something else. This and the TX 2500 saved the company, but the 4500 was built to surpass the big boys. I've seen more than one person who moved up to the bigger Mark II's...and regretted it. The 4500 was top of the line....and it's not that well known, and you're not paying for the name.

[@tomsettles6873]

@@bigcity2085 I remember looking at the 4500 when it was brand new and the Mk 2 that came out 1977-78. Nice receivers. Do you have any issues/complaints with the Locking feature on FM tuning? One of those sensed the voltage on your fingertips and blocked it from locking in until you let go of the tuning knob.

[@bigcity2085]

@@tomsettles6873 I'm out past the suburbs , so reception out here isn't that great, and all my stations stream anyway. I have a Wave Maxx Audio EQ in my laptop and good old cd player...that's all I need.

[@AUTISTICLYCAN]

Just to give you all a little more insight to pricing. I'm an old man now. Back in 1977 I was still in high school. By late 1970's I had my first apartment. The rent for my first apartment was $217 USD per month. I was on Section 8 at the time and my part of the rent was $45. I used to live on SSI \ Disability checks of $234 per month. It would take me 6 months to buy or save for a $500 receiver back then. A $1,000 receiver took me a year to save for, food for 1 month $75 if you weren't picky. A basic cassette tape deck was $127. A pair of painfully Cheap speakers $150. An 8 Track Tape Deck was $70. Reel to Reels back then were so expensive I was dreaming. Most expensive thing back in the day was VHS system at $899.

[@skylabsaudio]

Yeah VHS players were crazy

[@martyjewell5683]

I agree with most of your comment. However, inexpensive (cheap) speakers of high quality were available. The EPI-100 was first offered in 1969 and sold well thru the early 1980's. I got a pair at Tech Hifi in 1980 for $140. I got a Teac X-3 open reel deck (with cover) in 1982 for $329 as I couldn't afford a monster Studer, Revox or Uher. Still use my Hitachi SR-804 receiver that I got in 1979 for $340 as my main amp. Got my first (bachelor pad) studio apartment in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn in1974 and rent was $90/month with gas/electric included. I'm now a septuagenarian.

[@karaDee2363]

That Pioneer 850 is a great unit, except I still prefer my 780 because I love the Vu meters. Personally I would have had a Kenwood on that list..... and definitely agree with you that most people do not need a receiver with more than 80 watts of power..

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks Kara. Will have a Kenwood on the Integradeds list

[@richardkarneth7962]

Paid $40 for a Yamaha cr 1020 in 1992 at a guy-leaving town sale. Perfect condition inside and out. Score!!!

[@danwheetman6914]

Luxman 1040 is a very sweet receiver, underrated by far. I have the 750, 850, and 1250 SX series and that all sound warm and power to spare. Really want to check out the HK duals, look really interesting. Thanks for another fun Sunday View! And so happy to hear your dad’s back at it!

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks!

[@bobbundus4593]

Lux was the best sound ever had. After an unrepairable failure, I tried out lots of kit before settling on Accuphase for comparable quality

[@VetusMobile14]

I own several Luxman receivers and I agree they all sound amazing, very interested in the seventies HK receivers i buy one if can find a good one, loved the HK amps I had in the eighties. A nice Tandberg receiver is also on my wishlist.

[@John-N-541-ym7dx]

Found a SX 650 for $300 and very happy with its performance, looks and sound.

[@skylabsaudio]

Excellent receivers!

[@quiksr20]

Great list, I have a 7070, CR820, 2245, 730 Twin and couldnt agree more with the descriptions you gave them.. Had an SX650 but sold it, eventually ill get another x5x unit but the 730 twin has the clinical ness like a yamaha but not sterile and the bass like a Sansui.. Its truly the best of both extremes, Sansui's sound signature though.. Man they put out some great bass and very very similar to a 22xx Marantz IMHO.

[@skylabsaudio]

We have the same ears. All paired with ADS, lol

[@quiksr20]

@@skylabsaudio hahah yup

[@clandestine5959]

I wish you had the time to do at least three videos a week. I love this channel!

[@skylabsaudio]

Maybe one day! Thank you!

[@jeanderamee488]

Ok, ready to sell my QRX 9001 and Yamaha NS 1000’s, great video Pioneer has been one of my favorites. My dad had 850 back in the day. Unfortunately I don’t know what happened to it.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks!

[@Jaymeister587-r2e]

I bought a Yamaha CR-820 off eBay around 2008 for $80 shipped. It looked almost brand new and was only missing the headphone jack cover. I just couldn’t get myself to like the sound no matter what speakers I used, which included Altec Model Nines and ADS L570/2s. Sterile was an understatement to the point I thought maybe it needed new capacitors. The sound would improve slightly as it warmed up, but I still found myself endlessly adjusting the variable loudness control and never actually enjoying the music. Years later I finally decided to sell it locally and upon testing it before the sale, I hooked it up to a set of Ohm H speakers I had recently gotten, and it sounded the best I ever heard it. The sale was final, and I wasn’t sad to let it go.

[@bmboldt]

I just finished tuning up and relamping a HK 730 that a friend was selling. I really liked it. Someone had installed a protection relay circuit on the inside at some point that seemed to work so I left that alone.

[@skylabsaudio]

Awesome receivers. Thanks

[@Pksparty2112]

I agree about looks. The difference in looks is way more drastic than the house sounds of the major brands

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks!

[@raygarafano3633]

Great pick Kevin, bought 1 an liked it so much I got the SX 950. So they go welll with the 650 andv750.

[@michaelophus4628]

Everybody I ever knew said Pioneer was junk, This would have been a bunch of 20 something year olds in the 1970s. In the early 80s I did have a pioneer expander with a stereo bargraph display which I thought was pretty cool. I had a 1967 Sansui 2020 that stayed in good working order for almost 30 years, I became the second owner of the sansui in 1976. I always wanted a Marantz but never got it. At present I have a 24 year old Denon, It was suppose to be the first 7.1 receiver which made me a proud owner at the time. 110 watts a channel. Today I only listen to it in stereo direct.

[@gmcjetpilot]

I have a Pioneer SX-780 I bought in High School with my part time work. I have 12" Cerwin Vega 3 way bass port as my core. Still works great. I feel sorry for the younger Gen who only knows music via ear buds and smart phone playin streaming MP3's. Not to mention the music is mostly terrible. No comparison to wattage, stereo, record, big speakers in a room. 45 watts is enough.

[@cnyphotovideo]

I agree. Even though sound and features are most important there is something about the looks of a vintage stereo that is similar to Harley Davidson or a Dusenberg. Looks matter.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks, I agree

[@stevev2474]

Hey Kev, great video as always. I been checking out your videos for a while now and really enjoy the different catagories that you cover. I was smack-dab-in the middle of all this equipment back then. I worked in quite a few stereo stores back then as a kid and loved every minute of it. I was doing car stereo installations back when it used to say Craig Pioneer on the old 8 track units, they were one company at one time. Got to see Alpine's start and all they're early units, remember when Magnavox came out with the first home CD player, of course I had to have one and laser disk just took off. I've had some nice set-ups along the way, my first was a Hitachi 903 with a set of AR 98's and an AR turntable and a BIC cassette deck. Got my hands on a Sony real to real, best sound I ever heard at the time. Now I have a killer Marantz surround sound system in my living room and upstairs in my office I have separates Parasound 2100 preamp, Tandberg 3006A amp, Nikko nt-790 tuner, Denon 1930ci super audio DVD player, and a set of Polk towers. Didn't need it but after watching your videos I got the bug again and had to do the stack in my office. There is nothing like vintage audio. God I miss all the heavy aluminum knobs, the fancy lights, and the great sound. Looking at your store reminds me of all those stores I worked in with all that stereo equipment around you...just the best! Keep those videos coming your doing a great job...😃👍

[@ccadp1219]

Good video Kevin.. I have a Marantz 2250B and can’t believe what they are going for on the internet. Sounds great but yes, the ‘name’ and looks are what got me. Big ‘Marantz’ tax now…crazy prices

[@skylabsaudio]

Couldn't agree more

[@michaelwitas9482]

I worked for a stereo store in 1980 one summer while in high school. I remember these large receivers. Some of them were a big box on the outside but not that much on the inside. Others were absolutely huge, like the Sansui 9090 (?) that started sliding off the service bench as I was working on it (while sitting on a chair with roller feet). The store's major brands included Pioneer, Sony and Jamo with other brands being carried from time to time. We handled the last US made Magnavox/Philips receivers (AH7981, etc.) for a brief time and also some Rotel receivers with AM/FM and longwave, which I think were some kind of a special purchase. I also bought a brand new Dual 1264 turntable while working there which I will forever kick myself for selling. I once had a Harmon Kardon 730 receiver that I picked up for maybe $50 dollars, used for a while and then sold to a friend. He got rid of it when it eventually broke. It was not overly powerful but sounded good and had a nice simplicity to it. There was no shortage of inputs and outputs as the video noted. Some of my favorite old gear were the late 1960's and early 1970's US made Fisher receivers. I'd love to see a video on the Tune-o-Matic and Autoscan equipped receivers such as the Fisher 500TX, 800, 450T, 250T, etc. These were sometimes sold under different model names/numbers with slightly different cosmetics and knobs. I had two Fisher 500TX receivers in the 1980's that I was really dumb to sell, because they worked perfectly, sounded good and had that last of an era look. Avery Fisher was smart to sell his company when he did (around 1969-70) because the market changed so much in the 1970's. I love the old gear but have no place to fix or store it. My current Yamaha RN602 receiver is one of the few affordable full featured receivers and is still available (as a different model number) from Yamaha in a slightly updated version. I hope it keeps working because the companies still making high quality 2 channel receivers (that are not considered as "audiophile" units) can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks for sharing!

[@johnbeckham1483]

I like the Radio Shack Realistic line of vintage receivers for their above average quality & lower price points!

[@PSB-900]

I own the Yamaha CR-2020 which I purchased in 1978. Fifteen months ago I had it gone over/rebuilt with warm white LED lights installed. Total cost was $915 for that. I paid $760 for the unit originally. In other words I have into it for what it might sell for in today's market. It's a keeper!

[@Carl-bd1rf]

Passed my 2020 on to my daughter. She loves it.

[@skylabsaudio]

Agree!

[@Feliciano12v]

I enjoy your channel. This is a great guide for someone new to vintage units. Thanks for the work you do.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks for watching!

[@spacemissing]

Just serviced an SX-850 for its original purchaser a couple of weeks ago. Cleaned up, it looked rather pretty. Its FM "Stereo" indicator was factory-installed upside down, something he mentioned when he picked it up. As far as the all-silver Pioneers go, I think the 850 hits all the important points spot-on and there really is no reason to go higher in the line unless you absolutely need more than 65W per channel, which few people do.

[@skylabsaudio]

💯

[@guitarcoyote]

Great picture of the tech in the white lab coat at his bench with his signal generators and oscilloscope pursuing his passion.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks!

[@dtrain8335]

I'm a huge fan of my Onkyo TX-6500 MKII. It's well under the $1k budget.

[@bigcity2085]

I have the original TX-4500. 319.00 on Ebay, plus rebuild , I'm at 700.00. Don't need nuthin' else.

[@edwardcowburn2632]

I love my Pioneer SX-850 I run a Carver 350 watt RMS per channel Poweramp that pairs well with my Klipsch Pro Series speakers.

[@robgreene3913]

Great stuff as usual !!! Hopefully your dad is continuing to get better!

[@skylabsaudio]

Thank you!

[@jptinc55]

Another excellent video! Sunday morning coffee and your videos are always a great way to start the day.

[@skylabsaudio]

Really appreciate that. I'm glad

[@RottenAnimal]

I have a Harmon Kardon 430 I bought new. It still sounds great.

[@skylabsaudio]

I believe it. Thanks

[@Manhattanman52]

Perhaps not as much interest in '60s gear, but a segment on American made tube and early transistor stuff would be greatly appreciated. Think of great companies like Fisher.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks!

[@daninnj8580]

Haha! I feel vindicated. 50 years ago I pinched my pennies, went to the library to read Stereo Review and finally went to the mall to buy a high fidelity receiver. My choice was the Sansui 7070, and I still have it today (along with a ton of other gear). My vinyl is still perfect though. You DID leave something out: you mention it doesn't have pre out / main in BUT it does have another loop. It's the Dolby Decoder circuit. The 8080 and 9090 came in db versions that had the (useless) Dolby decoder built-in - and caused a lot of problems. The non-db's as well as the 7070 has a effects loop that was for a Dolby signal processor but is very useful for a lot of other things, in effect giving you a pre out / main in you say it lacks. In the 70's Drew Kaplan at DAK sold a ton of his graphic equalizers and we Sansui users didn't have to lose a tape loop because of that Dolby option. I even played with Sansui's spatial enhancer for a while using that circuit when I dumped the EQ. It's a nice option, especially since I had a nice cassette deck (JVC KD-A7) and a Pioneer RT-909 in the tape monitors.

[@secondaryunit]

I had a Harmon 330c unit and was shocked at how nice it sounded. The marantz 2230 is a great sounding unit for the money. Definitely not big watts but great sound at listening levels. I don’t like the SX-850 or SX-950. The SX-980 sounds superior and looks way better. If you can afford the bump the SX-1050 is a great sweet spot. Thanks for the new content!!

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks for sharing!