My stereo receiver is a little too bright. Can a cable help me out?

Regarding comparisons of vintage vs. recent equipment, a seemingly obvious point but one which often seems to not be taken into account in discussions of this subject is that comparisons should be based on similar present day prices. For example AustinStereo pointed out above that a restored SX-1050 is worth around $1000. So a fair comparison between that component and modern ones should be to a modern component (or a combination of components) providing preamp, power amp, and tuner functionality, with comparable maximum power capability, for a total of around $1000.

Regarding some of the other points that have been made, it is certainly true that "distortion wars" occurred during the 1970s, in which feedback was applied in a heavy-handed manner to produce the lowest possible Total Harmonic Distortion numbers. With the consequent adverse effects on Transient Intermodulation Distortion and increased emphasis of distortion components that are the most objectionable not yet being generally recognized. In fact as far as I am aware even today TIM is not normally measured or specified, and does not even have a standardized basis for measurement. That despite the fact that in the 1970s Dr. Matti Otala famously authored several papers on the subject, this being one example:

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b3c0/a892a982ebde91f83f228905dac30186f827.pdf

My own preference among vintage components is for well restored tube equipment from the 1950s and 1960s, a lot of which can provide very good sonics and great value relative to present day price points. But I know that there are many happy users of solid state products of the "distortion wars" era, and that’s fine too.

Regards,
-- Al

Isn’t this is why they have bass, treble, or equalizer so you can use it if needed?

Lots of opinions here!  If I were to look at the big picture:
- is original vintage gear < = or > than modern gear

- is refurbished vintage gear < = or > than modern gear


It is obvious that  to answer those questions  produces very different opinions here and they are not at all easy to resolve.

  But then one has to decide WHICH of the many possibilities to consider comparing, and it gets even worse:  Is the Pioneer SX-1050 worse than, equal to or better than hundreds of modern possibilities.  I am sure I could find something better.  But what....?  And at what price?

OTOH, If I were to start completely over, I would look for an AVR that would give me the audio quality I wanted.  But I  did that two or three years ago when I bought the Arcam!   it was an especially promising purchase for me because it was only a two channel product and promised great sound.  Unfortunately,   I knew right away it wasn’t a replacement for the tube amp I was using. But returning it would have meant I’d have to spend way more than I could afford and I might have the same result.   Then I decided to try  the  Musical Fidelity preamp with the Pioneer and I  the  Arcam does just fine as a video switcher.  Though a very over priced one.

So It still seems the most cost effective way forward is an excellent audio product.  And I am back to the original problem - how to get the audio quality I wanted?  Should that be the Pioneer?  Or something else.  

I am going to continue with one of the sensible recommendations given here, which is to let more time elapse and just listen.  But  meanwhile I am going to strongly consider buying an integrated amp that will give me superior audio to the Arcam and the Pioneer.

i will add that  I am not into vintage gear per se but I do seem to be playing out a nostalgic attachment to the Pioneer which was my first serious audio purchase.  I bought it new in 1976 or 1977 and it has been sitting in my closet taking up space since 1985 when I bought my Quad ESL-63 speakers and replaced the Pioneer with the Quad amp and Quad preamp.  The Musical Fidelity A3cr preamp was no longer in use either so I decided to pair them up and put them to work.

Sounds like a plan. 🙂

echolane
...I seem to be playing out a nostalgic attachment to the Pioneer which was my first serious audio purchase. 

My first proper amp was a Plinius pre/power combination in 1986. I still have it, had it upgraded last year, and will never part with it. It's going to be my work system.

(Not including the Luxman tape deck and Dual turntable I got in 1982, and not considering the piece of crap my brother sold me in 1979, or the Rotel amp I borrowed off my other brother while he was overseas).