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

I just had my vintage Pioneer SX-1050 refurbished.  I had a severe case of sticker shock when presented with the bill - oops!!  Which unfortunately pretty much forces me to use it. 

I will say It is sounding very powerful which is no big surprise because there is a lot of horsepower under the hood.  But the audio impression is that it’s also a little too bright.  The only way I know to tame brightness is with the right interconnects.  But I’m not experienced in that area.  Recommendations would be most welcome.


It’s probably important to know how I am using  the Pioneer SX-1050.  It is responsible for all audio in my TV system.  My choice of music is almost exclusively opera and classical.  

 I send the HDMI signal from my four sources ( TV-DVR, OPPO DVD, ROKU streamer and Pioneer Elite Laser Disc Player ) to my AVR, an ARCAM SR-250, and I send the respective analog audio signals to the Pioneer.  I am into opera and classical music and I didn’t think my ARCAM AVR sounded as good as I wanted it to, even though it’s ideally  suited to my needs, a two-channel product touted for its exceptional audio.  The audio is good but definitely not great.  Prior to deciding to refurbish it I had paired the Pioneer with a Musical Fidelity A3cr Preamp, using the Pioneer just as an amplifier, and I was getting very good audio that way.  But one of the goals of the refurbishment project was to feature the Pioneer and eliminate the musical influence of the Musical Fidelity preamp.   And now, after spending so much,  I wanted to hear how my now very expensive Pioneer sounded, so I pulled the Musical Fidelity Pre and attached my sources directly to the Pioneer.  Currently all the interconnects are Blue Jeans Cable.  Obviously I can’t spend huge amounts replacing cables for all four sources, so the DVD is priority.
echolane
miketuason
337 posts
 
Isn’t this is why they have bass, treble, or equalizer so you can use it if needed?
echolane's avatar
echolane OP
115 posts
 
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.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
Sounds like a plan. 🙂
jerrybj
871 posts
 
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).
14point1
42 posts
 
My renewed interest in 2 channel started with a vintage Marantz receiver and Klipsch Heresy IIs. I stopped using the Marantz because I didn’t think it was all that. I wanted to stay with a receiver and bought a new Onkyo. It was returned immediately. I bought an Outlaw. Better than the previous ones. I’ve now moved into a tube integrated. I’d consider cutting your losses and move on. Incidentally with the new amp I’m over the Klipsch speakers. Just my .02 from an audiophile noob.
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