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Anyone done A / B listening to compare vintage stereo receivers with today’s Amps/Preamps?

I bought a Pioneer SX-1050 new in 1977. It was my first serious audio purchase and set me back around $3000 when adjusted for inflation to today’s dollars. IOW, quite a lot.  In 1985 I made my second major audio purchase when I bought Quad ESL-63 electrostatic speakers and a Quad Amp and Preamp. The Pioneer wound up in my closet where it has set until 2018 (34 years) when I put it to work in my second best system, the TV room. Last month I decided to have it refurbished and I have to confess it set me back way way more than I expected, but it does sound very good indeed.  

But I’m definitely wondering if I made a good investment. And how the Pioneer, specifically the SX-1050, but others of similar character,  compares to present day equivalents.  

Has anyone done any comparative listening to electronics in the $3000-$5000 range? How does the Pioneer compare?  

Answering that question would go at least some way to answering the question whether the vintage electronics are as good or better than those designed and built for today. And whether I made a good investment.

My TV System
Vizio 60” Ultra HD
Spendor FL-6 floor standing speakers
Arcam SR-250 two-channel AVR used for video only
Pioneer SX-1050 used for audio only
Video sources:
1 - Dish DVR
2 - Oppo UDP-205 DVD
3 - Roku streamer
4 - Pioneer Elite CLD-99 Laser Disc Player
128x128echolane
echolane's avatar
echolane OP
91 posts
 
responding to comments about so many switches the signal must pass through, I have to admit most of these sorts of techie comments are over my head, but I feel safe in commenting that I very much agree in principle with a “less is more” philosophy.

With all those many parts and it’s age, I fear it might be a maintenance problem though I certainly hope I am wrong about that. If I had unlimited funds I’d almost certainly not keep the Pioneer, but my investment to refurbish it was cheaper by far than I would have spent to replace it.   At the moment, I’d much rather spend money on streaming and I’m presently only a few steps away from bringing Roon to all four of my household stereo systems.

ndevamp
55 posts
 
Just keep a spray can of switch contact cleaner handy when you notice a switch giving issues.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,397 posts
 
@echolane, glad to hear about the improvement. It must be like spending time with an old friend.

And I remember back in the day using contact cleaner on my Japanese receivers.


echolane's avatar
echolane OP
91 posts
 
I will pass on some advice my long time audio repair fellow  has given me, which is to rotate knobs and move switches fairly often so any tarnish is not given a chance to accumulate.

So, for example, every time I switch sources on my big tube amp, I rotate the knob through all five of its possible sources before settling it to the proper source.

I ought to mark my calendar to every month rotate all the knobs and move all the switches on the Pioneer.  Hopefully that won’t wear things out before their time!
riaa_award_collectors_on_facebook's avatar
riaa_award_collectors_on_facebook
979 posts
 
As somebody that has had over 100 Vintage 1970's receivers I can tell you that PIONEER...all of them...cant touch the Higher End Sansui's, Sanyo's, Onkyo's or Kenwood's. I mean its not even close. The Sanyo JCX2900K is the biggest bargain of all of them for 400-500 or less in great shape.
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