Pioneer SX-780 Stereo Review
A great stereo receiver that never gets old. What a workhorse. When I was a teenager I sold an old 1969 Grand Prix to the junkyard just to get up the cash to buy this stereo. I wasn’t sorry. It was underrated for power at only 45 watts per channel. I used it to drive some big 15 inch AAL (American Acoustic Labs) speakers that were soon replaced by Infinity RSA speakers and eventually some Infinity RSB stereo speakers.
After about 5 years of use I was able to replace the old Pioneer with some sweet Phase Linear Series II stereo equipment. 25 years after I first owned the Pioneer SX-780 I purchased one on eBay. I now use it as my home-office stereo along with a pair of Infinity RSA speakers I also picked up on eBay. You just can’t beat the sound per dollar of the vintage Pioneer SX-780 stereo reciever (intentionally spelled wrong so we don’t discriminate).
the best
I absolutely love this receiver. Nice to look at, nice to listen to,fairly easy to get your hands on and relatively easy on your wallet. To me this unit represents everything that is “right” about vintage audio.
I absolutely love this receiver. Nice to look at, nice to listen to,fairly easy to get your hands on and relatively easy on your wallet. To me this unit represents everything that is "right" about vintage audio.
I just purchased a used sx 780 after reading countless good things about it. I also have been listening to a Phase Linear series II for over 25 years. The sx 780 doesn’t come close to the Phase Linear. I find the bass to be harsh and overwhelming even on flat. The treble is lacking and has to be almost to the max. Lacks midrange. It is clean sounding and very powerful though. Also good looking. I am just spoiled with the Phase Linear. If it is a 10 the Pioneer is a 5. I will keep it for my shop because it was cheaper than a new I-pod!
Pablo, you shouldn’t be comparing the two. The SX-780 is a multifunction receiver, amp, tuner, for moderate listening with moderate speakers. You would usually see the Pioneer in use with $300-$500 speakers. The Phase Linear Series II equipment is/was state of the art individual stereo separates. You would often see the Phase Linear Series II equipment powered by a Model 400 driving something from the Polk SDA series or some Infinity RSII or similar speakers. That’s equipment deserving of a listening room not a bedroom or den like the SX-780.
Hi, David. Great site. We had this receiver when I was growing up, and I later had a 1980s Pioneer receiver. I recently acquired a wonderful SX-780 (yay!) and the only speakers I currently have to connect to it are Sony SS-B3000 (max input is 120 watts and the output of the SX-780 is 150 watts). I’ll probably never push it very hard, but I’m wondering if the combo of this receiver and these speakers is OK, at least for the time being. Will either be damaged? What other speakers might you recommend? Thanks.
Those look like a good match for the SX-780. The Pioneer is rated at 45 Watts continuous so I don’t see any problem. Crank it up! When the music starts distorting then it’s too loud, I have over-driven plenty of speakers with a Phase Linear 200 watt amp and as long as I didn’t pass the distortion point I never had a problem. That doesn’t mean you should push your luck though
David, I’ve had my SX-780 since new. Great unit. Been having problems lately with speaker channel (mostly right) cutting out. If I move the switches and levers it will come back on. Would you recommend a light application of tuner cleaner on the switches or is it time to replace the old girl?
I would give it a shot (or two). It’s Usually the balance or volume control. Try tapping on each to see if you can narrow it down. I’m not a repair expert but I can say that I had one that was doing the same thing and just pulling off the knobs and spraying cleaner did not fix it. But, I set the unit face up and sprayed the cleaner down the post while I turned it back and forth and it cleaned it up. Obviously the correct way to fix it is to take it to an electronics repair shop and let them take it apart and clean it or replace as needed. You can buy the volume control POT on the web if you trust yourself replacing it. Whatever you do don’t trash it, put it on eBay and let the legacy continue.
Ok Pablo, your Phase Linear II costs how much more than the Pioneer SX-780? How about we make a different comparison? How about a Phase linear II versus a Pioneer SX 1980? Care to look at the numbers with the total harmonic distortion? .09 versus .03. Watts per channel? 120 versus 270.
That’s what I call EXTREMELY one sided. What’s that? That’s not fair? Keep equipment comps in their class. I think for the money, the sx-780 can’t be beat.
Hi.
after months of searching here in Argentina I just could get my hands on a SX-780!!!
I can’t believe how good it sounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and it is a very pretty receiver.
I can’t be happier and even my kids think that it sounds good and looks great.
just like the good old days at SIU Carbondale, Il.
Hi David,
I was walking home from Liverpool Lil’s in San Francisco about 10 years ago when outside of an auto repair shop there was a SX-780 sitting on a pair of old Pioneer speakers at the curb with a sign on them that said, “Free”. I didn’t want the speakers, but I loved the silver box. So I shamelessly picked up the receiver, put it under my arm and took it home thinking it wouldn’t work.
After cleaning it for about an hour, it looked fantastic. So, I hooked it up to my gear, plugged it in, crossed my fingers, and what do you know, it worked. Anyhow, I use it everday now in my office and I love it. However, I have been thinking about replacing the speakers as I have the old Cambrige sub-woofer set up, and quite frankly, I don’t like it.
So, to keep a long story short, would a pair of Bose 301 bookshelf speakers do this little guy any justice?
Thanks,
Tony
@Anthony – Nothing beats a free Pioneer, well maybe a free Carver amp but…
As long as you aren’t looking for the low end you might get with some vintage Infinity speakers then I think it’s a good match. The Pioneer will be able to push Bose 301s with little effort so distortion will be in check and you will have a nice clean sound. I would avoid adding in a cheap subwoofer because you will just muddy up the sound that Bose has worked hard to achieve in such a small package. I hear the 301s will grow on you so pick out some good tunes and “let it grow”.
[...] read its good for low impedance/high current. Also my dad has an old Pioneer stereo amp, similar to this that he would probably give me. Would the front 1/4 in. headphone out provide amplification? I [...]
I bought my 780 on ebay a couple of years ago because I wanted a vintage receiver from the 70′s and couldn’t afford a used G-9000 or 1280. What a terrific buy it was! The guy I bought if from had serviced it (cleaned the pots, changed the bulbs and the speaker relay). Except for the odd little scratch it is in very nice cosmetic shape and functions perfectly. It takes a regular 4 or 5 hour beating every Friday night out in my mancave, playing through either an old pair of Technics 3 ways or an even older pair of Polk Audio Monitor 5′s, depending on my mood. Never misses a beat and sounds great. I might pick up a second one to mothball just in case mine ever does give up the ghost!
Well I love the sx-780 its one of the best receivers I have owned. I have a sx-1010 and I love it too but sx-780 has a much cleaner sound. I guess when sx-1010 was made that was new to pioneer gear I got the sx-980 and that is a great receiver and it has the power it is 80 watts per ch but it don’t have the sound like sx-780 and I got little sx-780 threw a friend of mine. When I got mine it needed some work on the tuning dial, it was frozen solid. I could not move it so I took it apart and lube it and now it flies across the dial. I love that little receiver so who ever has one knows all about it. Hey enjoy yours boy i do enjoy mine.
Nice to see all the accolades for the SX-780! I just pulled mine out of mothballs, fired it up with a memory that said it wouldn’t fire up because it needed a new power board. It showed lights and amperage!!! So I pulled out my old bookshelf Bose speakers, excitedly hooked the speakers to the receiver, turned the receiver on, heard beautiful, full, rich sound, and……..it died. Evidently it did the old battery trick and regained just enough juice to show some life, but not enough to live
Question: The last power board I put in it ran me about $100 plus whatever hourly labor charge was at the time. Is it possible to even find a power board for an SX-780 anymore? Maybe Ebay, but I’d rather not go that route. The guy who put in the last power board loved working on this model, and he is still around, though not doing repairs since the business he worked with closed, but there’s always the chance he has scavenged enough parts…but that’s a wild hunch.
Any ideas out there?
You might want to look at this forum, might be able to repair it yourself. http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=702464&highlight=#702464
Add me to Anthony’s list.
My neighbor was moving and I pulled it out of the dumpster.
It works great. I am listening to it now.
Unbelievable how loud it can get without distortion.
This was my dream receiver back when I worked for my cousin in Florida at his audio shop back in the late 70′s. I finally scored a great one on eBay and absolutely am loving it. Great looks and performance for the price, and still rocks great after 30+ years!
Hi,
I have one of these…sound is very pleasing. There is some scratching noise and I would like to give it to someone to check it out if not too expensive. Can someone advise ? I live in the Ottawa area.
Thanks.
What a surprise seeing this site…just cleaned out the attic and found my old sx780 from 1979…
Hmmm does it still work? Yes beutifully and my kids wanted to have a dance party, so I
Plugged it into some huge 15″ Peavey PA cabinets and rocked the house with dance music…
Long live the. Sx-780!
Build quality on vintage equipment like the Pioneer SX 780 and the Marantz 2238b was incredible. You really got your money’s worth back then. I would have been more surprised if it didn’t work LOL. Keep rocking the house and thanks for stopping by and sharing. Remember, every time you crank up a vintage stereo and some big box speakers an iPod weeps!
I purchased an SX 780 and the sound was fuzzy on FM and extreemely weak on any other imput. I replaced the darlington power packs and now I get GREAT sound on FM but no sound on anything else. I turn it to FM, wait a second, hear a click, then music. Turn it to anything else, nothing. Turn it back to FM, wait a second, hear a click and then music. Any one have any suggestions as to what could be the problme?
I was suprised in finding this site and reading the reviews on the SX 780 reciever. I was curious what my reciever would be worth after all these years. I purchased my system in March of 1979 which included a PL 514 turntable and a Pair of HPM 40 speakers. I have alsways loved this system and the quality of sound. I have had it in storage for the last few years and I am looking forward to setting it up in my office at home when the room is finished.