Pioneer SX-850 Receiver Restoration 

These SX-xx50 and SX-xx80 were such beasts in their day. 45+ years have gone by now and this level of technician bench work is getting hard to come by; when you do, it is worth every penny to have your vintage gem treated to a restoration with this kind of love. I had my SX-1050 restored after a multi-decade slumber/storage in my parents' closet while in the military. I didn't realize how much I missed music that sounds like that. Great save!

A big Thanks to you for keeping these GREAT receivers alive and giving us great music...

Nice job !! I did the same for my Marantz 2270 ,replacing all caps and power transistors plus restoring all the finishing look , ...now it looks Brand New ! Back to 1974 :)

This was an amazing display of years of experience in just 35 minutes, I enjoyed every second of it!! God bless you!

You have great patience and skills! It's great to know someone out there is saving these vintage beauties.

dude!...........you're like a surgeon..................love it

All respect to you and the work that you have done to rescue this beautiful piece of hi-fi history. That kind of restoration with over hundred parts changed, is such a labor of love. Looking forward to the next video.

I'll check that when I get home tonight. I really need to make a list of all parts used on every project I do, because it makes it a lot easier the next time something similar or identical comes along.

Very thorough, I like the way you put the new omron into the old case to make it fit. The multi-turns were a great idea. Love the old silver Pioneers, built like tanks. They could survive a college dorm then keep working in somebody's garage/shop for 30 years before needing a restoration. Nothing was built like those mid to late 70's receivers during the receiver wars of Pioneer, Marantz, and Sansui.

I want to thank you for another great video on vintage audio restoration. Your videos should be used as part of the training curriculum in tech schools. I have a Pioneer SX-950, mint condition but hasn't ever been touched by a tech - at least that's what the original owner told me. The thing is a monster! I think it's rated at 80 wpc. Thanks again, you're an asset to RU-vid!

Nice work. Lights on the receiver look really good and it sounds good.I purchased SX 950 a few days ago from the thrift, SUPER CLEAN.

you have a lot of great knowledge i respect you sir !

Thanks for the effect and cause explanation on the phono stage. Teaching the symptoms is very much appreciated

WIOG! Didn't expect to hear the station I used to listen to in high school! Kudos on bringing back something that deserves it.

Wow, what a repair/restore! Congrats, excellent work! That is a beautiful receiver, I'm sure the owner is extremely pleased.

Those old school analog receivers are beautiful, definitely worth the effort to restore

Wow, such a professional labour. Your devotion and commitment is inspiring.

This is the best video I've ever seen on the SX-850 by far. Very knowledgeable and professional. It was a pleasure to watch. Thank you for your attention to detail.

I have two Pioneer receivers an SX 980 and an SX 1080 and both work great. The Pioneer SX 1080 is 120 watts per channel. My neighbor has a Pioneer SX 1280 that is 185 watts per channel, and his is also in good condition. You certainly know your electronics, and do very good thorough job of repair. This was a very interesting video, with good detailed explanation of all the work performed..

Excellent video. As if I didn't have enough to do already.lol. I just picked up an 850 from my neighbor for free. Sitting in the garage for years though. It powers up and works but definitely needs the once over like you did. Added it to my list of things to do. Thanks again for the great video

Nice receiver. Two of my brothers had a nice Marantz and Pioneer Receiver and the sound was awesome, but my favorite is the Pioneer. I can tell this Pioneer you restored sounds real nice by giving off than highly refined, and mellow, sound quality many of us are looking for. These receivers can really relax a persons nerves after a long days work! Good job by the way!

Vintage stereo equipment is absolutely the best in the world, and they're well worth salvaging when possible There's nothing quite like older Fisher, Pioneer and Marantz receivers...today's empty plastic boxes can't even compare to them. My Dad bought a Fisher 500-C tube receiver in the early 70's, and it was always a great unit! After buying him an Onkyo years ago to replace it, he gave it to me. Sans refinishing the cabinet veneer, it's been completely restored internally, and it's as out of this world as it's ever been...clear, warm, great low and high ends, great note separation, etc. It's hard to believe that it's only 35 watts per channel output, it pushes my 15" drivers like nothing in the world!

I have a pioneer sa 710 and it would intermittently make popping noises through both channels equally (especially after power up) Some times it would trip the relay when it got really loud. Judging by the heat one was running at, I replaced 2 d880s, one in the psu section and the other in the audio path. (oddly they weren't labled as d880s in the schematic) It has been fine every since. Great restoration, that thing is a beast.

I recently had my SX 1250 serviced and loving it. I enjoyed watching this but I'd love to see a video on the 1250. You're right about the better build quality of the xx50 series, I think.

It is a real pleasure watching you work. I'm still learning and have a long way to go. One day I hope to have the knowledge and skills you've acquired. Regards, Tom

Good repair video! I just picked up a SX-1250 myself and will be doing a full restore. Looks like a pretty big job. The cabinet / faceplate is in awesome condition, but the chassis looks like it has accumulated a lot of dirt and debris from sitting unused in the garage for many years. I'll post my findings when I get started on it. Cheers!

Better than new with those updated transistors.

Thanks for uploading this video.I appreciate your hard work. Really enjoyed the whole process.

Nice job, I have the Pioneer SA-1000 integrated stereo amplifier that I bought second hand. Initial diagnosis indicates a lot of issues, I have ordered a ton of parts including the speaker protection relay to make sure I cover most situations that need to be addressed.

I love the 70's Pioneer stuff. Just finished restoring a CT-F700. Luckily it jest needed a good clean + deoxit of the switches and new belts. But I have never heard cassette recordings sound so good before. Next project is a Teac 80-8 reel to reel. 1/2 inch tape and 8 tracks. It will be a big project and watching this video has tempted me into making a video of it. :o)

I had a great time watching this. Thanks for that. You are a man of incredible patience :)

About 30 years ago I worked as an avionics tech in the navy, and I have to say your soldering is first rate (at least what I see in the video)

WOW you are amazing great refurbish,and THANK YOU for turning me on to Evening Star,great music.

Loved every bit of it :)

Love watching these videos.

Their biggest one was the SX-1980. It was 270 watts per channel at 8 ohms if I remember right. Absolutely huge for a home receiver of that era, and still worth a lot of money today.

Excellent video as always. Great resto job, and loved the led mod to the dial lights. I have an obsession with LEDs. Looking forward to the next video. Greetings from Ireland.

Amazing talent!

Interesting video. I've had an SX-450 sitting around for a few years waiting for me to try to freshen it up. I was going to just recap it, but it had an intermittent crackling noise so I guess I should also replace transistors. Your video at least gives me a little more confidence to take a shot at it, even if I'm over my head with the thing.

sounds sweet,i have a sx-626 which i love big time,been a fan of 60-70's audi.thanks for the video.

That is a big job ----- great video ----- nice of you to share your knowledge

hello Maxxarcade i watched all ur vids with my son and i must say awesome work!!! i too do electronic repairs nd resto's its very addictive. i just love the 70's gear. Keep up the great work!! cheers

very good job ! I like these vintage videos !

Can only love your work .. Great videos ...

You can force De-Oxit into those input selector switches from the front. Pinpoint applicator aimed along the side where the spring is and the moving shaft goes into the body of the switch. A little aerosol pressure and gravity, then working the switch back and forth. Been doing it for decades. Did an SX-1250 yesterday. Works great.

Great video! I love these long restoration videos!

Thanks so much for this Maxxarcade, love your work

Great video! Thank you for confirming the "bright treble"

your repair videos are awesome. I'd love to have an old receiver like this... closest thing I have is a technics su-v7 amp. I used to have an old Toshiba, wish I'd kept that thing... keep up the awesome videos!

you have a broad knowledge of audio equiptment i really enjoyed this video . and the bass sounds much more difined now great job .

Good job !!!! Congratulations !!!

Amazing job :) I love all of the restoration videos you have, along with all of the rest, and can i just say that you would be an ideal classic rock radio voice :D

Excellent video. Thank you amigo

That's the big difference between old stuff and new stuff. Old stuff is built physically heavier, and able to be repaired and sometimes upgraded. Modern stuff is usually too integrated and using special chips and small surface mount components. When those burn up, they frequently take the copper traces with them, leaving no way to mount new parts to the board.

WOW !! What more can be said ? Top Class Mate.

I love vintage receivers, especially 70's Pioneers with wood enclosures and blue lighting. I just picked up a SX-828 myself and am about to open it up and clean the pots. Works well otherwise.

Cool! Sounds great! I've got a marantz 1060, sansui au-217, and a pioneer SA770. Love the older stuff. Man the marantz is awesome with my JBL 4312's and my Wharfedale w90d's. Excellent show sir. I've seen them all 2 times!

You are a dying breed a true craftsman. I wished you could have videoed the actual soldering of the thru hole and surface mount components but I realize you only have two hands. Great work!

Nice ending with that EPIC music, great video as always.

I got a 1250 myself. LOVE IT!

very good job... love it. Thank you

Real quality piece of audio equipment, better than any of the rubbish made today, excellent video.

still have my sx 880 I bought in 1979. great receiver. still works great.

I bought an Atlas Transistor tester based on your program. I got the DCA 75 however. Nice work.

Unbelievable job, man! Makes me wonder if any capacitors are out of tolerance or flat out bad in my old Pioneer SX-636 even though it sounds just fine to me. My 636 had several lamps out when I got it. I ended up just getting the proper incandescent fuse type replacement lamps instead of retrofitting it with LEDs. The only other work I've done to it is reset the original solder on some power amp transistors that had bad solder joints. Man, that solder reeked of burning musty-ness!!

Keep up your awesome work, this video is amazing

great work !

Thanks for sharing your expertise and knowledge in stereo restoration. Can you also restore reel to reel recorders?

amazing skills... i swapped out a transistor (1) once in a advent preamp and that was it for me... like doing engine work... i know i dont want to do that again lol... good repair techs are hard to find nowadays

This video was the BEST.

Dude your an electronic artist!

Sweet! I had a new SX-650 back in the day. 35 watts per channel i believe.

I'm on Audio Karma and DIYAudio. Sometimes I get tips from them as well.

Beautiful amps these I would love one

I just got the opportunity to play with an sx-1250 and man that thing is a work of beauty, it’s 73 pounds but is so worth it for the power. 160 watts into 8ohms rms and 200 watts into 4ohms rms, sadly I cannot keep it but it’s worth about $1500

A very fine rcvr yup 65 a channel, also got the sx950, Too impressive to not have. I bought the 650 at a church thriftshop andxwas so impressed I bought the 750. The sx950 has a glass tuning window. These rcvrs, are gr8 w the SG 9500 or 9800 Eq

nice device .. and work.

I got the plastic standoffs from Mouser Electronics, part number 534-8810. You will need to enlarge the holes in the circuit board very slightly with a drill bit. One example of the TO-220 insulators can be found at Parts Express. You could just use the silicone style insulators and not have to deal with the grease. The part number is 055-400, and they are about a dollar for a 10 pack.

It's a Hakko 808, you can get them on Ebay for around $150-180 usually. They pay for themselves very quickly if you do a lot of repair work like I do.

Very nice vid. Thanks for sharing this information.

Great video and superb skils! Keep it up and going ;)

sounds great dude great job

Miss you MAXX.

Good work!

Wow, it's been like Christmas almost everyday with you. :D Glad to finally see someone on You Tube actually -doing- these restorations, rather than just showing stuff and talking about fixing it up, and then never seen said item again. have you considered advertising your skills on Audio Karma?

keep up the good work. top stuff.

I am fortunate enough to own one of these beautiful machines. I bought a Sx-850 at a yard sale for $15. shortly after buying it I realized that even tho i ended up with a dead receiver the joke was on the seller. These things are not cheap and there is clearly a reason as to why! With that said. I had the receiver brought to working order when i first got it and I would say about 2 years after it died again. (my fault as I didnt tape my speaker wires and low and behold shorted out on me. It was a hard pill to swallow but boy did i keep that pill.. 7 yrs later I jumped on ebay and purchased a new power amp assembly. I shortly found that I needed a new power supply board. so i replaced it. couple years later i noticed that it didnt like being moved around so i looked inside only to find a couple loose wires that happend to ground out. Now my tuner is dead and I have no indicator lights. ( I assume its the power supply board). I have managed to bring a beauty back to life but now have a new problem. My tuner along with the meters and indicator .lights are no longer working. I am assuming that after all this time I need to rebuild a power supply I have already replaced. I am ok with doing such a job so long as someone can lead me to the light of what newer components I should use. This particular unit has been molested by me since i was 16 and everything is still in great shape short from my new problem. I want to rebuild my original power supply board but dont know what i need to do it. (if you put everything in front of me I can fix it) my biggest problem is knowing what to replace old components with. I have a slight understanding when it comes to electronics I just dont know what to do with it just yet. If you are willing to would you please give me more detail on the power supply board as i still have my original 1 and want to rebuild it so I can return it to its home

Very awesome

I can't film at work, but I have put a couple short clips of work related stuff up before.

I have a 650 these are great receivers.

You was up very late and fixing the video for us :) cool to see a long video! i'm gonna grab a cup of coffee before i start watching

Great job on the restoration. I'd love to see you restore a Realistic Sta 2100D. I own one of those and it's been in my family for 32 years tomorrow.Built like a tank and it still knocks pictures off the walls LOL.

sweeet... i love these videos

Oh the days of wire wrapping connections!

Interesting video, I just picked up a pioneer qx-646 which works perfect with the exception of the right phono channel which is about 6db lower than the left. I was debating digging into it. I wonder if its a simple fix?

YES YES YES ANOTHER MAXXARCADE VIDEO

Wish you can make new video's, I really enjoy then so much! Cheers!!

Thanks for the video and the posts on AK. I have an SX-650 to rebuild and keep. If I took even MORE time and strategically replaced some of the carbon comp. resistors in the signal path with metal film types, would it be worth the extra time and effort? Diminishing returns at that point maybe.

Ya, mine still is too LOL. New stuff is always coming in. I'll be selling a lot of stuff on Ebay this Summer though.

Great video. Any chance you can show your testing procedures, including what you attach where on the next one? Trying to figure out how to trace signal and use and oscilloscope. Thanks for sharing!