Due to rising prices, I haven’t purchased much vintage gear lately. I’ve been pretty happy knowing I own a Marantz 2270 receiver along with a McIntosh MC 2505 amplifier. And yet, in a moment of weakness, here I am, now the proud owner of a Pioneer SX-980 receiver.
The Pioneer SX-980 was released in 1978, almost fifty years ago, as a moderately upgraded version to their previous model, the SX-950.
My local record store posted this unit for sale, at what I thought was a price too good to pass on. Let’s highlight some of the receiver’s features next.
Pioneer SX-980 Features:
How many watts per channel is a Pioneer SX-980?
The Pioneer SX-980 receiver is rated at 80 watts per channel at 8 ohms from 20 hertz to 20 kilohertz with no more than 0.05% total harmonic distortion. The receiver can power two sets of speakers but it’s worth noting that if you use one pair of speakers, you can power them as low as 4 ohms and higher, however, if you have two sets of speakers connected at the same time, you can only power at 8 ohms or higher.
Two Phono Inputs
The SX-980 has two phono inputs, to be used with moving magnet cartridges, for anyone who might be operating two turntables in their system. The inputs can only produce sound individually, and not play at the same time, so don’t consider this a DJ mixing type of set up.
Two Tape Inputs
Back in 1978, when the SX-980 was released, it would be common to need two tape inputs, one to connect your cassette deck and the other for your reel to reel. If you still operate both machines in your set up, you will have the ability to easily connect both to the 980.
Aux Input
Fifty years later and it’s still common for us to need a connection for either a CD player or streamer. The SX-980 has one auxiliary input that can be used to make this connection.
FM Reception Is Very Strong
Honestly, I do not listen to FM radio much these days, but it’s worth noting that the FM reception on the SX-980 is very strong, even when not using an antenna.
I normally get horrible FM reception at my house, unless I use an antenna, but the high powered stations tuned in great without an antenna using the SX-980.
You Can Separate The Pre and Power Amps!
Did you know on some vintage receivers, you can separate the pre-amp and power amp on the rear of the unit and pair it with another pre or power amp?
If you look on the rear of the SX-980, you will see two junction plugs under the Preamp Out and Power Amp Out markings. You can remove these plugs and which will allow you to use the 980 as either a stand alone preamp or stand alone power amp. Again, reference this link to read more about making those connections or reference the original manual for the SX-980.
Please note, do not lose the junction plugs as the receiver will not operate properly as one unit and produce sound again without those installed.
Turnover Tone Controls
The SX-980 has turnover tone controls for both bass and treble. Turnover is the point where a control starts to operate, so at 2.5 khz turnover the control will change frequencies below 2.5 khz.
Look At Those Meters!
The SX-980 differs from the SX-950 in a few ways, but the most noticeable is when looking at the front of the unit.
The SX-980 has black backgrounds behind the power and signal meters which make them easier to see. I prefer the meters on the 980 over the 950 for this reason.
How Does The Pioneer SX-980 Sound?
The SX-980, packing 80 watts per channel, delivers a punchy, mammoth sound overall. Lately, I’ve been listening to amplifiers or receivers in the 20-40 watts per channel range and the first thing I noticed was that I barely had to turn the volume knob 1/4 turn before I could hear everything satisfactorily. I was too nervous to crank the 980 up much louder in my small listening room!
Anyone who is a fan of the classic vintage audio sound, will love the SX-980. The bass is abundant and the treble is detailed. Again, the unit provides turnover tone controls, so the treble and bass can be fine tuned to however you prefer.
I enjoyed listening to jazz, rock and even hip hop on the SX-980. Everything sounded big and right there, even when the volume was barely turned up.
I mentioned in the beginning of this article that I have not purchased much vintage gear this year. I’ve been listening to a lot of newly designed stereo equipment released lately and my ears had forgotten what these big vintage units sound like. As soon as I started playing music through the 980, I started to grin as I remembered that classic vintage analog sound.
Should You Buy A Pioneer SX-980?
Vintage receivers are not for everyone. I always tell people they are like owning a vintage car, you will eventually need to invest time and money into repairing the unit to perform properly.
Also, not all vintage receivers are the same and these SX models, starting at 980 and higher, are very large in size and can’t just be placed on any ordinary shelf. Make sure you measure your space and ensure this big receiver will fit properly.
Lastly, not everyone needs this much power when listening to music. Honestly, 80 watts per channel is way more power than I need in my little listening room. More power doesn’t translate to better sound, it’s really only convenient if you have speakers that are hard to drive and require a lot of power.
All of this to say, that I wouldn’t personally spend thousands of dollars to own a 980. I bought this model for $650 from my local record store. I already own a SX-780 and wanted to make a comparison between the two units, so I bought the 980. It also felt great supporting a local small business, rather than buying it online via eBay or something similar.
To sum things up, buy a SX-980 if you have room for a large receiver and want to power hard to drive speakers. Buy a 980 if you love listening to FM radio and want a vintage receiver to pull stations in easily. Buy a 980 if you enjoy that classic vintage sound, but also understand that often you can get that same sound from a lower powered receiver.
Lastly, buy the SX-980 if you ever find one for a great price that’s too good to pass up!
Before you go…
Please consider reading more articles similar to this review:
Pioneer PL-518 Turntable Review
Also, please subscribe to my mailing list below and also check out my YouTube channel.
Lastly, if you like vintage audio themed shirts, please check out my designs in my Etsy store.
