Rotation

[Pure_Brew]

Pioneer SX-1280
I'm interested for sure. Here's what's up with it:

1) No FM. The FM chip is apparently bad. You may recall I got one and was told it to... was bad.
2) Channel drifts out: Seems to be on the right, but that's odd because it also has happened on the left. I get it back by either fooling with some toggles, or the push button switches. Or play with the volume. It always comes back. I think all the controls need a serious douche. I've asked others to clean it but I'm pretty sure it has to come apart to really clean it. I doubt it was done....
However, I've had this for like 16yrs, and it started doing that like 10yrs ago.
3) FM indicator bulb is out.
4) Power switch is slightly bent, but OK. I did it getting out of the closet . Damn HEAVY!
5) Needs a good cleaning overall, RCA contacts etc.

 

[Pure_Brew]

Nando, the only thing on doing a full mix of vinyl is the background noise from this cart. It's not prominent when I listen but it's easy to pick up on headphones or brighter speakers, especially with quiet passages. I guess I could focus on music that bounces a bit more. Did you recall any of it when I sent you that first mix? There were a couple recordings taken from LP.

 

[speakerman1]

Well I may finish up the transfer of components today. I think the binding posts for the Dynaco come today. Hope to have the video rack up and going today. So much to do and so little time. LOL

Larry

 

[speakerman1]

Well watched some Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and Foreigner last night. Gotta say the Creek and Epos combo did not let me down. Watching the keyboards and hearing the keys as he hit them was pretty cool. Drums also did well. I liked a lot. Was going to rotate the 16s into the sound room.

Larry

 

[Pure_Brew]

Creek is notorious for its high quality. Just shows that big power isn't needed for good sound. I bet I would like it.

 

[Elite-ist]

Nando, the only thing on doing a full mix of vinyl is the background noise from this cart. It's not prominent when I listen but it's easy to pick up on headphones or brighter speakers, especially with quiet passages. I guess I could focus on music that bounces a bit more. Did you recall any of it when I sent you that first mix? There were a couple recordings taken from LP.

Joe: I don't think I heard much background noise during your recordings from LP. Also, the only time I use headphones is during monitoring of my recordings, otherwise I want to hear the music through my system on playback.

Nando.

 

[Pure_Brew]

Ok that's cool then!

This morning I'm trying the Bellari again, but with a Tung-Sol 12AX7 instead of the Sovtek 12AX7LPS. The Tung-Sol sounded a bit to soft in the Bellari when I was running it with the Jolida tube integrated (looking back on my Bellari review). It's pretty awesome sounding, and not even broken in yet. Has a nice smooth sound without killing small details. I'm checking out this ultra-mellow LP, Iron & Wine-Our endless numbered days-. Separation of vocals and instruments is darn good. Wow this seems like a damn good match. Except.... The bass packed up and left! I'll have to see if it opens up after it breaks in. So clean and smooth though.

 

[speakerman1]

Do you like boomy bass or do you like proportional bass to the other music?

Larry

 

[Pure_Brew]

Proportional. I like to hear bass as intended. Acoustic double bass is a pretty good test. Sometimes, a little fat on the bottom is enjoyable though.

 

[Pure_Brew]

Well, after spending some more time flipping what I have, comparing things I already have, swapping tubes in the Bellari etc., I have come to a few conclusions.

1) The Sovtek 12AX7LPS is still the overall winner vs the Tung-Sol 12AX7 and the Sovtek 5751 judging these in terms of fidelity. While there are some differences, for or against in some respects, those differences are also determined due the nature of coloration. While certain coloration maybe be enjoyable, it does not equate to overall fidelity, just preference.

2) The Pioneer SX-1280 phono stage, from what I can hear, is really a cut above in terms of fidelity. There are things that come across the Bellari as rather interesting in resolution, but some things that can seem focused well in depth and imagining, actually are somewhat collapsed in size and the weight of bass performance is just not as deep or controlled.

3) As it stands with the Jolida 502BRC, the Tung-Sol tube compliment, certainly gives you that warm sound. But again, it is coloration and not really true fidelity. The pioneer defines much better across the board, without imposing extra brightness or anything else that I can tell across the entire frequency band. To me, this makes the Jolida/Bellari setup seem like a novelty, yet an enjoyable for what it does for edgy sounding media, or as in my case, a tipped up cartridge, as in the AT440mla...

4) For what it's worth, I have to agree with others, that the Pioneer is a real champ for its age and considering it needs an overhaul. Maybe it needed one say 16 years ago when I got it, however, it has always come across as more vailed then separate components that I have compared it to. I still blame the preamp section, with it's many mechanical switches in the signal path that also collects dirt.

 

[laatsch55]

De-Oxit would make a new sounding unit out of it. The corrosion and buildup can and does cut the sound completely off.

 

[Pure_Brew]

Yes I have to agree. When I though the CTF-9191 was dumpster bound, I decided, why not try to clean it up, see what happens. It took repeated cleaning and repeated working of the controls but it completely brought it back! I used rat-shack branded cleaner and lubricant and it worked wonders.

I never attempted to do any partial diss-assembly of the 1280, but that is what it will take to get at these controls to fully service them. I guess its time to give it a shot myself!

I also wonder if the FM chip just snaps in? If it does I should try to find another (again).

 

[speakerman1]

Pots you can get inside where the terminals go thriu the pot case. Motors to go threw where the wires into the case. No dismantling 65% of the time. Not hard at all.

Larry

 

[laatsch55]

Oh no, the 1280 is a take the faceplate and sub front plate off to get at the controls. Joe, after replacing the chip the tuner will have to be aligned, that takes some special equipment a lot of folks don't have.

 

[speakerman1]

Oh no, the 1280 is a take the faceplate and sub front plate off to get at the controls. Joe, after replacing the chip the tuner will have to be aligned, that takes some special equipment a lot of folks don't have.

Not fun. Can't get through from the back?

Larry

 

[laatsch55]

The back of the pot, yes, it's getting to the pots that's fun. I did a 4300 Marantz receiver once and it was a pain.

 

[speakerman1]

I have never worked on a receiver so I am dumb. LOL

Larry

 

[laatsch55]

No, that's ignorant , big difference.

 

[Pure_Brew]

Oh no, the 1280 is a take the faceplate and sub front plate off to get at the controls. Joe, after replacing the chip the tuner will have to be aligned, that takes some special equipment a lot of folks don't have.

Yup. That's why I didn't dive right in. I had some practice on some things, but it is REAL busy in there.

I got turned away from a repair shop more local to me on the tuner once, because their tech didn't know how to work on 'em. The place in Boston would have been able to do it but they didn't seem to want to scrounge for discontinued parts. I guess even if I could pop a chip in, it would still need alignment. The service manual, I believe does show what to do.