| The SX-1250 was
introduced in 1976 as Pioneer's top-of-the-line receiver. It
reflected Pioneers new styling of matching silver tuning dial with white
background signal strength and stereo signal meters. It was
Pioneer's most powerful and feature-laden receiver that year, capable of
pumping out 160 watts per channel. It was beautifully finished in
walnut veneers and solid walnut trim. It had a list price of $900.00
and tipped the scales at 65 pounds.
The SX-1250's beauty was more than
skin-deep. As Pioneer's best receiver, the engineers lavished a
major design engineering budget in designing it. With the covers
off, you can see the careful and logical layout of the receiver's hefty
toroidal transformer and four massive capacitors, flanked by the component
circuit boards. Pioneer designed large wrap-around heatsinks to dissipate
the SX-1250's full-tilt operating temperature.
The SX-1250 was the largest receiver
Pioneer had ever built up to that time. The view with the cover off
shows why: the engineers needed every square inch they could get to
package the components. The receiver measured 22.0 inches wide,
18.75 inches deep, and 7.50 inches high.
The quality, power and good looks of this
receiver not only made it a popular choice for buyers in 1976 and 1977
when it was offered, it is one of the most sought-after Pioneer receivers
today.
In 1978, Pioneer brought out the
SX-1280. This receiver had increased power per channel of 185
watts. There were other specification improvements as well.
Total harmonic distortion was reduced from 0.100 % (SX-1250) to 0.01
%. Interestingly, the SX-1280 weighed exactly one pound less than
the SX-1250: 63.25 pounds.
Cosmetically, the greatest change was to
the stereo reception and power meters, which were changed from a white
face with black characters to a black face with white characters.
This made it easier to read the meters from across the room. The
toggle switches and push buttons were also changed slightly, but you have
to compare the two receivers side by side to catch it.
The price of the SX-1280 was also $900.00
when introduced. but rose to $950.00 in 1979, the last year of production
for the mighty SX-1200 series. Pioneer's receiver line was
redesigned for 1980 with digital florescent readouts and reduced power and
weight.
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