SX-3400

SX-3500

Pioneer redesigned most of its receiver line for 1980, but continued the SX-780, SX-680 and SX-580.  There were six new receivers in the SX-3000 series introduced that year, all but one of them getting new handsome Fluoroscan dials.  That one model was the SX-3400.  It was Pioneer's most affordable receiver that year, with a list price of $175.00, and a relative lightweight at only 12 pounds.  It had a mere 15 watts of power per channel, but for small business offices or a teen's first receiver, it did the job.

The SX-3500 appeared in 1980, as mentioned here, and featured Pioneer's new Fluorscan power level and stereo signal strength readouts instead of the traditional VU-type meters.  It was rated at a conservative 20 watts per channel.  THD was a negligible 0.05 percent.  With its good looks and list price of only $225.00, the SX-3500 was a good seller.  Rugged build quality ensured many examples would see the new millennium.  Pristine examples are available today at very reasonable prices. 

SX-3600

The SX-3600 had the identical layout of the SX-3500, but featured 30 watts of power per channel and slight improvements in several key specifications.  It had a list price of $275.00 and weighed 18.0 pounds.  The SX-3600 was one of eleven receivers in Pioneer's line for 1980, the largest selection of receivers from the company in its history.

The SX-3700 had more power than the SX-3600, having a total of 45 watts per channel.  It used Pioneer's classic toggle switches on the lower panel, as opposed to the push buttons used on the 3600.  It was priced at $375.  It weighed just over 25 pounds.  It certainly was a good looking receiver, and can be had for a reasonable price today.

SX-3800

In Pioneer's extensive receiver lineup for 1980, The SX-3800 was in the upper third in terms of power and performance.  It was rated at 60 watts per channel, which was more than sufficient to rock the house.  It had extremely low THD: .005%,  It's phono S/N ratio was an amazing 115dB.  It had a list price of $500 and weighed in at over 35 pounds.

The SX-3900 offered subtle improvements in its specifications over the SX-3800, additional controls, and boasted 120 watts per channel.  the larger output transformers increased weight to 44 pounds.  List price was $800.

SX-D5000

The SX-D5000 was introduced in 1980.  There was only one knob and that was for volume.  Treble and bass was controlled by slider switches.  The rest of the controls were handled by small rectangular pushbuttons.  It was a portent of the trend in Pioneer component design in the early 1980s.  It featured 80 watts per channel.  Measuring 21 x 7 x 14.25 inches, it weighed 39 pounds.  These receivers are rarely seen today, the earlier SX high performance models being more prevalent.

The SX-D7000 was Pioneer's top-of-line receiver for 1980.  It featured 120 watts per channel and was nearly identical in appearance to the SX-D5000.  It was a larger receiver, however, measuring 22 x 7.25 x 18.25 and weighing nearly 46 pounds.  This receiver marked the end super high power output receivers over 120 watts for Pioneer.  The D5000 and D7000 were transition receivers for the models that would come out in 1982 which were totally microprocessor controlled.  See the Silver Soapbox page to see the look of receivers that officially ended the Silver Era of Pioneer components.