The
TX-5500 II tuner was Pioneer's entry level tuner for 1977. The other
three new tuners that year were the TX-6500 II, TX-8500 II and the TX-9500
II. The TX-5500 II had a list price of $150.00. It featured
simple circuitry and lacked some of the more sophisticated electronic
components and features that boosted reception. It weighed only 7.25
pounds. It was also sold in 1978.
The
TX-6500 II tuner was also introduced in 1977 and was a step up from the
TX-5500 II in terms of features and perfor- mance. It featured better
stereo separation and signal to noise ratio, and the extra circuitry
components resulted in a weight of 12.50 pounds. It had a list price
of $200.00. This tuner was a good seller for Pioneer and it was
offered again for 1978. Photo: hifinut1 on eBay
Pioneer TX-6700
The
TX-6700 was offered by Pioneer between 1978 and 1980, according to one
source, but another source says it was manufactured earlier than this
because it did not have the family resemblance of other tuners in the
Pioneer line in the late 1970s. The reason for this is the location
of the signal strength and stereo signal meters on the front panel instead of
the tuning dial area. Price was $180.00.
Pioneer TX-6800
The
TX-6800 II was introduced in 1979 and offered again for 1980. The
primary difference from tuners of the previous year was the switch to
black signal strength and stereo signal meter faces with white characters
for better legibility. There were only three tuners in the 1979
line, and this was Pioneer's most affordable model, selling for $200.00.
Pioneer TX-7500
The
TX-7500 was introduced in 1975 and offered again in 1976. It was the
middle offering in Pioneer's three tuner lineup. It had a list price
of around $250. It had a rather hefty 18.0 pound weight. It
was a prime example of the level of quality Pioneer chose to build into
its line of tuners in the mid- to late 1970s. Its clean, handsome
good looks remain undated to this day and contributes to this tuners
collectible status.
Pioneer TX-7800
The
TX-7800 appeared in 1979, between the new TX-9800 and the TX-6800.
As can been seen, it had additional controls the TX-6800 did not. It
had impressive performance specifications, and with a list price of $350,
it should. The TX-7800 was a good seller, and Pioneer offered it
again in 1980
Pioneer TX-8500 II
The
TX-8500 II part of a new line of tuners Pioneer introduced in 1977.
There were four tuner models, and the TX-8500 II was just under the
top-of-the-line TX-9500 II. Pioneer tuners had garnered a reputation
for their performance and the TX-8500 II carried on that tradition.
It listed for $300 and was offered again in 1978. This is a a fine
collectible for the Pioneer audiophile.
Pioneer TX-9500
Pioneer
introduced a line of tuners in 1975 that would set the style for its
tuners for the rest of the decade. The TX-9500 was the top of the
line model and had a list price of just under $400. It had superb
performance specifications--so good in fact this tuner is sought out by
avid Pioneer listeners and collectors. But it is also the tuner's
good looks and quality feel of its controls that makes this tuner such a
pleasure to own and listen to even today. It was sold again in 1976.
Pioneer TX-9500 II
The
TX-9500 II replaced the TX-9500 in 1977. It had improved
specifications but the price remained the same. It was the
top-of-the-line in a four tuner lineup. It remained in production
through 1978. More than two decades later is being snapped up by
serious Pioneer collectors.
Pioneer TX-9800
In
1979 Pioneer introduced was is arguably the finest analog tuner the
company has ever built. It was the TX-9800 and featured some of the
best performance specifications of any tuner available on the
market. It was also the most expensive tuner Pioneer had offered up
to that time, with a list price of $450. Pioneer also offered the
TX-9800 in 1980. While the digital tuners that came on the market in
the early 1980s are all but ignored today, this model is eagerly sought
out by Pioneer collectors. Photo: hifinut1 on eBay
Pioneer TX-5300 The TX-5300 tuner was
not offered in the United States, but was sold in other parts of the
world. Since it had an alpha-numeric number below the TX-5500, it was a
lower priced unit, and probably an entry-level tuner. Note the dial
is black and not silver, so production was probably around 1976.
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The
TX-5500 II tuner was Pioneer's entry level tuner for 1977. The other
three new tuners that year were the TX-6500 II, TX-8500 II and the TX-9500
II. The TX-5500 II had a list price of $150.00. It featured
simple circuitry and lacked some of the more sophisticated electronic
components and features that boosted reception. It weighed only 7.25
pounds. It was also sold in 1978.
The
TX-6500 II tuner was also introduced in 1977 and was a step up from the
TX-5500 II in terms of features and perfor- mance. It featured better
stereo separation and signal to noise ratio, and the extra circuitry
components resulted in a weight of 12.50 pounds. It had a list price
of $200.00. This tuner was a good seller for Pioneer and it was
offered again for 1978. 
The
TX-6700 was offered by Pioneer between 1978 and 1980, according to one
source, but another source says it was manufactured earlier than this
because it did not have the family resemblance of other tuners in the
Pioneer line in the late 1970s. The reason for this is the location
of the signal strength and stereo signal meters on the front panel instead of
the tuning dial area. Price was $180.00.
The
TX-6800 II was introduced in 1979 and offered again for 1980. The
primary difference from tuners of the previous year was the switch to
black signal strength and stereo signal meter faces with white characters
for better legibility. There were only three tuners in the 1979
line, and this was Pioneer's most affordable model, selling for $200.00.
The
TX-7500 was introduced in 1975 and offered again in 1976. It was the
middle offering in Pioneer's three tuner lineup. It had a list price
of around $250. It had a rather hefty 18.0 pound weight. It
was a prime example of the level of quality Pioneer chose to build into
its line of tuners in the mid- to late 1970s. Its clean, handsome
good looks remain undated to this day and contributes to this tuners
collectible status.
The
TX-7800 appeared in 1979, between the new TX-9800 and the TX-6800.
As can been seen, it had additional controls the TX-6800 did not. It
had impressive performance specifications, and with a list price of $350,
it should. The TX-7800 was a good seller, and Pioneer offered it
again in 1980
The
TX-8500 II part of a new line of tuners Pioneer introduced in 1977.
There were four tuner models, and the TX-8500 II was just under the
top-of-the-line TX-9500 II. Pioneer tuners had garnered a reputation
for their performance and the TX-8500 II carried on that tradition.
It listed for $300 and was offered again in 1978. This is a a fine
collectible for the Pioneer audiophile. 
Pioneer
introduced a line of tuners in 1975 that would set the style for its
tuners for the rest of the decade. The TX-9500 was the top of the
line model and had a list price of just under $400. It had superb
performance specifications--so good in fact this tuner is sought out by
avid Pioneer listeners and collectors. But it is also the tuner's
good looks and quality feel of its controls that makes this tuner such a
pleasure to own and listen to even today. It was sold again in 1976. 
The
TX-9500 II replaced the TX-9500 in 1977. It had improved
specifications but the price remained the same. It was the
top-of-the-line in a four tuner lineup. It remained in production
through 1978. More than two decades later is being snapped up by
serious Pioneer collectors.
In
1979 Pioneer introduced was is arguably the finest analog tuner the
company has ever built. It was the TX-9800 and featured some of the
best performance specifications of any tuner available on the
market. It was also the most expensive tuner Pioneer had offered up
to that time, with a list price of $450. Pioneer also offered the
TX-9800 in 1980. While the digital tuners that came on the market in
the early 1980s are all but ignored today, this model is eagerly sought
out by Pioneer collectors. 
The TX-5300 tuner was
not offered in the United States, but was sold in other parts of the
world. Since it had an alpha-numeric number below the TX-5500, it was a
lower priced unit, and probably an entry-level tuner. Note the dial
is black and not silver, so production was probably around 1976.