The average $600 receiver sounds as good as the new Pioneer SX-650 until you start listening to prices.
If $600 is your kind of price, an SX-650 should qualify as your kind of receiver. Not only will it give you the kind of features and sound quality you'd expect for that kind of money; it'll also leave you with roughly half your receiver budget unexpectedly unspent.
But suppose your idea of a receiver price is somewhere under $300 The SX-650 is going to sound better to you than anything you thought you could afford. Because it has more power, a wider frequency range, less distortion, and far greater versatility than most other receivers in that category.
All this might sound a little extravagant; but an authentic breakthrough, an achievement like the SX-650, doesn't happen often. We've learned that when our promises seem to sound especially rich, the best thing to do is simply review the facts.
It's a fact that the SX-650 provides a continuous power output of 35 watts per channel, min. RMS into 8 ohms, from 20 to 20,000 Hz, with no more than 0.3% total harmonic distortion. It also delivers each instrument and voice at its intended level, balanced within ± 0.3% of the RIGA curve.
The facts of its stereo separation, selectivity and sensitivity, however, must be experienced: numbers are impressive, but sometimes only hearing is believing.
You'll also be impressed by what you don't hear from the SX-650. You won't hear an assortment of background noises, or the thousand miscellaneous acoustic devils that live in the limbo between FM stations on lesser receivers.
On your next visit to a high fidelity dealer, listen to a Pioneer SX-650 with any reasonably accurate speakers.
You'll find either its price or its performance amazing.
Depending on which you hear first.
PIONEER U.S. Pioneer Electronics corp. , Moonachie: New Jersey 07074.
Promotional purposes only, the SX-650 is priced under $300. The actual resale price will be set by the individual Pioneer dealer at his option.
Also see:
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (Feb 1977)
AUDIO BASICS: The Greater Good
TANDBERG (ad)
Source: Stereo Review (USA magazine)