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Model: | SX-3400 |
Category: | Receiver |
Suggested Retail Price: | $14 |
Description: | Stereo receiver |
Manufacturer URL: | Pioneer |
Review by Tuneman on January 16, 2002 at 14:07:36 IP Address: 205.188.192.52 |
Add Your Review for the SX-3400 |
I can't pass up a bargin, so when I saw this old SX-3400 sitting under a pile of dust and magizines in a pawn shop I had to buy it. The asking price was 25 dollars, which given the weight, condition of the unit, and the fact that it might be dead, was too high, so I bargined. I got the price down to 15 dollars, but when I reached in my pocket, I had only 14 dollars. I took my new find home and hooked it up in the basement to see if it would work. Much to my surprize it worked just fine with the exception of a lightbulb that was burned out. I could tell right away that this was not one of Pioneer's better receivers when I pushed the volume up to the 11 o' clock position and my trusty Mini Monitors seemed to run out of gas on Dire Strait's "Money for Nothing", a favorite of mine to give a receiver a workout. I tried out my new Diana Krall CD and at at low volume it did not sound half bad. The overall sound was as good as one of the mass-market setups at a local chain store. I suspect that if I had more sensitive speakers, the sound would be smoother due to the low power the unit has to offer. All in all it will make for a good garage stereo when I find some old horns.
Product Weakness: | None for the price I paid |
Product Strengths: | Very cheap, cost me less than a CD at Tower Records |
Associated Equipment for this Review: | |
Amplifier: | Pioneer SX-3400 15 watts @ 8 ohms |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | none |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Pioneer DV-C503 |
Speakers: | Paradigm Mini Monitor |
Cables/Interconnects: | Monster cable M550i |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Varrious music |
Room Size (LxWxH): | 12 x 7 x 35 |
Room Comments/Treatments: | none |
Time Period/Length of Audition: | 1 month |
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | No name speaker stands |
Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Your System (if other than home audition): | see Tuneman's various systems in the inmate systems area |
Follow Ups:
I have a Pioneer SX-780 which drives a pair of MMG's with no problem whatsoever, and the sound is glorious! Many of the SX-x80 receivers were built well, and sound high quality!
The SX-780 is a bit more advanced than the SX3400 in my opinion. I have a dead SX680, which is a STKxxx based receiver and I was told that it was not worth fixing. The IC STKxxx based pioneer receivers, as I was told don't sound as good as other pioneer receivers using conventional transistors. That is to say that the SX1980 that I once heard sounded great driving a set of huge Mac speakers, much beter than a SX680 which I have heard driving a set of old JBL studio Monitors. My SX3400 will most likely wind up in the garage when I can find some horns at a cheap price. I listened to a used set of Maggies, I forgot to ask which model with a Kinergenics amp driving them and I did not care for the sound. Then the guy that ended up buying them hooked them up to a Jolida 302A and man what a differance in sound. The owner of the store told me that valves are the way to really get the most of of Maggies, which I had to agree with him on that particular pair. AS far as I was told, the MMG's are the most modestly priced maggies in the line, how would you rate the sound as compared to higher priced maggies? The reason I ask is that I am toying with the idea of building a push-pull el34 intergrated amp and was wondering if the MMG's would fit in that system nicely or should I consider waiting until I can afford a more exspensive set.
I have a pair of 1 year old MMG's, and they sound incredible! Magnepans have improved over the years, and the current line sound VERY impressive (providing you place them away from the wall at least 2 to 4 feet or more). I also have a pair of MG12/QR's in another room, and it is amazing how close the MMG's sound to the 12's in many respects. They are detailed, timbrally accurate, and uncolored. I traded in my Joseph Audio RM22's for my MMG's!
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