Pioneer TX-9500 AM/FM Stereo Tuner

My personal favourite vintage Pioneer tuner. It was second in line of a succession of fine high-end Pioneer tuners in the 1970's: TX-9100->TX-9500->TX-9500II->TX-9800. It replaced the 1973 TX-9100 in 1975 and featured an identical front-end (as do all the above tuners and the SX-1010, SX-1250 and SX-1980 receivers). Unlike the TX-9500II and the TX-9800, the TX-9500 has discrete transistors in its output stage, rather than op-amps which may explain why some people (including myself) believe it sounds better than the later two tuners.

This is a very nicely built tuner, coming as it did bust before a strong Yen forced the Japanese manufacturers into taking cost-cutting measures in the late 1970's and 1980's. If one compares a TX-9500 and a (1979) TX-9800 up close, the former is obviously better built and finished.

From the Pioneer TX-9500 user Manual:-

"5 Gang Variable Capacitor Font End. The high frequency amplifer 2 stage front end employs a 5-gang variable capacitor and dual gate MOS FET. Imaging, IF, spurious and other types of interference rejection are greatly advanced. The local oscillator circuit is also provided with a buffer amplifier for always stable FM reception even in hight signal strength areas."

"Wideband High Selectivity IF Amplifier. 7 integrated circuits and 4 stringently selected dual element ceramic filters are utilised in the IF amplifier. The circuitry expands bandwidth, controls phase characteristics and compensates for group delay. High selectivity and high AM suppression are also obtained from the strong limiter operation. Ideal stereo reception can therefore be obtained without interference from nearby stations."

"Magnificent FM Reception. An IC phase locked loop (PLL) system is employed in the stereo demodulator. This is not affected by temperature fluctuations or aging and results in superb frequency response and high separation covering a wide bandwidth. High and low frequency noise is cut by filters, so excellent results can be obtained recording FM programmes."

"High Performance IC AM Tuner. Greatly improved imaging and IF rejection are provided by the tuned type high frequency amplifier circuit employing a 3 gang variable capacitor. The AM section is completely IC, with precision ceramic filter for enhanced selectivity and frequency response. Balenced type mixer circuit and high performance AGC circuit assure stable reception with low spurious interference and distortion, even in string field areas."