Just wondering. They were both made during the same time frame. Is the 790 just a 780 with a BLACK Tuning Dial??? All the manual databases refer you to the 780 when looking up the 790.

As much as I like the 780 the contrast on the 790 to me is more appealing. Maybe that's why I got it. But then again I'm used to the looks of my 33 year old SX-434 I bought new in the NAVY.

As I understand it, the 790 is the "Euro" version with the black dial plate, & adjustable voltage. I traded mine off, but did enjoy it for awhile. Other than that, it's a functional equivilant.

No adjustable voltage on mine. Funny, the 78/9 and 79/80 catalogs have the 790 but not the 780 in them. I wonder if one or the other was Military exchange issue only. Like a lot of the R2R decks in the early-mid 70's that you could only get only at the Navy Exchange or Army/Airforce PX.