Late 80's Sony Integrated TA-F700ES vs Late 60's Sony Receivers?

[jwhvt]

I'm thinking of making the move from receivers to separates.

Sonically, how would the late 80's TA-F700ES compare to the 60's STR6060FW / STR6120 receivers? I know the newer TA-F700ES is much more powerful but I don't really care about or need the additional power. Will it sound more sterile and lack warmth compared to the older STR receivers? Had cost cutting by the late 80's impacted the build quality? I do like the MC input option as well as the multiple line level input options on the integrated amp.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

1960's Sony much better sounding than later Sony all day long. Better built too.

 

[jwhvt]

1960's Sony much better sounding than later Sony all day long. Better built too.

ok good to know. Since the TA-F700ES is part of the ES series and 20 years newer, I was wondering if it would have an edge.

 

[coryl]

I'm thinking of making the move from receivers to separates.

Sonically, how would the late 80's TA-F700ES compare to the 60's STR6060FW / STR6120 receivers? I know the newer TA-F700ES is much more powerful but I don't really care about or need the additional power. Will it sound more sterile and lack warmth compared to the older STR receivers? Had cost cutting by the late 80's impacted the build quality? I do like the MC input option as well as the multiple line level input options on the integrated amp.

Do not know about 80's Sony stuff, but I own Sony 6060FW as well as a Dynaco sca-35 , Pioneer SX 1000tw, Yamaha cr 620, Kenwood KA 6000 and Sansui au-777 integrated amps. The Sony 6060is the finest best sounding piece of audio gear I have ever had. Judging the sound quality of one 40 or 50 year old audio equipment piece against another is an exercise in futility unless they are brought back to spec as if they were in new condition. The Sony is 6060fw is worth the effort and expense required to bring it to original specs.

 

[Northwinds]

The ES stuff usually stomps earlier Sony equipment by a country mile

 

[Bucky Badger]

I kinda prefer the early Sony stuff myself. They have that certain sound....
(That helps you a lot I'm sure.... Sorry)

 

[DRecovery]

You might well prefer the sound of earlier, capacitor-coupled, gear and goodness knows I am a huge fan, of early Sony in particular, but more modern gear has many advantages such as lower price and less component aging.

The more modern amp might well sound more sterile but only because it is coloring the sound less...

 

[jwhvt]

Kind of as expected, there are arguments for both vintages of Sony gear. I do want to thin the Sony herd but I won't unload the 6060 or 6120 yet.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Sony never made a better amplifier than what they built in the STR 6120 era, back then they competed with anything. And not filled with IC laden overdesign.

 

[Dingman]

I have the F444ES, which is the european version of the 700ES. It sounds really nice - quite powerful, lots of options. Great SQ, IMO.

I have never heard the older Sony amp and trust your opinions. I've put the 444ES up against alot of receivers, and in my system, the 444ES ranks up with the best. And the fact that the tone controls (including the balance) can completely bypassed is great.
Again, I haven't heard the old Sonys, but the 700ES would be my choice, mostly because of the features and the power. And have you see what's inside of the 700ES? It's essentially a dual-mono design. All the caps in the 700\444ES are high end caps, the transformer is huge and circuits fairly simple, considering all the options.

 

[C.A.P]

I got both , Vintage 7045 the cousin of the 60 series and a newer STR gx10es , same time as the TAF700 came out..and they are totally different units.. The Newer Sony has much more detail and sonic abilities with today's speakers. Its pure Analogue through out as is the 700, If I recall the 700 has the MC option too. It has so much more REAL sound to it.. That being said the older unit has a warm PERIOD sound.. It sounds good with a fairly efficient speaker.. Its a 30 wtt vrs a 150 wtt so its not a total comparison

Comparing Marantz to older Sony I would take my Sony and I have a both ! Biggest issue with the older units is finding one mint and then hoping you dont have to re cap it..Newer ES units are robust

I wouldn't part with either

 

[BrocLuno]

You might well prefer the sound of earlier, capacitor-coupled, gear and goodness knows I am a huge fan, of early Sony in particular, but more modern gear has many advantages such as lower price and less component aging.

The more modern amp might well sound more sterile but only because it is coloring the sound less...

Yes the modern stuff sounds more sterile. That is neutral. I own 3 ES receivers and 1 ES power amp. I also have started to give away my other older (all serviced and at spec) "classic" receivers. I keep a few, but the collection is no longer.

I'm keeping the Sony ES stuff. It works for a living each day and sounds awesome. But, not usually into Infinity speakers. Put it into the Boston Acoustics and it's a match made in heaven. Put it into the A/D/S and it's really good. Same into the JBL's. Even decent into the EPI's.

You have to find the synergy... Sony ES into big Bostons - any day, every day

 

[Max cando]

The ES stuff usually stomps earlier Sony equipment by a country mile

Hi Never !! The earlier Sony ES: top end :Sony STR-6120/6200F are the best amps receivers ever made. They trash the TA-N1,TA-N77,80, let alone the 555,777,700 and so on .
The modern 80-90s sound more artificial with no bass at all ! Those bass/Treble turnovers are virtually useless ,with no input ! I just had repaired two 700es ,the pilot green light was off,the sound is ok but have no bass it sounds too digital ,
I got the Esprit TA/N900/901 too but are the same like other 80-90ES.Im keeping my str-6120 1967es and the str-6200F fully cased with TAC-6.these are pure gems .
Max