Receivers: Sony STR-7055 or Marantz SR4000

[shacky]

That didn't do as much harm to my hearing as my buddy throwing a lit ash can out my car window - but the window was closed. Ash can went off on back seat of my mother's '68 snot green Ventura with windows closed!

I couldn't hear for days. Never let my buddy do that again

 

[macfreak]

Hi,

I have a 6065 that I inherited from my dad. Tunerinfo.com has some comments on its website in the receiver section about the early Sony receivers. Evidently Sony's original design motivation was to build 'em like McIntosh to get a good rep for quality early on. I would love to open mine up and do some testing and refurbishing where necessary. I haven't removed it from the box it was in when my dad passed away. He had all his hifi equipment in storage.

I wish you all a Happy New Year and much enjoyment of your eary Sony receivers.

Macfreak

 

[thedelihaus]

...Evidently Sony's original design motivation was to build 'em like McIntosh to get a good rep for quality early on...

Funny you say that, as I've read postings claiming both that early sony was the "Poor man's McIntosh" and that the sonys did indeed sound similar to McIntosh units.

Dunno how true it is, but my friend's 6065 here is a darling of a unit indeed, and sounds very, very nice.

 

[fontman]

Hello from germany,

the STR-7055 is a very good and cheap receiver and they are rock solid build.
I also have a very nice STR-7065 …




Regards, Dirk

 

[brucered]

my 7055 does not have that much illumination on the tuner. i can only see 1 light peaking through on the right side of the tuner, the left side doesn't show any light.

is that any easy fix? i'm guessing it's just a bulb.

 

[brucered]

quick question,

why does my receiver smell after using it for a while? not like it's burning, but just a faint smell?

i'm guessing it's the fact that it's still dusty and the guy probably smoked like chimney, but want to confirm? i still have to blow it out and clean the contacts etc.

thanks

 

[absolon]

You're cooking the dust. Open it and clean it. That will stop the smell and extend it's life. To be sure, open it and run it a while then check for hot spots.

Sony generally used fuse lamps located behind the faceplate at each end of the dial. The faceplate has to come off to change them.

 

[brucered]

thanks. that's what i thought it was.

 

[archie2]

That muting switch is a strange one, it only mutes stations that you cannot receive in stereo in your location. In other words it only mutes stations received in mono. So even if you have a weak stereo signal with lots of hiss it will not mute. Yours most likely works.

 

[archie2]

my 7055 does not have that much illumination on the tuner. i can only see 1 light peaking through on the right side of the tuner, the left side doesn't show any light.

is that any easy fix? i'm guessing it's just a bulb.

Those are festoon bulbs with the pointy ends. The 7055 uses a 3 watt, you can get them at any automotive store for about a buck each, # DE3021. Take one with you for a size match. You'll most likely find the foil faced cardboard used as a reflector has burned through. I would just remove or trim them and plug the volume and tuning shafts with a little Mortite to prevent the light from shining through. Otherwise it's going to be very annoying.

 

[brucered]

thanks. i'll have to open it up soon, blow out the dust and crap, spray some contact cleaner in there and try to get at those bulbs.

yeah my mute button works fine.

so for the contact cleaner, which of these would i buy for a general cleaning?

http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/S...uage=en-CA&keywords=contact+cleaner&pagenum=0

and do i spray it all over the boards etc to get the dust lifted off, or do i have to be careful to only spray contacts?

this is my 1st vintage receiver, so it's sort of a learning experience for me, but i'm enjoying it and everyone on here has been very helpfull.

 

[shacky]

thanks. i'll have to open it up soon, blow out the dust and crap, spray some contact cleaner in there and try to get at those bulbs.

yeah my mute button works fine.

so for the contact cleaner, which of these would i buy for a general cleaning?

and do i spray it all over the boards etc to get the dust lifted off, or do i have to be careful to only spray contacts?

Get Deoxit. Best place is Parts Express link at bottom of page.

Do not spray it over the boards. Use air as you mention. Also use vacuum cleaner and paint brush to loosen dust. Only use the Deoxit on pots and switches - and a little on cloth or Q-Tip to cleaner the RCA connectors inside and out.

Do a search on cleaning/Deoxit and you'll get plenty of info. Usually need to so some disassembly to get access to pot/switch opennings. At the least remove face plate. Give great opportunity to clean that thoroughly. Watch out for the letting on FM/AM dial as some a easy to remove lettering.

 

[bordeno]

That muting switch is a strange one, it only mutes stations that you cannot receive in stereo in your location. In other words it only mutes stations received in mono. So even if you have a weak stereo signal with lots of hiss it will not mute. Yours most likely works.

In that case, I believe you can cancel the muting and put the receiver in mono. The tuners are amazing in these Sonys. Without an external antenna!

 

[archie2]

I'd highly recommend DeoxIT.

 

[Brian]

Muting should only be quiteing the noise between stations and may quiet low level station signals. It should not be quieting mono stations unless very weak but then it should also be doing the same to stereo stations. Possibly what is happening is that it is quieting stations that are too weak to trigger the stereo demultiplexer and hence only come in on mono. If the station is strong enough to trigger the stereo demultiplexer then the level is above the muting level. There is usually an adjustment pot to set the muting level inside the unit but it sounds like it is working okay.

 

[brucered]

well i'm off to buy contact cleaner and want to pick up an antenna.

i noticed i have screw terminals for an antenna as well as that big black thing right under it that looks like a rod. pardon my ignorance, but i assume this is some sort of antenna as well, what should i buy?

 

[absolon]

Black thing is the AM antenna.

Simplest is a folded dipole, a 'T' shaped twin lead wire that connects to the 300 ohm terminals on the receiver.

Best is a rooftop Yagi on a rotator with a mast mount preamp. Unless you're in tough reception conditions, the dipole should do the trick.

 

[brucered]

i picked up a diople folding "t" shaped antenna for 10bucks and it works fine.

after picking up some TUNER CLEANER SPRAY based on the sales rep, i realize, i probably need CONTACT & HEAD CLEANER SPRAY more than tuner cleaner.

so i'll be returning that spray. but after opening up my receiver again, i realize i have no idea what i'm looking for to clean and how to go about doing it. is there a step by step tutorial on here for that, or is it live and learn?

my main problem is i get a bit of static from either the left or right speaker now and then. it's usually after i switch from AUX to PHONO or FM or visa versa. when i switch it back or change the balance all the way L or R and then center it again, it usually goes away. i'm guessing this is just a cleaning issue and i would love to get it fixed, as that's about the only thing wrong with it, besides the left side bulb burnt out, but i'm gonna tackle that another day.

 

[dashan]

Looks like you've caught the bug. I caught it a couple of years ago and now have 7 receivers, 3 TT's, 4 cassette decks, and 8 pair of speakers :nono:

Sony made some classy $#!!% back then. :yes: :tresbon:

Here're my 6045 and 6065:

What a beautiful receiver!!! I just cleaned my str-6040, placed it on top of a speaker (the speakers are powered by a str-6046a), having a cup of wine, listen to a classic music channel. I just can't stop looking at this small 6040 beauty.

 

[reggaenaut]

Great family of receivers at very affordable prices.:thmbsp: These Sonys and the Sansui au xxx amps and associate tuners are my audio obsessions. The Sansuis and the Sony 7065 are usually pricey.
I just found out from the thread that wood cases for the 7055 and 6060 are interchangeable. That is good to know.