Show Us Your Sonys!!!

[ByrdWyngs]

I'm pretty sure he was talking about the 8750 you ended up with.

 

[Yamaha B-2]

Ooops..........
There were three of us sniping, but I was willing to go higher than the others. I've done some TT selling of late and was flush for this one. Is about 1/8th of what I would have to spend to get the ScoutMaster I've also been lusting after. And, I'll bet this is about as nice. Fingers crossed for good Karma on the shipment this week.

 

[john_w]

Wow, for existing on a site that has struck me as being somewhat anti-Sony, this seems like quite a popular thread! :thmbsp:

 

[Yamaha B-2]

Yep.....I think we need our own Sony/Yamaha Forum with OvenMaster/merrylander/Axel as the moderators. That's one banana, each. And, I'm sure that they agree.

 

[ByrdWyngs]

I don't know, I kind of like being part of the lunatic fringe. I'm not sure I want the vintage Sony stuff getting too main stream. It'll just drive the prices up and I'm not done adding to my collection yet. Maybe in another 15 or 20 years when I get ready to start selling.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you on the 8750 shipping. It would be a shame to see another one get destroyed, besides I don't want the competition when the next one comes up.

By the way did you sell your 5650, I see the ad is gone from A'gon.

 

[Yamaha B-2]

I don't know, I kind of like being part of the lunatic fringe. I'm not sure I want the vintage Sony stuff getting too main stream. It'll just drive the prices up and I'm not done adding to my collection yet. Maybe in another 15 or 20 years when I get ready to start selling. .

Better watch out or we'll nominate you for moderator, as well.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you on the 8750 shipping. It would be a shame to see another one get destroyed, besides I don't want the competition when the next one comes up..

Amen. If it gets destroyed, at least I should learn something about how NOT to pack it the next time. But, just received the manuals for it, so let's hope for the best............

By the way did you sell your 5650, I see the ad is gone from A'gon.

Yes. Once I was able to get the STR-6200F then the TA-5650 become surplus. The fellow who bought it thought he would use as his 'TV' source. After listening to it he now has his tube integrated as this 'TV' source.

 

[john_w]

I don't know, I kind of like being part of the lunatic fringe.

Ah, but you forget this is AK. We ARE the lunatic fringe!!!

But you're right about driving prices up. Though it seems the damage has already been done there.

 

[Brian]

You'll find that many comments from the anti-whatever crowd gets the closet crowd to eventually come out. Yes, not long ago the predominate feeling was less than positive for Sony but then some of us came forth to remind others of those early Sony days and the companies products, and then the later versions began to peak through and finally the v-fet guys weighed in. Little has been discussed related to the tape decks and turntables that maybe gets more discussion on the turntable and tapedech forum. In the final analysis, Sony was an early front runner and stayed the course about as long as the other Japanese players but, since it offered more variety and the hi-fi distribution was not as wide as say Pioneer and Marantz, it just took some time. If you go through our threads, you will see this has benn the history with several brands.

 

[john_w]

You'll find that many comments from the anti-whatever crowd gets the closet crowd to eventually come out...

Yes, I see where that's been true for just about every controversy I've seen here. :yes:

 

[ByrdWyngs]

Ah, but you forget this is AK. We ARE the lunatic fringe!!!

Compared to the more widely collected gear like Pioneer, Marantz, etc. most of the Sony stuff is fairly unknown and underappreciated. The fringe of the vintage audio fringe if you will.

But you're right about driving prices up. Though it seems the damage has already been done there.

While the prices have certainly been going up the last few years since I got back into this, Sony is still an absolute bargain compared to a lot of the others. You coulld probably buy an STR-6060, an STR-7800SD, and an STR-V7 for the same price that you'd typically have to pay for one Pioneer 1250, or Marantz 2285, or Sansui 9090DB, etc. Pretty much the same thing goes for most of the Sony tuners and tape decks (cassette, or R2R). Or how about the PS-8750 that Yamaha B-2 just bought for less than $400 compared to the Denon DP-59 that went for over $1300 a few weeks ago? The Denon might be better looking (although I think that's debateable and a matter of personal preference) but I bet it doesn't sound any better than the Sony. Even the VFET amps which are pretty pricey on a dollars per watt basis for vintage amps, are still pretty reasonable when compared to some of the other exotic stuff out there that they really compare to. I don't think that the Sony gear is necessarily always better than Pioneer or Marantz or (insert your favorite brand here), but they did make some very good stuff and you can still get a lot more bang for your buck with Sony than with the other more popular brands. :thmbsp: At least for now, who knows what the situation will be like a few more years down the road.

 

[absolon]

So besides YB2's case for my STR-6060FW he's promised to send, I'm going to need an additional two wood cases - TAC-1s for my new ST-5000FW and TA-1120A that I've got coming from Toronto. A nice dark red Hounduras Mahogany would be my favorite although red oak or cherry might work too.

Checked the 6060FW and there are only 4 bulbs - three tiny ones for the AM/FM/FM Stereo indicators and one green-tinted bigger one for the tuning meter and right end of the tuning scale - it's a bayonet type. Couldn't find a fifth bulb although it could use one for the left hand side of the tuning scale. No fuse types seen.

The dial bulbs are behing the faceplate at either end of the glass, faceplate has to come off to access them. Pull all the knobs on the face, loosen the set screw on the door and disconnect the door strut, 4 screws on top and bottom. No worry about knobs in compartment, they stay put. Bulbs are 8V, 0.3A fuse type. The three small indicator bulbs are 4.5V, 40 mA wire lead, 3.5mm bulb diameter and a bit smaller on the collar that fits in the holder clamp. I'll put the calipers on it later for an exact measure of collar and to double check bulb.

Congrats on the Sony's :thmbsp: . I'm very interested to see what you think of the 1120A. I passed on one a while back and not sure that wasn't a mistake. Also your impression of the 5000F. I've pulled the seperates out of my cabinet and running on the 6060F now. Very nice, not quite up to the gear it has temporarily replaced, but still very nice. Much simpler to operate too. Still getting stereo, though I've got to get bulbs ordered to get the indicator lights working just for final confirmation.

I've completed the 6060 prototype, red oak stained mahogany red and lacquered. I'll post a picture when I have more light available (cheap camera). I'm not overly pleased with the colour, should have left it natural or used a better stain. I'm going to do a prototype for the TAC-1 fairly soon, finishing off the Padauk plinth for my Unamco now; wife won't be able to call it the big dirty thing anymore, gonna be the big red thing.

 

[Yamaha B-2]

The nice thing about stain is that you can always removed and start over. Lots of work, but still doable.

 

[john_w]

I've completed the 6060 prototype, red oak stained mahogany red and lacquered.

That sounds interesting. I really like mahogany grain, and am curious how the oak stain works with it. Definitely show pics!

** Edit ** Oops! I guess I had that backwards. Red oak with mahogany red stain, right? That still sounds interesting!

I vaguely remember the Sony "tummy television" days, and how they revolutionized miniaturization in video, and later in audio. My recollection is that after that point, there seemed to be a large general consumer faction that assumed ALL Sony products were superior. Then, a big backlash from serious enthusiasts that said it was "OK" gear, but very much over-rated and over-priced. My personal experience was that at least some of it was exceptionally well built and sounded great. I suppose the truth of the matter was that it ran the gammit from BPC/SPC to exceptional. But at least they were capable of exceptional products, and therefore have my respect.

My only functioning Sony right now is the WM-D6 I mentioned, but I wouldn't hesitate to audition any component with a Sony label, especially if somebody here thinks it's worth-while.

 

[Whitehall]

Looking at photos of the TAC-1 cases, the grain on the side panels runs vertical on some and horizontal on others. I'd guess it matters where you chose to have the endgrain show but I'd expect Sony to be consistent.

So build some thick shelves - two sheets of 3/4 inch plywood, the top with Phillipine mahogany (luan) and A-C on the bottom. Screwed and glued them together and added 1 1/2 inch pine edging. They wil have a 36 inch span with "Monster Receivers" et al on them.

Stained it with Minwax "Sedona Red" Wood Finish twice but my daughters asked why I wanted pink shelves. It was supposed to come out dark red.

Gave it two coats of Watco Danish Oil in cherrywood, a brown tint to darken and protect it. Gave it an orange oil rubdown too with 000 steel wool. That's better. The pine of course didn't take up the stain completely evenly even with pre-conditioner. Too bad - it's done.

Now the wife complains that the Marantz walnut cabinet clashes with the dark red shelves.

Maybe I have too many live-in critics!

 

[absolon]

Grain has to run vertically on solid wood construction. If not, differential shrinkage will likely cause problems. As long as the holes for the feet screws are oversize, the screws not torqued down and the grain direction matched on all sides, there should be no problems.

Here is a shot of the red case. I used Minwax Red Mahogany as a stain, colour is too thin for a wood as light coloured as the oak so took hand toning to get it a bit darker and that never works well if not done with a touch-up gun. Next time I'd use an industrial wiping stain. Less visible grain, but much better and more even colour. I didn't bother rubbing out the lacquer, the reciever is going to see duty in my shop so furniture grade wasn't required. Minwax would probably be suitable if the case were mahogany.

Reciever isn't in the case, case is too wide for my cabinet where the unit currently sits.

Sorry, the pic is not great.

 

[junkaudio]

nice work!

 

[john_w]

Yes, it does look kind of uneven but maybe the lighting in the pic makes it seem worse. IMO, at least that's MUCH better than getting the stain so dark that the wood grain doesn't stand out very well. Yours looks like it stands out just fine - and nice color!

 

[Whitehall]

For the boards, did you use 4/4? Also, how much front overhang did you use - "overhang" = distance from back of front metal panel to front edge of the side panels?

Any internal clearances?

 

[absolon]

I used 4/4, taken down to about 7/8" for the sides, down to 1/2" for top and bottom.

Original cases apparently had 7/16" top and bottom. Front overhang is 1/2" as worked out from case measurements inferred from the auction listing and Brian's info.

I cut a rabbet on top and bottom of sides to accomodate case top and bottom and leave 1/2" of tops of sides visible. I also cut the rabbet on the front of sides to allow for side flanges of faceplate and create the 1/2" thick x 1/2" deep overhang.

Allowed minimal clearance in the case. Next time, I'll try 1/2" sides with some spacers added in to centre the unit. That should allow more air movement and make top to side joinery easier. Gap will be hidden behing faceplate side flange or I may glue in filler strips as stops for when reciever is being inserted into case.

I'll stick with the 1/2" thickness of top and bottom just to make it a bit stronger, particularly in the area of the vent.

 

[Phil H]

A while back I found a beat-up ST-5000FW tuner at a thrift store and liked it so much I had to get a TA-2000Fpreamp. (I posted pictures in the tuner forum a while back). This thing is beautiful.