Show Us Your Sonys!!!

[Stoffie]

Interesting read mesut_Balci, will have to try that sometime...

As for the N7, saw one go yesterday on Ebay for about $750

Good luck finding one (and consider the fact you'll still have to do some recapping and other small mods to ensure it will live and be a worthwhile investment)

 

[Yamaha B-2]

That sloped baffle or tipping the speakers back is called 'time alignment'. IIRC it is to compensate for the somewhat faster speed the higher frequencies travel through air and also an effort to get the individual driver motors aligned in a flat plane normal to your ear. My speakers are tipped back on their stands in such a fashion. But, only about 1/4", which is not enough. But, it does make an improvement compared to flat.

Good luck in your TA-N7B search. If you find two, don't forget me.

 

[gilbodavid]

my god what a thread! I am learning fast. hello all. am proud owner of TA-2000F and TA-32000F. Sold Leak TL12+ monoblocks 2 years ago for these to power my Quad esl57's. They are better than the Leaks in my opinion. Both are at the menders however, and i've been told transister problems with pre, and my repairer cant find replacements. is there a source for replacements or modern alternatives, and also what caps, resisters etc to replace with what to boost performance and ensure longlivety. I am now drooling over TA-ER1 pics.

thanks, david

 

[Stoffie]

They have one (ta-er1) for sale at www.allegrosound.com (for big bucks I'm sure).

Maybe some of the residents can help you in your search for updated components for your pre!

 

[Stoffie]

PS-X75 is here ! Picked up the box today, it was very well packed with all necessary precautions pertaining to shipping turntables. It came from the US, so I wasn't exactly expecting much in terms of what would be left of it after travelling such a long distance with a number of shipping carriers. But anyway, nothing broken, everything was perfect. It was a bit dirty and dusty, so I have been cleaning it, there are scratches all over the shell, but that is not so important to me. Platter and mat look nice (still needs some more overall cleaning), there is an Ortofon MC 20 cartridge installed (which I found on Google is a pretty good cart...)

Thing is I can't test it yet, because it is a 120V version, and no switch on this one to set it to 230V. So I will have to go get a step down transformer tomorrow before I can power it up (did not feel like fireworks this evening).

I can't wait !

Anyone here have a SM for this by chance ? Just in case it does need some adjusting etc.

Thanks !

 

[Yamaha B-2]

Very nice!! Supposed to have the PS-X75 SM on its way. Give me shout in another week, or so. I'll scan into .pdf.

 

[Stoffie]

Thanks Glenn, that would be most kind of you

I am anxious to try this out, but unfortunately, another workday, and a double commute to and from work will precede this glorious event

 

[Yamaha B-2]

Don't you just hate work? Gets in the way of the important stuff. Like tinkering with/listening to great vintage gear.

Here is a pic of the first side panel for the TAN-8550. Just finished sanding and first coat of oil on this 'ribbon mahogany'. Stuff is much better than my photo shows. It is terrific looking with great detail and depth. Just doesn't show up well in the (my?) photo. Am sure a couple of additional coats of oil will help bring this out, as well. The matching TAE-8450 preamp will be getting the same side panels. You will be able to see/audition this set at the AK Fest if all goes well.

Edit - Here are the matching TAE-8450 side panels.

 

[Unda Maris]

Glenn,

you are really the king of understatement, the side panel already looks greeeeaaaaat ! If it´s only half of that in reality ... :thmbsp:

What is your source of the wood, musical instrument parts suppliers or the like ?

I wished there were enough European members/sponsors to organise an AK Fest in Europe ...

Stoffie,

congratulations, that´s really a nice unit and such a rare bird ! Let´s hope the fragile 'biotracing' works well
The MC20 is probably more than a good cart/start.

TA-N7B for $750:

Let´s wait until a few people heard Stoffie´s or one of my TA-N7B´s ...
I got my TA-N7B´s for 300 and 200 EUR (the second one was defective, but with good V-FETs). Unfortunately these times are definitely gone ...

I would not sell my fully refurbished TA-N7B even if someone would bid $1500 for it (only to prevent some misunderstandings here )
Ok, if someone had a BA-1000, a JM-S7, a HA-500F and a B-3 for exchange I would be interested ...

 

[Stoffie]

Glenn,

that does look really good ! Coupled with your shiny TA-E8450 and TA-N8550, they will look truly marveloous ! Looking forward to seeing the finished project !

Mirko,

I am keeping my fingers crossed on the biotracer working properly !

And you are right, they will have to pry my TA-N7B from my dead cold fingers
. I'm gonna have to check the dc offset and bias sometime again, it's been playing for about a month now. Can you advise at what the better setting would be (now set for about 60mV on both channels), because I remember you saying it should be set a bit above 70mV for optimal results ?

Now that I have a hopefully very decent turntable, the only thing that is left is to find me a nice CDP-X555ES or something of the likes for a cd source and my setup will be complete!

I have given up hope of ever finding a decent pair of APM's, although one of my friends is going to Japan/Tokia in a few weeks, so I will definitely have him check (telling myself I could pay for the probably outrageous shipping price, if he could find some)...

Too bad indeed we can't do AK Fests like our American friends, but I guess we can still do small get togethers

 

[Yamaha B-2]

Thanks. The difference in person compared to the photo is striking. There is quite a bit of wood on eBay. Most of it is left-over pieces that are too small to be useful for side panels, etc. But, the same folks have conderably larger pieces that they sell to their regular customers. You just have to ask. These were cut to nearly the correct size by the seller and then finish-cut for me by merrylander. Total cost was $39 (includes shipping). Seller was LLN Exotic Woods in Belvidere, IL. You can also use google to find. 100s of sellers. Just have to do some shopping.

 

[Stoffie]

Too bad none of my units have wooden sidepanels, but I guess it wouldn't be really fitting anyway with their styling.

I tried the ps-x75, it works !

The biotracer arm does seem to have some trouble lowering (have to help a bit by pushing the black bar thing at the base of the arm, that allows the arm to lower or rise), because for the most part it just gives a very discrete click and does not lower. It does go up most of the time.

Sound is perfect, cartridge is still pretty good it seems, so no problems there.

It just needs a very thorough cleaning, the control buttons are all very stubborn in accepting commands.

Anyone any tips on these small problems ?

 

[Yamaha B-2]

If it did, it could look like this. Just imagine how this will look with the matching TAE-8450 in the same finish.

And here is a nudie of the TAN-8550.

Major weight difference between the TAN-8550 (42 pounds) and the B-2 (57 pounds), both rated at 100wpc, can be found with the second power transformer/filter caps (dual-mono), very substantial and larger heatsinks (not necessarily any more efficent) and heavier sheet-metal of the chassis.

 

[the-real-mandak]

That looks nice B-2.

Unda: yes a European AK fest would be great.

 

[Stoffie]

Absolutely fab looking Glenn! Would also love to see those ppm meters in action sometime! Your units seem to be in very good condition too !

Alas, here some pics of the biotracer in action

 

[absolon]

I'm pleased to report that with some helpful advice from byrdwings, ericj and Fred Longworth, my STR6200F is back up and making nice music again. :thmbsp:

I could still use an obsolete 2SC633 transistor for the startup muting circuit to make it perfect if anyone knows of a source. I would also like to replace a 2SC634 if it were still available. I've had no luck finding them.

While sorting out the problem, I replaced all the electrolytics on the power supply board and found the tuner hum quieted down below audible levels. I had thought the the hum I was getting was grounding related, but it seems to have been a result of 35 year old caps in the power supply. I'm impressed enough by the difference that I'm going to do the same on my 6060F. It has lost it's FM stereo functionality so I'm also going to see if the Whitehall repair is applicable and give it a try.

 

[Brian]

And I am happy to report the locating of a replacement dial plate for the STR6120 and it is enroute to Warren who has graciously held onto my 6120 for something like a year while 1 was located. Also, have a 6120 parts unit but the seller never mentioned what was wrong with it. Per the description it is missing the knobs and faceplate that he had sold and I of course got the glass.

 

[Yamaha B-2]

Must be something in the air. I'm picking up a pristine STR-6120 this afternoon from an "older" lady who has downsized due to her husbands health (move into a smaller condo, etc.). Unfortunately, their very large matching KLH speakers are all ready gone (they gave them away ). Wonder if they were electrostatics? I probably won't keep this receiver, but will be fun to compare to the STR-6200F, which I find better looking. I'll add some pic's later.

I could still use an obsolete 2SC633A transistor for the startup muting circuit to make it perfect if anyone knows of a source. I would also like to replace a 2SC634A if it were still available.

Where and in what circuit are these located?

 

[absolon]

The 633A is Q6 and the 634A is Q7 on the power supply board accessed through the bottom cover.

That board on my unit has apparently been a problem in the past and two transistors have been substituted. For Q6, I have a 634A rather than the 633A specified. The 634A has identical characteristics except for Vcbo which is double that of the 633A. Collector of Q6 is also base for Q7 and I have abberant voltage at this point but tested good components in the circuit. I think that replacing with a 633A will clear that up and I'd like to replace the 634A for good measure though that is less critical. I'm not 100% certain, but I think the 633A could be replaced with a 2SA677 if I could find one of those.

I've been scavenging through old dead Sonys looking for the right transistor, but no luck so far.

 

[axel]

Must be something in the air. I'm picking up a pristine STR-6120 this afternoon from an "older" lady who has downsized due to her husbands health

I see Lolly did contact you, Glenn