• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Sony Receiver Evolution

The original post now has me interested in finding an early Sony receiver...:thmbsp:

I just got a 6800SD locally in one of those 'hey, that's a 5 minute drive from here!' moments...

The tuner is 4 gangs, and I find that the volume comes on fast, so I have the 20dB mute switch on and it helps. I spent 2 hours last night cleaning it up. I had a 4800SD a year back and this is exactly the same size, but while the 4800 was a little empty looking inside, the 6800 is pretty much filled up! Under 10mV DC offset, but I can find no adjustment for it or for the bias.

The volume and tuning knobs are solid aluminum, and all the pots and switches are Alps branded units, and every metal stamping has a Sony part number on it, so it's built very solidly. The smaller knobs are a bit cheap - plastic inserts inside solid aluminum is OK, but they don't all line up exactly with the markings on the face. The volume pot is one of those square sealed Alps units - usually used on top end gear. All in all it's a nice receiver and it's very good sounding. I do agree about the styling - it's a bit 'large' and I need to get used to the green lights. The plastic siding has to come off - it would look much better with real wood veneer on those side panels. I like the look of the early units more but I have never come across one.
 
Sluggo said:
Nice thread Joe,
My spec sheet for the 6800SD states a 4 gang tuner.
Still excellent sensitivity.Im with Reggaenaut on
the Very steep gain in Volume in the first 4-5 klicks!
I think the 7800SD did sport a 5 gang tuner,
By the way,theres one on the bay right now~
Mark.
Click to expand...
The 7800sd and 6800 have the same front end and tuner section. The 7800 has a different amplifier section with a potted transformer. Anyway you look at it, the 6800 is part of Sony's ES II series before they put the 'ES' insignia on there model number, and it sound really superb. I think the low distortion is why is sounds so clear too. It gets better the longer it is playing.
 
Whitehall said:
Why would the GX10ES be so much better sounding? I'd like to see a schematic or do a listening test before I endorse that view. Of course, it is a step below the TA-E80ES/N80ES separates. What would be the matching tuner? ST-550ES?
Click to expand...

The contemporaries to the STR-GX10ES in the Sony line were the TA-E77ESD/TAN77ES preamp/amp and the TA-F700ES integrated. The TAE80ES/TAN80ES were the next generation. The matching TOTL tuner was the ST700ES and CD player the CDP-707ESD. I have examples of all except for the tuner.

The specs for the tuner section of the GX10 are almost identical to those of the ST700. The GX10's amp produced 150wpc to the N77's 200 and was otherwise not quite up to the specs of the E77/N77 seperates as you might expect but was no slouch by any definition.

I have a full color 1988 Sony brochure with all of the available 1988 ES models with beautiful illustrations and specs for all of the gear as well as a sales catalog of the same period from a S.F. Bay area store called "Sounds Good" which has the sale prices for a lot of the same gear and from which I have gotten much of this information along with the owners manuals for each component that I own.

The STR-GX10ES is a monster with Sony's G-chassis and copper inner chassis, MM/MC phono inputs, bass, mid, and treble tone controls with the bass and treble each having two selectable turnovers as well as Source Direct and Adapter selector switches among it's many features, and it compares quite favorably to their same gen TOTL separates. In the opinion of many it is the last best strictly 2-channel receiver Sony produced. Pretty - probably not. I actually tend to be more of a a minimalist myself when it comes to bells and whistles, but I still love my GX10.
 
Last edited:
My main rig is Sony STR-6060FW. Fortunate to find one basically unused in original box with foam supports & all documents. It replaced the great sounding all discrete (no-op amps) STR-V4. The V4 being a later Sony design it is a mystery why the V4 is all discrete vs the V5, V6 & V7 op-amp design.

My Sony 6060FW has all new power & output coupling capacitors. The main PS cap was increased from an undersized 2000uF to 4700uF. The speaker coupling caps were increased from an undersized 1000uF to 2200uf. I used high performance Epcos screw type capacitors. The increase in performance is stunning considering how good a stock 6060 sounds. Tight & musical bass, micro details with dynamic & crystal clear response across the audio range, this Sony completes as well or better than the load of PP tube amps I own.

I am ordering a custom cabinet as mine came with the steel cabinet. I prefer birdseye maple. The volume & tuning knobs are being replaced with gold plated solid brass. The rather ordinary bakelite selector knobs are being replace with a sleeker knob. New LEDs that produce pure light were installed for the meter and dial readout.
 
sony6060 said:
My main rig is Sony STR-6060FW. Fortunate to find one basically unused in original box with foam supports & all documents. It replaced the great sounding all discrete (no-op amps) STR-V4. The V4 being a later Sony design it is a mystery why the V4 is all discrete vs the V5, V6 & V7 op-amp design.

My Sony 6060FW has all new power & output coupling capacitors. The main PS cap was increased from an undersized 2000uF to 4700uF. The speaker coupling caps were increased from an undersized 1000uF to 2200uf. I used high performance Epcos screw type capacitors. The increase in performance is stunning considering how good a stock 6060 sounds. Tight & musical bass, micro details with dynamic & crystal clear response across the audio range, this Sony completes as well or better than the load of PP tube amps I own.

I am ordering a custom cabinet as mine came with the steel cabinet. I prefer birdseye maple. The volume & tuning knobs are being replaced with gold plated solid brass. The rather ordinary bakelite selector knobs are being replace with a sleeker knob. New LEDs that produce pure light were installed for the meter and dial readout.
Click to expand...

Would love to see some pics :yes:
 
Here are the older Sonys at night:


Just a note- I bought New In Box 6060FW and the meter light is green.
 
I too, have heard many of the main/popular recievers, medium to high power, including many integrated amps. The Sony 6200f, in my opinion is simply the best sounding/ nicest to use/ good looking receiver. No piece of audio gear that I have owned, including some very nice tube gear, will do what this piece will do consistently. The fm is superb, and the phono section has the most gain of any receiver I have ever used. I,ve recapped mine, and put it up against my recapped Marantz 2270. No comparison. The Kenwood kr-7400, and the Harmon 930 come close on FM, but their respective phono sections are not in the same ball park. An awesome piece of audio jewelry.
 
I've got Forte IIIs and would choose the 7055.

But the 6065 wouldn't sound bad.

This is based on my direct experience with the 6060 and the 7065...so it's an informed guess.
 
sony6060 said:
My main rig is Sony STR-6060FW. Fortunate to find one basically unused in original box with foam supports & all documents. It replaced the great sounding all discrete (no-op amps) STR-V4. The V4 being a later Sony design it is a mystery why the V4 is all discrete vs the V5, V6 & V7 op-amp design.

My Sony 6060FW has all new power & output coupling capacitors. The main PS cap was increased from an undersized 2000uF to 4700uF. The speaker coupling caps were increased from an undersized 1000uF to 2200uf. I used high performance Epcos screw type capacitors. The increase in performance is stunning considering how good a stock 6060 sounds. Tight & musical bass, micro details with dynamic & crystal clear response across the audio range, this Sony completes as well or better than the load of PP tube amps I own.

I am ordering a custom cabinet as mine came with the steel cabinet. I prefer birdseye maple. The volume & tuning knobs are being replaced with gold plated solid brass. The rather ordinary bakelite selector knobs are being replace with a sleeker knob. New LEDs that produce pure light were installed for the meter and dial readout.
Click to expand...

Some wonderful ideas here. Thanks.

BTW time really flies. I participated in the early section of this thread (2007).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom