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Sony STR 6060 History

Nucities

Nucities

Active Member
So I finally landed a STR 6060 on the big auction site. While I am waiting for it to ship I decided to scour the web and ask a few questions.

Many folks identify two models; the STR 6060F and the STR 6060FW. After looking at photos etc it looks to me like there is only one model. Every unit I have seen says "STR 6060F" on the front plate and "STR 6060FW" on the back on the metal tag that includes the serial number. I have however noticed that there a appears to be two different colors for the Bakelite switches...a brown and a black.

Second question... is there a way to determine date of manufacture based on the serial number? I believe these started production in 66 or 67-70 or 71 but it would be intriguing to me to know when the unit I purchased was made.

Looking forward to cleaning it up and trying it out. I'm hoping it will replace my STR 7065 in my main system...we will see.
 
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Congrats on finding one! I don't know the answer to your questions, but I'm sure someone will come along soon.
 
captouch said:
Congrats on finding one! I don't know the answer to your questions, but I'm sure someone will come along soon.
Click to expand...

Thanks...I could also use some advice about how to clean the faceplate and glass. I've read over and over that the labeling is very easily removed by typical cleaning products (windex etc). The labeling on this unit is a bit less than 100%, the label under the volume knob s partialy missing; I don't want to make it any worse but it looks pretty dirty.
 
The history of Sony in the US is well-mixed up with Superscope, which then drags Marantz into the mix. Yes, that's the same Superscope that you see at the end credits of many movies from the 50s and 60s.

Sony did not have a distribution arm of their own in the US until after 1970. Superscope was their distributor up until that time and, in some cases, relabeled Sony gear for the US consumer market. They also purchased the Marantz brand from Saul Marantz in 1964 and carried it into the 70s, too.

Sony finally built their own US distribution in the early 70s which helped their margins. This happened about the same time they introduced the Trinitron TV technology that was well ahead of the Zenith/RCA TVs available at that time. Don't forget that they were also present in every K-Mart and department store with portable cassette recorders, clock/radios, and table top radios, too. The brand was everywhere.

Along in all that, the audio products lines that included the 6060, 605x, 70xx and on into the Monster Receiver wars of the mid/late 70s gained more traction but, marketing wise, never reached the saturation of Sansui, Pioneer, Marantz (non-Superscope) and Technics.

In the mid-70s Sony's attempts to corner the market for consumer technologies (Beta Max video tape, SQ 4 channel, Walkman, etc) provided serious competition to all comers and carved a niche for themselves.

It is in this context that Sony became a consumer brand most folks recognize today. Your 6060F/FW was one of the early solid state receivers. Think of it as an early entrant to Sony's success in the consumer audio world.

Hope that helps. More details with this Google search.

Cheers,

David
 
Nucities said:
So I finally landed a STR 6060 on the big auction site. While I am waiting for it to ship I decided to scour the web and ask a few questions.

Many folks identify two models; the STR 6060F and the STR 6060FW. After looking at photos etc it looks to me like there is only one model. Every unit I have seen says "STR 6060F" on the front plate and "STR 6060FW" on the back on the metal tag that includes the serial number. I have however noticed that there a appears to be two different colors for the Bakelite switches...a brown and a black.

Second question... is there a way to determine date of manufacture based on the serial number? I believe these started production in 66 or 67-70 or 71 but it would be intriguing to me to know when the unit I purchased was made.

Looking forward to cleaning it up and trying it out. I'm hoping it will replace my STR 7065 in my main system...we will see.
Click to expand...

Congrats on landing a STR6060FW. Unfortunately, I can't answer your questions either (didn't know there were both black and brown colored switch covers). As you are probably aware, the STR6060FW has some enthusiastic fans

I just recently got mine back from a full restoration and am very impressed. It is at least temporarily displacing my Fisher 500C. I don't know what shape your 6060 is in but if it's all original, it is probably going to need some work to bring it up to its full potential.

Interesting that you should mention it displacing your STR7065. My STR7065 is up on BarterTown right now!

IMG_1317.JPG

Here are some links you've likely already come across:

http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-STR-6060.html
http://www.audioidiots.com/merk.apparaat.php?apparaatID=4594
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/vintage/messages/19/193862.html
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/my-top-three-receivers-for-sonics.473420/
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/sony-str-6060f-restoration-and-upgrade.629488/
 
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jwhvt said:
Congrats on landing a STR6060FW. Unfortunately, I can't answer your questions either (didn't know there were both black and brown colored switche covers). As you are probably aware, the STR6060FW has some enthusiastic fans

I just recently got mine back from a full restoration and am very impressed. It is at least temporarily displacing my Fisher 500C. I don't know what shape your 6060 is in but if it's all original, it is probably going to need some work to bring it up to its full potential.

Interesting that you should mention it displacing your STR7065. My STR7065 is up on BarterTown right now!

View attachment 879941

Here are some links you've likely already come across:

http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-STR-6060.html
http://www.audioidiots.com/merk.apparaat.php?apparaatID=4594
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/vintage/messages/19/193862.html
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/my-top-three-receivers-for-sonics.473420/
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/sony-str-6060f-restoration-and-upgrade.629488/
Click to expand...


Thanks I'll look through those I think I've seen most but I'm taking in as much as I can. That's a beautifulunit you have there. Going back a while...when I purchased my KLH 6s on CL I went over to the sellers house to test them out. Super nice guy and they sounded unbelievable. He told me he'd run them through an "old Sony" since I told him I was going to run them through the STR 7065. That combo "old Sony" ended up being the 6060 to the KLH 6 and that combo knocked my socks off. I honestly could not believe how good that setup sounded. I bought the KLH 6s and committed to find that model.....just took several months

Per the eBay seller the unit I'm buying is working, it looks to be in kind of dirty but decent shape. I always assume the worst with an auction site purchase. On a positive note I was able to grab a wood case off a 6050 which should fit the 6060....hopefully I can clean it up, throw on the case and it will sound great but I'm guessing I'll have some work to do.
 
[QUOTE="I just recently got mine back from a full restoration and am very impressed. It is at least temporarily displacing my Fisher 500C. I don't know what shape your 6060 is in but if it's all original, it is probably going to need some work to bring it up to its full potential.Interesting that you should mention it displacing your STR7065. My STR7065 is up on BarterTown right now!/[/QUOTE]

I'd really enjoy hearing how you feel the 7065 and 6060 compare. I'd also be interested in the 6060 sound before and after restoration and what that entailed.
 
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Nucities said:
[QUOTE="I just recently got mine back from a full restoration and am very impressed. It is at least temporarily displacing my Fisher 500C. I don't know what shape your 6060 is in but if it's all original, it is probably going to need some work to bring it up to its full potential.Interesting that you should mention it displacing your STR7065. My STR7065 is up on BarterTown right now!/
Click to expand...

I'd really enjoy hearing how you feel the 7065 and 6060 compare. I'd also be interested in the 6060 sound before and after restoration and what that entailed.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, it would be unfair to compare the restored 6060 to the unrestored 7065.. it would really be apples to oranges. Before I sent out the 6060 for restoration, it sounded muddy and flat. It was almost un-listenable and clearly needed work. Putting aside a sonic comparison, the 7065 has more features and "bling". Some don't care for the look of the 6060 and consider it too plain (especially with the door closed) and old fashioned (Bakelite switches). I happen to like the clean simple look.

Some time ago, I attempted to create an early Sony receiver model chronology here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qXferG-1K3DaJop1Zk5ApQHbqQ5i939PLbY9umt-mWE/edit?usp=sharing

It's a shared Google sheet but I'm not sure if it can really be accessed (let me know if not). I'll also add a disclaimer that I make no claim of absolute accuracy. Hope it's of interest.

index.php
 
jwhvt said:
I'd really enjoy hearing how you feel the 7065 and 6060 compare. I'd also be interested in the 6060 sound before and after restoration and what that entailed.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, it would be unfair to compare the restored 6060 to the unrestored 7065.. it would really be apples to oranges. Before I sent out the 6060 for restoration, it sounded muddy and flat. It was almost un-listenable and clearly needed work. Putting aside a sonic comparison, the 7065 has more features and "bling". Some don't care for the look of the 6060 and consider it too plain (especially with the door closed) and old fashioned (Bakelite switches). I happen to like the clean simple look.

Some time ago, I attempted to create an early Sony receiver model chronology here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qXferG-1K3DaJop1Zk5ApQHbqQ5i939PLbY9umt-mWE/edit?usp=sharing

It's a shared Google sheet but I'm not sure if it can really be accessed (let me know if not). I'll also add a disclaimer that I make no claim of absolute accuracy. Hope it's of interest.

index.php
[/QUOTE]


Fantastic! I just recently found an original 6060 ad from 1966. Not sure if that was the first? It would seem odd to me if the 6040 predated the 6060. I've always heard that the first Sony US imports were 6060, 6120/6050, 6200 in that order?

Sonicaly I'm most interested in how the 6060 phono stage will sound as compared to the the 7065. I've never heard it. The 6060/KLH combo was with a CD and it was sublime. That 6060 had never been recapped and was clearly well cared for. The one Im getting looks like it was not as well cared for. Still interested if anyone can date these based on serial number
 
Nucities said:
Unfortunately, it would be unfair to compare the restored 6060 to the unrestored 7065.. it would really be apples to oranges. Before I sent out the 6060 for restoration, it sounded muddy and flat. It was almost un-listenable and clearly needed work. Putting aside a sonic comparison, the 7065 has more features and "bling". Some don't care for the look of the 6060 and consider it too plain (especially with the door closed) and old fashioned (Bakelite switches). I happen to like the clean simple look.

Some time ago, I attempted to create an early Sony receiver model chronology here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qXferG-1K3DaJop1Zk5ApQHbqQ5i939PLbY9umt-mWE/edit?usp=sharing

It's a shared Google sheet but I'm not sure if it can really be accessed (let me know if not). I'll also add a disclaimer that I make no claim of absolute accuracy. Hope it's of interest.

index.php
Click to expand...


Fantastic! I just recently found an original 6060 ad from 1966. Not sure if that was the first? It would seem odd to me if the 6040 predated the 6060. I've always heard that the first Sony US imports were 6060, 6120/6050, 6200 in that order?

Sonicaly I'm most interested in how the 6060 phono stage will sound as compared to the the 7065. I've never heard it. The 6060/KLH combo was with a CD and it was sublime. That 6060 had never been recapped and was clearly well cared for. The one Im getting looks like it was not as well cared for. Still interested if anyone can date these based on serial number
Click to expand...


You could very well be right about the order of the model releases. The "?" indicates a reported but unverified release date. An "X" means I found a dated ad or brochure. So if you look just at the "X" 's, the order matches what you are saying.

Sony.jpg
 
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Congrats Nucities! I've had 2 7065s and 3 6060s, all unrestored. The 6060s all had a more clear, open, and detailed midrange. The bass varied on all 5 units. I think the mids are key with most any source, but especially with the phono stage. Hence my 7065s - while really, really nice - have new homes and the 6060s don't.
 
Not that I needed yet another receiver but picked up a Sony STR-6060FW. I had no knowledge what it was but thought it cool looking with the hidden controls. Personaly I like the look a lot! It was dirty on the outside but cleaned up very nicely with only a damp rag. Other than dust the inside looks like almost new, I had no idea it was vintage (1968-71) until I researched it. It is working great so far. It pulls in radio stations really well. And it does not have the stereo playing in mono issue that I've read is common. I have only tested it out with some minimus speaker so far, will hook it up to some nice speakers tomorrow.

This is a great thread with pointers to a lot of threads on this receiver. Apparently this is a well respected receiver, I had no idea when I bought it at an estate sale.

fullsizeoutput_1d5e.jpegfullsizeoutput_1d5b.jpeg IMG_9820.JPG
 
corpblues said:
Not that I needed yet another receiver but picked up a Sony STR-6060FW. I had no knowledge what it was but thought it cool looking with the hidden controls. Personaly I like the look a lot! It was dirty on the outside but cleaned up very nicely with only a damp rag. Other than dust the inside looks like almost new, I had no idea it was vintage (1968-71) until I researched it. It is working great so far. It pulls in radio stations really well. And it does not have the stereo playing in mono issue that I've read is common. I have only tested it out with some minimus speaker so far, will hook it up to some nice speakers tomorrow.

This is a great thread with pointers to a lot of threads on this receiver. Apparently this is a well respected receiver, I had no idea when I bought it at an estate sale.

View attachment 1161605View attachment 1161602 View attachment 1161603
Click to expand...

Looks to be in beautiful condition. I think you'll be even more impressed after you've upgraded from the minimus 7's!
 
I spent most of this morning listing to the Sony STR-6060FW with JBL 4311B monitors and came away very impressed.

This receiver sounds GREAT and it is very under appreciated on the market. Been listing to Willie Nelson, Neal Young and Led Zeppelin III on 7 1/2 IPS reel to reel and love the sound. If you come across one of these my advice is to not pass on it. :thumbsup:
 
I've just got one too, extremely impressive for a little receiver, some complains about bass being thin, on mine it is excellent from classical music to Queen, superb sound all the way I plan to keep it and have it restored...green dial looks cool.20180510_184901.jpg
 
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