STR-7065 newbie

[G7065]

Hello!

New to AK and have been enjoying reading the threads and learning a lot. Always been a vintage stereo fan but have only just managed to take the jump into getting my own... a Sony STR-7065 with the wooden case. Absolutely love it and plan to keep it a long, long time.

One thing that I can't quite figure out - hoping someone might know - is to do with the colour of the main dial. Is it coated in a translucent colour or does the colour come from something else (bulbs/filter)?

My 7065 lights up purple and I can't see why - a previous owner has already changed the bulbs to LEDs and having pulled them to test, they are blue-green. The glass has a green tint when I look at the side cross-section, but as soon as the receiver is powered up... Purple! The tuner input and tuning mini-dials are green, and the source indicators are red. It doesn't hugely bother me but it would be nice to be the original green...

While researching I found this YT video which shows the exact same colours as mine:

Maybe it was a common mod at some point?

I'm also looking to upgrade some old SS-210 Sony speakers to go with it... that's more complicated than I first thought ! Years ago I played with quite a bit of car audio stuff, and as they say a little knowledge is dangerous... Really like the size and look of the SS-210s but 3w is not going to cut it. A fun project trying to make a good sounding pair to match the 7065. In the meantime, using a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 1, which sound awesome with it.

Long live SS, proper metal and wood stereos!

 

[50 Green]

Welcome to AK!

No offense to whoever did that "mod" but the purple is wretched! That was not ever a popular modification that I'm aware of. (How could that look be popular??!!)

LEDs are good to have because the stock incandescent bulbs tend to burn the paper reflectors, and are probably a big part of the cause of the green tint on the ends of the glass fading so often. Were it mine, I'd ditch the goofy-colored LEDs and replace them with soft white. The original bulbs were festoon bulbs but proper length fuse-style LEDs will fit, although you may need to close up the mounting clips a bit, if that hasn't been done already.

There's a good chance the green tint on the glass needs refreshing, too. Glass paint from a craft store works perfectly for that. Just find the closest shade of green.

 

[G7065]

Welcome to AK!

No offense to whoever did that "mod" but the purple is wretched! That was not ever a popular modification that I'm aware of. (How could that look be popular??!!)

LEDs are good to have because the stock incandescent bulbs tend to burn the paper reflectors, and are probably a big part of the cause of the green tint on the ends of the glass fading so often. Were it mine, I'd ditch the goofy-colored LEDs and replace them with soft white. The original bulbs were festoon bulbs but proper length fuse-style LEDs will fit, although you may need to close up the mounting clips a bit, if that hasn't been done already.

There's a good chance the green tint on the glass needs refreshing, too. Glass paint from a craft store works perfectly for that. Just find the closest shade of green.

​

Thanks for your reply.

I agree the purple is an ‘acquired taste’, although in truth it looks better in reality than in pics. The rest of the colours (mini dials, inputs, stereo) look original, it is just the tuner frequency that is purple.

Having had a closer look I can see it’s just the frequency numbers that glow purple, so I guess they are coated in a stain. The main LEDs glowed a slight green-blue when tested (could be ice white), I will look to replace with soft white. Not sure what to do with the purple numbers, as I guess it would need to be removed before being re-stained green.

I’ve also noticed the smaller line of letter/numbers on the top right of the dial that says the model number and ‘solid state’ doesn’t glow up at all. I guess a previous owner didn’t stain them.

 

[50 Green]

If there is something that could color the dial numbers without damaging them, I'm not aware of it. They are white from the factory and pick up the color of any light that's projected on them. (That usually comes from the green tint on the ends of the glass - there is no green on the numbers.)

The model number, etc. are a dull orange / tan shade, so they won't pick up the light like the dial numbers.

I still suspect the color you're seeing is either from colored lamps or tint on the ends of the glass. What color are the dial numbers in daylight, with the unit off?

 

[onwardjames]

I've praised this little dandy for a decade.

Please, please, do not scrimp on her proper care. It's compact in there, very difficult work.

Also, go to the original green like advised. It's how they should look.

Congrats on a wonderful, enjoyable receiver.

 

[VintageDutch]

Wel... congrats on your STR

Georgious Receiver but the Blue/purple is horrible... we all might agree...
As for original... I see green and With as Original

Usually the scale FUSE Tube Style light bulbs can be changed to LED with no problem... I recommend Warm White LED
It well could be that this model has a Green or soft Orange scale resulting your Blue LEDs into Purple (if it is Orange..)

SO warm white should give you back the original warm glow of the scale Probaly Orange, possibly Green

Those LEDS replacement are 8 volt and available in every Electronic component shop in the street and Internet..and for little money

Cheers!

 

[VintageDutch]

@G7065

I Noticed the German radio Broadcast in your Video.. Are you from Germany? I yes... where in Germany... I come from Holland.. I might be able to assist you (even in German)

 

[G7065]

Thanks for all the comments and help.

@50-green you're right, the model code line is an orange colour and doesn't seem to pick up the light at all (or is very subtle). The frequency numbers are white/cream when off, so likely original. I tested one of the LED lamps with a 12v power supply on a bench, it was blue-green - I am wondering whether it is running purple in the unit itself; I will power up carefully with the covers removed to get a better look in situ. @VintageDutch has mentioned 8v, so perhaps they are the wrong LEDs for this unit and are different colour at different voltages. Warm white seems like the way to go, and if the colour change is as simple as a bulb swop I will be very happy!

@VintageDutch - I definitely prefer the original green too. The video in my original post is just one I happened to find on YT with the same colour problem as mine, I am based in the UK, but thanks for the offer.

I have to say, overall I am very pleased with my 7065 so far, sounds great.

 

[G7065]

Well that was quick - powered up the receiver without the cases and I can see strong blue-purple LEDs shining bright! I guess they are either the wrong voltage or a previous owner just liked the colour...

I couldn't do this originally as the unit has the original 2-pin plug attached (I had to get hold of an adaptor to UK 3-pin as didn't want to cut it off), so I pulled an LED and bench-tested it in the meantime. It definitely wasn't the same colour at 12v on the bench. I then got distracted looking at other threads about tinted glass, thinking that's where the colour was coming from... It way well be that the glass needs re-tinting green anyway, of course.

Will replace with warm white LEDs ASAP.

Does anyone have a recommendation? Have read both DE3021 and 3022 work, so something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/License-Interior-Reading-Replacement-Extremely/dp/B07VPGCDQN/ ?

 

[50 Green]

Those LEDs probably won't fit. They protrude from the sides too far. You need ones that fit the profile of a standard fuse-style lamp, similar to these:

Measure the length between the clips on the lamp holders and find fuse-style LEDs of that length (or close.) As I mentioned earlier, the original lamps were festoon bulbs, not fuse, but the fuse-style will fit, possibly with a need to close up the clips a bit. No need to remove the face to get to the dial lamps. The the lamp holders come out from the back. You will need to remove the face to re-tint the ends of the dial glass, though, if necessary. (The original color is green.)

Voltage should make no difference in the color of the LEDs. The tint on your dial glass is most likely faded so someone probably decided the purple would be a good look, instead of the glare of a regular lamp with no glass tint. (In addition to coloring the light, the tint also diffuses it some.)

 

[G7065]

Those LEDs probably won't fit. They protrude from the sides too far. You need ones that fit the profile of a standard fuse-style lamp, similar to these:

Measure the length between the clips on the lamp holders and find fuse-style LEDs of that length (or close.) As I mentioned earlier, the original lamps were festoon bulbs, not fuse, but the fuse-style will fit, possibly with a need to close up the clips a bit. No need to remove the face to get to the dial lamps. The the lamp holders come out from the back. You will need to remove the face to re-tint the ends of the dial glass, though, if necessary. (The original color is green.)

Voltage should make no difference in the color of the LEDs. The tint on your dial glass is most likely faded so someone probably decided the purple would be a good look, instead of the glare of a regular lamp with no glass tint. (In addition to coloring the light, the tint also diffuses it some.)

Thanks for the tip about not needing to remove the face, very handy to know. Just pulled the current ones and they are the same style you have posted (but obviously the wrong colour). Will replace with warm white and see what happens next...

 

[G7065]

I've praised this little dandy for a decade.

Please, please, do not scrimp on her proper care. It's compact in there, very difficult work.

Also, go to the original green like advised. It's how they should look.

Congrats on a wonderful, enjoyable receiver.

Thank you, I did quite a lot of research and decided to look out for a good 7065/7065A or one of its closely related models and this one came up. Really like it so far, good classic looks, solid build, a great size and lovely sound. One day I plan to add one of the 'monsters' from the 70s power wars, but I plan to always keep this, it is just right.

 

[50 Green]

Thank you, I did quite a lot of research and decided to look out for a good 7065/7065A or one of its closely related models and this one came up. Really like it so far, good classic looks, solid build, a great size and lovely sound. One day I plan to add one of the 'monsters' from the 70s power wars, but I plan to always keep this, it is just right.

You have a winner. Definitely hang on to it. (Just don't tell anyone. Let's not let them develop a cult following!!)

 

[50 Green]

STR-7055 (Model directly below yours) with soft white LEDs and newly refreshed green tint on the ends of the dial glass.
This is how they are supposed to look.

 

[onwardjames]

One day I plan to add one of the 'monsters' from the 70s power wars

You mean like a Pioneer SX1250, a Sansui 9090db, or Pioneer SX1010 or SX980??

I had them all. They all went, and I only regret selling the Sony.

I may be singular in this regard, but I think it was simply better, more elegant, and never gave me a day's trouble, unlike the Pioneers.

 

[Old HiFi Guy]

I have 2 7055's and would love to get a 7065. One of my 7055's is in my main system as a preamp/tuner with my Proton D1200 amp and RSL Elan speakers.

 

[glend123]

I would like to see a pic of the LED's that fit in there. I couldn't find any! Dowojo couldn't either.
Edit: Actually, mine is a str-7055, so maybe they're different.

 

[G7065]

You mean like a Pioneer SX1250, a Sansui 9090db, or Pioneer SX1010 or SX980??

I had them all. They all went, and I only regret selling the Sony.

I may be singular in this regard, but I think it was simply better, more elegant, and never gave me a day's trouble, unlike the Pioneers.

That’s really interesting and quite good to hear really. I started off looking at the big stuff across all the usual brands of the era, but the main problem was cost - both to buy and repair (and rarity to even find them in reasonable condition). I considered a Rotel 1603 that’s for sale near me but it was more than double the cost of the Sony and has been laid up for 20 years not working… a different project for a different budget! I also realised they are really big physically, so I started looking for more ‘under the radar’ models suited to my actual needs - decent power, quality sound, good looks (at least to me); that helped rule in/out quite a lot. Anything mid-high level Pioneer or Marantz now costs a fortune here in the UK. As soon as I started reading up on the Sony models from that era (late 60s-mid 70s) I knew it was what I was looking for - quality but not a crazy price. Have been really impressed so far.

Although I said this is my first vintage receiver, I forgot I had a 1970s Trio back around 2000 that I picked up at a boot (yard) sale for practically nothing. It was great but eventually gave up and I switched to more modern stuff (at the time, mini disc!)… good to be back.

 

[G7065]

I would like to see a pic of the LED's that fit in there. I couldn't find any! Dowojo couldn't either.
Edit: Actually, mine is a str-7055, so maybe they're different.

These are the ones I pulled out of mine - they work fine apart from the wrong colour. Approx 30mm length, 6mm width. Hope it helps.

Edit: They are a few mm longer than the holders but fit fine.

 

[onwardjames]

my Proton D1200 amp

Which I one day hope to own myself. Those are so sweet, loved them back in the day, and hoped to own one then as well.

As soon as I started reading up on the Sony models from that era (late 60s-mid 70s) I knew it was what I was looking for - quality but not a crazy price. Have been really impressed so far.

In my experience, the Sony 7065a is like the Hobbits at the end of Return of the King.

As far as the SOUND of vintage receivers go, it bows to no one.