SONY TA-212 in need of fettling

[Jac Hawk]

As some of you know i've just bought this amp, for it's looks more than anything


Ok so from the front look at the lurvly VU's
But from the back and inside





A serious case of "all fur coat and no knickers"
I've given it a whirl and the sounds not bad..... but could I improve it? there's plenty of space under the lid

[Rare Bird]

[istari_knight]

Service manual can be found here : http://elektrotanya.com/sony_ta-212.pdf/download.html

There will be some form of bias adjustment that you should return to factory spec. Also check DC offset on the speaker outputs if possible - To do either of these you will need a DVM.

On the restoration / upgrade side it could do with a recap, looking at the internals I reckon you could do it for under a tenner. Double the reservoir capacitors size, bypass them with MKP caps, change the diodes for something slightly beefier (don't think I've ever seen any so small!) change the input caps for MKP, fit binding posts in place of those "things." The thermal compound on the output transistors probably needs changing by now not to mention cleaning all pots/switches...

Its never going to be a world beater but looks to be in nice condition so would make a nice little project.

Happy to advise further & could help you out with some parts if you decide to do anything to it.

[Jac Hawk]

hmmmm that site wont let me download the manual

[Jac Hawk]

you don't approve then mate

[istari_knight]

hmmmm that site wont let me download the manual

PM me your email & I'll send it to you.

[Macca]

There's not much inside it is their? Wheres the tranny?

[Jac Hawk]

Thanks for the email James, looks really simple which is great, and 12w per channel output explains the lack of overall beefyness I was quite shocked when I saw the output figures cos to be honest it seems to pack a bigger punch than they would suggest, anyway 1st thing is to replace all the RCA and speaker connectors on the back and give it a good clean, then i'll look at the smoothing caps and rectifier

[Jac Hawk]

There's not much inside it is their? Wheres the tranny?

it's a one of those new fangled invisible ones mate

[istari_knight]

Thanks for the email James, looks really simple which is great, and 12w per channel output explains the lack of overall beefyness I was quite shocked when I saw the output figures cos to be honest it seems to pack a bigger punch than they would suggest, anyway 1st thing is to replace all the RCA and speaker connectors on the back and give it a good clean, then i'll look at the smoothing caps and rectifier

Top man, you cant beat saving "legacy" equipment & giving it a new lease of life.

Also, don't forget : Thats a 70s 12wpc which today I reckon would be around 30 From when men were men & watts were watts!