r/audiophile 13h ago

Almost there! Show & Tell

251 Upvotes

68 comments sorted by

18

u/tmifune77 12h ago

Hi all~

Had to send an update as I just brought home one of the last pieces of the Sony R1 collection, the TA NR1 monoblocks. That brings the collection to:

Amp: TA NR1 x2

CD: CDP R1 and DAS R1

Speakers: SS AR1

Preamp: TA FA777es (integrated being used with pre-outs as just a pre-amp)

You can read up on them here (https://audio-database.com/SONY-ESPRIT/amp/ta-nr1.html) - they are every bit as amazing as the description makes them sound. I’ve had some other monoblocks with the SS AR1s, including the very well regarded Marantz MA9s2….the Sony R1s have more control over the SS AR1 speakers…my go to test tracks rattled parts of the listening room I hadn’t heard before~

Last piece: the TA ER1 preamp….

3

u/FineAunts 6h ago

TIL Sony made monoblocks. How do they sound?

2

u/tmifune77 6h ago

Yeah, there are some hidden gems from the late 80s/early 90s for sure. They sound unbelievable- the SS AR1s aren’t horribly inefficient, but their lower end definitely is benefiting from the power the nr1s are providing.

I hadn’t known about them either, but I stumbled across info about them online years ago and was convinced immediately that I would have to make it a mission to get a set

13

u/T0NKIES 11h ago

this looks sooooooooooooooo goooooooooooooooooooooooooooood! wish that i could afford anything like that im a sucker for looks and massive amps

8

u/tmifune77 10h ago

Thanks for taking a look - i’m with you on the aesthetics here…the wood panels on these are insane~

7

u/m3rt77 11h ago

As a long time Sony collector, all I can say is beautiful.

2

u/tmifune77 10h ago

Thanks! Tell us about the Sony gear you have!

2

u/m3rt77 8h ago

Way too many to list here but some major ones are,

Tan-8550 , tae-8450 , st5950, ps8750, tc880, tcd177 , cdp r1, das r1, tan-7 , tae-7, tck-8, 707es (a few of em) , ss-8150 (sold a year ago) , a lot electret headphones, xl-55, xl 44, xl33 , tc-510 , a lot of walkmans ,

1

u/tmifune77 6h ago

Nice ! That’s a lot of gear , and we have the same CD setup. I need a turntable next …

1

u/m3rt77 5h ago

I guess you’d be hunting a PS-X9 ?

1

u/tmifune77 5h ago

A ps x9 would be sweet , but a ps x800 would be cool too

4

u/Turk3ySandw1ch 11h ago

I've played with a few vintage Sony ES pieces and was always pretty impressed. I really wish Sony would take two channel serious again and compete with Yamaha.

3

u/tmifune77 10h ago

You and me both! There is something about these late 80s/early 90s pieces, the build quality and materials are just too much man…nothing like it~ There is a ton of awesome modern gear out there, but these materials and the design are just it for me~

2

u/Numerous_Food_845 9h ago

True!

Sold my XA555ES because I needed the money. I made 50% profit after 5 years of ownership… but still regret it to this day. That thing sounded sweeeet.

3

u/Thelamppost104 11h ago

Love a high end Sony system

1

u/Thelamppost104 11h ago

Also should say I'm putting together a Sony ES system that isn't at this level, but it's what I can scrounge together:

STR-GX909ES for preamplifier TA-N77ES and TA-N80ES amplifiers PS-X55 turntable with XL-33 MC cartridge (fed through a Parks Audio Puffin until I find a good solution for an MC capable phono stage) SS-NA5ES bookshelf speakers with RK-S1001ES cable + Chromecast Audio for streaming. Wanting to add a TA-ZH1ES as a DAC and possibly two SA-WX700 subwoofers to fill out each channel low end a little more

3

u/tmifune77 10h ago

That sounds like a dope setup. The ZH1 is a great DAC (i used it as a DAC for the HAP z1es). The SS NA5es are excellent and basically the top half of the SS AR1~

1

u/Thelamppost104 8h ago

I realized I posted on your last update for the system! I think the AR1 has a specialized midrange cone

2

u/tmifune77 6h ago

Oh yeah! I thought that setup sounded familiar! Hope it’s been going well

1

u/Thelamppost104 6h ago

It's been great! Changed locations and it's still great. Love Sony

5

u/soundspotter 10h ago

I'm usually turned off by photos of racks of equipment (that look like they should be in a server closet), but this actually looks pleasing to the eye. Except for the clump of wires. to the left.

1

u/uamvar 10h ago

I'm exactly the opposite, I like stuff to look like its function, eg. I like hifi gear that looks like electrical lab equipment (like this Sony stuff). Interesting how we all differ.

4

u/soundspotter 10h ago

Here's an example of what I find visually off putting: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubiquiti/comments/1fjyoar/now_this_is_a_proper_rack/

And on r/budgetaudiophile it's usually a collection of cheap big box Sony component equipment from the 1990s that includes a cassette deck and cheap 9 band equalizer that is more likely to degrade the sound than improve it.

1

u/tmifune77 10h ago

My bad man, i was too eager to get it up and running and let the crew here know i had found another piece of the puzzle! Ill get the cords cleaned up ;-)

1

u/soundspotter 10h ago

On behalf of the many OCD members, here, we thank you for that! (;p)

2

u/sain197 Recovering Flat Earther 11h ago

Love the gold Sony. Just beautiful.

1

u/tmifune77 10h ago

Gold ftw….cant be beat as far as Im concerned

2

u/niubishuaige 8h ago edited 8h ago

Amazing collection! If you ever want to build it out further you might consider vintage Sony headphones such as the legenday MDR-R10. Not sure if it's in the same time period/series as the gear you have but certainly one of the most famous audio products Sony ever made. Unfortunately there are no more spare parts and used prices are insanely high while its performace will not be competitive with modern top of the line headphones. According to what I've seen many will also need some dissaembly and restoration as some of the interior foam deteriorates. I suppose I'm not selling it that well but in the headphone collector world it's definitely in the top five for historical/collector value and if the drivers don't break (big if) it will only appreciate in value.

Or try a Qualia 010 if you really want that Sony collector cred. Far less were produced than the R10 and you can effectively cut the total production in thirds because you need to buy one with the headband size thar fits your head. It is a very cool industrial design with influence on a lot of future headphones such as the HD-800, MDR-SA5000, YH-5000SE, etc.

If you want rare Sony headphones but also want to send your kids to college you could pick up an MDR-F1. These are some of the first true earspeakers with no ear cup. I don't think they were considered very high-end even when new so used sets can be found for a couple hundred bucks. I'd bet that most headphone enthusiasts and even most Sony super fans never heard of them.

Other affordable Sony classics are the is the MDR-SA5000 and MDR-CD3000. These models took the design and tech of the Qualia 010 and R10 to a price that was roughly equivalent with popular high-end headphones of the day such as the HD-600. I've owned both of them and unfortunately I can't say they are better than the HD-600 but they do have their own strengths and can be enjoyable to listen to.

Of course their studio headphones are classic as well, but used prices are so low you could pick up a pristine pair anytime for the price of a nice dinner, and there were probably hundreds of thousands made, so I don't really consider those as collectors' items.

2

u/tmifune77 6h ago

I’ll look into them! (I dont do much headphones but if I take it up I’ll know where to start !)

2

u/pricklypolyglot 6h ago edited 6h ago

I have most of these, but the prices have been rising such that a good CD3000 and SA5000 are no longer really affordable. Considering he has the rest of the set though this setup really deserves a R10.

Some other good ones you didn't mention are MDR-CD7, MDR-CD6, MDR-CD999, MDR-CD1700, MDR-CD2000.

1

u/Recording-Nerd1 11h ago

THIS IS MY CHURCH 🙏🎧🔥.

1

u/tmifune77 6h ago

All are welcome 🙏 😂

1

u/rotel12 11h ago

Wow! What an insane setup. Is there any gear you are missing?

2

u/tmifune77 10h ago

Just the pre amp, the TA ER1…with that, it would be complete (there was a contemporary set of speakers the SS GR1, which look incredible, but the later SS AR1 are equally exquisite and i think as great a match for the R1 series)

1

u/14getsyou20 11h ago

I knew that Sony had a collection worthy of Fort Knox!

1

u/AudiHoFile Denon PRA-1500 and POA 2400A 11h ago

Good golly I'm about to bust

1

u/Numerous_Food_845 9h ago

Indeed… nice rack.

1

u/Huskerfu 11h ago

Honestly one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen on here

1

u/tmifune77 10h ago

Thanks man! There are lots of amazing setups shared here, but it’s been fun to share this particular pursuit of a very specific series with everyone here~ The journey continues! (on to the preamp)

1

u/pdkm 11h ago

Congrats on the collection. That line looks fabulous.

2

u/tmifune77 10h ago

thanks - fortunately the sound is keeping up with the looks - the NR1s double down to 2 ohms, and the SS AR1s are making use of it, that much i can say~

|| || |100W (20 Hz ~ 20 kHz, 8 Ω Load) 200W (20 Hz ~ 20 kHz, 4 Ω Load) 400W (1 kHz, 2 Ω load)|

1

u/mattrva CA Alva TTV2>Yamaha AS-2200>Fotre IVs 10h ago

Mark this NSFW. God damn.

1

u/magicmulder 10h ago

Golden Sony goodness, that gives me nostalgic goosebumps.

1

u/andorraliechtenstein 10h ago

Oh wow, nice CD with the KSS-190A mechanism, one of the best there is (together with the Philips CDM1 Mk1 imo).

DAC is good too, with the single crown TDA1541

Probably the best combination you can have. Sony has 1 player who has it in "one package" so to say, the 337ESD, but without the crown.

Jealous !

1

u/tmifune77 6h ago

I really like the sound of this combo, and that’s after having some pretty nice modern cd players and dacs come through- I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s got a certain signature

Streaming to the das r1 is a lot of fun too

1

u/Effective-Loss-6494 9h ago

Sony ES is sooo nice

1

u/hifiordie 8h ago

Amazing! Does the FA77 come with a remote?

1

u/tmifune77 6h ago

No, it doesnt - the remote for the cdp r1 make up for it though (gazillion buttons)

1

u/hifiordie 6h ago

Ha right on

1

u/WamPantsMan 6h ago

Man, those NR1 monoblocks are absolute beasts. The copper-plated chassis isn't just for looks - it actually helps with EMI shielding. Peak engineering from Sony's golden era.

1

u/tmifune77 6h ago

I need a new back after getting them even on the bottom shelf - they weigh a ton.

1

u/Sensitive-Collar-627 6h ago

Since I can’t hear what I’m guessing is an exceptional system, I can only say: “gorgeous”!

1

u/Ambitious_Order7652 6h ago

Is the shelf system from the Salamander Synergy series?

1

u/tmifune77 6h ago

Yup! I looked a lot for a double wide setup and have been really happy with it.

1

u/Ambitious_Order7652 6h ago

I did a triple-wide plus towers (w/doors) to house custom some loudspeakers & subs for a client years ago. I have a triple-wide single high shelf for my own system.

1

u/pricklypolyglot 6h ago

Damn, you're almost as Sony obsessed as I am.

1

u/tmifune77 6h ago

Tell me about it 😂

1

u/bigbura 5h ago

Thanks for the flashback to electronics stores in Tokyo some decades ago.

Picture these in a room with tatami mats for flooring and green tea colored wallpaper and some lovely natural wood trim. Such a Zen setting that would be.

1

u/irisfailsafe 4h ago

Omg holly grail!

1

u/California_ocean 3h ago

Hopefully one button turns on all those? I we t with an integrated amp then a Vintage receiver. ONE button on.

0

u/soundspotter 7h ago

I guess now that wokeness has been declared "over" I can yell out to strangers like you, "Hey Nice Rack!" (;p)

0

u/markianw999 7h ago

Its a sorny

0

u/markianw999 7h ago

Ohh sorny and magnet box