Sony STR-VX10L

The STR-VX10L was an integrated amplifier with stereo AM/FM tuner manufactured by the Sony Corporation of Japan in approximately 1983. It was 20-watts per channel into 8-Ω speaker loads. More information can be found in the specifications page. Here are some of its main features.

• Phono amplifier stage with IC
• Quartz-locked digital synthesizer with PLL
• Direct access tuning
• Memory Preset tuning
• Automatic and manual tuning
• Memory back-up utilising batteries

Review

Audiophiles usually scoff at amplifiers with slider volume controls; however this unit has some very good features that they would not know about. The power amplifier IC used in this unit is the Sanyo STK463, which is a hybrid IC that sounds wonderful. Anyone who repairs amplifiers will know that these ICs are no longer manufactured, and very difficult and expensive to source. Almost any amplifier with the Sanyo Hybrid IC tends to sound great and consequently their price tends to be high. This amplifier can accept two banks of speakers, and improper impedances can lead to overloading and damage at high volumes. Hence, survivor models are always dwindling every year.

The FM tuner circuitry is highly evolved and here they use the LA1231 for the FM/IF detection. For the FM multiplex they are using the LA3390. The separation and sound quality are extremely good with a high-quality antenna. There is also a lovely bright fluorescent display that displays the frequency.

Price/eBay

Pre-used units are usually for sale on eBay, and a unit in good working condition can cost as little as thirty to forty pounds. With this amplifier, you get wonderful Japanese build quality, and a unit in mint condition in its original box with accessories and manual can cost well over one hundred pounds on a good day. A burnt amplifier with sound only on one channel, or perhaps no sound at all is not worth much. This is because the STK Hybrid IC is expensive and time consuming to replace.

I usually buy broken amplifiers however this time I managed to get a great bargain with this one as it was fully working, and came with a user manual. I was very pleased as it was packed extremely well and it came in one piece. In the following pages of this multi-page article you can see the inside electronic and mechanical engineering.

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