Sony TA-VE170 Surround Sound Amplifier

The Sony TA-VE170 is an integrated AV Amplifier with 5.1 channel surround sound, and built-in Pro Logic decoder. This amplifier is part of the Sony HT-K170 Home Cinema 5.1 Kit, which comes bundled with the speakers.

This amplifier has five powered channels, and each channel provides 25-watts of audio output power into an 8 ohm speaker. The frequency response is 10 Hz to 50 kHz.

This is a very slim amplifier -- measuring 430 mm × 274 mm × 64.5 mm -- with small surround speakers. This is ideal for those people who want a sound system that doesn't take up a large part of their living space. It is ideal for those minimalists who like a nice low profile design. However, technologically, all of this comes at a price. The amplifier does not have enough internal space for a passive cooling system and consequently it uses an active cooling design achieved by a small fan situated at the back of the amplifier.

I just love some of the design aspects of this amplifier. Built to a high quality standard on a single large black PCB, it uses high specification components. The case and chassis are metal.

You have these wonderful understated input selectors consisting of Video, TV, 2 channel DVD, and 5.1 channel DVD.

The sound quality of this amplifier is very good. The power output is based on the SI 18752 and SI 18751 IC modules, which are firmly fixed to the aluminium heatsink. The sound processor chip is the Mitsubishi M62447SP providing the electronic volume control functionality. There is also the LV1035M chip providing the Dolby Pro Logic Decoding.

The power output ICs are very hardy and generally last a long time even when shorted, however, in the hands of us Brits, anything is possible. If you have an amplifier that flashes PROTECT on the front LCD display, then chances are that the fan has failed. Normally the fan starts spinning for a short while when the amplifier starts. If the fan never starts or is noisy then this might be the place to look.

When I got this amplifier, I was surprised at the amount of dust it had. The built-in fan creates a negative pressure within the enclosure, which attracts all the dust inside. It normally settles on the PCB and blocks the small vent holes in the aluminium heatsink. I used a vacuum cleaner to remove all the dust from the PCB and the heatsink fan assembly. Unfortunately, I still could not see the components clearly; hence, the PCB received a spray clean with a PCB cleaner.

For the audio experts in the UK, you might be interested is seeing this design as it has a recessed master volume control.

When you turn the volume, the LCD displays a bar scale to indicate the volume level.

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