TC-152SD Audio Board

The Sony TC-152SD Printed Circuit Board (PCB) consists of a high quality mask, together with conventional components. There are two boards, where one performs the function of the preamplifier circuitry, whilst the other is for power supply and the speaker power amplifier circuitry.

PCB Soldering

The soldering is to a very high standard, and I just love the shiny solder, as it seems to be holding well.

Toshiba TA7122 IC

Here is a photograph of the TA7122 preamplifier IC by Toshiba. There are two of these on the board.

Recording Switches

Since the playback circuit is very different from the recording circuit, these long switches with multiple contacts reconfigure the circuits. This way both circuit configurations may use the same components, thus saving space and cost.

Some problems may manifest when the contacts in the switch make poor electrical connection. The unit may produce whistling noises, or one side of the channel may have a low volume level. The solution is to use a good quality electrical contact cleaner. You will need to position the unit upright so that the excess cleaning fluid drips away without falling on the drive belts, and rubber wheels.

Components and Wiring

A string neatly ties all the bundles of wires, which is only possible manually. This type of work takes great skill and attention to detail.

The component side is very colourful, as the conventional components had a colour code. They are all good quality and reliable as you can see. The TA7122 preamplifier audio chip is IC201.

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