Any experience with a Sony ST-5100?

[L'wood]

I picked this up by mistake actually, and it has an unbelievable sound. I haven't seen one on ebay in months, and it weighs a ton. No bells, just a simple face.

Does anyone have any info or experience with this unit? It was sold in late 1970/early 1971.

L' Wood

[Holst]

It hit the market in 1970.

I own one, it makes the radio stations I work at sound like they are in the next room. Actually, better, the studio monitors at work aren't as good as what I have at home.

It's a four gang tuner with six! ceramic filters. Built like a tank, but just as stylish. And so stable, it never, ever drifts. Tune in a station and it stays tuned in.

It picks up a wide swath of bandwidth though. I'm adding a second tuner to my system to try to pick up 90.1 in St Cloud (90 mile south east) behind the local 100 kw 90.7. Plus I have 2 other 100kw transmitter and a 30kw within 1.5 miles of me, and I live at low level by a swamp so it's job is cut out for it.

Sound quality is great!!! Not a DXing unit.

[Yamaha B-2]

L'wood - post a pic.

[Holst]

Here's pics, inside and out. The inside is when I first opened it. It's not so dusty now. The picture could have been better. I got my new vintage Technics tuner the other day. It still can't touch this thing. So it's sitting upstairs with a Marantz and a Luxman. None of the three others can pick up half the stations this Sony does. The Luxman sounds about as good. The 25 dollar Sony stands undefeated!! OK, it's a runty little shootout but as stated above, tuners do face a challenge in my neighborhood, and with an Antennacraft FM6 and a rotator I can pick up Minneapolis/St Paul, The Dakotas and Wisconsin stations. Sadly, their isn't a lot worth listening to, where did all this FM talk crap come from?

[axel]

Holst,

the 5100 was the smaller of the tuner separates in Sony's lineups then ; above it were the 5150, 5130 and ultimate 5000/5000F. 1970 MSRP was 219$ ; optional TAC-9 cabinet.

glad to hear it sounds good :)

[axel]

precision: the 5100 came before the 5130 and 5150 hit the shelves in '70 (japan)/71 (elsewhere) - the lit' says the 5100 is a "small 5000F", the latter costing 450$.

[Yamaha B-2]

Interesting tuna. Have never seen a 5100 before. Will have to keep my eye out for one.

[Holst]

The 5000 and 5130 were 5 gangers, the 5100 and 5150 had four gangs. the 5000 and 5150 used four pin ceramic filters, the 5130 and 5100 used three pin types. the 5130 had 8, the 5100 had 6. Calling the 5100 a little 5000 is a big compliment.
I'd say the 5100's three biggest strengths are sound quality, it never drifts and the fact that it's not over powered by close transmitters. The station that I'm on right now is at 103.5 (yes, I'm goofing off at work) and it even comes in on the speakers on one of my computers and is the source of a lot of noise on most radios in my neighborhood.
The 5100 stays quiet.

[L'wood]

This one might have to go up to Mike for some recapping and alignment as it sounds good with the old electrics, so I can't imagine what it would be brought up to this century! Not a bad pickup for 1.00 (except the seller whacked me with $30 shipping!).

L'wood

[caseyconnect]

Does anyone have photos, I just won an auction on ebay for a st 5100, I pruchased because of members saying how good the sound was.
The photos at the auction were not very good.......thanks









Here's pics, inside and out. The inside is when I first opened it. It's not so dusty now. The picture could have been better. I got my new vintage Technics tuner the other day. It still can't touch this thing. So it's sitting upstairs with a Marantz and a Luxman. None of the three others can pick up half the stations this Sony does. The Luxman sounds about as good. The 25 dollar Sony stands undefeated!! OK, it's a runty little shootout but as stated above, tuners do face a challenge in my neighborhood, and with an Antennacraft FM6 and a rotator I can pick up Minneapolis/St Paul, The Dakotas and Wisconsin stations. Sadly, their isn't a lot worth listening to, where did all this FM talk crap come from?

[L'wood]

I'll try and upload a couple when I get on my pc.
It's not a bad sounding tuner for sparrow feed.

L'wood