Any experience with a Sony ST-5100?

L

L'wood

Active Member
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
 
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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.
 
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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?
 
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 :)
 
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$.
 
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.
 
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
 
Sony 5100

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









Holst said:
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?
Click to expand...
 
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
 
Sony ST-5100 and TA1144

Holst said:
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?
Click to expand...
Hey Holst
Old thread, but I just picked up a 5100, based on your enthusiasm, and the matching TA-1144 amp. Neat mid-century industrial design. The trim reminds me of a Sony reel-to-reel I once had.
Have not yet tried these out. Figure they may need a little work (recapping) and a check-out by a pro.
Very little info on these. You have been the best source of info on the tuner. Know anything about the amp?
Kent
 

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Hindsight being 20/20 I was probably a bit over enthusiastic about it's sonic signature...it's better than many, probably a result of it's simplistic approach....as it was one of the early tuners I listened too when getting back into the tuner hobby.

Someone was selling one on Audiogon a few months ago for a few hundred dollars, comparing it to the ST-5000, I certainly hope the buyer didn't pay his asking price...although Karma will take care of the seller, eventually.

I do like the look of the matching Amp/integrated.
 
L'wood said:
Someone was selling one on Audiogon a few months ago for a few hundred dollars, comparing it to the ST-5000, I certainly hope the buyer didn't pay his asking price...although Karma will take care of the seller, eventually.
Click to expand...

Yeah--while doing my search for info, I found one here: http://www.vintageaudioonline.com/sony-st-5100-tuner/ The guy posted a description of the 5000. Nice photos though.
Wonder if Holst still loves his. Have not fired up the set yet but a recap may be in the future.
Kent
 
I remember the tuner and amp. A really nice pair for those non-critical persons looking for something just a bit better than the average mid-fi listening experince. Sadly, the looks were a bit of a turnoff. I have the later replacement system that was looked better and was somewhat better in preformance. You bought these Sony pairs for sound as the competition for the same money had more gizmos and power but generally lacked in where the performance counted, the sound.

The 5100 is a competent tuner but not in the league of the 5000.
 
JKent said:

Yeah--while doing my search for info, I found one here: http://www.vintageaudioonline.com/sony-st-5100-tuner/ The guy posted a description of the 5000. Nice photos though.
Wonder if Holst still loves his. Have not fired up the set yet but a recap may be in the future.
Kent
Click to expand...
I saw this and realized I hadn't turned it on is some time. I've got a tube tuner in the same rack. I also have a neon "on the air" light that causes the 5100 to buzz a bit, the tube unit isn't bothered. Yes it sounds just fine, (neon sign is off) actually better than the one I've had on. I did find a copy of High Fidelity magazine a few year back with a positive review of it. I read what I wrote (seven years ago!!!!!) Sound good, looks only a mother could love and it did benefit from a tune up by Mike at http://www.radioxtuners.com/
 
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