Sony 250-A (c. 1966–1967)
The Sony 250-A - also written TC-250A in Sony's own advertising - was a solid-state stereo tape deck from the mid-1960s, sold in the US through Superscope. Sony's ads called it the "Perfect Playmate" and priced it under $149.50, which made it the most affordable of the six tape systems in their "Six ways to go stereo" spread (HiFI-Stereo, January 1967, p.34; Audio, January 1967, p.47). It recorded and played back four-track stereophonic and monophonic programs, using a single in-line (stacked) quarter-track record/play head, type PP30-420. The electronics were fully transistorized, with six 2SD64s in the signal path and a pair each of 2SB382 and 2SB383 outputs (Studio Sound, October 1967, p.5).
Period reviews were few but generally kind. F. C. Judd put the TC-250 A through its paces for Amateur Tape Recorder (March 1966, p.32) as a stereo tape deck. A HiFI-Stereo test (January 1966, p.33) found that at 7½ ips the recorder was audibly transparent except for a slight roll-off at the very top. At 3¾ ips quality stayed quite good, though some brilliance was lost. The same review measured the built-in stereo amplifier at a maximum continuous 3.2 watts per channel. That is fine for casual listening through its own speakers, but the report was candid that it was not high fidelity, and the modest output limited the choice of external speakers.
What survives of the record is thin - mostly advertising and that one test report. Known specs:
- Type: 4-track stereo/mono solid-state tape deck
- Head: in-line (stacked) quarter-track, PP30-420
- Transistors: 2SD64 ×6, 2SB382 ×2, 2SB383 ×2
- Built-in stereo amplifier: 3.2 W/ch continuous (period review)
- Original price: under $149.50
- Weight: Sony's ad listed an approximate figure, but the surviving scan cuts off before the number
The Archive would welcome a manual, service sheet, or a clearer scan.
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