Sony ps-5170 (1974)

It powers up with a soft hum and settles into near-silence—this is the quiet confidence of a 1970s Sony that never needed to shout.

Overview

The Sony PS-5170 isn't flashy, but it's no slouch. It came out around 1974 as Sony's answer to the growing demand for reliable, mid-tier turntables that didn't need fully manual operation. It was priced at ¥33,800 at launch, sitting between budget decks and high-end ones. It's a belt-drive record player built for daily use, in the clean, functional design Sony favored in the mid-70s. Nothing exotic about it. It's capable, consistent and thoughtfully engineered.

The motor is a 4-pole hysteresis synchronous type, developed specifically for turntable use, which keeps speed stable and noise low. A double-side polished urethane belt connects it to the platter, so rotation is smooth with minimal vibration transfer. The 30 cm aluminum die-cast platter weighs 1.0 kg. That's nothing outrageous, but it's enough mass to resist wobble and hold inertia. It spins at 33 1/3 and 45 rpm, with a pitch control of ±3% for tweaking tempo or correcting slightly off-speed pressings.

The PS-5170 is semi-automatic, so it handles auto return and auto cut. You cue the record and drop the tonearm. When the track ends, it lifts the arm and returns it to the rest. It isn't full auto (no auto-start), which keeps the mechanism simpler. The removable acrylic dust cover keeps things tidy when not in use. The whole unit measures 450 x 175 x 395 mm and weighs 8kg.

It came with an IM-type cartridge, a moving magnet design by Sony, with a 0.5 mil diamond needle and an output voltage of 4mV. The cartridge is mounted on a standard headshell (SH-150), so owners aren't locked into Sony's ecosystem. Aftermarket replacements within the 4g to 12g weight range are fair game. The tonearm is a static balanced universal type, 216.5mm in effective length, with an overhang of 16.5mm and an offset angle of 23° 30'. Tracking error stays within +3° 05' to -1°, which is respectable for a mid-tier deck of this era. Needle pressure is adjustable from 0 to 3g, with 1.5g to 2.5g recommended (Sony suggests 2g).

The output cable is a low-capacity type designed to reduce high-frequency loss. That's a small thing, but it shows Sony was paying attention to signal integrity at this price. The tonearm also has an inside force canceler and an arm lifter, which make operation smoother and reduce wear.

Specifications

Manufacturer	Sony
Turntable	30 cm aluminum die-cast, 1.0 kg
Motor	4-pole hysteresis synchronous motor
Drive system	Belt drive
Number of revolutions	33 1/3, 45 rpm
Pitch control	±3%
Start-up characteristic	Within 1/2 Rotation (33 1/3rpm)
Wow flutter	0.08% WRMS or less
Signal-to-noise ratio	45 dB or more
Tone arm	Static balanced universal tone arm
Effective length	216.5mm
Total Length	295mm
Overhang	16.5mm
Tracking error angle	+ 3 ゜ 05', -1 ゜
Offset Angle	23 ° 30'
Needle pressure adjustment range	0 ~ 3g (0.5g scale)
Inside force cancel range	0 ~ 3g
Shell Weight	10.5g
Usable cartridge weight	4g ~ 12g
Cartridge	IM Type
Frequency characteristic	15 Hz to 22 kHz
Separation	25dB(1kHz) 23dB(10kHz)
Output voltage	4mV
Optimum load impedance	50k Ω
Compliance	10x10 -6 Cm / dyne (vertical, horizontal)
Vertical tracking angle	15 °
Needle pressure (optimum needle pressure)	1.5g ~ 2.5g (2g)
Needle	0.5 mil diamond needle
Cartridge Weight	6.8g
Exchange needle	ND-132GA
Power supply voltage	100 VAC, 50Hz/60Hz
Power consumption	8W
External dimensions	Width 450x Height 175x Depth 395 mm
Weight	8kg
Attachment	45 Rotation Adapter, Tracking error confirmation gauge (Sold Separately), Sony Oil OL-2KA, Head Shell SH-150

Key Features

Semi-Automatic Convenience

The semi-auto mechanism handles auto return and auto cut. Once the record finishes, the tonearm lifts and returns to its rest. You still have to lower it manually, which keeps the mechanism less complex and potentially more reliable over time. It suited listeners who didn't want full manual operation but weren't ready to pay for full-auto decks.

Thoughtful Tonearm Design

The static balanced universal tonearm has an effective length of 216.5mm and a precisely defined offset angle, engineered to minimize tracking error across the record surface. The inside force canceler counteracts the inward pull that can distort inner grooves, especially on longer albums. The arm lifter adds convenience and protects the stylus during setup. The headshell is standard, so cartridges can be swapped without proprietary parts. Just keep the total weight between 4g and 12g.

IM-Type Cartridge with Replaceable Stylus

Sony's IM-type cartridge delivers a frequency response from 15 Hz to 22 kHz, with 25dB of channel separation at 1kHz. It's not class-leading by modern standards, but for 1974 it was competitive. The 0.5 mil elliptical diamond stylus (model ND-132GA) is replaceable. Replacement styli are still available. mrstylus.com offers a "quality replica from Switzerland from current production" for 23.95 €, while sonimage.fr lists one for 48.90 €.

Low-Capacity Output Cable

Sony specified a low-capacity cable to reduce high-frequency loss. Some manufacturers cut corners here, and Sony didn't, even on a mid-range model. It helps preserve the cartridge's 4mV output.

Collectibility & Value

There is no verified data on current market prices for complete Sony PS-5170 units. However, replacement styli for the original cartridge are available from European vendors: mrstylus.com lists one for 23.95 € (20.13 € excl. VAT), describing it as a modern quality replica, while sonimage.fr offers a replacement for 48.90 €. These prices suggest that while the PS-5170 isn’t a high-demand collector’s item, it’s not entirely forgotten. The availability of parts means it can still be a functional turntable for someone who values 1970s Sony engineering over rarity or prestige.

Similar items on eBay

No exact Sony ps-5170 listings are live right now — these searches show current Sony and similar vintage audio gear on eBay:

Search Sony ps-5170 on eBay Browse Sony audio gear on eBay

As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.