Sony PS-B80
A fully automatic direct-drive turntable with Sony's pioneering Biotracer electronic tonearm system
Overview
The Sony PS-B80 is a high-end automatic turntable. It is the first Sony to use the Biotracer electronic tonearm. Sony marketed it as a "Crystal Lock D. D. Full Auto Player System." Playback is fully automated, and the sound is clean and tidy.
Specifications
| Wow and flutter | 0.02%wrms |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 78dB(DIN-B) |
| Tone Arm Effective length | 235mm |
| Tone Arm Total Length | 325mm |
| Needle pressure adjustment range | 0.5g ~ 3.0g |
| Shell dead weight | 11.0g |
| Usable cartridge weight limit (including shell weight) | 12g ~ 23g (No Auxiliary Weight) 23g ~ 34g (Auxiliary Weight Used) |
| External dimensions | Width 500x Height 175x Depth 430 mm |
| Weight | Approximately 15 kg |
| Attachment | 45 Rotation Adapter, Auxiliary weight, DRIVER Head shell, Cartridge mounting screw |
| Turntable | 32 cm Aluminum Die Cast |
| Start-up characteristic | Within 1/4 Rotation (at 33 1/3rpm) |
| Tonearm type | 'Biotracer' electronic tonearm |
Design
The Biotracer tonearm uses speed and position sensors paired with a linear motor in both the vertical and horizontal axes to control arm movement. A 128 word x4-bit microcomputer handles full auto operation, needle pressure adjustment, and inner force cancellation. The system suppresses low-frequency resonance within 3 dB regardless of cartridge type, and it improves crosstalk performance. The arm is J-shaped, made from a special high-rigidity aluminum alloy. The neck cylinder and bearing are one integrated structure, so there are no loose joints to cause resonance. It uses a Longspan bearing with a hardened cemented carbide pivot shaft for high rigidity and minimal play. The platter is driven by a slotless linear BSL motor for smooth, quiet rotation. A magnet-disk velocity detection system generates 512 waves, and a multi-gap head averages the signal for precise servo control. A crystal lock system with phase control stabilizes speed. The arm also has electronic anti-skating, a digital needle pressure display, built-in muting to prevent startup thump, and auto-repeat. A photoelectric record size selector handles 30 cm and 17 cm records, and the needle will not drop if no record is present.
Context
The PS-B80 was Sony's first turntable with the Biotracer electronic tonearm. It was designed as a top-of-the-line direct-drive model in the late 1970s.
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