Sony's flagship FM tuner of the late 1970s. It was built for sensitivity, stability and stereo separation.
Overview
The ST-9000F was designed to match amplifiers like the TA-N9000. It sat in Sony's premium separates series and was built to compete with flagship tuners from Yamaha, Kenwood, and Pioneer. It has a PLL (Phase-Locked Loop) multiplex decoder for low distortion and stable stereo imaging. Reviewers and owners praise how clearly it pulls in weak signals. They describe the sound as clean, detailed, and authoritative.
Specifications
| Frequency Range | 87.5 to 108 MHz |
| Usable Sensitivity | 10.8 dBF (1.5 µV) |
| 50 dB Quieting Sensitivity | Mono: 15.2 dBF (2.5 µV), Stereo: 37.2 dBF (20 µV) |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio | Mono: 90 dB, Stereo: 85 dB |
| Total Harmonic Distortion | Mono: 0.05%, Stereo: 0.08% |
| Capture Ratio | 1.0 dB |
| Selectivity | 90 dB |
| Image Rejection | 95 dB |
| IF Rejection | 110 dB |
| Spurious Response Rejection | 100 dB |
| AM Suppression | 65 dB |
| Stereo Separation | 50 dB at 1 kHz |
| Frequency Response | 30 Hz to 15,000 Hz +0.2 dB, -0.5 dB |
| Output Voltage | 1.5 V |
| Outputs | Tape out |
| Tuning scale | Fluorescent |
| Power requirements | 120V AC |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 480 x 150 x 400 mm |
| Weight | 15.5 kg |
Design
The tuner uses a 5-gang tuning capacitor for high selectivity and image rejection. The front panel has a fluorescent tuning scale, a large illuminated signal strength meter and a center-channel tuning meter. It has both variable and fixed audio output level controls, a muting circuit to kill inter-station noise, and a "Direct" button. The cabinet is wood, made to match the other components in Sony's high-end series.
Market
Working units in good cosmetic condition sell for $800 to $1,500 USD. The usual problems are failing electrolytic capacitors in the power supply and decoder sections, which can cause distortion or loss of stereo separation. The meter and dial lamps also burn out and need replacing. The tuning capacitor is sturdy, but it may get noisy if it isn't cleaned periodically.
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Related Models
- Sony STR 7055 (1972–1976)
- Sony SAT-333ESG
- Sony ST 1950
- Sony st-3950 (1978-1980)
- Sony st-4950
- Kenwood KR 3200 (1973-1975)
- Kenwood KR 3400 (1977-1979)
- Kenwood KR 4070 (1977-1979)
- Kenwood KR 4200 (1975-1977)
- Marantz 1515 (1976-1978)