Sony ST-SA5ES (1996)
A high-end FM/AM stereo tuner from Sony's ES series, built for precision reception and low noise.
Overview
The Sony ST-SA5ES is a stereo FM/AM tuner released in 1996 as part of Sony's ES (Elevated Standard) series, the company's high-fidelity line. It has a 40-station random preset memory, station name display, and RDS for receiving radio data. The design is aimed at signal purity. A pure circuit mode shuts off the microcomputer after tuning to cut noise interference. It comes with a wireless remote control (RM-J301) and a shielded AM loop antenna for improved reception in weak-signal areas.
Specifications
| Practical sensitivity | 0.9 μV (10.3 dBf) |
| Frequency characteristic | 15 Hz to 15 kHz ± 0.2 dB |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | mono:100dB stereo:92dB |
| Total harmonic distortion rate (1 kHz) | mono:0.004% stereo:0.0075% |
| Stereo separation | wide:70dB |
| Accessory function | FM/AM 40 station random preset |
| Station name display function | Yes |
| Multiprocess memory | Yes |
| Cartone Power | 100 VAC, 50Hz/60Hz |
| Power consumption | 20W |
| External dimensions | Width 430 x Height 100 x Depth 360 mm |
| Weight | 6.3 kg |
| Attachment | Wireless Remote Control RM-J301 |
Design
The ST-SA5ES uses a radial power supply layout. Power runs from the source to each circuit block by the shortest possible path to minimize interference. Wiring between circuit blocks is kept short to preserve signal integrity. The heat sink gets fluorine processing to reduce vibration, and an eccentric insulator isolates mechanical resonance further. All tuned circuits have temperature compensation. The shielded AM loop antenna is there for low-signal environments.
Context
The ST-SA5ES was introduced as part of Sony's ES series and positioned as a high-performance stereo tuner. It was considered one of Sony's top-tier analog tuners, noted for its solid build and advanced reception capabilities. It supports RDS and tunes precisely with minimal noise impact thanks to its pure circuit design.
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