Sony STR-6800SD
The STR-6800SD shows up in the period record mostly through Sony's own advertising and a manufacturer's-spec page in Audio. It was a stereo AM/FM receiver, the most powerful of a three-model line with the STR-5800SD and STR-4800SD. It was rated at 80 watts per channel RMS into 8 ohms from 20 Hz to 20 kHz at 0.1% THD. Sony's ads in High Fidelity (August 1976, p.19) said the specs were stated conservatively and leaned on the company's "proven reliability." The same advertising grouped the three receivers at suggested retail prices of $565, $450, and $350 respectively. An earlier 1976 ad had listed the 6800SD at $500.
Two features were unusual for a receiver of its era: built-in Dolby noise reduction and MOS FET circuitry. The MOS FET circuitry was advertised as giving a wide dynamic range. The Dolby was meant to let you take advantage of Dolby FM broadcasts. Audio (August 1977, p.66) reproduced the manufacturer's specifications in its test-report pages. FM usable sensitivity is 1.7 µV (9.8 dBf) mono, muting threshold is 5 µV (19.2 dBf), sub-carrier/SCA rejection is 60 dB, and input sensitivity is 2.5 mV phono / 250 mV high level.
Known specs from the period record:
- Power: 80 W/ch RMS into 8 ohms, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.1% THD
- FM usable sensitivity: 1.7 µV (9.8 dBf) mono
- FM muting threshold: 5 µV (19.2 dBf)
- Sub-carrier & SCA rejection: 60 dB
- Input sensitivity: phono 2.5 mV; high level 250 mV
- Built-in Dolby noise reduction; MOS FET circuitry
Almost nothing else is documented. The archive has no service manual details, production dates, or independent lab measurements yet.
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