Sony TA-2000 (1968–1971)

Name: Sony TA-2000
Brand: Sony

The Sony TA-2000 is a professional-grade control amplifier (preamplifier) built from 1968 to 1971. HiFI/Stereo (November 1968, p.34) called it an extraordinarily flexible preamplifier, perhaps unequalled in versatility by any other model then available. The same review noted that the tone controls gave generous boost or cut without noticeably altering response in the 300-4,000 Hz region, so the sound never turned unnatural.

It was a big, all-silver unit. It weighed 9 kg and measured roughly 400 × 149 × 318 mm. An optional TAC-1 wooden cabinet was available. Inputs were phono (two channels, one with a low-impedance setting for moving-coil cartridges), tape head, tuner, aux, and a front-panel microphone input. Outputs were pre-out, line out, center channel out, and a headphone jack. The phono section had a switched low-level input (0.06 mV / 200 Ω). It could handle low-output moving-coil cartridges without an external step-up transformer, which was a notable feature for the era.

Key specifications from the factory data sheet:

Power consumption: 10 W (audio-database.com); 23 W (hifi-wiki.com — likely includes the later TA-2000F variant)
Dimensions (W×H×D): 400 × 145–149 × 315–318 mm (slight variation between sources)
Weight: 9.0 kg
Frequency response (line inputs): 12 Hz – 150 kHz +0/–3 dB
Distortion (THD at 1 kHz, line inputs): 0.03% at rated output
Signal-to-noise ratio (line inputs): ≥90 dB (A-weighted)
Phono input sensitivity (normal): 1.2 mV / 47 kΩ; low-level phono: 0.06 mV / 200 Ω
Phono RIAA deviation: within ±0.5 dB
Tone controls: Bass ±10 dB at 100 Hz, Treble ±10 dB at 10 kHz, 2 dB step, 11-position switching (CR type)
Filters: High filter 9 kHz (12 dB/oct), Low filter 50 Hz (12 dB/oct)
Semiconductors: 31 transistors, 9 diodes
Voltage: 100/117/220/240 VAC switchable, 50/60 Hz

A later revision, the TA-2000F, was built from 1971 to 1976 with minor spec changes (higher power consumption, slightly different input/output arrangements). Its Japanese list price was ¥128,000, against ¥85,000 for the original TA-2000.