Technics ST-8080 (ca. 1977)

Name: Technics ST-8080
Brand: Technics

The Technics ST-8080 is an analog FM/MW stereo tuner, built circa 1977 (the date is approximate, per hifi-wiki.de). It was commonly paired with the SU-8080 integrated amplifier as a matching stack, though it works fine alone. Documentation is thin. No original retail price, confirmed production years, or formal market context have surfaced. What the record does show comes mostly from owner reports and a single spec listing.

Here are the specs from hifi-wiki.de. FM sensitivity is 1.5 µV, signal-to-noise ratio is 70 dB, total harmonic distortion is 0.3%, and frequency response is 20-20,000 Hz. Power consumption is listed at 30 W. Dimensions are 43 x 14 x 33 cm (WxHxD) and it weighs 6.3 kg. It covers FM and MW (AM) bands. The "UKW / MW" listing confirms AM is present, and so does at least one owner.

Owner accounts fill in some detail. One reviewer on Reddit found the FM section sensitive enough for urban DXing, with an accurate signal meter and a useful center-tune indicator. The muting threshold is fixed and set a bit high. The same reviewer said the analog tuning knob has a slow, inertial feel, not as fluid as a high-end Dual or Revox. The sound was called neutral but slightly "dry," lacking the tube-like warmth of a Marantz 2100 without sacrificing detail. On Audiokarma, user "AnalogAddict" reported five years of rock-solid service apart from a scratchy selector switch (replaced) and a dim dial backlight that needed a new lamp. That owner also confirmed the FM de-emphasis is switchable between 75 µs (US) and 50 µs (European) settings.

Missing from the record: output level specs, antenna input description, channel separation figures, and IF bandwidth options. No cabinet or faceplate details are documented either. It appears to be a straightforward analog-era design with no digital display, no presets and no remote, but that's inference from absence, not confirmation.

FM sensitivity: 1.5 µV
FM S/N ratio: 70 dB
THD: 0.3%
Frequency response: 20–20,000 Hz
Bands: FM / MW (AM)
Power consumption: 30 W
Dimensions: 43 x 14 x 33 cm
Weight: 6.3 kg