Sony TA-1120A
(1966 - 1969)

Since K. Nisi's has just posted the TA-1120F, well, here's the original version :-)

Sony's first foray into HIGH-Fidelity, before the FET, the V-FET, the High fT or the MOS-FET revolutions...

The name on the frontplate doesn't say it all: TA-1120 = TA-1120A really, just like the ST-5000F = ST-5000FW really and unlike TA-1120F which, in Japan, had a little "F" badge on the frontplate AND "1120F" written - why make simple ?
And there was an earlier TA-1120 before this "A" version...

Anyway, all three versions were highly praised, sold very well and were meant to be used with the TA-4300 channel divider and the various power amps Sony had then available which were all very successful, too :-)

The original TA-1120 was the first ES unit to be launched, in 1965 - that's right: ES is as old as 1965. And ES stands for Extremely High Standard. Just as successful were the supremely elegant TTS-3000, ST-5000, PUA-286 and PUA-237 tonearms.

The japanese "F" version of the 1120 remained available in Japan as late as 1976 - given the japanese standards it was quite a feat. And pricier than a TA-5650 V-FET, mind you !

Looks-wise, it should be noted that the Sony logo, encased in the upper horizontal recess, one of Sony's early design trademarks, is a trick re-used for quite a few units throughout the late 80s (TA-F830ES etc).
And if you check an SCD-X9000ES or the recent ES receivers, you'll find the same signature, although in a much less discrete manner.