Sony PS-B80

Here is a really complex beast - more of a showpiece than anything expected to sell. And given the price that was asked, Sony indeed didn't sell that many.

However, the PS-B80 was to embody the future of LP replay... if that format had had a future beyond 1983.

Using the PS-B80 is a true joy : the ECT tonearm does wonders and so does the VFB system, the electronic stylus force control, the X-Tal lock, the Magnedisc servo control (barium-ferrite imprint read by a magnetic head), the electronic tonearm damping and even the included stylus cleaner.

Today, only one problem can arise : if the electronics go haywire... you're cooked. Some units still function fine, some don't and there is no way to tell if a PS-B80 will go crazy or not. A fate which befalls all electronica-filled components, Sony or not.
The inside is filled with boards and very abundant wiring ; big motor, big heatsinks, all-metal mechanism and huge SBMC non-resonant composite base.


The PS-B80 was however a grand engineering feat when developed in '77 and '78 which paved the way for all later "sensing" or "active" tonearms from JVC, Yamaha or Denon.

Its smaller, later siblings (PS-X600, PS-X700, PS-X75 and PS-X800) made and still make many music listeners very happy.

From a 1979 japanese catalog, showing the original wood-veneered plinth - rare version.
The metallic silver-ish is much much more common.

From the USA 1979 dedicated catalog, showing the original wood-veneered plinth - rare version.
The metallic silver-ish is much much more common.

The original Biotracer tonearm...

... zoom in !

Stylus force setting - useful to have so conveniently accessible from the very front of the turntable... even if it isn't something used all that often !