Sony TA-E86B

Bestseller of the pre-Esprit series, the E86B is a simplified and slightly later sibling to the TA-E88B with less stringent componentry and features. But the single transformer has a 2nd winding solely for the MC cartridge Head Amp and the philisophy is the same: no ICs !
Mainly, the volume and balance attenuators are (Alps) regular carbon-resistive tracks and not the (Alps) ZP-1 Perfect Balancer.

Unlike the 88 duet, the 86 combo was only delivered worldwide in grey, while Japan only saw the original silver finish.
The final design was drawn in the spring of 1976 by Shigeo Takahashi, along with various layout versions which would later on resurface in other Sony products..

Quite rare in the US but truly abundant Europe, like the TA-N86 mating amp. By all accounts, this is a truly excellent audio preamplifier : one would need a lot more cash to get as much music from a preamplifier.

Rather strangely, unlike the 88 combo, the E86B and N86B components were barely advertised for in Japan. This would tend to prove that advertising doesn't do much sales-wise because both sold like parisian french croissants on a sunday morning - worldwide.

I let my CA-1010 go, I let my TA-E80ES go but I'll never let my E86B go.


Some measured perormances here.