Sony TA-E88B

Sony TA-E88

october 1977

1981+

Sony's big push toward... understatement !

Strict dual-mono structure with two transformers, select parts, an (almost) outboard power-supply and no superfluous controls, the TA-E88B was the second pre-Esprit component to appear and was introduced along its Class D TA-N88B mate.

The underlying philosophy was : no ICs ! The sealed volume and balance controls are stepped with 150 gold-plated contacts, made by ALPS on Sony's specifications : ZP-1 Perfect Balancer.

Germany saw the limited edition WEGA version of the TA-E88B in the Lab Zero series : 250 units. Same preamplifier with revised looks (actually a complete E88B in a supplementary enclosure) with an added sub-enclosure for the bright & shiny LED level display.

The TA-E88 is the original japanese version (silver), TA-E88B is the export version in grey or "gun metal". However, the first export batch was silver.

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..

Sony sold thousands and thousands of TA-E88 and TA-E88B worldwide - a real bestseller which remained available in Japan until 1981 and Germany until about 1984.

Apart from the ESPRIT TA-E900 (directly derived from the E88) and the much later TA-ER1, the pre-Esprit TA-E88B is probably Sony's best preamp and one of the best ever at any rate.
Given the scarcity and current pricetags of the TA-ER1, the TA-E88B can be seen as Sony's best... which one can actually own and use !

Detailed images and actual 100Khz measurments of a real E88 at the indispensable amp8.com.

Sony TA-E88B specifications
Title	Value
Input sensitivity :	2,5mV (phono 1 & 2)
	0,125mV (phono 1 & 2 + head amp)
	150mV (lines)
Input impedance :	50kOhm (phono 1)
	10kOhm...100kOhm (in 10kOhm steps, phono 2)
	25 Ohm or 100 Ohm (phono 1&2 + head amp)
	50kOhm (lines)
Input capacitance :	100pF (phono 1)
Input capacitance :	100pF...500pF (in 100pF steps, phono 2)
Maximum input :	250mV (phono 1&2, 1Khz)
Maximum input :	12,5mV (phono 1&2 head amp, 1Khz)
Outputs :	2x Tape (150mV / 1kOhm, 15V max.)
Outputs :	2x pre out (1,5V / 100 Ohm, 15V max.)
THD :	0,002% or less at 10V output
IMD :	0,002% or less at 10V output
Frequency response :	DC...500Khz (+0 / -1dB)
Frequency response :	20Hz...20Khz (±0,2dB ; RIAA)
Residual noise :	6µV (IHF-A)
S/N ratio :	88dB (2,5mV input ; phono 1 & 2)
	100dB (10mV input ; phono 1 & 2)
	80dB (0,2mV input ; phono 1 & 2 + head amp)
	105dB (150mV input ; lines)
Phono gain :	27dB
Subsonic filter :	15Hz @ 12dB/oct.
Componentry :	30 FETs
	174 transistors
	29 diodes
PC :	22W
Dimensions :	48 x 8 x 37cm
Weight :	9,4kg.
FEATURES	FEATURES
>	Direct-coupled reference-standard preamplifier, with straight-path signal,
>	Separate monophonic preamplifier for each channel including separate
>	voltage-regulated power supplies,
>	Built-in head amplifier,
>	Head amp includes exclusive Sony LEC transistors and its own power supply,
>	Selectable phono input capacitance and impedance,
>	Sony-developped, cascode-connected dual-FETs and bipolar transistors in EQ amp
>	and buffer amp stages for low distortion and high thermal stability,
>	Buffer amp isolates tape-out connections from circuitry for low-distortion signal flow,
>	Select-grade components used throughout, including silver and gold-plated control
>	contacts, plus metalized-film resistors and polypropylene-film capacitors.

Sony TA-E88B : 2 topics
(last updated topic shows up first)

Sony ta-e88b issues (3)last updated by petef - 22/11/2012, 23H07 Open this topic in TVK Talk
- #1
  
  petef
  
  22/11/12
  22H07
  
  Just after some advice , my Sony ta-e88b preamp has developed a fault where the left channel is louder than the right , and the right channel distorts if you increase the volume . Are these preamps prone to any particular fault that might cause this. I'd like to be able to give my tech a clue if poss , also does anyone have a copy of the service manual ?
  Thanks
- #2
  
  Axel
  
  22/11/12
  22H44
  
  Probably the two ZP-1 vol' and bal' pots that need cleaning : 35 years of age !
  Beware when disassembling, cleaning and reassembling : nobody can make those again !
  
  (If your tech has more than two thumbs, contact Knobber "Pat66" - he knows all pre-Esprit and Esprit and all Sony inside-out, forward and backward.)
- #3
  
  petef
  
  22/11/12
  23H07
  
  Thanks Axel , I'll warn him when I take it in , what's the prefered cleaning method , a cotton bud and methylated spirit or alcohol, or de-oxit ?
TA-E88B....advice (16)last updated by pw8888 - 01/05/2011, 10H42 Open this topic in TVK Talk
- #1
  
  pw8888
  
  11/03/11
  01H06
  
  HI to everybody,
  I just bought a Sony TA-E88b and may need some advice on it.
  first i will give you my setup :
  
  computer-amarra-Focusrite Professionnal converter - Sony TA-E88B-----mcintosh 2255----JBL L300
  
  ok.
  i have at my disposal
  
  a C11 original Mcintosh completely check and running well
  a Luxman C1000
  and the Sony TA-E88B.
  
  Some people say that the sony is great .I bought mine ...all the important caps has been changed and the pot cleaned.
  Can you give me your experience about the "sound"...
  
  I am VERY disapointed . Very. Out of the 3 ...it is by far ... I MEAN far the last musical of the 3.
  it has no "life". the sound is a bit 2D instead of 3D.The "music" that goes out is "flat"
  It is FOR SURE quiter than the C11....but NO MUSIC COMES OUT. Just "sound"
  Anybody had this experience ? any way to check if it works well ?
  Do you like the sound of those ?
  
  thanks for your reply
  
  phil
- #2
  
  theophile
  
  12/03/11
  01H44
  
  pw8888 wrote:HI to everybody,
  I just bought a Sony TA-E88b and may need some advice on it.
  first i will give you my setup :
  
  computer-amarra-Focusrite Professionnal converter - Sony TA-E88B-----mcintosh 2255----JBL L300
  
  ok.
  i have at my disposal
  
  a C11 original Mcintosh completely check and running well
  a Luxman C1000
  and the Sony TA-E88B.
  
  Some people say that the sony is great .I bought mine ...all the important caps has been changed and the pot cleaned.
  Can you give me your experience about the "sound"...
  
  I am VERY disapointed . Very. Out of the 3 ...it is by far ... I MEAN far the last musical of the 3.
  it has no "life". the sound is a bit 2D instead of 3D.The "music" that goes out is "flat"
  It is FOR SURE quiter than the C11....but NO MUSIC COMES OUT. Just "sound"
  Anybody had this experience ? any way to check if it works well ?
  Do you like the sound of those ?
  
  thanks for your reply
  
  phil
  
  phil,
  
  There are changes which take place within capacitors as they are used.Give your preamp a month(even if you HATE the sound).I have dismissed a preamp before which had brand-new caps,and when it finally burnt-in I loved it the most.
  
  Of course,my experience is no guarantee that yours will be identical(the preamp I'm talking about was very,very different to the TA-E).I'm merely trying to illustrate that there are factors that may deserve further consideration.
- #3
  
  pw8888
  
  12/03/11
  12H09
  
  I understand well...
  should i simply let it turned on ?
  or do i need to pass music trough ?
  
  thanks phil
- #4
  
  theophile
  
  12/03/11
  12H11
  
  pw8888 wrote:I understand well...
  should i simply let it turned on ?
  or do i need to pass music trough ?
  
  thanks phil
  
  Use it as a preamp.Tell us what happens.
- #5
  
  Stoffie
  
  13/03/11
  17H12
  
  As I said on AK, not exactly my own experience with this preamp. While it is definitely neutral (as opposed to how I imagine a McIntosh would sound rather warmly), it does sound very fluid, and has a massive soundstage to my ears.
  
  So yes, give it some time and see if things improve. In any case, it might just not be your cup of tea ? Or the combination with other gear you use might make it sound less than ideal ? There are always so many factors to include into the equasion...
- #6
  
  stchedro
  
  13/03/11
  21H00
  
  Hmme
  
  I would never describe a prime E88 as flat. In a lot of ways it has the best sound stage of all of the Esprit goodies. I've got one warming up now. If can actually sound very valve like especially with the N7B/N902 which are a pretty smooth beasts. It does take an age to warm up. I would say that all of the ESPRIT stuff takes a good three hours to come up to par. I leave my E900 permanently powered as with the resin encapsulation it takes half a day to sound any use.
  However, however, however, however recapping is not a panacea. The guys who designed these things were at the top of their game and spent a lot of time choosing caps. If you want to understand a bit more of the effect of caps then look on the Elna website but they can massively change (or even ruin) the sound of an amp. It is easy to think 'I am doing a great job' and swap some of the Elna's for Nichion's and via a versa, because they are good caps and all that you can get hold of so they must be better because they cost a lot, right ? And then end up with a real lemon.
  That being said if you want the lush 'big band' sound, you know you can smell the cigar smoke and brandy coming out of the speakers from the Ronnie Scotts recording, you will never get it from a Sony.
- #7
  
  pw8888
  
  13/03/11
  22H53
  
  stchedro wrote:Hmme
  
  I would never describe a prime E88 as flat. In a lot of ways it has the best sound stage of all of the Esprit goodies. I've got one warming up now. If can actually sound very valve like especially with the N7B/N902 which are a pretty smooth beasts. It does take an age to warm up. I would say that all of the ESPRIT stuff takes a good three hours to come up to par. I leave my E900 permanently powered as with the resin encapsulation it takes half a day to sound any use.
  However, however, however, however recapping is not a panacea. The guys who designed these things were at the top of their game and spent a lot of time choosing caps. If you want to understand a bit more of the effect of caps then look on the Elna website but they can massively change (or even ruin) the sound of an amp. It is easy to think 'I am doing a great job' and swap some of the Elna's for Nichion's and via a versa, because they are good caps and all that you can get hold of so they must be better because they cost a lot, right ? And then end up with a real lemon.
  That being said if you want the lush 'big band' sound, you know you can smell the cigar smoke and brandy coming out of the speakers from the Ronnie Scotts recording, you will never get it from a Sony.
  
  hum ....this is interesting.....
  I would like to tell you that i am a mixing engineer for more than 15 years...and basically when i play the record i did ....hum...i should say i know them
  Now.i really don't get the "big band " sound. If i take 2 very different record (that i didn't do ) :
  Joni mitchell : travelogue
  or
  The white Stripes : Catch hell blues....
  no life on both with the sony.i KNOW as a fact that that they haven't been mixed like that.
  don't get me wrong...i am just looking for MUSIC ...not to be the most accurate !!
  but when the low end is wrong and the mids doesn't appear at the right "place" and "speed" ...than it affect the music !!!
  I obviously caliber the 3 preamp with tones.to match them.The sony seems always "far"....
  i can hear "distortion" in the mids....
  maybe the "wrong caps has been used ? ....
- #8
  
  theophile
  
  13/03/11
  23H20
  
  pw8888 wrote:
  stchedro wrote:Hmme
  
  I would never describe a prime E88 as flat. In a lot of ways it has the best sound stage of all of the Esprit goodies. I've got one warming up now. If can actually sound very valve like especially with the N7B/N902 which are a pretty smooth beasts. It does take an age to warm up. I would say that all of the ESPRIT stuff takes a good three hours to come up to par. I leave my E900 permanently powered as with the resin encapsulation it takes half a day to sound any use.
  However, however, however, however recapping is not a panacea. The guys who designed these things were at the top of their game and spent a lot of time choosing caps. If you want to understand a bit more of the effect of caps then look on the Elna website but they can massively change (or even ruin) the sound of an amp. It is easy to think 'I am doing a great job' and swap some of the Elna's for Nichion's and via a versa, because they are good caps and all that you can get hold of so they must be better because they cost a lot, right ? And then end up with a real lemon.
  That being said if you want the lush 'big band' sound, you know you can smell the cigar smoke and brandy coming out of the speakers from the Ronnie Scotts recording, you will never get it from a Sony.
  
  hum ....this is interesting.....
  I would like to tell you that i am a mixing engineer for more than 15 years...and basically when i play the record i did ....hum...i should say i know them
  Now.i really don't get the "big band " sound. If i take 2 very different record (that i didn't do ) :
  Joni mitchell : travelogue
  or
  The white Stripes : Catch hell blues....
  no life on both with the sony.i KNOW as a fact that that they haven't been mixed like that.
  don't get me wrong...i am just looking for MUSIC ...not to be the most accurate !!
  but when the low end is wrong and the mids doesn't appear at the right "place" and "speed" ...than it affect the music !!!
  I obviously caliber the 3 preamp with tones.to match them.The sony seems always "far"....
  i can hear "distortion" in the mids....
  maybe the "wrong caps has been used ? ....
  
  Sir,
  My situation,where a preamp that I LOATHED completely changed it's sound quality with use,very much aligns with your current experience.Let me add that I have owned the preamp from new.I played it once or twice,found it to sound flat and boring,lacking bundles of detail,two dimensional in the extreme.Other solid state preamps I also had were good or excellent.Every couple of years as my system changed,I put that same preamp back into the system and would again be greeted by an extremely objectionable sound.The breakthrough happened when I didn't take it out of the system,but left it in place and played music via my system.With repeated consistent use all of the objectionable traits fell away and the ugly,ugly sound that I started off with faded,vanished and never returned.
  
  That is why I am speculating - speculating - that there might be an element of capacitor burn-in involved in your problem.Use the Sony,and observe for changes in it's sound quality.As hours of use are put under it's belt may - may - allow the time and current to form the capacitors.I feel that you will be in no doubt should it be a capacitor forming problem.The sound of caps forming and clarifying is not at all subtle(in my experience).
  
  I still use that preamp.
- #9
  
  Axel
  
  14/03/11
  08H47
  
  There must be something wrong with that E88B -cap(s), PS ripples, anything- but there must be something.
  "Far", "distant", with mids distorting isn't what I've heard from it or my E86B - quite the opposite in fact : fluid, wide, refined "tone", dynamic...
- #10
  
  pw8888
  
  14/03/11
  20H55
  
  any adresse in Paris to bring it to ?
  thanks
  P.
- #11
  
  stchedro
  
  17/03/11
  10H18
  
  I am not criticizing your ears. I think that you really are hearing what you describe.
  However, this may be down to a unintelligent recap job or it may need burn in.
  To be honest what you are describing does sound like mis-matched caps to me. Can you post a photo so that we can all have a look at the main PSU caps and the caps on the main board? What you describe is most likely, in my experience, an interaction between the main PSU caps and the small caps that are parallel to them in the circuit and could potentially be solved for a few euros if you are handy with a soldering iron!
  One shop that sold the ESPRIT and preESPRIT used to burn it in for some weeks before letting a customer anywhere near it.
  The other cause of it could be non matched repairs on the channels are there any transistors that have been replaced in the gain stage?
- #12
  
  stchedro
  
  18/03/11
  14H21
  
  Just to elaborate a little: but I suspect that you already know this given your background. Different types of caps respond at different speeds to different frequencies of current being drawn from them. This is what gives the illusion of depth alteration, it is a bit like having a deliberate, if rather subtle, slew on the frequencies. Making low frequencies slower wrt high frequencies tends to increase perception of depth and conversely having high frequencies at the same timing as lows makes it more spatially immediate. Much the same thing is done with the delay lines in speakers to get the phase right. However if you have a number of caps doing slightly different/conflicting things with timing then you end up with a sound stage mess just as you describe as the phase will be messed up.
  At this point I will shut up and stop hijacking somebody else's thread!
- #13
  
  pw8888
  
  29/03/11
  01H08
  
  will post pict asap
- #14
  
  pw8888
  
  24/04/11
  15H38
  
  this is it...
  late i know...if anybody could help then great...
- #15
  
  Stoffie
  
  27/04/11
  20H59
  
  As far as I can see, the caps have been changed to Panasonic FM's (or FC's, but hard to see) but not entirely sure from this top angle, which are pretty damn good caps (I have them throughout my TA-N7B), all the rest looks pretty stock, but then again, hard to judge from a picture. How about the caps in the power supply section ? (on the left of the outputs).
  
  I have heard about these pre's having oscillation issues, maybe it has something to do with that. Also, dirty switches and pots can deteriorate sound rather badly...
- #16
  
  pw8888
  
  01/05/11
  10H42
  
  I know...everything seems to be clean...
  i am selling it. i don't want to spend time to "try" to find out...
  just not my taste i suppose....
  thanks for your kind answer !!
  
  i am PM'ed you
  
  thanks
  Phil

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