Sony TA-F555ESII

1 9 8 4 1984
1 9 8 5
Plus
1985+

Rare upgraded version of the TA-F555ES bestseller, designed by Takashi Kanai.

Although not yet resting on a Gibraltar base, the F555ESII gained power, weight and a fully copper plated chassis, although some batches seem not to have had that : partly the Europe and the "General Asia" exports.

The internal layout, however, would be carried onto all the later 555ES versions : TA-F555ESX, TA-F555ESXII, TA-F555ESR, TA-F555ESG, TA-F555ESL, TA-F555ESA and the ultimate TA-F555ESJ.

Kept from the original was ACT (Audio Current Transfer) which uses current amplification to transfer signals from preamp to power amp stage and achieve 120dB of dynamic range and outstanding levels of stereo separation.

Kept as well was the total value of smoothing caps but spread over four Great Supply 10,000µF /85V instead of two For Audio 22,000µF /63V in the original TA-F555ES.
The available loading was somewhat dropped : speakers A or speakers B but not both at the same time.

Inside, the TA-F555ESII really is a smaller TA-F777ES and this revised version garnered a Stereo Sound "Best Product" award, following in that -surprise- the original F777ES !
However, the auxiliary input was replaced by two audio/video inputs plus a loop/monitor and the phono MM pF setting was scrapped - sign'o'the times.

Wood sideburns were planned, shown, advertised but generally not actually made available - like the TA-F777ES.

Despite much better sonics than the original, the F555ESII didn't sell nearly as well as the original. But Sony made up up for that with the following F555ES "versions" which all sold like pancakes, croissants and bagels like pancakes, croissants and bagels do any day of the week.

Sony TA-F555ESII, image 1 Sony TA-F555ESII, image 2 Sony TA-F555ESII, image 3 Sony TA-F555ESII, image 4
Sony TA-F555ESII specifications
Title Value
RMS Power : 2x 120W (8 Ohm, 20Hz...20Khz, continuous)
2x 150W (6 Ohm, 20Hz...20Khz, continuous)
2x 180W (4 Ohm, 20Hz...20Khz, continuous)
THD / IMD : 0,004% (20Hz...20Khz, 8 Ohm, rated output)
0,001% (20Hz...20Khz, 4 Ohm, rated output)
Power bandwidth : 10Hz...100Khz (50W, 8 Ohm, 0,02% THD)
5Hz...80Khz (50W, 4 Ohm, 0,02% THD)
Slew rate : 100V /µsec. ([?])
250V /µsec (IHF) ([?])
Damping factor : 125 (1Khz / 8 Ohm)
Residual noise : 28µV (A-weighted, 8 Ohm) ([?])
Dynamic headroom : 1,8dB (4 or 8 Ohm, IHF-1978) ([?])
Dynamic range : 120dB ([?])
Frequency response : 2Hz...200Khz (± 3dB) ([?])
RIAA curve : ± 0,2dB
Channel separation : 90dB ([?])
85dB (MM) ([?])
90dB (MC) ([?])
MM Phono input : 2,5mV / 50kOhm
MM settings : 100pF or 330pF
MC Phono input : 0,17mV / 100 Ohm ort 40 Ohm setting
Line inputs : Tuner, tape, CD (150mV / 50kOhm)
A/V inputs : ?
S/N ratio : 102dB (IHF-A)
97dB (New IHF)
MM Phono S/N ratio : 83dB (@ 2,5mV input, IHF-A)
87dB (New IHF)
MC Phono S/N ratio : 73dB (@ 0,125mV input, IHF-A)
70dB (New IHF)
Maximum input capability : 150mV (MM) ([?])
8,5mV (MC) ([?])
Tone controls : ± 8dB at 60Hz
± 8dB at 25Khz
Bass boost : + 4db at 50Hz
Subsonic : 6dB/oct. below 15Hz
Speaker impedance : 6...16 Ohm
PC : 240W
Dimensions : 43 x 13,5 x 42,5cm
Weight : 15,1kg
List price : 128,000¥
page online since : september 2005
page updated : not yet
page type : LGT / KNB
page weight : 488.64 Kb / 207.31 Kb
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