Sony TA-E80ES Analog Preamp with Phono, Watch Video!

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We finally found one of these beauties for sale! The video we did on this piece received over 122k views which set a record for our YouTube channel.

Don't let the simple exterior fool you, inside you'll find a layout and parts selection worthy of a $5k preamp.

This TA-E80ES shows some wear, especially on the wood side panels, but is very very presentable for a piece of this era.

Tested in our lab and working as it should. Controls are quiet and smooth, buttons are responsive, and the signal is clean and undistorted.

While we don't have a remote I bet you can find one on eBay with a bit of research. The manual linked in this listing says the remote model # is RM-S806.

This preamp is also featured on "The Vintage Knob" online HiFi archive so you know it's really something special.

Check out this top rated video from our YouTube for the complete deep dive:

Recommended Cables:

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - Phono Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - Flagship Phono Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Better

Kimber Kable - BALANCED XLR Connectors - Best

Specs:

Please see our last photo or the manual below.

Manual:

Click Here

Review/Info:

Feature on "The Vintage Knob"

The SkyFi Testing Process for Preamplifiers:

We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

When we first power on a preamplifier we connect its RCA output to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which simulates real world loading conditions and gives us an oscilloscope interface. The first order of business is checking that the volume control works smoothly throughout its entire range with acceptable channel balance. This is accomplished by feeding a 1KHz sine wave into one of the preamp’s line level inputs while monitoring the preamp’s output on an oscilloscope. We then switch to a 1KHz square wave to test the tone controls, loudness function, and filters where applicable. During this step we are watching for equal alteration of the test signal by both channels. This also helps us identify dirty controls that will need treatment. Once the basic line stage functions are verified, we test each input individually. This is especially important for devices that use relays to select their sources. If the preamp is equipped with a phono stage we test that as well. We use an inverse RIAA filter which allows us to feed a reference test signal into the phono input with the proper RIAA equalization and level. A square wave or sine sweep is used to verify that the device’s phono stage is faithfully reproducing the RIAA curve. If the preamp under test has balanced inputs and/or outputs these are tested as well.

We finish up our bench testing with a listening test with our bench amplifier and reference speakers. During this test we check for hum or hiss that may not have shown up in earlier testing. We also check that all of the tone controls and filters perform as expected. If the preamplifier has remote control functions these are also tested. Preamps with tube circuits or complicated power supply topologies are connected at our long term test rig for extended stress testing under real world conditions.