Sony TTS 8000 w Sony PUA 1600L

I have the Sony TTS-8000 (which I bought to experiment with) in condition which resembles NOS (not a scratch or fingerprint anywhere) but have not yet put it in a plinth. I do not have the 1600 arm. I had planned on putting it in a better plinth than the original, and had planned on using either a MA505Mk2/3 or a SAEC arm.

I also own, but have not yet plinthed, a Technics SP-10 Mk2. If I had to compare the two, I would say the Sony has a more mid 70s aesthetic, while the Technics more of a late 70s thing going (though strictly speaking it should be the other way around probably). That's about as good a comparison as I can make (I know - not what you were looking for:^).

I will be interested to see if anyone else comes up with a comment. Have you found a TTS-8000? I would not have figured there were many of them left out there (though some went to the UK originally).

FWIW, I don't have specs for torque, either in the instructions or service manual, and so I expect it will be lower than for the SP-10Mk2 (though the PS-X9 was slightly higher if I recall). Do you have the torque spec by any chance?

I have my eye on two. One with the "sample" plinth with lifing arms and two armboards. The other on the
T1000 plinth. Both have the 1600L installed. I don't know the torque spec but understand they will take a heavy clamp. I'll look around for that spec and let you know if I find it. I would guess these would love a new plinth. Do you have someone in mind to make one or are you making your own?

Interesting, I had not seen one outside Japan for a while...

Not sure now about the plinths. Was going to make my own, only because I did not find one with plinth, but if I could get the TB-2000, I would probably take it. It is a pretty bulky/heavy plinth on its own. I don't know if the one with the arms is as good - though if they were the same price, I would go for the one with two arm slots. FWIW, I have never seen replacement armboard slots (though they must exist somewhere).

I have the Victor TT101 in a Japanese heavy lead plinth with soft rubber feet similar to the TB-2000 - works great, total isolation from vibration. I also got the PUA 1600L at the same time and I use that as well on an SP-10 and a Micro-Seiki RX-5000. Great arm, simple to set up and use. Seems to work best with mid compliance carts, not in the same league though as my Audiocraft AC-4400. For the money it is a great buy, and I understand the audiophiles in Europe are just beginning to recognize the stellar performance of this vintage arm. I would rate it on a par with the FR 64Fx silver and a tad below the Triplanar. I have not rewired it yet and that would be an upgrade to enhance performance I suspect. I also like the Yamamoto wood headshell in preference to the Sony as it smooths out the cartridges. I like my Sony XL-55 Pro II with the 1600L and of course this is a fixed headshell cart. On the other hand I struggle to get my Technics EPC 205C Mk 3 to work well in this arm, so I conclude that a low compliance cart will not be as good.

I would like to try the PUA-9 versus the 1600 as the PUA-7 I have on my Sony PSX-70 is a very nice arm, albeit wired in semi auto mode. Don't see PUA-9's come up for sale though, unless on a big Sony deck. Still lusing after a PS-X9!

Hope that helps

Steve

Hi,

i think the TTS-8000 is one of the best DD's in the world.