VFET4ever
Member
SONY SQR-6650 QUADRAPHONIC RECEIVER
Rarity: Uncommon
Average sale price: Varies - from $75 to $100 depending upon quality and seller
Year of introduction: 1974
Well, I paid €65 (~$90) for it... and saw only one other unit for sale last year for around the same price. I would like to know what kind of prices have been observed by others, and if it is put up for sale (more) regularly or not.
The aluminum faceplate is grey-bronze, giving it a very distinct look normally reserved for Sony’s upper-end gear (several years later), and quite different from the STR receiver series from the same era which have regular brushed aluminum faceplate with aluminum knobs. The photos don’t show it well, but the position of the four VU-meters behind double windows gives it a very deep perspective look, quite awesome in reality. It is clear that the marketing department wanted ‘good looks’.
Before going inside, first some back-side pictures. Besides the regular stereo sources, an external decoded quadraphonic input can be connected directly to the output amplifier stage, bypassing the internal SQ decoder when the ‘system’ selector switch is put on ‘4-ch’. Fortunately they did put this direct 4-channel input on it, you will see why later…
The black grill is a bit optimistic; the power output of this receiver won’t make cheese to melt. In fact, it is holding the complete heatsink/OPS PCB assembly in place; the assembly can be easily pulled out of the chassis for service.
As explained in more detail later, there is one special ‘Hi-Power 2-Ch Speaker Output’ terminal, activated by the little black switch when put on ‘2CH’. It is red colored with a caution label for a good reason: the terminals are floating from the chassis; shorting the terminals with the chassis or the terminals above can (will) fry some amplifier components.
And the specs before opening the bonnet.
Rarity: Uncommon
Average sale price: Varies - from $75 to $100 depending upon quality and seller
Year of introduction: 1974
Well, I paid €65 (~$90) for it... and saw only one other unit for sale last year for around the same price. I would like to know what kind of prices have been observed by others, and if it is put up for sale (more) regularly or not.
The aluminum faceplate is grey-bronze, giving it a very distinct look normally reserved for Sony’s upper-end gear (several years later), and quite different from the STR receiver series from the same era which have regular brushed aluminum faceplate with aluminum knobs. The photos don’t show it well, but the position of the four VU-meters behind double windows gives it a very deep perspective look, quite awesome in reality. It is clear that the marketing department wanted ‘good looks’.
Before going inside, first some back-side pictures. Besides the regular stereo sources, an external decoded quadraphonic input can be connected directly to the output amplifier stage, bypassing the internal SQ decoder when the ‘system’ selector switch is put on ‘4-ch’. Fortunately they did put this direct 4-channel input on it, you will see why later…
The black grill is a bit optimistic; the power output of this receiver won’t make cheese to melt. In fact, it is holding the complete heatsink/OPS PCB assembly in place; the assembly can be easily pulled out of the chassis for service.
As explained in more detail later, there is one special ‘Hi-Power 2-Ch Speaker Output’ terminal, activated by the little black switch when put on ‘2CH’. It is red colored with a caution label for a good reason: the terminals are floating from the chassis; shorting the terminals with the chassis or the terminals above can (will) fry some amplifier components.
And the specs before opening the bonnet.