Battle of the Sony Vintage Preamps! Which to BUY BUY BUY?

In this video we put two of Sonys best vintage preamps to the test. Which one is built better and offers the right features for you.

Link to 80-ES review

To subscribe to our Friday New Arrivals Email Blast

To submit your system to be featured in our Email Blast

WHO WE ARE
SkyFi Audio is a small startup business specializing in the purchase, reconditioning, and reselling of select high end audio equipment. We only buy equipment that we admire and are passionate about. No mid-fi, no gimmicks, and no junk.

Each piece of equipment is cosmetically restored and fully tested in our well-equipped lab by an engineer with 30+ years of experience in the HiFi world. If it does not meet or exceed the original manufactures specifications, it will not be sold. We are very selective about the equipment we purchase, focusing on mostly analog, high-build quality, American, and European built units.

SkyFi Audio Store:

SkyFi Audio News:

SkyFi Audio on Instagram:

SkyFi Audio Newsletter:

Subscribe to SkyFi Audio on YouTube:

To inquire about new products please visit our friends at Stereo Exchange in New York City:

SkyFi Audio on Facebook:

[lorieandpatrickdavies]

I have both the E77 and E80, along with their matching amplifiers, the N77 and N80. It would be great if you could do a comparison of those two. When these pre amps and amps were new, there was no way I could have afforded them (their retail prices were more than my first couple of cars!) The N77 with its huge "monster meters" is a real conversation starter; both amplifiers are hugely powerful. To my ears, the E80/N80 combo sound better, so that is what I use daily. The build quality of these particular ES pieces are so far beyond what is sold today its staggering. Enjoyed the video.

[bingeciren]

I have the 77ESD that I bought in 1987 and it still works just fine.

[RUfromthes]

i had the top pre with the amp on the other video with huge power meters conected to a very high-end speakers from Cerwin-vega, mine the rubber menbrane didn´t rotten but i sold them to buy better ones, when new the ES system did had a very good sound, but i tried next nakamichi and ended up buying a pioneer URUSHI system, no problems or reapirs needed since mid 90´s some components were bought in second hand, with a pair of mid 80´s Mission Argonaut MKII 200watts at 4ohms i´m very happy with it, i think you have other video showing some URUSHI components, i own the power amplifier without those meters in red, the pre is the same you showed

[gerihifi]

thanks a lot, it is really awesome to see how careful they did the layout. some vendors & engineers should open more often vintage gear to learn something about quality!!

[crimsonghost]

Great video. This comparison was very revealing. I'm sure the 77 sounds good too but the 80 has to be better. The difference in layout and quality is very noticeable when looking inside. Thank you for showing this and for all of your videos. It really helps knowing these things and shows what to look for when looking for good vintage gear.

[restimek]

Hi. Thanks for that video. But... what about sound quality? Did you compare sound of this two pre amps? Can you describe differences in sound?

[danielwilliams]

Nicely done. I knew I was doing the right thing!

[rickshaw]

I really appreciate this seties of videos. Thank you!

[PrimeHiFi]

No comparison, really. Preamps that offer video switching allocate funds away from the audio section. Video switching back then was very new, thus very expensive to produce and market. What’s under the hood speaks for itself. The 77 has its wiring haphazardly strewn about, whereas with the 80, everything has it’s place. I’m sure the measured performance of the 80 is better as well. The 77 may have more features to offer, but like in this case, more features will not always equal better execution or performance. That’s not to say the 77 isn’t probably a good preamplifier - it’s just not in the same league. As far as I know, the same can be said about the difference between the 80ES and the 90ES.

Thanks for putting these videos together. They really shed some light onto just how good many of these older audio products are. And I agree, TheVintageKnob is a fantastic resource and museum. I just wish the original creator still owned it and added to it. Perhaps you can start a “museum” of sorts on your site 😉 much like what you’re doing here.

PS: please include the model numbers in your title or description. It may be hard for a 77 or 80 owner to find this video otherwise.

Connor

[fredfungalspore]

Hi Fernando once again a great review..You always talk good things regarding well made quality PC boards I am in the process upgrading my Amplifier from a Musical A3 Fidelity Amp and Pre to a Luxman they have a reputation for high quality PC boards.. can you explain why high quality PC boards are so important please..?

[kunteshsonisoni]

Now whether it is power amp or pre amp or integrated amplifier

[kunteshsonisoni]

I want trouble and rhythm i want to hear this my favourite Sangeet was classical and folk so what can I do you suggest

[tee-jaythestereo-bargainph]

Great Job to me the internal dac of
The 7 Series would of been a hit back n its day I'm sure looked pretty impressive for its time period, those chips are decent also BB 56p .
But i get where your coming from being Pure Analog - But Just a Volume control is a Purest Mode 😆 Got a good ?
For you when you have the time

[biliescu]

Obviously the design teams for the two had very different work orders, but a very similar budget. The 80 had to go neck in neck with the audiophile heavies of the time, the 77 was to show their technical prowess. Unfortunately, as an audiophile, when you look just at the phono boards you realize that for music there is no contest. And in the real world the 77 can't hold a candle to the 80. The 80 and his matching amp are definitely in my top 5 (the list starts with Harman Citations X-1 and X-2).

[br.]

Please increase the microphone level another 3+ db. When the ads come begin I nearly blow my ear drums out lol.

Keep up the great content!!

[johnshaw]

Nice engineering, not just a pretty face. Cool.

[JDG]

Nice video, as always. Thank you for it. I have been involved in music, video, LPs, tape, CD, SACD, High-end etcetera for 40 years. Also had everything from Sony to Philips to, Marantz, Denon, Pioneer, Akai, Sensui, and so on. I've had almost everything from Sony. But I also enjoyed every brand. For the last 10 years I have been with Musical Fidelity KW Tulip. And Monoblocks from, AVM AMP GUNTERMANIA. And speakers from Kef Model 4.2 Reference. What I do regret is that you don't actually find any videos of these speakers, Kef Model 4.2 Reference. These play so beautifully, especially with the powerful Monoblocks. It would be nice if I could see them on your channel sometime. Who knows ever. Long live our hobby. Thanks again for your nice videos and explanations. Greetings from the Netherlands Limburg Maastricht and of course continue with what you are doing. Peace and love from all over the earth...
✌🏾🌍😘💯 %

[TheNorliss]

"S-Video, even worse". No, S-Video was an improvement on composite albeit obsolete today, regardless. Nevertheless, I enjoy these vids so thanks for doing them. The 80 definitely looks to be the better of the two units: it seems to be of higher quality and is audio-only rather than containing the now obsolete video switching of the 77ESD. That said, the matching power amp for the 77 series is a lovely looking thing with those big meters, whilst the N80ES power amp is just a big lump and not particularly attractive-looking. According to the Vintage Knob the non "D" version of the 77 was available in North America....

[kunteshsonisoni]

but I am asking 150w RMS per channel buy

[rods]

12:59 Audio and power regulators
13:33 Micro computer board