Sony PS-X800
Direct Drive Turntable with Linear Tracking Tonearm
Description
The Sony PS-X800 features a unique servo controlled linear tracking tonearm designed to duplicate the movement of the head which cuts the record master.
Compared with a pivoted arm, a linear tracking arm has a very small tracking error which means greatly reduced harmonic distortion, improved tracking ability and channel separation.
The horizontal and vertical movement of the tonearm are monitored by Sony's Biotracer sensors, and this information is transmitted to the tonearm by linear motors to suppress resonance at low frequencies and to obtain the maximum signal to noise ratio.
The tonearm balance and stylus force are electronically controlled by adjusting current to the linear motor for vertical movement.
The PS-X800 is a fully automatic system with feather-touch controls.
Record size is automatically set by a photo sensor, a muting system is activated when the tonearm is lifted and speed and direction of tonearm movement are easily controlled with the arm direction and fast buttons.
The unit is powered by Sony's linear torque BSL motor with speed governed by a very stable quartz oscillator and magnetic speed monitoring system.
The PS-X800's cabinet is made from a special inorganic (non-plastic) moulded compound with low 'Q' and newly developed resilient feet, effectively minimizing outside vibrations and acoustic feedback.
Specifications
Platter: 32cm aluminium alloy die-cast
Motor: Linear torque BSL motor
Drive system: direct drive
Control system: quartz lock control, magnedisc servo control
Speeds: 33.33 and 45rpm
Wow and flutter: 0.015% WRMS
Signal to noise ratio: 78dB
Automatic system: lead in, return, reject, repeat, record size selection, zero-balance
Tonearm: electronic linear tracking
Effective length: 180mm
Stylus force range: 0.5 to 3g
Cartridge shell weight: 7.2g
Cartridge weight range (inc headshell): 10 to 29g (with extra weight)
Dimensions: 440 x 120 x 445mm
Weight: 11.6kg
Review
In some respects the PS-X800 was quite a good turntable, with the present arm probably the weakest link. In truth however the performance was little better than the less costly PS-X600 - £375 HiFi Choice 1983
Downloads
schematics (en)
service manual (en)
instruction/owners manual (en)
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Sony PS-X800 / PSX800 owners manual, service manuals and schematics are for reference only and the Vinyl Engine bears no responsibility for errors or other inaccuracies. The PDF files are copyright the Vinyl Engine and provided under strict licence. Reproduction for financial gain is strictly prohibited. This website is not affiliated with or sponsored by Sony.
Comments
servo? questions
Submitted on November 11th, 2008 by mang53the arm not lowering
when it is supposed to, but it appears to show when the unit have a
bit of time to warm up (setting it on repeat and it will get stuck on
the second run). It appears that when the unit homing in on the first
track, it will first move into location fast, and then the motion will
change to very slow movement, and then the arm will drop down into
location. When it doesn't work, it stopped right after the fast
movement into location, the slower fine movement never occurred, thus
the arm never got to the part to drop down. I can drop the arm down
via the control if I first shift the head left/right a bit via the
button, and then I can drop it down using the up/down button. (the up
down button won't work if I didn't first move it around a bit with the
control) Ideas??????