Sony STR-VX5 Vintage Stereo Receiver – 55 WPC, Serviced - Image 1

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Sony STR-VX5 Vintage Stereo Receiver – 55 WPC, Serviced

Sony

Sony STR-VX5 Vintage Stereo Receiver – 55 WPC, Serviced

Name: Sony STR-VX5 Vintage Stereo Receiver – 55 WPC, Serviced
Brand: Sony
SKU: 9698
Price: 245.00 CAD
Availability: InStock

$245.00

55 watts a channel from 20 Hz to 20 kHz at 0.007% distortion, out of Sony’s Legato Linear circuit and a Pulse Power supply with a transformer a fiftieth the size of a conventional one. Gold-plated phono inputs take MM or MC, and the quartz tuner has eight presets with Memory Scan and Auto Sweep. Made in Japan, 1981-82. Freshly serviced and working perfectly.

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Description

Sony STR-VX5 Legato Linear Stereo Receiver – Japanese Engineering Excellence

This Sony has been freshly serviced, and is working perfectly, with excellent sound and surprising power for this compact form factor.

Made in Japan, the Sony STR-VX5 is a sophisticated stereo receiver from the early 1980s that delivers exceptional audio performance with innovative technology and versatile connectivity options.

The STR-VX5 represents Sony’s commitment to high-fidelity sound reproduction, featuring their proprietary Legato Linear amplifier circuit and Pulse Power supply that together deliver remarkably clean, detailed audio with minimal distortion.

Key Features
This premium receiver offers impressive specifications that made it stand out in the competitive audio market of the early 1980s:

55 watts per channel (continuous power output, both channels driven into 8 ohms from 20Hz to 20kHz)

Incredibly low total harmonic distortion of just 0.007%

Legato Linear amplifier circuit that prevents switching distortion

Sony-developed Pulse Power supply with transformer 1/50 the size of conventional designs

Gold-plated phono inputs supporting both Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) cartridges

Advanced digital tuner with Memory Scan and Auto Sweep functions

Subsonic filter to eliminate unwanted low-frequency rumble

Speaker A/B switching for connecting two pairs of speakers

Bass and treble controls for sound customization

Two tape monitor loops for recording flexibility

Tuner Section
The STR-VX5 features an advanced digital tuner section with innovative functionality:

Quartz frequency synthesis for precise tuning

Memory Scan function that plays 4-second samples of up to 8 preset stations

Auto Sweep function that samples every available station on the dial

Digital display for accurate frequency readout

8 preset buttons for storing favorite stations

Design and Build Quality
The STR-VX5 exemplifies Sony’s commitment to quality construction and thoughtful design:

Classic silver-faced aesthetic typical of high-end audio equipment from the era

Solid metal chassis with substantial build quality

Clean, functional front panel layout with logical control grouping

Two power outlets on the rear (one switched 50W max, one unswitched 300W max)

Historical Context
The STR-VX5 was released during an important transition period in audio technology:

Manufactured in 1981-1982, marking the end of the silver-faced component era

Original retail price of $550 USD when new (mentioned in a December 1981 New York Times article)

Part of Sony’s strategy to compete with other Japanese manufacturers in the premium audio market

Featured innovative technology like the Legato Linear circuit that set it apart from competitors

Specifications
Power Output: 55 watts per channel (8 ohms, 20Hz-20kHz, 0.007% THD)

Frequency Response: 5Hz-50kHz

Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.007%

Inputs: Phono MM, Phono MC, Aux, Tape 1, Tape 2

Outputs: Tape 1, Tape 2, Headphones, Speakers A/B

Dimensions: 17.0 x 4.1 x 14.8 inches (430 x 105 x 375 mm)

Weight: 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg)

Summary
The Sony STR-VX5 represents an excellent value in vintage audio, offering impressive performance, versatile features, and reliable Japanese engineering at a more accessible price point than some contemporaries. Its Legato Linear amplifier circuit and Pulse Power supply deliver clean, detailed sound with remarkably low distortion, while its comprehensive feature set makes it a versatile centerpiece for a quality audio system. For collectors and audio enthusiasts seeking a high-quality vintage receiver, the STR-VX5 remains a compelling option that combines performance, features, and value.

Buy with confidence and benefit from Radique’s Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and Perpetual Trade-Back Program.

$245.00

Additional information

Weight	16 lbs
Dimensions	21 × 18.8 × 8.1 in

About brand

Sony at Radique

We service Sony, too. Bring us your own Sony receivers, amplifiers, tuners, CD players and cassette decks, Walkman-size players included for repair, servicing or restoration (not reel-to-reel decks), with a 90-day warranty on the work. See our Audio Service page

Sony began in Tokyo in 1946, founded by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita, and it helped bring the world the Walkman and the compact disc. We carry Sony stereo and AV receivers, CD players, cassette decks, amplifiers and speakers. We've had more than 220 Sony listings so far, covering more than 185 different models. Every used Sony here is inspected, tested and serviced as required, then photographed in-house and covered by our Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty and Perpetual Trade-Back Program. Don't see the model you want? Tell us on First Dibs and we'll email you when one arrives.

Sony models we've sold more than once include the TC-K61 cassette deck, the CDP-CE305 and CDP-C335 CD players, the STR-DA5700ES AV receiver and the STR-4800SD stereo receiver.

The Sony story, 1946 to today

Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita founded Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo ("Totsuko") in Tokyo in 1946, growing out of a radio repair business Ibuka had started the year before. The company was renamed Sony in 1958.

Tape and transistors. The G-model tape recorder of 1950 is described as Japan's first, and the TR-55 transistor radio of 1955 was the first Sony-branded product.

ES. Sony describes the TA-1120 integrated amplifier of 1965 as the first all-silicon-transistor stereo amplifier and dates its ES ("Elevated Standard") line from it.

Walkman and CD. The Walkman went on sale in Japan in July 1979. Sony worked with Philips on the compact disc, and Sony's CDP-101 was among the first CD players on sale in Japan in October 1982. Sony still makes ES AV receivers.

Which Sony is which?

STR receivers: stereo receivers from the late 1960s on, such as the STR-6120, and later AV receivers, including ES models.

TA amplifiers and ES separates: from the TA-1120 to the TA-E86 preamplifier and TA-N86 power amplifier (1978).

CDP CD players: from the CDP-101 (1982) and CDP-701ES (1983) to changers such as the CDP-CE305 and CDP-C335 we sell often.

TC tape decks: reel-to-reel recorders until 1985, and cassette decks such as the TC-K61 and the three-head TC-K777ES.

SS speakers: such as the SS-G7 floorstanders of 1978.

Buying used Sony: what to check

CD players. Open and close the drawer several times; hesitation can be an early sign of trouble. Laser pickups wear, skipping is a symptom, and tray belts age.

Cassette decks. Belts dry out and cause slipping or uneven playback, and worn heads dull the sound. Run fast-forward and rewind, and check Dolby.

Amplifiers and receivers. Noisy switches and dirty relay contacts cause many faults, and bias settings drift with age. On tuners, look for blown bulbs and broken dial cords.

Everything we list is inspected, tested and serviced as required here, and comes with our warranty.