SONY HP-550 Turntable Stereo Garrard Fm Turntablerare SL-65

( Brand: Sony ), ( Model: HP-550 ), ( Part Type: Turntable System ), ( Country/region Of Manufacture: Japan )

Review SONY System Turntable Stereo Rare Vintage Garrard Fm

A Vintage Audio Treasure: HP-550 Turntable with 1968 Sony Stereo SL-65 and Garrard FM Tonearm

Step back in time with the HP-550 Turntable, a beautifully preserved relic of the golden age of vinyl. This turntable, manufactured in 1968, is a rare and unique piece that blends the timeless elegance of the HP-550 with the high-fidelity sound quality of the Sony Stereo SL-65 and the precision of the Garrard FM tonearm.

The HP-550 Turntable, with its sleek and minimalist design, is a testament to the mid-century modern aesthetic. Its solid construction and brushed aluminum finish create a sturdy and stylish foundation for your vinyl collection. The turntable's heavy, cast-aluminum platter spins smoothly, ensuring that your records are played with the utmost care and precision.

The 1968 Sony Stereo SL-65 is an iconic piece of audio history. This high-fidelity preamplifier offers superior sound quality, with its dynamic range and clarity that bring out the best in your vinyl records. The SL-65's control panel is a joy to navigate, offering easy access to essential functions like volume, bass, treble, and balance.

Completing this vintage audio setup is the Garrard FM tonearm, a renowned piece of turntable technology. Known for its smooth and accurate tracking, the Garrard FM tonearm ensures that your stylus glides effortlessly across your records, capturing every note with pristine detail.

This HP-550 Turntable with 1968 Sony Stereo SL-65 and Garrard FM Tonearm is more than just a piece of audio equipment it's a time machine that transports you back to the era of vinyl records, cocktail parties, and the birth of rock 'n' roll. Whether you're a collector, an audiophile, or someone who appreciates the charm of vintage technology, this turntable setup is an investment in both sound and style.

1. Historical Value: As a 1968 model, it offers a unique and nostalgic appeal for those who appreciate vintage technology.

2. High-Quality Construction: The turntable is known for its sturdy build, which contributes to its ability to deliver clear, rich sound.

3. Vintage Sound: Some audiophiles prefer the warm, rich sound that vintage turntables like the HP-550 produce.

4. Potential for Upgrades: You can upgrade the cartridge to improve the sound quality, making it a customizable option.

1. Outdated Technology: Modern turntables often offer features like USB ports, automatic operation, and improved sound quality that the HP-550 lacks.

2. Maintenance: Vintage equipment requires more maintenance and care to keep it in good working condition.

3. Compatibility Issues: The HP-550 may not be compatible with modern audio systems, requiring additional equipment to connect it.

4. High Price: Due to its vintage status, the HP-550 can be quite expensive compared to modern turntables.

The HP-550 Turntable is a great choice for audiophiles who value vintage sound quality and appreciate historical technology. However, if you prioritize modern features and ease of use, you may want to consider a more contemporary turntable. If you do choose the HP-550, be prepared for some maintenance and potential compatibility issues.

Details:

The grille cloth is in very good shape, and one of the speakers is missing it's Sony name badge. Short LP, changer LP, single play 45prm adapter, and a very hard to find garrard 45rpm changer adapter. I have not had any major issues with this stereo over the past 10 years.

The stylus could use replacement the speakers are medium sized 2 way acoustic suspension type with 10 woofers and tweeters.

The only parts i've replaced on it have been the turntable idler wheel as stated above, and a new fuse type dial lamp for the tuner's dial. Please be advised that even though this was considered a compact stereo system in its day, it is rather large and heavy. Only allows 12 pictures here and I had to be selective with those 12 to best represent this rare unit.

I don't think it's original to the unit, but I could be wrong. This baby gets loud. This Sony is in complete working order and has been my personal stereo system for about 10 years now.

There is some minor cosmetic damage to the speaker cabinets, but these were the way I got them 10 years ago.

Shipping charges are reflected in this. All the manuals state it should have had a Sony Vic 7p high output moving coil cartridge installed from the factory by Sony, but having assumed running production changes with the turntable, maybe the cartridge was a running change as well.

I do have a couple of spares for it that I am listing in another listing. The tuner works very well, both am and fm stereo reception are very good. The amplifier part of the unit works very well and is rated at 33 watts per channel. I have many more pictures of the unit available upon request to serious buyers if they are interested.

The turntable works well and had a new idler wheel installed about a year ago. I've been looking for 10 years for a replacement and have yet to find the correct for sale anywhere.

part #: hp550 prices

• $22.99-$71.14

specifications vintagerecordplaygo:

• brand: Sony
• model: Hp-550
• part type: Turntable System
• country/region of manufacture: Japan

Payments vintagerecordplaygo:

• PayPal

Returns vintagerecordplaygo:

• policy: no returns

Seller vintagerecordplaygo:

• city: Salem, New Hampshire
• zipcode: 03079

Shipping vintagerecordplaygo:

• type: Calculated
• handling: 3 days

Ratings:

1. Very clean and better than expected! I will thoroughly enjoy 08-07-15
2. Good buyer, prompt payment, valued customer, highly recommended. 08-18-15
3. Super Fast Payment Thanks!!!! A+++ ! 08-08-15
4. QUICK PAY, GREAT TRANSACTION, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURCHASE 08-19-15
5. excellent 5 seller, received in 3 days. thank you. 08-19-15

General vintagerecordplaygo:

• Consumer Electronics > Vintage Electronics > Vintage Audio & Video > Vintage Record Players
• in stock: Yes

Offer vintagerecordplaygo:

• quantity: 1
• # Sold: 0
• best offer: true
• Started: August 20, 2015, 4:29 am
• # bids: 0

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