Technics SA-110 stereo receiver rant & review

[@laranaarana]

The first stereo amplifier I bought when working at Radio Shack in the mid-'80s was their Realistic STA-790 that had a 7 band graphic equalizer build in. Got it for $50 (regular price was $350) because it became a discontinued model for Radio Shack in 1985. Had it for about 15 years, until it died on me. Best unit I ever had!

[@RealCapricousCavy]

My mom had one of these when I was kid. There IS a way to kinda trick the unit into running w/o the loudness contour I found by accident as a kid. If you press Tuner, Phono would pop out, and vice-versa. Pressing BOTH Tuner + Phono at the same time (they'll both click to the pressed-in position if done correctly) would actually soften the sound a lot, much like a filter was selected. No idea WHY it worked, but it did. I often did that while listening to it with headphones, and sometimes with bookshelves, and it never seemed to harm the unit, even when played loudly. My guess is the phono board was somehow affecting the tuner input signal or something. If anyone has one of these, can give it a try assuming you don't have anything connected via the phono input. Been a couple decades now, so going off memory, but it definitely altered the harshness of the contour.

[@nehumnome]

i will try and tell you

[@benkrake3678]

My family used to have a receiver just like this one years ago as far back as I could remember, then I got it when I was in high school after Dad upgraded to another Technics system with Dolby Pro Logic. We had the matching components for the full stereo stack to go with it, cassette deck, EQ, turntable and 3 way speakers. Later on my dad brought a Technics CD player to go with it but it was dark grey/black and didn’t match the rest of the system. Unfortunately because it only had one tape/AUX input, we had to use in input selector switch to go between tape and CD, which meant I couldn’t record from CD to tape and that really sucked for me! I still remembered how excited I was as a young kid when my dad came home from work one day with a new Technics system that had allowed me to record from CD to tape. The new system was pretty much just a new receiver and double tape deck, and kept using the old CD player and the speakers we had with the old system. Later on my dad upgraded the CD player to a Sony 5 disc player and also upgraded to Jamo speakers with a passive subwoofer. My parents are still using this Technics receiver and Jamo speakers set up today!

[@vwestlife]

I've seen boxes damaged by all three major carriers (USPS, UPS, and FedEx). Putting an item in a box with no padding between it and the box is going to cause damage no matter how it's shipped.

[@Sherif13275]

a friend of mine had this receiver back in 90s he brought it to my house with its speakers we were shaking the house with it. it was a monster ! we don't dare to move the volume more than 6 :) good choice sorry for the damage.

[@christopherjohnson2422]

I know that this video was posted years ago, but YT’s algorithm just now called my attention to it. I enjoyed watching your review of this receiver, because I owned one of them in the 1980s. I thought it worked quite well. I finally replaced it because (as you pointed out) it lacks a true Aux input, and that became a nuisance at a time when I devices began to proliferate-cassette deck, CD player, stereo VCR.

[@vwestlife]

You mean the song on Thunder 106? I have no idea.

[@Devo_gx]

Old video, but if anyone stumbles by this later, the song is "Last Name" by Carrie Underwood

[@wa27]

I was looking up video reviews on Technics receivers and found this. Your voice and editing style seemed so familiar and then it dawned on me - You made the Mazda3 features video that I watched a few years ago! What are the odds?

[@vwestlife]

Thanks for the view. I do some videos about cars, but mostly videos about electronics and computers.

[@martyjewell5683]

Technics ALWAYS made fine turntables for the money. Their direct drive units received rave reviews. Their speakers were never really competitive. Technics did produce some good receivers. Don't know why there wasn't a model SA-100? The SA-101 sold for $180 in 1980/81 could handle two pairs of speakers, was 18wpc, THD 0.04%, signal/noise ratio 78db phono, 95db line. An FM mute/stereo mode, extra aux input in addition to a tape loop. A stereo LED indicator and 5 segment LED signal strength meter. An even better deal in receivers was the 1978/79 model SA-80! It was 15wpc THD 0.3% (not great but acceptable for 1978). Could handle two pairs of speakers, also had an AUX input plus a tape monitor. Signal/noise ratio of 78db phono, 95db line. Very good S/N for a budget unit! A stereo LED and a VU signal strength meter and FM muting/mono on the function knob. These were very good budget components. It seems the earlier (1975/76) SA50 and SA51 series command a premium price on e-bay, and are more desired. Some models like the SA-5060 are very rare. My brother-in-law has an SA-5060 (12wpc) receiver and it functions perfectly. That's 41 years old!! Quality is where you find it.

[@vwestlife]

That's the trophy my 1980 Audi 5000 Diesel won at a car show. That car was in excellent condition for its age, but its engine needed a rebuild and I didn't want to get involved in that, so I sold it.

[@vwestlife]

There was also the SA-130, a minor cosmetic update of the 120. Have you ever seen or owned one of these 1980s Technics receivers where the clip to hold the AM loop antenna is intact? I guess they left it up to the user to install, and most people -- not being particularly interested in AM radio on their home stereo system -- didn't.

[@peterbystrom6799]

My first reciever. I got in in 1983 and it still works. Now I have trubble with volume potentiometer dropping one channel and light stoped working. It looks easy to fix after watching this video!

[@infinitecanadian]

You should do videos of you repairing things. I, for one, dig that sort of thing, and it is what got me interested in electronics.

[@weasel2htm]

1:56 the thought has crossed my mind more than once on "that" type of "packing material"

[@XMguy]

nice find! I run my 80s era Yahama RX-460 hard so the caps for the audio amp get hot, really hot. but the fins keep it cool and the caps still look good.

[@sandmanxo]

I'm amazed how different this is from the Technics SA-700 that I had for around 25 years. It was made in the 1980-1982 time frame and is built much better than that cheap piece of junk, and it's also got pots on the front for all it's controls rather than sliders. Mine also has wood on the sides. It's in need of a cap kit and the pots need cleaning, but the last time I used it a couple of years ago it was still working great, and I need to do a video on it soon.

[@cukedaddy]

The speaker protection is checking the circuit before the relay clicks...nothing has to warm up unless it's tube driven.

[@MacPhantom]

I don't think the loudness is turned on all the time (never heard of Technics devices being "sounded"). Technics indeed put a speaker protection circuit (either a relay or capacitor) in every device, hence the long start-up time. It's also funny to see a lowest-end Technics device having something like Marantz's Gyro-Touch Tuning wheel. Oh, and I've also never seen a Technics device constructed in Singapore (only Japan and Spain). Same goes for Technics-branded capacitors.

[@vwestlife]

$160 for a 20 watt per channel receiver was very competitive at the time -- but the receivers Radio Shack was selling in that price range in 1983 looked and felt higher-class and had more features, compared to this very "plain-Jane" Technics.

[@Trance88]

These early 80's Technics are decent little receivers. I had a higher end model, SA-410, for a couple years until the speaker relay stopped working. It had such nice sound. Very quiet noise floor too. These Technics receivers do have a long delay in the relay activation. I currently use an SA-200 from 1978 that uses fuses instead of a relay so it has instant on. When you turn it off it has that gradual speaker fade out which is from the big filter capacitors retaining a little bit of a charge

[@frschoonover1]

I have a Technics SA-120 receiver like Dean Irwin has. I bought it at Goodwill for only $11.00 and it does work pretty good. I am hoping that you will get around to reviewing the SA-120 soon. I would like to know your feelings and thoughts about it. I have a Technics SL-Q200 Quartz turntable hooked up to it. The cassette deck is a Teac W-505R dual auto reverse cassette deck. Last but not least, I have a Marantz CDR 300 professional CD recorder. I also would like to know your feelings and thoughts regarding those latter three units as well. I enjoy your review videos. They are very informative and helpful. Thanks and keep up the good work.

[@Cabsmell]

Someone just put this out on the curb near my apartment. Haven't hooked it up yet but I'm excited to see what it can do

[@edmaurus2511]

I just picked up a Technics SA-111 at an estate sale for $5 and it works! Seems like a very similar unit to this.

[@bluenazz]

That was a good review of the Technics SA-110. I used to have a Technics SA-210 and I still own an SA-510. The models 210 and above used digital fluorescent? tuning displays. My 510 is a Class A unit and runs very hot. I don't like the push button volume control though. But it really looks sweet! I'll do a YT presentation on it sometime.

[@IntelGoesHard]

i bought a cheap JVC receiver from goodwill for 6 bucks at the thriftmart. I would def call it "cheap but cheerful" because it powers my 2 10" subs and a couple mid ranges just fine

[@gweagraff]

I have gone through quite a few Technics slimline receivers, including an SA-203, in fact 2 of them. It seemed like a good receiver but after awhile the tuning started to drift, which was also the case in an SA-120 that I have, which I think was a step up from this. Has that happened with this receiver that you have? I also have an SA-222 and SA-424 that have a rather unique issue, after turned on for awhile it has an odor to it.

[@hypercube33]

The aggressive tuning is somewhat interesting. Its good that you dont have to listen to static, but probably feels super sloppy when you're hunting. Can it pick up weak stations or does it just ignore them?

[@CosmicKangaroo]

How long have you been collecting stereo equipment and computer equipment? Also how's your radio station going?

[@shaneblandford-scherr3375]

I have a Technics SA-8100x 850$ new in 1978 80 watts RMS per channel with 4 VU meters and a watt output control for each speaker, plugs for up to 8 speakers, 4-32 ohms and 3 aux jacks 3 tape jacks and 2 record player jacks its the most beautiful receiver ever made I think to, its like canned whipping cream and peanut butter, beautiful.........

[@pianocrisante90]

As long as you are able to turn it on, it doesn't matter if both sides are damaged. 01:04-01:08.

[@FrightfulAccountant]

A real shame of the shipping! But anyway, I am also surprised this one has a metal faceplate. I have a later entry level Technics receiver, a SA Z50L Silver edition, simular layout, but with an aux line input, standard FM antenna connector and a loudness on/off switch, but the faceplate is plastic (a rather high quality though) and there is no back lightening of the tuner dial. The twist lock connectors are indeed a bit of a nasty design. They tend to rip thin speaker wires and wont twist on thicker speaker wires, leading to bad connections in both cases. But other than that 100% bulletproof, Technics build quality probably was about the best you could find in this price range.

[@StormsRadiosCats]

Speaking of heat, i have a Yamaha Natural Sound AV Receiver HTR-5280 that is a monster and puts some major heat. It is sitting on a shelf in my desk that offers 6-7 inches of space between the top of the receiver and the next shelf, i like the receiver buuut it's more of a winter piece of gear or more suited for a very cool room. The heat is just that bad, it is well vented but it just doesn't seem to be enough. I bought the Yamaha at a thrift store for $9 usd.

[@wilkes85]

Ah, it's too bad it got damaged in shipping, but at least the damage wasn't that bad. With packaging like that, it could have been worse! You could probably take off the faceplate, and hammer it flat with a rubber mallet. Nice job getting the shipping cost refunded. It may be a cheap receiver, but I'd say it does the job nicely. That trophy seems to be a good antenna holder... did you buy it for that, or did you win it? If I won a trophy that impressive looking, I'd display it prominently :-)

[@XPEric123]

What's the first song that you played?

[@NikoNoxious]

this vs ex version?

[@ToxicwasteProductions]

i do beleave its an shania twain song. spelling might not be correct. not sure what song but prettu sure its one of hers.

[@JoshuasRecordings]

Panasonic & Technics are made by Matsushita. I do not know why they left Technics and now are all Panasonic. Panasonic is also a higher end brand!

[@marksmediatv7734]

There still kicking. Also there making new SL-1200's

[@JoshuasRecordings]

Yea, I heard about that comeback.

[@THOMASSU63]

Maybe it was different in the states but here in Europe Technics was like any other brand back in the seventies and eighties. They had everything from cheap up to high-end products. In fact my first amp was a cheap Technics SU-7100.

[@Daniel-79]

I used to have a Sharp SA 250. It was similar in size specs but it just seemed to have better fit and finish. When thinking of receiver brands most people would go for technics over sharp. Sometimes the name doesn’t always lend itself to the quality that has gone before it.

[@devilsoffspring5519]

For receivers of about 80WPC or less, it doesn't make much difference what brand they were because they all used Sanyo STK amplifier modules anyway :) Technics, Sharp/Optonica, Sony, etc. etc. etc... It didn't matter, they were all Sanyo under the hood. They made a gazillion and one of those things and they went into every make and model of receiver under the sun, from the cheapest of the cheap to outrageously overpriced 'boutique' models with obscure names--as long as they were ~80WPC or less, they were essentially all the same thing :)

[@pianocrisante90]

Is it also an AM transmitter.

[@neilforbes416]

The parent to Technics and Panasonic is Matsushita Electric Corp. The two brand-names were once attached to the National brand through the 1960s and 1970s, so products would sell as National Panasonic or National Technics. The National brand disappeared in the early-to-mid 1980s.

[@vwestlife]

The National brand name was never officially used in the USA. In Japan, Matsushita continued to use the National brand until 2008, when they also changed the name of the parent company to Panasonic Corporation.

[@bluenazz]

The heat from the top of my 510 was certainly noticeable. I never took it's temperature though (:-> I bought mine at a yard sale in the mid 90's and used it as my primary receiver for a couple of years. Then replaced it with Luxman receiver that I liked better.

[@RazzellAudio]

I have a SA-110L (European model) which i bought for £15, I have notice few differences in that the SA-110L Has more heatsink fins and the fuse is on a PCB under the dusk cover near the caps and that the FM muting doesn't "Grab" the signal. definitely not the best Receiver but good enough for using with some small Sony SA-85E Speakers for the computer.

[@MrComputerfan]

I have a JVC R-S77. It reminds me in different functions of your Technics. It also takes hours to switch on the speakers and also has that weird Antenna Connection for FM. It has a lot of different problems with the Electronic, but it is enough for my TV Speakers.

[@Blueblur444]

Not bad. I used to have this exact receiver that I got for free from a shed clearout. It wasn't too bad, but as you say, certainly not high-end. I got rid of it in favor of a nicer, older Pioneer SX-600 though.

[@chriskalkman3815]

I've always been impressed with RCA.

[@marshallborder9089]

Sad you got a bun shipment as far as the damage , but this unit has got a seemly good sound . I like the Technics , I have the Technics SA-310 .

[@lynrose5186]

Hi, im looking for a Technics SA-212 review.

[@vwestlife]

Then you came to the wrong place.

[@lynrose5186]

:(

[@atanaspacov418]

that thing is low-end. The transformer is so small... I have another Sharp who is also 20 watts / channel and STK based, but the transformall is huge. I don't know why :D

[@IntelGoesHard]

how could they possibly think that would arrive in a good state?

[@oldradioguy65]

I just recently picked up an SA-120. All it needed was a dial light.

[@Xenium_Q]

Technics SA-5760 and 5770 were The Best Technics receivers... S-o for the SA-5### series. Nice receivers. This one is an entry level, low cost but still better than many BPC or today crappy receivers. I had something identical and did not dissapoint.

[@markcovington8159]

Hey VWestlife. I think the fault of this belongs to the one who packed this stereo receiver for it to be shipped to you. What do you think?

[@theatomicpunkkid]

Boy, can it DX on am though!

[@davarosmith1334]

Two different Rolling stones songs on that radio , was that Jagger FM! The Beatles and U2. You can't beat the old hi fi's . I have a load of old school hi fi's like technics, Hitachi, Panasonic, Ferguson and Aiwa. I can't fault them they do the job!

[@EzeeLinux]

That's a damn shame. It's such a cute little receiver.

[@WeatherSTARIII]

Maybe whoever was selling the Technics stereo probably didn't had any boxes available that was big enough to fit the stereo with additional protection.

[@wilfromkc]

I had the same problem when my Harmon Kardon receiver was shipped.

[@scanman975]

I've had the same experience with items arriving broken due to improper packing. I swear, some of the people selling on Ebay are stupid beyond belief! If you're going to sell items on Ebay, learn how to package them properly! Otherwise, prepare to feel my wrath if I end up unpackaging a damaged item!

[@oldgamecafe]

Yes, stupid people.

[@SproutyPottedPlant]

Yayyy 1direction!!!

[@KongKingman]

Had a guy send me a vintage radio in a PLASTIC BAG, nothing else! Guy had gall to dispute my EBay claim, my pictures refuted his claim.

[@oldgamecafe]

That happpens when people ignore how make an appropiate package. Me happpens the same, a stupid seller didn't send my technics audio System without bubblewrap so, the System arrived seriously damaged.

[@connorm955]

It would look good with the Technics SL-D2

[@ashleycox432]

I agree, it should've been branded a Panasonic. Panasonic ruined technics, sadly... just think where technics would've been today if they were still in the market. Still, decent performance for what it is. How does the phono stage sound on these lower end units - can you demo that?

[@catlover10192]

I'm not sure how Panasonic could've ruined Technics when from what I can see, Technics was always just a brand name owned by them.

[@XMguy]

Carrie Underwood - Last Name

[@cxcmb]

i got one of these for free recently, so i can really complain about the lower quality level for a technics receiver.

[@TheBcoolGuy]

furst!!!11!! I'm making a video in your style, as I PM'd. :P

[@chainedenintenloup]

My receiver is a Technics by panasonic sa-80 and it is much better than this one. I think this one come from the late 70's of course the case is in wood and the front is in brushed stanles. This one too takes some time to open but this is the case only when i am on fm otherwise it start instantly on the other inputs. It also have a and b speakers or in this case main and remote and it also have loudness switch. Why did you bought a cheep reciver like this one ?

[@EastAngliaUK]

Nice amp shame about the condition it came in though.

[@hellhound-si5oz]

now cap will fix the bass

[@rmx77]

i had one of those a few years ago. its an ok receiver but could be better

[@erics8757]

You should have gotten a full refund, not just Shipping. The damage was caused by their improper packing.

[@devilsoffspring5519]

No shit, I'd be pissed about that. What a waste. And what a lazy, apathetic loser of a vendor. The problem is, they only send your shipment *after* the payment has cleared. Just get a new credit card at the bank, order a bunch of expensive stuff from the same vendor and *only* use your new credit card for payment. When your orders arrive, call the credit card company, cancel all payments and then cut up your credit card and throw it away. STIFF the mother fucker. I've done it.

[@jdc1960ful]

Nice receiver, They could have done a better job with packing it.

[@chriskalkman3815]

The speakers actually don't sound that bad

[@christianlopez534]

I have the sa-222 model, very similar to this one.. Nice receivers😀

[@toneyisaiah408]

Stereo receivers from the 1980s.

[@codebeat4192]

Sad receiver :-(, stupid packaging. Had the same with a boombox sent to me, even with packing instructions/ideas the guy that sold this boombox was still able to do it wrong. He was using only newspapers and also detach the speakers, oh man. Result: scratches on the front and elsewhere and broken knob. Destroyed in seconds by wrong packaging.

[@jefferyclark2340]

nothings perfect

[@barriep9]

You should of sent it back and get a refund

[@vwestlife]

*should've

[@scrunts666]

I would have got a full refund on that.

[@djwalter4]

One direction! Ewwwwwwwwww!

[@barryp9463]

Send it back for a refund