This Sony STR-V2 is a somewhat unique lower end offering from Sony. Made in Korea it hit the market in 1978 and sold for around $260.00. The STR line included the V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6 and the top of the line, 150 watt per channel, STR-V7. However, the V4 came out later. I believe the STR-Vx line was export only and weren’t sold in Japan. Not many were sold in the U.S. either and the dominant market was in Europe. You can find them occasionally in the U.S. today though. The STR-V2, and the rest of the STR-Vx line, had a somewhat unique design in that the dial scale is in the middle of the front panel with the meters and tuning and volume knobs above it. Sony also utilized a kind of aqua green lighting which gives the STR-V2 a cool look.
The limited features of the 25 watt per channel Sony STR-V2 include a FM frequency linear dial scale, FM inter-station muting, tape input and output, loudness compensation switch, signal strength meter, center channel meter, stereo indicator light and a stereo headphone output.
The large professional stepped volume control is nice touch as are the 11 position stepped tone controls.
Specifications:
- Tuning range: FM, MW
- Power output: 25 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo)
- Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz
- Total harmonic distortion: 0.3%
- Dimensions: 465 x 143 x 362mm / 5 11/16 x 19 11/16 x 15 7/16
- Wood side panels
Under the hood the STR-V2 sports a true complimentary DC power amplifier, Uni-phase IF filters and PLL in multiplex decoder. It uses IC’s for everything in the tuner except for the front end.
The build quality is good even though the STR-V2 was near the bottom of the STR-Vx line. The STR-Vx line was probably the last of the mid range quality receivers made by Sony before they moved toward a focus on the low end consumer grade audio and the very high end Sony ES equipment.
Sony’s STR-V2 is a nice little receiver. It’s look alone with the aqua green lights, wood side panels and slightly different finish textures make it desirable. The low power output and minimal features may make some of the higher numbered STR-Vx models more appealing, the STR-V4 is really the sleeper of that line, but the STR-V2 will still do the job in a small room or garage.
