The ENTIRE Sony Profeel line in one photo!

[kx250rider]

Here's a picture I took here tonight... EVERY ONE of the models in the Profeel series is here! KX-2501 with rare rosewood option, KX-1901, KX-1211, and the UNBELIEVABLY RARE KX-4200. The KX-402 uses the same 3.7" CRT as the KV-4000/4100. As far as I know, that one was never sold to the public. I have only ever seen this one, and only heard of one other. Also shown are both Profeel tuners; VTX-1000R & VTX-1100R. And if that isn't enough, both speaker pair options; SSX-1 & SSX-2! And the remote exclusive to the Profeel; the RM-705. Note that all of these have the ALWAYS-BUSTED-OR-MISSING control doors; NOT BUSTED! *the doors must not be installed while carrying a Profeel... That's why they're always busted or missing.

Anyhow, I wonder if all four models were ever seen in one room before......... Like anyone cares?

Charles

[charliemcd]

Hey Charles, thanks for sharing. I am impressed - first time I've ever even SEEN the other Profeel components you've got in your photo.

I'll never forget the day I came home with my KX-2501, tuner and speakers, got everything hooked up and fired her up! Even got the Sony TV cabinet for everything to rest their little tushes on. And, my control door is NOT busted. Can't say the same for my a$$ after moving that damn monitor through four moves, it weighs a ton.

My biggest gripe is the VTX-1000R tuner isn't compatible with cable these days. You can tune up to 36, right? Are there any other options besides using a VCR tuner? What was the difference between the VTX-1000R and the VTX-1100R?

[kx250rider]

The VTX-1100 has CATV up to ch 80, and as you mentioned the VTX-1000 is only to 36. Also, the 1100 has on screen channel display. Only down side to the 1100 is that it has no 0-to-9 buttons inside the door like the 1000 has. If your control door isn't busted, that means you have common sense that others don't always seem to have. The way they get busted is that when you go to lift the KX, your Right knee goes right through the door . I usually pop the door off safely.

And you're not kidding about the weight of the 2501... 126 pounds!

Charles

[charliemcd]

Thanks Charles. Looks like I have a new mission - find a 1100. I can live without the number buttons on the tuner, still have my RM-705 remote workin'!

[axel]

very impressive !!

[gobies]

Sony USA's web site doesn't know what this is? I just picked one up for $20. It appears to work. I don't have cable. I seem to be picking up local low wattage stations that my television never noticed. Any specs on the tuner?

thanks in advance

[Sandy G]

Oooooh, Charles ! You DOG !! Green w/envy !! Seriously, DAMN nice collection...<grin>

[colorfixer]

Anyone have the electrolytic caps in the voltage converter section go causing the audio to go bad on these things? The transistors in the can that covers these literally cook the caps causing them to fail, or cook the board or both.

I'd be curious if there was a modification to make these things tune the higher cable channels... Panasonic tv's used to have a hack that made their preset tuners tune beyond channel 36, but were "crippled" at the behest of the cable companies not to do this.

[andy]

...

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by andy

I believe the VTX-1100 tunes to channel 125 and is otherwise the same and the VTX-1000.

Yes... I have a few of the 1100s in service, and they go at least into the 100s. It wouldn't be practical to modify the 1000. There are also several newer versions of Sony component tuners which were meant to go with the PVM series monitors; made up through the late 90s at least. They have no DIN plug, but they do have the CONTROL S socket so the remote will control the KX monitors.

There was a BIG problem with failing caps in the DC-DC converter circuit in the VTX tuners. I can't remember the locations and values, but there are 5 or 6 that I usually change. Symptoms range from wiggling on-screen display to humming and patterns, and non-startup. The caps are mainly under a metal can.

Charles

[loomis]

Can you tell me more about this Profeel line? I have never heard of them before, probably because I am an audio guy. Thanks.

[dr.ido]

Does anyone have a picture of remote for these tuners? I've got a VTX-100EC tuner that looks similar (but not exactly the same) as the tuners in the above photo. It came with an RM-611 remote which looks like right, but will only control the TV/AV function, it won't change channels/etc.

It also came with a Sony video color corrector (XV-5000? It's not infront of me right now) which is in a similar style case, but I don't know if that is part of Profeel line.

[andy]

....

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by andy

This is for the VTX-1000. Note the lack of an enter button.


http://cgi.ebay.com/SONY-IR-TV-REMOT...QQcmdZViewItem

Correct. It's an RM-705 if I recall.

There were a few other accessories for the KX Profeel series:

2 or 3 versions of matching stands

3 versions of speaker pairs

a stereo decoder box that matched the VTX tuner

and most Sony audio equipment of 1981-83 matched the VTX and had CONTROL L and CONTROL S jacks to be interactive.

The color corrector and SB-V5W swith box were also matching accessories.

Charles

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by loomis

Can you tell me more about this Profeel line? I have never heard of them before, probably because I am an audio guy. Thanks.

It was a high-end line, designed to be an equal quality setup to what the studios were using for their monitors. They started the whole "monitor-style" TV fad of the 80s, which continued up to recently. Just about everybody copied the Profeel. I have no idea where Sony came up with that name either. But nor can I figure where Sony coughed up the names "VAIO, CLIE, WEGA, 'CORDER."

Charles