by Aldo Andreani
(First issue July 16, 2000; last revision March 1, 2014)
According to my observations and your help (1) the situation is the following (please inform me for any mistake or addition); "see" means "see for example":
- TR = AM only (MW or MW+SW or MW+SW+LW): see TR-610
- TFM (EFM with Esaki diode) = AM+FM: see TFM-110, EFM-117
- TRM = marine band (SW 1.5-4.5 Mc): see TR-88 (MW only), TRM-88 (MW+SW marine band)
- TR-C or TFM-C = AC clock: see TR-C290, TFM-C444
- TRW = DC watch: see TRW-621
- 1R-8R (MW only) and 2F-8F (MW+FM). The first digit speaks of the size of the radio: 1 for the smallest (see 1R-81), 8 for the largest (see 8R-42, 8F38W). C as the third digit = clock (see 8RC-52, 8FC-55)
- ICR = Integrated circuit AM: see ICR-100
- ICF = Integrated circuit with FM: see ICF-1100. As in the previous examples (TR-C290, TFM-C444, 8RC-52, 8FC-55), an additional C means clock (see ICF-C10W). Sometimes an additional digit is present for mono (ICF-M) and stereo (ICF-S)
- In Ireland they used to add "zero" to the corresponding Japanese model (see TR-609 and TR-6090; TR-712 and TR-7120) but TR-608 is different from TR-6080
- Sometimes (starting from the first model and ending in 1965) the first digit after TR- or TFM- is the number of transistors (see TR-510 = 5 transistors; TR-610 = 6 transistors)
- CF stays for cassette (radio + tape recorders): see CF-300. Sometimes an additional digit is present for mono (CFM) and stereo (CFS)
- CRF = multiband, transoceanic: see CRF-230
- MD = car radios
- MR = matrix sound: see MR-9100
- SRF = ministereo: see SRF-201
- ST (without amplifier) and STR (with amplifier) = tuner: see ST-80, STR-160
- STA = stereo adapter: see STA-38 which is the stereo adapter of the 8F-38W
- Last letter:
- A (=Advanced, Ameliorated?) stays for an improvement: see TFM-121 (160mW) and TFM-121A (300 mW)
- B = MW, SW 3.9-12 Mc, Y = MW, SW 6-18 Mc: see TR-710B and TR-710Y
- L (=with LW): see TFM-95 and TFM-95L
- T (=Three, Triple?) see TR-910T (MW, SW1 3-9 Mc, SW2 9-24 Mc) and TR-910 (MW, SW 3.9-12 Mc)
- W (=World, wide FM). See 2F-23 and 2F-23W. In Japan commercial FM band is at 75-95 MHz. The radio without the letter W is for domestic use, whereas the set with the letter W is for export use. Otherwise the radio for domestic use bears the letter J (see TFM-916J and TFM-916).
- Y see above (B)
(1)
This table has been improved with contributes by:
- Larry Dodd (ledodd@aol.com)
- Toshiya Abiko (DL973Y4@webtv.ne.jp)
- Antonio De Fazio (epjod@tin.it)
- Sture Nystrom (sture.nystrom@bredband.net)
Examples of recent models:
PORTABLE RADIOS
ICF-M350V V = Television audio reception
ICF-S70 S = Splash Proof (water resistant)
ICF-34 x4= Four Band AM/FM/TV/Weather portable radio
ICF-24 2x= 2 band AM/FM portable radio
ICF-S10 S= Splash Proof
CLOCK RADIOS
ICF-CD1000 CD = CD Player
ICF-CD825RM RM = Remote Control CD
SCT-250 SCT = Scanning Cordless Telephone
SCT-ID10 ID = Caller ID
ICF-C900HS HS = Home Security (Light)
ICF-C723 C = LCD Display
ICF-CS660 CS = Cassette Stereo
WORLD BAND RECEIVERS
ICF-SW77 SW= Short Wave
ICF-SW1000T T = Cassette Tape
ICF-SW100S S = Single Sideband Reception
ICF-SW7600G G = LonG Wave
SCANNERS
ICF-SC1PC PC = PC interface
INTERCOM
NTM-1 M = Monitoring
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July 16, 2000
If you want to know the meaning of the Sony codes, the easiest thing to do is to ask Sony. In May 1999 I wrote to Sony-Japan and I received the following reply from Sony-Italy: "this information is not available". I don't understand if it is a secret unavailable to the public or if they lost the memory of this meaning. I just know that the Sony codes are now a puzzle that I would be glad to put together with your help.