RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
This is a solid older Sony integrated, but the asking price looks ambitious rather than sharp. At £172, it sits well above the £132 75th percentile and far over the £95 median for recent UK comparables, so I’d only bite if this one is especially tidy, serviced, or comes with something meaningful that justifies the premium.
The upside is that these Sonys are generally liked for clean, dependable everyday listening and a no-nonsense presentation that suits a lot of systems. If it’s genuinely original, quiet, and unmolested, that helps; otherwise, with vintage amps, condition matters more than cosmetics, so you’d want proof of healthy controls, stable channels, and no scratchy pots before paying that much.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Sony emerged from the ruins of post-World War II Japan, founded on May 7, 1946, by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita as Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K.K. in Tokyo's Nihonbashi district. Starting with radio repairs and Japan's first magnetic tape recorder, the duo secured transistor licensing from Bell Labs, pioneering the TR-55 transistor radio in 1955. Renamed Sony Corporation in 1958—from the Latin "sonus" for sound—the brand symbolized Japan's ascent from cheap imitations to innovative leadership, fueled by Ibuka's engineering prowess and Morita's global marketing vision.
Sony's hi-fi legacy spans headphones, amplifiers, speakers, turntables, and DACs, alongside landmark formats like the Compact Disc in 1982 and Blu-ray. Iconic products include the Walkman for portable audio revolution and Trinitron televisions, blending consumer accessibility with cutting-edge tech. Today, offerings like the Signature Series headphones and ES amplifiers target discerning listeners seeking refined soundstaging and dynamic range.
Positioned as a mid-to-high-end powerhouse, Sony commands respect among knowledgeable buyers for blending mass-market reliability with premium performance, outpacing many pure audiophile brands in innovation and value. Far from vintage relic or niche boutique, it dominates with forward-thinking engineering, holding strong market share in headphones and streaming ecosystems.
See all Sony listings on RADAR.
