RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
At £70, this Sharp SM-1144 is a standout bargain, sitting well below the typical used market where single units rarely dip under £100–£120. While a reconditioned pair with its matching tuner recently fetched roughly £160 (€225), the amplifier alone typically trades in the £90–£140 range, making this listing a genuine strong deal for a 1978 vintage unit.
The SM-1144 is well-regarded for its clean 22W per channel output, low 0.8% distortion, and exceptional 10Hz–70kHz frequency response, delivering surprisingly robust sound for its era. Its high damping factor of 30 ensures tight bass control, and finding this precision-era Japanese amp at this price offers immediate upside for building a classic, low-noise system without the usual vintage hunt costs.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Sharp is a Japanese electronics company founded in 1912 by Tokuji Hayakawa, who began with a small metalworking workshop in Tokyo. The company’s name comes from its early “Ever-Ready Sharp” mechanical pencil, and its broader corporate identity grew out of a long history of practical consumer innovation rather than specialist audio alone.
In audio, Sharp has been associated mainly with mainstream consumer hi-fi and AV rather than ultra-audiophile hardware. Over the decades it has produced items such as radios, televisions, receivers, and other home-electronics components; in the modern era its audio presence is tied more to compact systems and mass-market electronics than to a deep catalog of standalone amplifiers, DACs, turntables, or headphones.
In market terms, Sharp is best understood as a heritage Japanese consumer brand with periodic involvement in audio, not a dedicated high-end hi-fi marque. For knowledgeable buyers, that means the brand carries historical legitimacy and recognition, but its reputation is closer to reliable mid-market electronics than boutique or reference-grade specialist audio.
See all Sharp listings on RADAR.
