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At £1,598, this listing is ambitious compared to the typical used market for the Radford STA 25, where the median asking price is £390 and the 75th percentile sits at £650; the asking price more than doubles the top quartile, making it a steep ask unless the condition is pristine and the SC22 control unit is fully functional. Even accounting for the included SC22, the price lands well above recent comparable listings, including a similar MK3 pair at £1,800–£1,950, but those are for matched sets, whereas this is a single amplifier with a control unit.
The STA 25 is a well-regarded British valve amp known for its warm, musical tone and robust build, and pairing it with the SC22 remote control adds genuine usability rare in vintage valve gear. If this unit is original-owner, fully serviced, and includes all cables and the remote, the upside in rarity and convenience could justify the premium for a collector, but for a typical buyer, it’s a high-risk entry unless the seller can verify recent recapping and flawless operation.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Radford Electronics, a storied British hi-fi brand from Bristol, traces its origins to 1946 when radio enthusiast Arthur Hedley Radford—amateur callsign G6YA—began crafting amplifiers in the postwar era. The company quickly gained traction with its debut hi-fi model in 1959, building on pre-war electronics expertise to produce gear that captured the imagination of early audiophiles. Though the original firm wound down, its legacy endures through Radford Revival, a UK craft outfit meticulously recreating classics with modern tweaks while honoring exacting original specs.
Radford's product focus centered on amplifiers, where they excelled in both valve (tube) and early transistor designs, including integrated models like the HD250. They pioneered transmission line speakers and dabbled in preamps, such as the rare SC22P with onboard power supply. Output transformers stood out as their hallmark, delivering unparalleled clarity and power. Turntables, DACs, headphones, and cables never featured prominently; their domain was pure amplification and speaker innovation.
Renowned for quality "second to none," Radford occupies a niche vintage-collector space, appealing to high-end enthusiasts chasing that golden-era British sound. Once a benchmark for Williamson-style amps, today's Revival editions cater to boutique buyers seeking authentic tone with reliability upgrades, cementing their status among obscure icons rather than mass-market players.
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