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This is a strong buyer’s market for vintage Stax electrostatic gear, and the £375 asking price for the SRM-T1 preamp is a genuine bargain, sitting well below the typical used range of roughly £600–£850. Recent Japanese auction data shows an average sale near £220–£250 for unmodified units, but modified or serviced examples with the CCS/ECC99 upgrade routinely hit £900–£1,100, making this £375 listing an exceptional value even for a stock unit.

The SRM-T1 remains a beloved entry into Stax’s tube-driven world, delivering the warm, musical punch that defines the brand when paired with energy speakers or electrostatic headphones. Its hybrid design blends semiconductor stability with tube richness, and the included ECC99 tube (if original) is a key asset. At this price, the upside is immense: even if it needs a tube refresh or bias check, you’re still undercosting a revered piece that often fetches double when listed with known condition. This is a clear buying opportunity for any Stax novice or collector.

Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.

About Stax

Stax traces its origins to 1938 in Tokyo, Japan, when Naotake Hayashi founded Showa Kouon Co., Ltd. in Chiyoda-ku. Initially focused on wax disc recording, metal master production, and audio equipment for film soundtracks, the company evolved through the postwar era. In 1950, it launched its first high-frequency condenser microphone, adopted by NHK, and renamed itself STAX Co., Ltd. in 1963, honoring its pioneering Stax-1 mic. A brief suspension in 1995 due to economic pressures gave way to revival, preserving its legacy under family leadership.

The brand specializes in electrostatic headphones, known as "EARSPEAKERS," debuting with the world-first SR-1 in 1960. This innovation spawned enduring lines like the SR series, produced for decades with incremental refinements for superior resolution and staging. Stax complements these with dedicated electrostatic amplifiers and select accessories, eschewing conventional speakers, turntables, DACs, or cables to hone its transducer expertise.

Stax commands a niche high-end position among audiophiles and professionals, revered for unmatched transparency and fidelity that rivals cost-no-object loudspeakers. Its 85-year heritage cements it as a boutique icon in electrostatic technology, far from mass-market fare, appealing to discerning buyers seeking pinnacle sonic transduction.

See all Stax listings on RADAR.

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