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Unknown condition makes this a price-first buy, and at £976 it lands below the £1,009 25th percentile and well under the £1,221 median for recent UK comparables. That puts it in strong-deal territory rather than merely fair, especially for a sought-after desktop headphone amp/DAC from Sony’s premium ES line.
It’s a worthwhile buy because this model is widely respected for its clean, muscular drive, polished DAC section, and very flexible feature set, so it still makes sense as a serious all-in-one source/control hub. The upside is good if it’s complete and tidy: check for the original remote, power lead, and any evidence of heavy heat use or intermittent sockets, but at this price those are diligence items, not deal-breakers.
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.
Reverb
audio-markt.de
Good
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StereoNET
eBay UK
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eBay UK
↓ 9%
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StereoNET
