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AKAI AS-1080 - 1976High-End Vintage Receiver *PROF RESTORED* 160 Watts RMS1976 RRP $890 AUD2025 Inflation Adjusted RRP $7,022.51 AUDIn Excellent Condition!All-Stage Direct Coupled OCL Pure Complementary Power Amplifier***PROFESSIONALLY RESTORED****** DETAILS BELOW ***This Huge Vintage GOLDEN ERA MONSTER Quad Amplifier measures 520mm wide and is great for Stereo and Quadraphonic playback. It is one of the more powerful Quadraphonic amplifiers of the era featuring a total 160 Watts RMS output in either 2 channel or 4 channel modes.In addition to its timeless and elegant design it features CD4, & turntable/phono inputs and can add Bluetooth or pretty much any modern music source to this. This is a physically huge and heavy amp in great condition, looks great with brushed aluminium and timber laminate case and 4 awesome analogue VU meters.AKAI's top model for 1976 and the Successor to the AS-980, it was literally hand made at the Akai factory in Japan. It came in two versions, one with a built in dolby noise-reduction (AS-1080DB) and one with out it, this is the non dolby model. Akai units from the 70s are known for their warm sound with many folks preferring them to Sansui. In 2Ch mode this boasts a hefty 80 Watts Per Channel RMS.SPECIFICATIONS:80 watts per channel continuous power output 2 Channel @ 8 ohms40 watts per channel continuous power output 4 Channel @ 8 ohmsSupports SQ, Matrix, CD-4 and DiscreetTuning range: FM, MWPower output: 2x 80W/ch (stereo), 4x 40W/ch (quadraphonic)Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHzTotal harmonic distortion: 0.2%Input sensitivity: 3mV (MM), 160mV (line)Signal to noise ratio: 80dB (MM), 90dB (line)Channel separation: 50dB (MM)Dimensions: 520 x 182 x 409mmWeight: 19kgaudiophile, analogue audio, analog, film prop, studio, retro**************************************************RESTORATION TO THIS RECEIVER INCLUDED:**************************************************Service including: clean, deoxidisation and lube to all potentiometers behind each knob and all switches.Replaced leaky capacitors in the power amplification circuit.Ordered 30 transistors to individually measure the hfe gain of each one of them in order to best match 4 pairs, to replace the pair in each of the 4 power amplifiers.Totally dismantled wiring, to remove both Power amplifier circuit boards, which contain the 4 power amplifier circuits, removed all 4 pairs of suspect transistors 2SA640 and replaced with 4 matched pairs of 2SA992 new transistors, which far exceed the tolerance and performance factors required, also replaced all electrolytic capacitors in each of the 4 power amplifier circuits.Calibrated the settings for Zero DC Volts at the 4 power amplifier outputs and also calibrated the factory recommended "bias current" in each of the 4 power amplifier circuits.Tested all 4 audio outputs across 20Hz to 29 KHz, measured channel separation and signal to noise levels, with excellent results!Tested the tuner and the Phono preamplifier with good results. This is an awesome quality receiver, every feature works well and power amplifier circuits are in as new condition.Note: Please ensure to very carefully connect speaker wires, a short circuit between speaker wires, even a single very thin wire touching the chassis or each other, can be fatal to any of the 4 power amplifier circuits, in less than a second! To this or to any other amplifier.** Please note a remote area shipping surcharge may apply to remote areas. If you think you are in a remote area please contact me before purchase.
Ambitious: at US$1,900, this is well above the typical used value for an Akai AS-1080, which tends to trade around the low hundreds rather than four figures; a collector listing for the closely related AS-1080DB puts average sale price near US$250, and even a restoration example was listed at US$1,000.
That means this only makes sense if there’s something exceptional here: a mint, fully serviced unit, original box/manuals, documented recapping, or strong provenance. Sonically and aesthetically, these old Akai receivers have real appeal for fans of vintage quad-era gear, but at this price you’re paying collector money, not normal-user money, so I’d want proof of originality, function, and service before biting.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Akai Electric Company Ltd. traces its origins to Japan, founded by engineer Masukichi Akai in Tokyo around 1929, with his son Saburo Akai playing a key role in its early growth. Initially focused on affordable radio components, the firm formalized as a full electronics manufacturer post-World War II, often cited as 1946. By the mid-20th century, Akai had evolved into a prominent name in consumer audio, peaking in the 1970s before financial troubles led to its exit from the industry in 1991.
The brand built its legacy on high-quality tape-based audio gear, including reel-to-reel tape recorders, cassette decks, tuners, amplifiers, and complete stereo systems that brought professional-grade sound to homes. In the late 1980s, Akai Professional revolutionized music production with the MPC series—starting with the 1988 MPC60, co-designed by Roger Linn—integrating sampling, sequencing, and velocity-sensitive pads into compact workstations that defined hip-hop and electronic genres.
Today, Akai holds a revered vintage-collector status among hi-fi enthusiasts for its robust 1970s components, prized for their warm analog character and build quality. In the pro audio realm, the MPC line endures as an iconic, mid-to-high-end tool for beatmakers, with modern iterations sustaining the brand through licensing. While not a current leader in traditional hi-fi like amplifiers or speakers, its heritage appeals to savvy buyers seeking timeless reliability over fleeting trends.
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