Expired
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Should you jump on this at £175? Compared with the recent GBP comp set, that lands below the £178 25th percentile, so it reads as a genuine bargain rather than merely fair value. The median is £192, and this ask undercuts that by a useful margin without looking suspiciously cheap.
That makes it an easy listen-first buy if you want a solid vintage integrated: these older Sony amps are usually prized for clean, unfussy drive and a straightforward musical presentation. At this price, the upside is in getting a well-regarded survivor for less than the market’s usual middle. I’d mainly want confirmation it powers up quietly, all inputs work, and there’s no scratchy level control, because age-related servicing is the only real question here.
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.
