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Tested and working as expected.Type: Solid stateFrequency response: 3Hz to 100kHzTotal harmonic distortion: 0.01%Inputs: 5 line-level inputs -1 tuner, 2 aux, 2 tape, 2 equalized phono inputOutputs: Main 1, Main 2, Tape 1, Tape 2Condition:Excellent Condition; no bad or notable damage. All features tested and working. This is a pre-owned item and there are signs of use. View the photos and consider them part of the description.
This is a seller’s market for this category at the moment, because the asking price of US$900 is well above the recent comparable median of US$400 and even clears the 75th percentile of US$650. That makes it ambitious, not fair-market, unless this unit has unusually strong provenance, a fresh full service, or a documented cosmetic/electrical restoration.
The IC-150A is worth chasing because it’s a respected vintage preamp: clean, straightforward, and valued by buyers who want a no-frills control center with real hi-fi credibility. The upside is in the classic Crown build, but at US$900 I’d want proof of excellent condition, all original knobs/switches, and confirmation it’s been tested through both channels without noise, hum, or scratchy controls; otherwise, the premium is hard to justify.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Crown Audio traces its origins to 1947 in Elkhart, Indiana, where minister and radio enthusiast Clarence C. Moore, alongside his wife Ruby, founded the International Radio and Electronics Corporation (IREC) in a converted chicken coop. Initially focused on rugged open-reel tape recorders for missionaries in remote regions, the company pioneered innovations like the world's first tape recorder with a built-in power amplifier in 1949. Ruby's suggestion in the 1960s led to the adoption of the Crown name, inspired by the crown emblems on their 'Royal' and 'Imperial' models, with the corporation officially renaming to Crown International, Inc. in 1975.
The brand shifted from tape recorders and compact loudspeakers in the 1950s to standalone tube power amplifiers by 1959, cementing its expertise in professional amplification. Crown became renowned for groundbreaking products like the DC300 in 1968—the first high-power solid-state amplifier—and the M600/M2000 in 1972, featuring patented technologies such as the ground-bridge circuit. Today, under Harman International since its 2000 acquisition, Crown specializes in high-output amplifiers for touring rigs, cinema venues, installed systems, portable PA, and commercial audio, prioritizing reliability and innovation over consumer categories like speakers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables.
Crown holds a commanding position as a pro-audio powerhouse, trusted by industry leaders for its durable, high-performance amplifiers that define live sound and installation standards. Far from high-end audiophile or vintage collector fare, it dominates the professional market with over 75 years of technical milestones, though recent production shifts to Mexico reflect ongoing evolution. For the discerning hi-fi buyer eyeing pro-grade power, Crown delivers uncompromised authority.
See all Crown listings on RADAR.
