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Based on your comps, £157 sits below the £166 25th percentile and well under the £176 median, so this reads as a genuine bargain rather than merely fair value. It’s also still comfortably beneath the £206 75th percentile, which gives you some cushion if the condition is only average.
This is a respected late-70s/early-80s integrated amp type of buy: simple, solid, and often appealing for its warm, unfussy presentation and decent phono-era usability. At this price, the upside is strong if it’s clean, original, and working properly; the main thing to verify is smooth operation of all controls, quiet channels, and whether it’s had any service, since age-related switch/pot wear and tired capacitors are the usual watchouts.
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.
See all Akai listings on RADAR.
