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---FOR LOCAL PICKUP IN MADISON, WISCONSIN ONLY---If you're interested in demoing this item in person or have any questions, please call/email/message the shop beforehand with any inquiries:For sale is a vintage Hitachi HT-51 Direct Drive fully automatic turntable in fully functioning, serviced condition. This table has been equipped with a new old stock Audio Technica AT-93e cartridge and has been professionally aligned, checked for counterweight/azimuth, etc. The rest of the unit has been serviced - main platter bearing has been cleaned and lubricated, replaced electrolytic caps on motor board, all auto mechs cleaned/lubed, dust cover polished, unit detailed. Please review all images prior to purchased.Condition: GoodMinor crack on rear dustcover hingeNew AT 93e cartridge.Service:Cleaned and lubricated main motor and platter bearing.Replaced electrolytic caps on motor boardVerify speed via strobe. Ensure button functionalityVerify alignment, counterweight, azimuth, anti-skate, and calibration of stylus/tonearm height.Play test in full system for 4+ hours to verify functionalityAll original hardware and features have been inspected, tested, and verified by HiFi Haus in Madison, WI as described.Note from HiFi Haus:Have any questions? Please reach out to us directly. Brick and mortar shop located in Madison, WI. All items are tested, cleaned, and serviced before listing. This item is NOT available for shipping. Thank you for looking!
The HT-51 sits in that respectable late-vintage Hitachi sweet spot: solid automatic convenience, quartz-lock-era stability, and enough charm to appeal to collectors without being a hyper-rare trophy piece. At US$249, this is a bit ambitious versus the recent used-market spread, which includes roughly US$100 to US$180 examples and even a US$99.95 sale, so it does not read as a bargain unless the condition is genuinely exceptional.
What makes it worth owning is straightforward: these are dependable, fuss-free decks with good everyday performance when they’re healthy, and the automatic features add real usability. A clean, original example with a good cartridge, intact dust cover, and confirmed full auto functions can justify paying up a little. If any of those pieces are missing or the mechanism is sticky, the price stops looking friendly fast.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Hitachi is a Japanese electronics giant founded in 1910 by engineer Namiya Iwafune, who began the company as a small workshop producing electric motors. Over the decades, Hitachi grew into a diversified conglomerate whose industrial and component expertise laid the groundwork for its later entry into consumer audio and video. By the 1970s, the company had established itself as a serious player in the home electronics market, leveraging its engineering heritage to build a reputation for robust, well‑engineered products.
In the hi‑fi and AV space, Hitachi is best known for integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers, cassette decks, and later CD players and DVD‑based equipment. The brand also produced televisions, VHS and DVD camcorders, and a small range of portable audio devices such as MP3 players. Its audio components often carried the “Lo‑D” designation, signalling low‑distortion circuitry and a focus on clean, transparent sound. Hitachi’s speakers from the 1970s and 1980s, in particular, are still praised by enthusiasts for their balanced, engaging presentation.
Today, Hitachi is regarded less as a dedicated high‑end marque and more as a respected mid‑tier brand with a strong vintage following. Its classic separates and cassette decks are sought after by collectors and second‑hand buyers who value their build quality and straightforward, musical performance. While Hitachi no longer dominates the hi‑fi mainstream, its legacy remains visible in the continued interest in its older components and in the broader influence of Japanese engineering on modern audio design.
See all Hitachi listings on RADAR.
