RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
Offered is „Sony DAS-R1a flagship DAC“ by Sony as second-hand device from the category „D/A Converter“ on audio-markt.de - the online market place for high-end. The advert with the number 7799325086 ends on 15.10.2026 at 16:42 o'clock.
The timing matters here because this is a late-’80s statement DAC from Sony’s top tier, and the replacement-model logic is mostly irrelevant; what matters is that surviving, clean examples are now scarce and sought after. At €2,500, this is well above the typical used market in your database: far past the €212 75th percentile and miles over the €101 median, so it reads as ambitious unless the condition and provenance are exceptional.
That said, the DAS-R1a is a serious collector-grade piece with real audio pedigree: big, fully built like a reference component, and still attractive for its Sony-era engineering and long-term rarity. If the unit is genuinely mint, fully working, and complete, the price is defensible for a buyer who wants the platform more than a bargain; if not, you’re paying a premium that only makes sense for a near-perfect example.
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.
