RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
Yamaha flagship turntable for 1979! I have owned and used this for the last 6 or so years. It operates flawlessly! It comes with an Audio Technica AT33Sa moving coil cartridge ($850) that has 312 hours, 14 minutes, and 23 seconds on it. Check out the TT specs on Vinyl Engine. It is a beast, weighs 33 pounds. Please look at all pictures and ask any questions. This is a beautiful table in excellent condition. The dust cover has some scratches (video shows more than the pics). Local pick up only for now.
Yamaha’s better vintage belt-drive tables have a solid reputation for musical, well-damped performance, and this one sits well above the usual used market. At US$1,249, it is clearly ambitious versus the recent comp set: the median is US$232 and even the 75th percentile is only US$434, so this is priced at a premium that needs real justification.
The upside here is the cartridge pairing, which can add serious value if the AT33Sa is genuine, healthy, and properly aligned, and if the table itself is cosmetically clean and mechanically sorted. That said, at this level the buyer should want proof of speed stability, arm bearings, platter/bearing condition, and clear photos of the dust cover, headshell, and included accessories; otherwise the ask is hard to defend.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Yamaha stands as one of the world's most storied audio manufacturers, with roots extending far beyond consumer electronics. Founded in 1887 by Torakusu Yamaha in Hamamatsu, Japan, the company began as a reed organ manufacturer before expanding into pianos and eventually becoming a comprehensive musical instrument maker. This deep heritage in acoustics and materials science would prove foundational to its later audio ventures. The company operated under its original name, Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd., until 1987, when it was renamed Yamaha Corporation in honor of its centennial.
Yamaha's entry into high-fidelity audio proved transformative for the industry itself. In 1954, the company released the Yamaha Hi-Fi Player, widely recognized as the world's first audio component to bear the "Hi-Fi" designation in its name. The company subsequently built a comprehensive product portfolio spanning amplifiers—beginning with the acclaimed A-100 in 1960—speakers, turntables, and digital audio equipment. The NS-1000 speakers, introduced in 1974 with beryllium drivers, became iconic reference monitors. Yamaha also pioneered digital audio technology, shipping the world's first CD recorder in 1988.
Today, Yamaha occupies a distinctive position as a mid-to-high-end generalist rather than a niche specialist. The brand commands respect among both casual listeners and serious audiophiles, balancing accessibility with genuine engineering credibility. Its reputation rests on six decades of consistent innovation, proven reliability, and the unique advantage of applying musical instrument expertise to audio reproduction. Vintage Yamaha components remain highly sought by collectors, while current products maintain the brand's tradition of delivering performance and durability across multiple price tiers.
See all Yamaha listings on RADAR.
