RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
CANADIAN CUSTOMERSRates shown are to urban centers. We do not ship to rural postal codes at the stated rate in the listing. If you live in a rural postal code (2nd character in your postal code is a 0), please contact us for a shipping quote as rates are substantially higher.US CUSTOMERSShipping to continental US only - no Alaska, Hawaii or protectorates. Shipping costs include all applicable customs fees and duties.Sony's second-generation miniature CD player, released in 1985 — a genuinely uncommon top-loader that rarely comes up for sale. Small brushed-metal chassis, minimal plastic, top-pop-open disc loading, and the KSS-121A laser mechanism (a sought-after part on its own).Tested and confirmed fully functional. EFM eye pattern checked on an oscilloscope to verify laser and RF signal health — clean, symmetrical eye opening with no closure or amplitude issues, confirming the pickup and servo are in excellent working order.Burn-in tested: Run on continuous repeat play for 12 hours prior to listing to confirm the spindle motor and mechanism hold up under sustained use, no issues with playback or thermal issues.Condition & function:Plays CD / CD-R cleanly, tracks and seeks properlyHeadphone volume pot is intermittent — contact cleaner (DeOxit) did not resolve it. Works reliably above ~66% volume; below that, expect crackle/dropout on the left channel. Main line-level RCA outputs are unaffected.No remote includedVery clean cosmetic condition, no signifigant marks, wear and tear other than typical light/fine finish scratches in clear plastic, a small nick in the finish on the top door circular raised area.
Generating expert take…
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.
