RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
Is this the sort of vintage integrated you want to buy on merit, or just because the price looks tempting? At £214, it sits a bit above the £182 median and just under the £225 75th percentile, so this is a fair-to-slightly-ambitious ask rather than a bargain.
That said, it’s still in the zone where a clean, working example can make sense if you value the sound and the build. The TA-1055 has the sort of straightforward vintage Sony appeal that rewards a careful listen: solid usability, pleasingly honest presentation, and enough character to justify paying for one that’s been looked after. If the cosmetics are genuinely good and the controls are quiet, it’s a sensible buy; just don’t pay top-tier money unless there’s clear evidence of recent servicing or exceptional condition.
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.
