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The Sony TA-AX500 is a vintage 80-watt-per-channel stereo integrated amplifier released by Sony in 1984. This pre-owned example shows its age, with scuffs and scratches on the top plate that do not take away from its sonority. It is finished in silver and comes with no other accessories or packaging.
Aimed at hi-fi enthusiasts looking to add capable vintage amplification to a stereo setup, the TA-AX500 combines generous power, a wide analogue input suite and the kind of straightforward control layout that made mid-1980s Sony integrateds so usable.
Visit our Lane Cove showroom to hear the honest, wideband character of the TA-AX500 amplifier.
Why Choose the Sony TA-AX500 Integrated Amplifier?
The TA-AX500 remains an appealing vintage centrepiece for listeners who want real power, a proper phono stage and simple analogue flexibility.
• Wideband Amplification: 5 Hz–100 kHz response keeps music open and unforced.
• Capable Phono Stage: Separate MM and MC sensitivities support a broad range of cartridges.
• Full Source Complement: Phono, tuner, CD, auxiliary and two tape loops cover a complete analogue system.
• Useful Everyday Controls: CD Direct, subsonic filter, tone controls and dual speaker switching.
• Solid Build: 11 kg chassis with 50 damping factor for controlled loudspeaker drive.
Audition the Sony TA-AX500 at our Lane Cove showroom to hear how this 1980s integrated still delivers engaging stereo performance.
With 80 watts per channel, 0.008% THD and line-level signal-to-noise of 100 dB, the TA-AX500 has the technical foundation to partner a wide range of loudspeakers.
Input sensitivity of 0.17 mV (MC), 2.5 mV (MM) and 150 mV (line) makes matching both vinyl and line sources straightforward.
Cosmetic wear on the top plate is consistent with a well-used vintage component, yet the amplifier’s core appeal remains its sonority and completeness. For collectors and everyday listeners alike, the Sony TA-AX500 is a characterful, competitive-price way to bring classic Sony analogue engineering into a modern system.
Technical Specifications
• Product Type: Pre-owned
• Type: Stereo integrated amplifier
• Power Output: 80 W per channel into 8 Ω
• Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 100 kHz
• Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.008%
• Damping Factor: 50
• Input Sensitivity: 0.17 mV (MC), 2.5 mV (MM), 150 mV (line)
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 75 dB (MC), 86 dB (MM), 100 dB (line)
• Channel Separation: 82 dB (MM), 84 dB (line)
• Line Output: 150 mV
• Speaker Load Impedance: 8 Ω – 16 Ω
• Inputs: Phono (MM/MC), tuner, CD, auxiliary, two tape decks
• Controls: CD Direct, subsonic filter, tone controls, A/B/A+B speaker switching
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 430 × 130 × 365 mm
• Weight: 11 kg
• Finish: Silver
• Year: 1984
• Cosmetic Notes: Scuffs and scratches on the top plate
Learn more about the Sony TA-AX500 on HiFi Engine here.
Let us show you the remarkable TA-AX500 at Len Wallis Audio. Explore our second-hand hi-fi & AV collection here or contact our team to audition the TA-AX500 at our Lane Cove showroom or enquire online.
Len Wallis Audio Excellence Promise
Since 1978, Len Wallis Audio has been a trusted name in hi-fi, curating premium audio solutions from our Lane Cove showroom in Sydney. For over four decades, we’ve selected products that deliver outstanding performance and quality.
Our focus on innovation ensures every item meets audiophile standards. Whether upgrading or building a new system, our team helps you find the ideal audio solution for your needs.
Experience the TA-AX500 in person with an audition at our Lane Cove showroom. With expert guidance and a commitment to satisfaction, we make your audio journey seamless and rewarding.
Ready for classic 80 W analogue integrated performance with the Sony TA-AX500 Integrated Amplifier?
Call (02) 9427 6755
Email [email protected]
Or visit us at 64 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove, NSW, 2066
This is an older late-1980s integrated amp, so timing only matters in the usual vintage sense: you’re buying on condition and service history, not on the hope of a newer replacement model. At A$499, it sits above the A$476 75th percentile for recent AUD comps, so it reads as ambitious rather than a clean buy.
That said, the piece itself is well regarded for solid build, good phono flexibility, and an easygoing but capable presentation that suits a vintage Sony stack nicely. If it’s genuinely clean, original, and fully working, that adds real value; but at this price I’d want proof of recent servicing, quiet controls, and no channel imbalance or relay issues before paying up.
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.
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