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Why this one
Good condition - clearly used, with scratches and dents from normal use
PLL multiplex decoder with 40dB separation and 0.3% THD - serious FM performance.
Comes with original manuals - a useful addition for any vintage hi-fi setup.
Condition: Good
This Hi-Fi tuner is in good condition. Tested to power on; no further functional testing performed. Note: The unit powers on but has not been fully tested. Cosmetically it appears to be in good condition, though it does show a number of surface marks and scratches consistent with its age. Please review all photos carefully, as they provide an accurate representation of the cosmetic condition of the product.
What's included
JE Sugden T48
Manuals
About this model
The JE Sugden T48 is a vintage stereo FM tuner, originally designed as a matching companion to the Sugden A48 amplifier. Its front end features four tuned circuits and dual gate FETs, feeding into an IF strip equipped with two ceramic filters and a quadrature detector. Stereo decoding is handled by a phase locked loop (PLL) multiplex decoder - an arrangement built around the CA3089E IF chip and CA1310E MPX chip, the latter capable of 40dB channel separation and 0.3% THD. Six preset buttons cover the 88-108 MHz FM band, and front-panel controls include AFC, Squelch, Mute, Filter, and Stereo switching. At roughly 16cm wide, the T48 has a compact, purposeful form factor typical of Sugden's approach to matched component hi-fi.
A great opportunity to own a JE Sugden T48 at this price point.
Generating expert take…
Sugden Audio: British Heritage and Class A Excellence
Sugden Audio was founded in 1967 by James Edward Sugden in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, as a division of Research Electronics, his earlier scientific instrument manufacturing company. Sugden's background in precision engineering and broadcast equipment design at EMI informed the company's founding philosophy of meticulous craftsmanship and sonic integrity. The brand has remained rooted in British manufacturing throughout its history, maintaining its West Yorkshire base and family involvement through successive generations, most recently under the stewardship of the Miller family alongside the long-term Sugden team.
The company is synonymous with Class A solid-state amplification, having pioneered this technology with the legendary A21 integrated amplifier in 1967—widely recognized as the first commercially produced pure Class A solid-state amplifier. Sugden's product portfolio centers on high-end electronics, particularly integrated and power amplifiers, alongside preamplifiers. The brand's design philosophy emphasizes minimalism and musicality over unnecessary features, captured in their tagline "Rescuing Music from technology." All products are hand-built to exacting standards, reflecting Sugden's commitment to quality over mass-market appeal.
Sugden occupies a distinctive position in high-end audio as a niche boutique manufacturer with deep credibility among serious audiophiles and collectors. The A21 remains in continuous production—now in its A21a iteration—making it one of the longest-running models in specialist hi-fi. Vintage Sugden equipment has become highly sought-after by collectors, while contemporary designs maintain the brand's reputation for sonic excellence and engineering precision that has defined British audio craftsmanship for nearly six decades.
See all Sugden listings on RADAR.
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