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Are you looking for a bargain, or simply a sound vintage preamp at a sensible price? At US$179, this is a strong deal: it sits below the comparable-listing 25th percentile of US$176 only marginally? Actually, it is just above that threshold, but still below the US$184 median and comfortably within the normal US$176–US$198 range. That makes it fair-to-good value rather than an ambitious ask.
The Beta II is a particularly appealing Nikko: a well-built late-1970s preamp with two phono inputs, versatile tape facilities, muting, subsonic filtering, and a lively, spacious presentation. Its phono section is a major part of the attraction, especially for a two-turntable setup. Since the condition is unspecified, confirm both channels, every input, the controls, and whether it has had service; age-related capacitors are the meaningful concern. If it works cleanly, US$179 is an easy price to justify.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Nikko Audio emerged from Nikko Electric Industry Co., founded in 1933 in Kanagawa, Japan, initially as a manufacturer of fuses and electrical equipment for the national railroad. Post-World War II, the company expanded into communications technology, entering the hi-fi market in the late 1960s through the influence of an audiophile family member with exceptional hearing. This Japanese heritage fueled a brief but notable run of precision-engineered audio components before the brand shuttered its audio division amid the 1990s market downturn.
The brand focused primarily on amplifiers, producing standout series like the Alpha line of power amps from the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the high-end TRM series, including the 1975 TRM-800 integrated stereo amplifier with its robust 65 watts per channel output, NEC power transistors, and stability down to 4 ohms. Tuners such as the FAM-600 and compact hi-fi gear rounded out their compact-form-factor offerings, emphasizing clean circuit design and no-frills power over expansive categories like speakers, turntables, or modern digital components.
Today, Nikko holds a cherished position among vintage collectors, prized for its build quality and dynamic sound that rivals contemporaries from more prominent Japanese marques. Though limited in distribution during its era, these components endure as attainable high-fidelity treasures, evoking the golden age of Japanese amplification engineering.
See all Nikko listings on RADAR.
