RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
The Sharp SM-1288 is a modest late-1980s Japanese integrated amp that never gained a cult following, making precise used benchmarks scarce. At £136, the asking price sits in a reasonable entry zone for a working vintage unit of this class, though it’s not a clear bargain given the lack of strong demand or rarity. Typical used prices for similar-era Sharp integrateds range from £100 to £180, so this listing is fair but not exceptional.
What makes this a worthwhile buy is its solid Japanese build, clean tone for the era, and adequate power for small rooms or bookshelf speakers. If the unit is in original-owner condition with no repairs and includes the remote or original grille, it gains meaningful upside. Only flag concerns if the listing omits condition details or mentions capacitor drift, as that’s common on 35-year-old units. At £136, a clean SM-1288 is a sensible entry into vintage Japanese hi-fi.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Sharp is a Japanese electronics company founded in 1912 by Tokuji Hayakawa, who began with a small metalworking workshop in Tokyo. The company’s name comes from its early “Ever-Ready Sharp” mechanical pencil, and its broader corporate identity grew out of a long history of practical consumer innovation rather than specialist audio alone.
In audio, Sharp has been associated mainly with mainstream consumer hi-fi and AV rather than ultra-audiophile hardware. Over the decades it has produced items such as radios, televisions, receivers, and other home-electronics components; in the modern era its audio presence is tied more to compact systems and mass-market electronics than to a deep catalog of standalone amplifiers, DACs, turntables, or headphones.
In market terms, Sharp is best understood as a heritage Japanese consumer brand with periodic involvement in audio, not a dedicated high-end hi-fi marque. For knowledgeable buyers, that means the brand carries historical legitimacy and recognition, but its reputation is closer to reliable mid-market electronics than boutique or reference-grade specialist audio.
See all Sharp listings on RADAR.
