RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
Against the recent comparable US$258 median, this US$250 asking price sits a bit below the middle of the market and just under the US$250 25th percentile, so it reads as a solid buy rather than a stretch. It is not a deep bargain, but it is priced reasonably enough to move quickly if the unit checks out.
The Beta 20 is a well-liked vintage preamp for its clean, lively presentation and straightforward, no-nonsense control section, which makes it a nice match for a lot of classic separates systems. At this level, the main upside is getting a respected piece of Nikko gear at a fair entry price; if it is complete, quiet, and unmolested, that adds real value without needing to pay a premium.
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.
