RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
The Sony TA-F55 is a largely unknown classic from the late 1970s, but it delivers impressive performance with a 0.08% THD and a 50 damping factor. At £261, this asking price is ambitious, sitting well above the recent market median of £135 and exceeding the 75th percentile of £202 from our database; it also overshoots the typical £200 cap for a tidy example.
Despite the high price, the TA-F55 remains a worthwhile buy for those who value its low distortion and solid build, originally priced at ¥59,800 around 1979. However, because this listing is significantly over the median, you should only proceed if the condition is pristine, the unit is fully tested, and it includes original accessories or a provenance story that justifies the premium over the £135–£202 range.
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.
See all Sony listings on RADAR.
