The Philips AH 280 SA is a preamplifier that was manufactured between 1978 and 1981. It is part of a series that includes other models such as the AH 270 SA and AH 572 SA. This unit was priced at approximately 998 Deutsche Marks at launch. It is designed to work with power amplifiers like the AH 370 PA and AH 380 PA from the same period, as well as integrated amplifiers and tuners of the Philips range. The preamplifier features various inputs for different audio sources, and it is built to deliver high-quality sound performance, characteristic of Philips' audio equipment from this era.