Heathkit AR-13A. What do you know about it?

[Tim D]

Recently picked up a Heathkit AR-13A Receiver from the early 1960's. Not a lot of information out there about this unit. It's a very early solid state unit and has separate AM and FM dials which is somewhat unique. It has a lot of additional controls under a panel on the front faceplate.

The unit is not working much. I can get AM radio to work out of one channel. Haven't tried the aux input to see if I can drive a CD through both channels as a test. I picked up an assembly manual from the big auction site. It's going to need a lot of time to rebuild it.

After I do a rebuild on it I'm planning on using it to drive my vintage speakers. (Either my KLH Sixes or my Wharfedale W70 (no bloody A, B, C or D).

Anyone have any opinions/experience with this unit?

 

[mhardy6647]

Heathkit AR-13 1964 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

This is all I've got handy. All I have scanned is a blurb on the "unsuffixed" AR-13. I'll check other catalogs tomorrow (assuming I remember!) to see if I have any info at all on the AR-13A.
It is pretty early solid state -- maybe some germanium transistors in it?

 

[Tim D]

Pretty cool catalog advert. I've got the assembly manual. Maybe a cross-ref of the transistors in it will say if they are germanium.

Got any experience with this unit? I'm very interested in opinions on the sound.

 

[dshoaf]

There's a schematic at AK's digital library it appears. Here's the link: http://akdatabase.org/AKview/albums/userpics/10007/Heathkit AR13a Amp Schematic.pdf

Yep, it is that good 'ol age of germanium transistors. Circuit topologies to match, too. Hope it works ok.

As for performance, they were easily bested by later generations of most all vendors. Frankly, I'd pass on an opportunity to dink with one much less invest $$ in a restoration. Sorry for the less-than-stellar enthusiasm.

Cheers,

David

 

[Tim D]

There's a schematic at AK's digital library it appears. Here's the link: http://akdatabase.org/AKview/albums/userpics/10007/Heathkit AR13a Amp Schematic.pdf

Yep, it is that good 'ol age of germanium transistors. Circuit topologies to match, too. Hope it works ok.

As for performance, they were easily bested by later generations of most all vendors. Frankly, I'd pass on an opportunity to dink with one much less invest $$ in a restoration. Sorry for the less-than-stellar enthusiasm.

Cheers,

David

No worries dshoaf. I grabbed this unit due to the retro factor, but I was hoping that it would end up being one of those vintage low-power units that sound tubey. I was hoping to hear from others that might have experience with this model as to the sound.

 

[dshoaf]

I remember a number of pieces of gear from the mid-60s. The power ratings had not yet been standardized and were 'aspirational' at best. The little AR-13A would be about 10-15 watts. As for sonic characterization, you'll not really know until all the electrolytics have been replaced and the resistors checked for being in spec - assuming the semiconductors are all ok.

They were not intended to sound 'tubey' since the marketing hype at the time promised far better performance than tubes, lower heat factor, no maintenance and cost to replace tubes, etc. The last thing they would have admitted was that there was something the same.

I believe there's folklore about McIntosh insisting that their early solid state gear sound as good as their tube gear before it was released for production and this may contribute to the believe this applied to all early SS gear.

When I was in engineering school, I still remember doing the thermal stability calculations foisted on us plebes by our hard-driving EE professor. We had to do them on both germanium and silicon devices in-circuit at the time. What I discovered was that germanium devices were quite unstable and, therefore, difficult and expensive to deal with. This is one reason the technology was abandoned for silicon - and fast, too.

There's a reason why we don't see much Fisher, Scott and Sherwood early germanium stuff out there these days.

Hope that offers more insight into my comments earlier.

Cheers,

David

 

[ADKBob]

I'd go for it if the price was right. Add to the Heathkit stack to drive my AS-10s. Just for vintage looks sake.

 

[Tim D]

Great feedback guys. Does anyone out there have any experience with this model? I'm curious as to opinions.

 

[jd2005]

I have got one .
It was faulty and i have repaired it!
I can't say that it is like new now.... yet... Next activity would be to RECAP it.
Or maybe i will sell it....