Heathkit AR-1500

[Cadillac Kid]

Found this Heathkit AR-1500 from the 1970s yesterday at a Chuch Yard Sale.

I love the FM section and the warm, pleasing sound . Huge iron in this well built receiver. With it's scope output and push button selectors it reminds me of 1970s radio broadcast gear, but some think it looks like a giant clock radio.

 

[highping]

I have one, and it is a keeper. Sits right in front of me while I mess around on the PC.

 

[Malious]

I have an AR-1500A I picked up last month, I really like it a lot. Nice find.

 

[thevic24]

Very nice!!! When I was much younger, my uncle gave me one that he built back in the early 70's IIRC.

Very powerful and sounded great. I remember it would make the lights dim in the room when I cranked it up.

memories....




-Vic

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

My middle brother still has the one he built in 1974. One of Heath's best SS designs. :yes:

 

[Helios]

I have still the one that I built in 1974 and still using it too.

Helios

 

[mhardy6647]

Yes it was a nice receiver of its time. Heathkits "dynasty" of top-end SS receivers went from the AR-15 thorough the AR-1500 to the AR-1515 (notice a trendthere?).

 

[Dr Tinear]

Congratulations on a great score! The FM sections on those old Heathkits were particularly good. Heath designed some legendary ham radio gear, and it seems that a lot of the company's RF design excellence made it into their stereo receivers and tuners as well. The preamp and power amp sections of the AR-1500 are also quite fine and sound great over vintage or modern speakers. I have an AR-19 and an AR-1500 and have no plans to sell either of them.

 

[Cadillac Kid]

Thanks for all the nice comments. Nice to see other AR-1500 users on here.

I need to replace some of the dial lights in mine. It has some 47 instead of 44s. I also need to get it out of squelch. Must be a switch somewhere? The Heath manuals do not seem to exist on the internet, unless I want to shell out several times what I paid of the unit.

 

[Dr Tinear]

Thanks for all the nice comments. Nice to see other AR-1500 users on here.

I need to replace some of the dial lights in mine. It has some 47 instead of 44s. I also need to get it out of squelch. Must be a switch somewhere? The Heath manuals do not seem to exist on the internet, unless I want to shell out several times what I paid of the unit.

The small knob to the left of the headphone jacks controls the muting threshold. Turn it fully counter-clockwise to shut off the FM muting.

 

[Cadillac Kid]

In that case, it is stuck in mute. I will clean the pot and trace the wiring and see if I can fix it. Not a big deal, since I only listen to the local community station and that comes in loud and clear. Thanks!

 

[mhardy6647]

The Heath manuals do not seem to exist on the internet, unless I want to shell out several times what I paid of the unit.

FYI (and without editorial intent): Some Heath data used to be available, e.g., from BAMA. Unlike many of the hardware mfgrs. of old, however, Heath copyrighted their manuals and have maintained the copyright. A couple of years ago, the current copyright holders decided to re-exercise the copyright, so there's nothing legally in the public domain. Heath does maintain an archive of manuals and will provide manuals upon request (they do charge for the service).

 

[nbarber]

I scored an AR-1500a this weekend as well. A little deoxit and some windex and it works and looks great. I have it paired with a set of smaller Advents and it sounds great.