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Heathkit AS-18's

chicks

chicks

Lunatic Member
Just found a pair of these at the local GW "superstore". Not much info about them on the web, except this blue book:

http://www.d8apro.com/bluebook.htm

Looks like they're not worth much more than I paid for them, but they remind me of a scaled-down version of my first pair of speakers (AR4ax's IIRC) except for the ugly orange grillecloth.

Hooked them up on my garage system, both work fine, even the tweeter level control works without any scratchiness.

Apparently these use ElectroVoice drivers, and were modeled after an EV speaker, according to a "former Heathkit employee" on the web.

Anyone familiar with these?
 
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Popped out the woofer, the part number starts with "EV", so it looks like these are indeed ElectroVoice drivers.
 
Using these as "restoration practice" until I am able to get some "real" speakers, like the Advents I'm hoping to score soon...

Replaced the ugly thick orange grillcloth with Onasburg muslim from Joann Fabrics ($3.99/yd - 40% coupon). A couple of coats of tung oil bring them back to life. Can't do much about the corners, but they don't look too bad. Sound is OK considering their really small size. These will work nicely in my Son's room with a T-amp for his iPod. They look a bit more like baby AR-4's now :)
 

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Listen to them for awhile, you might decide that they are indeed "real" speakers.:thmbsp: Heath speakers from that era were well made, and they sourced quality drivers from well known manufacturers. I have a pair of Heath AS-48 speakers, and they are actually JBL Lancer S99 clones, LE14A and LE20-1 drivers.
 
Been trying to track down some history on these. The cabinet has exactly the same dimensions as the Electrovoice EV-11's, which also has a 6.5" woofer, but its tweeter is coaxial with mechanical crossover.

The 3.5" tweeter in the AS-18 might be the same one EV used in the EV-7's, not sure. I've attached a picture of the back of the drivers, with multiple numbers. I believe the "401 131" is Heathkit's P/N, and one of the numbers must be a date code (these are probably late 60's / early 70's).

Also attached a scan of a page from a 1971 Heathkit catalog, provided by mhardy6647, which shows the AS-18, with just part of the description and price, $34.95 ea in Vinyl (mine are walnut veneer), and a photo from a CL listing for a pair, with the original (butt ugly) orange tweed grille.
 

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Found a guy selling a pair of these on CL, complete with the original assembly manual. Pinged him, and he was kind enough to scan the whole thing to PDF and email it to me! Very nice :)
 
I think those grilles look groovy. Vintage grille cloth is like gold. Check out e.......y.
 
Don't sell the Heath's short my AS-105s are amazing, although I tweaked them a bit. Top build quality, tank like some could say.
Peace,
Preston
 
Specs

The specs page from the manual verifies the use of EV drivers, with Alnico V magnets. The cabs are "vinyl clad" walnut veneer. I was wondering why the sandpaper clogged so badly when I was refinishing these :)
 

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Hello. I come from China's musical public. Consults a your question, what characteristic "heathkit AS-18" does this have to sound box's sound? What type does it suit broadcasts music? What age product is it? Thanks.
 
I have a pair of AS-16's in my office system awaiting some restoration work before I hook them up as a second pair in the system. Hoping to use them with my Scott Tube system.
 
I THOUGHT I saw a link to this manual someplace?

chicks said:
Found a guy selling a pair of these on CL, complete with the original assembly manual. Pinged him, and he was kind enough to scan the whole thing to PDF and email it to me! Very nice :)
Click to expand...

Chicks, did you ever actually post this? (the manual, I mean!)

I have a treasured pair of AS-18's that just got raped by the "repair man" and I mean to restore them, but I need the crossover schematic - I'm hoping that was in the manual per chance? Or even a target cross over frequency I can use in working from the ground up?

Thanks so much for your time.. Not only am I fan of the sound of these speakers, the particular set was purchased and assembled by my mother in 1968, so there's some sentimental value to be had there.. :)

Anyway, last night, I did the usual google search and I was SURE I found a scan of the manual for the Heathkit Model AS-18 loudspeaker in pdf form, but I wasn't a member, so not allowed the BW to download "things".

After becoming a member, I lost the link - I THOUGHT it was this post, but there only tantalizing tidbits of the manual, not the entire thing. I looked up on the akdatabase (what a wonderful thing!), but alas, the file was not there either..

So - anyone have a hint for me? Is it here and I've just had too much beer? :D

Thanks so much!!

Sincerely,

-ET-
 
Was just doing some research on these, as I also acquired a near-mint set of AS-10's.

Found this post: https://www.audioasylum.com/messages/speakers/227547/re-heathkit-as-18-speakers-help about the AS-18's:

"I worked at Heath from 1970-1977 and the AS-18 was indeed a kit version of an EV design and Heath bought the drivers from EV. Heath did this with some JBL, Bozak and Altec speakers as well (maybe Jensen in earlier years). I helped Heath design their own speakers after 1972."

... sometimes the internet is as beautiful as it is terrifying.
 
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