Lafayette KT-550 stereo tube amp potential purchase.

Fasturd

Fasturd

Active Member
First time dollars and sense poster...

I have an opportunity to purchase a Lafayette Stereo 550 or KT-550. I think they are the same except the KT is the kit built version.
Anyway I am having trouble determining what is a reasonable price to pay?
The amp may have had some minor servicing done in the mid 2000s. There is an invoice but it's vague and not tied to a serial number.
EBay past sales isn't helpful. And there doesn't seem to be any listed anywhere else.

Do any of you experts/enthusiasts have an idea of what I should expect to pay or offer for an untested no demo 550?
Anything I should specifically look out for?
Thanks in advance.
 
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The L-550 should be close in value to the Citation 2 amp. Very similar construction as they had one of the same designers Stue Heggarman.
they also both have Good output Iron. The early 550's had Acrosound, then switched to Todd Transformers.
Like most vintage amps, condition is everything.
 
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Nyjblbob said:
The L-550 should be close in value to the Citation 2 amp. Very similar construction as they had one of the same designers Stue Heggarman.
they also both have Good output Iron. The early 550's had Acrosound, then switched to Todd Transformers.
Like most vintage amps, condition is everything.
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Thanks, I didn't think of using that as a starting point.
 
BTW if you do get it, Look under the hood, for initials ED in one of the corners Penciled in. Ed Duda Completed the design, when Heggarman left Layafette
for Harmon Kardon. Duda hand built the 1'st 100 amps with selected parts for all the reviewers,and testing. According to Duda, I knew him well,one of the downfalls of the 550 was the 7027
output tubes. Although I'm sure it could be modified to use 6550 tubes.
 
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Nyjblbob said:
BTW if you do get it, Look under the hood, for initials ED in one of the corners Penciled in. Ed Duda Completed the design, when Heggarman left Layafette
for Harmon Kardon. Duda hand built the 1'st 100 amps with selected parts for all the reviewers,and testing. According to Duda, I knew him well,one of the downfalls of the 550 was the 7027
output tubes. Although I'm sure it could be modified to use 6550 tubes.
Click to expand...
Excellent info action. Thank you.
 
Good luck. if you get it post pics. these are getting Rarer. I doubt you can buy a Cit 2 for 1200$ unless its a rust bucket
 
4 recent sold of Citations needing "repair" $800 to $1600.

Others asking, unsold $2600-2800.

Just can't find good info on the KT-550.
 
For what it's worth, I did a side by side comparison,Duda rebuilt, KT 550 vs 2 different HK Cit-2's one rebuilt by Duda, one by another tech.
I still own both Citations,. the 550 was sold off for a nice profit.
On His test bench they all had similar specs.
It just didn't sound as good. But then its not a fair comparison as both Citations had KT90's,
and the 550 had the 7027's. I should have asked Duda to make it fair. using the same tubes.
 
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I am sure the Citations are quite nice and the logical genius progression.

This KT-550 is local enough to me to make it worth the while if a reasonable price can be determined. There is an 8b for crazy money but I am not a crazy money guy...lol.
 
FWIW, the 550,and Cit 2's will on the test bench out perform the Marantz 8b.
In real life there's a reason the 8b's bring in more than $1K more than the Citation 2's and 550's
I wish I kept both of my 8-b's
 
Nyjblbob said:
FWIW, the 550,and Cit 2's will on the test bench out perform the Marantz 8b.
In real life there's a reason the 8b's bring in more than $1K more than the Citation 2's and 550's
I wish I kept both of my 8-b's
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Wow so you like 8B sound better than a 6550 amp? I always wanted to hear an 8B!
 
I wonder if you can let us on AK know on
The winning bid on both the Marantz
and Lafayette pieces.
Pictures also show a 7c pre.
 
I will try! I'll be traveling so I may not be able to access the site in time. I'll try to give an update Saturday morning.
 
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