Heathkit AR1500 Receiver 60 WPC RMS - Tested - Mint Condition. - The unit is stock original with only two parts replaced, but this is a vintage item, so no guarantees. I adjusted the DC offset and both rails are stable and well within the manual specifications after say 30 Min of use. All the output transistors are the original Motorola versions. We aligned the FM receiver board as close as possible and the dial is accurate to about 1MHz up and down the dial. We can completely rebuild this but did not to keep the cost within reasonable limits. It sounds great, all switches, selectos and switches are noise free. The overall build quality is exceptional for a kit, as it was built by an audio engineer! Please see all photos. A copy of the manual is available for download if you bring a USB drive.

Cash Sale No Holds Call or text For Pick-up

Connections:
Speakers: There are connections for two sets of speakers
Antennas: AM and FM antennas (there is also an attached AM antenna)
Inputs: Phono, Aux, Tape, and Tape monitor.
Outputs: It has preamp out and power amp in connections as well.
Note: The Scope connection is for an oscilloscope that Heath also sold as a kit.


History of the AR-1500
The Heathkit AR-1500 was unveiled in the early 1970s as Heath’s top of the line model. It was offered as a kit version or pre-assembled version. The kit was priced at $379.95 + $24.95 for the walnut cabinet. I can say I have never seen a cabinet as nice as the one on this unit it is flawless with crisp corners! Fully assembled with the walnut cabinet Heath asked $649.95! A lot of money for this time. The introduction of the AR-1500 had a unique market impact as it was reliable and powerful receiver with an good tuner at half the cost of others, if you can build it properly. Stereo Review magazine said it was easily worth twice the money. That being said this one was built by an audio engineer and the build quality is exceptional in DALAUDIOs opinion, please see interior photo view.

There was some talk about the AR-1500 aesthetics not matching the silver face competitors of the day. It actually looks more like an early Sansui than say Pioneer or Marantz. The unit has a row of black function buttons under the dial face, not shiny silver knobs. The optional walnut case with crisp slotted vents, matches the champagne colored left side faceplate. It has a unique 1960-70s look and that' apparently what Heath was going for.

Power:
The AR-1500 produced 60 watts per channel into 8 ohms. While some report higher figures say 90 WPC, those numbers are based on "dynamic power" not RMS. At any rate it this was a high power unit for the early 1970’s. If you check the 1971 Stereo Review Annual issues, they indicated "It significantly bettered Heath’s conservative specifications. Into 8-ohm loads, with both channels driven, the continuous power at clipping level was 81.5 watts per channel. Into 4 ohms it was 133 watts per channel." - So its was conservatively rated. I do not recommend running this model with 4 Ohm Speakers!! I could explain why if interested.