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Any love for the Heathkit AA-1600 power amp?

I just picked up a 1981-era Heathkit AA-1600 power amp from my local audio store. I decided to give it a try against my 1986 VSP Labs TransMOS 150, hoping to get a little more detail and clarity without sacrificing liquidity and body.

A few hours of warmup is showing this to be a stupid smart buy at $219! I've heard a lot of more costly amps that don't TOUCH this thing. Images float in space, it's very linear and uncolored, and musically it fleshes things out very well.

I'm keeping this one; gonna replace the wimpy captive cord with an IEC socket. Anyone out there have any experience with the AA-1600 or its big brother AA-1800? If you encounter a working one, BUY IT!
johnnyb53
4 responses Add your response
yfigueiredo
2 posts
 
Does anyone have or know where to get the technical manual and technical specifications for this equipment?
yfigueiredo
2 posts
 
Good morning, I just purchased an AA-1600 in Brazil, assembled by Heathkit itself, in excellent condition. I was very impressed with the sonic quality, the canine fidelity and the low cost of this device. It delivers nonsense! When, reading some forums, compared to MAC's I was incredulous, but now I understand and agree. MACS engineers have already spoken very favorably about it. If you come across one, don't think, buy and enjoy this wonder!
syhilly
38 posts
 
I second your motion!!! i just picked up a heathkit aa1640 power amp in museum condition, not a mark on it.. it is amazing the sound quality from such an inexpensive piece of gear. I put it up against my consoncace cyberr 800 mono blocks that are tube and am amazed at how closely they resemble eachother in clarity , richness and spacial , also, the heathkit has the same sweetness as my tube amp, but can really shake it when i need the raw power!!!
just stunned!!1
nordic587
45 posts
 
The pleasure you derive from your vintage Heathkit proves my longstanding point that one does not have to spend mega bucks unless one wants to and has that kinda cash, to get very pleasing sound from a piece of audio equipment. My equipment is either 20 years old or close to it. The power amp and CD player don't have the panache names from the high end but they perform very very well. I carefully research all my pieces and then get the best for the buck and I have. Good for you!
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