Let’s Unbox & Build A Heathkit Stereo Pro-Series Preamplifier • P1

In 1980, Stereo Review said the Pro-Series AP-1800 preamplifier, “does practically everything one could want, and does it to perfection.” In this series, we’ll build the kit and test its performance when complete. Introduced in 1978, Heathkit’s Pro Series components promised that in performance, specifications and sound reproduction, they’d rank with the finest stereo components available anywhere.

Introduced in 1978, Heathkit’s Pro Series components were all rack-mount compatible and by 1982, the series included…
The AJ-1600 tuner with Dolby FM noise reduction.
The AP-1800 preamplifier.
The AD-1703 equalizer.
The AE-1705 EIA standard rack.
The AD-1706 active audio processor.
The AD-1702 variable electronic crossover.
The AD-1701 graphic output indicator.
The AA-1600 125 watt per channel amplifier.
And the mammoth 250 watt per channel AA-1800 amplifier.

Suprisingly, the high-end pro-series components were introduced around the time Heathkit was purchased by Zenith, a company that was far more interested in Heath’s computers than audio kits. Still, the pro series stuck around for a while, but by 1986, about seven years after the pro-series was introduced, Heathkit stopped offering stereo kits in their catalogs altogether. They came back briefly in the 1988 catalog, but these were components developed by Harmon Kardon and not true Heathkits. By 1990, these disappeared also and by 1992 Heathkit stopped kit production entirely.

Unboxing a vintage Heathkit unbuilt NOS preamplifier kit.

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