Citation II: How Harman Kardon Built an Amplifier Too Good for Its Era ?

Comments · 35

• TH

  @TheOzthewiz · 3 days ago (edited)

  Stewart Hegeman's amplifier design philosophy was " a straight wire with gain". The output transformers "inductance" determined how the amplifier handled the LOW frequencies. Those transformers NEEDED large iron cores to keep from "saturating" at low frequencies. The "inductance" would decrease when saturation occurred resulting in high bass distortion. Conversely, the quality of the transformer windings would affect the "capacitance" between windings limiting frequency response at high frequencies. That is the reason output transformers of high quality contributed MOST of the cost of a high end amplifier. Also, the LATER versions did not have a switch for "Triode" operation. The kit version I purchased in 1963 had 6550's for output tubes and no way of switching to TRIODE mode....

• HK

  @hksunchaser1 · 1 month ago

  i still got the Citation I, II, III, IV & V though i sold one II few years ago

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• TH

  @TheOzthewiz · 1 month ago

  The Citation 2  had a total of 4 KT-88 output tubes, not 8. The Citation series was designed by Stewart Hegeman. I purchased one as a kit in 1963. It utilized "military" layout with point to point wiring on a fiberglass board. The resistors and capacitors were stretched across the board soldered to pins along the side with a harness (the had to be assembled with specific length and color wires) that connected the boards to the chassis. I spent about a week assembling the amplifier, the harness took the better part of the day to make. I cut the wires to within 1/8'' with precise "bends" (using the supplied "jig") and bound the wires with nylon string (ala aircraft wiring). The Amplifier worked properly the first time I turned it on, all it needed was to adjust the output tube "bias" and do "ac balance" adjustment. It sounded fantastic hooked to ONE AR-3 . I had to wait before I could afford the SECOND AR-3 (these were before the AR-3a ). The Amp weighed about 60lbs, got a good workout moving the Amp!

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• JO

  @johnfoster2592 · 1 month ago

  I own a pair of Fisher 80 az. They are an amazingly musical amplifier mono pair. They still run with their original Mullard EL37 tubes. Mind bending. Beautiful highs and mids. Articulate bass and very open sound stage. 1955 production date and still turning heads. Thanks to Avery.

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• GE

  @geezer-w3o · 1 month ago

  Have an eico st 70 from 62. It really sounds good. Better than anything ive ever had.

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• GA

  @gailsmith9835 · 1 month ago

  The citation 2 had hi freq video tubes and lots of feed back locally on each stage and global around entire amp

• TO

  @toddhupp · 1 month ago

  prima luna is a revival of these early amps

• BJ

  @bjarneallvarsson4594 · 1 month ago

  I was very happy with my Harman Kardon Signature 1.5 good for it's era is this the last Harman Kardon power amp who they made?😔

• DA

  @Datsun510zen · 1 hour ago

  The democratization of Hi Fi audio in 1963 America should not be defined by simplistic economic terms, rather by access to what defines the difference. Today there is an insidious marketing strategy to keep consumers ignorant of what's in the box.  Instead of seeking justification for an elevated price, we blindly accept that it's beyond our ability to understand. If you're not an audio engineer, trust your ears, and not the hyperbolic rhetoric.

• GA

  @gailsmith9835 · 1 month ago

  Heath kit had good iron

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• KE

  @Keith-ux9ku · 1 month ago

  A friend let me borrow his and use it in my system. I didn't like but that doesn't mean others won't.

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• LE

  @len9518 · 1 month ago

  Disagree about Heathkit. Some of their stuff was truly excellent.

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