Anyone familiar with the Heathkit AJ-1600 Tuner?


I'm looking for a well built good quality tuner for around $200-300. I saw a Heathkit AJ-1600 AM/FM tuner for sale, and recalled that they use to manufacture ham radio equipment. Does anyone know anything about the performance of The AJ-1600 compaired to others available in that range? Also, do you know whether it is a digitally synthesized tuner or an analogue tuner with a digital readout? Thanks for any assistance.
linfield
Hi,
I have build 3 of this tuners in the past.
Besides nearly everything I use is from Heathkit, some are over 45 years old and still working fine.
The AJ1600 is a full professional tuner Even if it is aligned without instruments it works better then any other.
It is a analog tuner with a digital readout it uses a 5 gang tuning capacitor for the FM and 3 gang for AM. 
It has a build in frequency counter to feed the readoud. 
If you find  a tuner in good condition, just buy it. 
Kind regards.
Georges.

Ask Van Alstine. Try VanAlstine Audio on the internet. He is competent and probably has serviced
or rebuilt these Heath models. As I recall, they were
good units, but not exceptional. (I may be misspelling
his name; so try some variations.)
I don't recall this model, but there are some things to consider. First of all, this tuner would have to be pretty old since Heathkit has been out of business for many years. There would be no source for service.

Secondly, the tuner quality depends on the skills of the assembler. These could be all over the map.

I hold a ham license and built my share of Heath gear in the late '60's and '70's. Parts quality was average at best, and product architecture sometimes suffered due to the requirement that it be buildable in the field. Many assembly techniques that work well on an automated assembly line don't translate to the consumer bedroom.

Bottom line: I'd pass. There are lots of reasonable quality tuners available at your price point.

In fact