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Lafayette LR-1500T Receiver Find

zenith2134

zenith2134

Lunatic Member
Hey audiokarma members- I scored an LR1500T curbside the other night, and to my delight it plays wonderfully without one flaw (all lights operate, phono stage sounds good too) after hitting it with 2 rounds of DeOxit, that is!

Anyway, I found on the net only that it is similar to the Pioneer Sx-1500T and was probably made in 1968 or so, But one site claims 38wpc and one claims 50wpc. I have been following the power consumption threads about receivers on AudioKarma lately, but this one doesn't state the power consumption anywhere.
it does have a 2-amp mains fuse, so i doubt if it is truly 50wpc in a way. Can anyone enlighten me about this unit?

By the way, I'm running small oak Advent bookshelfs with it and my modded Sony SACD player, and wow it sounds like a tube fisher or something similar- I love this Lafayette!
 
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FWIW... these Orion data are not always 100% correct.

LAF
RCV, LR-1500T

Description:

Manufacture Years: 1968 - 1972


Additional Information:
Power: 60

Retail
MSRP: $280.00
USED: $25.00
Wholesale
Mint: $14.00
Average: $8.00
 
It is the Pioneer 1500T rebadged. It and the smaller 1000T moved Japanese stereo from the junk category or the returning G.I. who hit the PX to mainstream American households. If I were to identify a single piece that was the virus that caused the death of the US production in home audio, this would be it. Lafayette could not keep up with demand at the stores.
 
Ask and you shall receive.....
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I don't know what model we have (burried in the basement somewhere), but I remember the volume knob being split in two with the front half controlling the left channel and the back half the right (or maybe the other way around).

Control eventually went, so it is a pain to use.
 
Don't you love the old adds, 220W with a note saying 175W IHF, for a true power of 50W RMS that is not stated anywhere in the add. I had one that I measured at 50W, problem was that if you ran it hard it would go into thermal shut down, I bet the true continuous power really was 38W.
 
That's 'cause they didn't have to mention it. The FTC ruling, which stopped all the wacky power claims, didn't come into force until 1974... and didn't and still doesn't apply to car audio or multi-channel (e.g., HT). Can you tell?
 
dewickt said:
Don't you love the old adds, 220W with a note saying 175W IHF, for a true power of 50W RMS that is not stated anywhere in the add. I had one that I measured at 50W, problem was that if you ran it hard it would go into thermal shut down, I bet the true continuous power really was 38W.
Click to expand...

Terry -- That's what is really is. I have a Pioneer SX-1500TD and that's what it tests out at.
 
Brian said:
It is the Pioneer 1500T rebadged. It and the smaller 1000T moved Japanese stereo from the junk category or the returning G.I. who hit the PX to mainstream American households. If I were to identify a single piece that was the virus that caused the death of the US production in home audio, this would be it. Lafayette could not keep up with demand at the stores.
Click to expand...

:no: Sorry but no. I may be a newbie here but I'm looking at photos of the Pioneer 1500T (inside and out) and it is in no way similar to the Lafayette LR-1500T, which I have apart on my workbench behind me!

Might I add the Pioneer doesn't compare well (visually at least) to what I'm seeing in the Lafayette. The Lafayette has much heftier power transformer, filter caps,etc. etc.

I know this is an old thread but some may come across it looking for info...as I did!
 
Sorry, it is a Pioneer SX-1500TD not a 1500T I'm no a big Pioneer follower and forgot they are different models, the 1500TD and 1500T. Lafayette in NYC used to have both at the time and would keep the covers off. You could buy a Pioneer or save money and buy theirs. At the time Pioneer was not a recognized name in the market while Lafayette was a common household name.
 
I read somewhere that earlier Lafayette equipment was designed here in the US and built by Japanese subcontractors. Later, around 1974, they started selling re branded Pioneer equipment.
I can't find that exact article but here is a quote from the Wiki article on Lafayette.

"A significant share of 60's and 70's vintage Lafayette hi-fi gear was manufactured by a Japanese subcontractor named "Planet Research". "Criterion" brand speakers were built by several offshore and some domestic assemblers."

This certainly suggests that the equipment was designed "in house"

Sorry about the double post.
 
Here is the pic of my Lafayette LR_1500T as promised.

lr1500t001ci8.jpg


Doesn't look at all similar to the Pioneer to me but you decide!:scratch2:
 
Lafayette LR1500

Hi, I was a manager of the company owned Lafayette in Mancheater Ct. The LR1500 was built by Planet Research(50% owned by Lafayette Radio Corp) Pioneer did not any of those units-sorry.
Thanks
 
The Planet Research name sounds familiar. The chasis design looks similar to an old Claricon reciever from the 70's. Was Planet Research connected to a bigger Japanese company? I wonder If P.R. manufactured some of their CB radios. I know Trio-Kenwood also produced much of their Hi-Fi and Amateur radio equipment. Some of the PC boards in Lafayette's Hi Fi and CB Radios are marked EPO or ELA-(number) and the transformers are marked ETA-(number)
 
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