Lecson AC1
Lecson AP1
Lecson AP1x
Lecson AP3MkII

A true design landmark, unfortunately fairly forgotten nowadays.

If the console styling was attempted by many after the Lecson units (the ugly Marantz "Layla", some Sony cuties and a host of others), none managed to come up with something as utterly refined as the british original.

Boothroyd/Stuart later went on to successfully launch Meridian and design some more excellently designed units, if somewhat less striking.
The combo was reviewed in HFN&RR by Martin Colloms in october 1977, for an update on the original may 1977 review. Mr Colloms noted that the AP1X amp had seen major (positive) changes but that there was a problem with the AC1 preamp phono stage, akin to overload and noise.

The images on this page come a 1990s reprint of said HFN&RR 1977 issue (below) and an x-rare october 1978 japanese catalog (right) which also displayed the SP1 and LB1 loudspeakers, the latter being a sort of preview of what NHT (Now Hear This) loudspeakers would be like... 25 years after the original Lecson :)

The specialist of these units, Steve, can be reached here and if you click the "up" button below, you'll have a full review of the AC1, AP1, AP1x and FM1 to read !
Here is another link to big images of the Lecsons : in Germany. You will also find there the UK 1977 review and a more recent Meridian press kit.

Allen Boothroyd's own industrial design website is here.