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KA-9100 and heresy speakers

mikeirwin137

mikeirwin137

New Member
Hey all-
I'm new to this forum. Read some great stuff so far. I just got a Kenwood KA-9100, a kt-7300 tuner and a pair of '77 klipsch heresy speakers at a yardsale for $20. Yep. $20. I'm new to this audiophile stereo thing, but I've owned a recording studio for a while now and from the sound of the system it seems to me like I got a pretty nice system for pocket change.
Just a couple of questions... Are the IC's really completely unavailable for the ka-9100? I already feel like I would miss is if it died. Which leads me to my next question, it's got some distortion at high signal levels, but only for the first 5 minutes of operation, then it's fine. Am I counting the days to it's death? Also, are there any proven mods out there for the KA-9100? I have a hard time keeping my soldering iron out of my gear when I know it can sound better...

Thanks for the input!
 
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welcome to AK

fan-freakin tastic score mike, I currently use my KA-9150 as my pre. Do a search here for KA-9100, should be lots of info. :thmbsp:

click here
 
Wow, what a score!

I've run that exact same combo before: KA-9100 in to Heresys. Sounded great, probably better than any other sand amp I've had hooked to them.

Enjoy!
 
I have had a KA-9100 and agree it is a fine integrated amp.
What you describe probably would be cured with a good cleaning of the pots and switches with De-Oxit the preferred brand of cleaner.
Welcome to AK!
 
That's one great deal! Was the stuff in rough shape or was it just unused for awhile? It's hard to believe what people give away. In top shape that package is worth several hundred $$$$$. Like most of the guys here, I keep the good stuff and trade up when I can, unless I get hard up for $$$$$$. Nice score and welcome, Brad :thmbsp:
 
Killer score! I had a pair of '75 Heresies that I got for $16 at Goodwill...replaced one bad tweeter diaphragm and used them for a year until I decided I wanted something different, and got $400 for the pair on ePay, sold to a gentleman who uses them as rears in an all-Heritage Klipsch surround system.

The KA-9100 is a piece I lust after, just a splendid integrated. And you can't go wrong with a Kenwood tuna, either. Great haul, and welcome to the addict....uh...obsess...uh...hobby! :D

Todd in Beerbratistan :beer:
 
Man! That's a :smoke:ing deal! :thmbsp:

Where are you located? I need to go to yard sales in your area! :yes:

Scott
 
They're all in damn good condition, considering their age, and the fact they were stored in a basement for a bit. Is that deoxit stuff the same as Caig? I keep hearing about that... I assume when I get some I just spray it on the swtich from the inside and move the switch around until the contacts are clean right?
I just go to every yard sale in my area, most of them are crap. This guy cleans out estates for a living and he took my card, promising to call me with any electronics or musical gear. sweet.
And my girlfriend has already commented on my addiction/hobby. I suppose I should get used to that eh?
 
Very nice find!

Caig DeOxit is the ticket!

There are several cleaning threads you can search that discuss cleaning techniques, products to use, etc..... but you generally have the right idea.

It might be a good idea to use some compressed air to get rid of the dust before you start with the DeOxit.
 
:D Don't worry about the women commenting on the stereo gear! Just act like you don't hear them. Better yet, just turn the volume knob up a bit! They get over it.... in time! Nice score! That doesn't happen every day. Brad
 
Score!

and a nice one at that. Reminds me of my first score, $15 for a KA-9100 at Goodwill. You are most likely hooked now. Stick with it, stay a while and enjoy the fruits of labor, as well as the kick-ass gear you just got. Welcome aboard!
 
Wow! What a haul...I've been looking for a pair of Klipsch Heresy but haven't stumbled across a pair yet. I got to get out more! My wife doesn't say boo about all the equipment stashed in the spare bedroom let alone a house full of AR's...as long as she has her system to listen to she's content...I think?! Welcome aboard!
 
Yes, the KA-9100 is a very fine example of an integrated amplifier. I had mine for a while and liked it. But, it got stuck in the numbers game here, I have 3 250 wpc amps, 2 205 wpc amps, 2 200 wpc amps, 4 150 wpc and the baby 105 wpc amp. I also have a Technics 130 wpc integrated amp. And some receivers (my vintage gear). Can't keep it all, and I still need to sell some to deserving homes. At least I got what I paid for it and it went to EW for embellishment and then to its new home.
If not for my several separates systems, and if I ever needed to really really downsize, a KA-9100 would be a good first step in a nice-sized system. I had mine driving the JBL L100 and they mated for some great sound. BTW, I've been listening most of the day to my KT-7500 tuner.
 
The KA-9100 is definately an awesome way to start a great system! I started with a KA-7100, then moved up to a KA-9100, and from there moved up to the 700M and L-09 power amps. Its a lot of fun!
 
I'm looking forward to your impressions of how this system sounds once you get it sorted out and working.....

I have had a yearning for some Klipsch speakers for some time, but have been discouraged by comments from a number of folks that many of the Klipsch speakers... especially the Heritage series, are not a good match for solid state amp.

I happen to have a Kenwood KA-7100 that I think might be a good match, but I haven't had an oppportunity to mate it with Klipsch speakers yet.
 
You can desolder the relay, pop the top off, and use a thin folded strip of #1200 sandpaper to drag across the contacts, then flush with DeOxit and reassemble. Easy on the sanding, as the relay contacts are thinly plated and you will scrub it off...in which case you would need to replace it.
 
So I opened up the KA-9100 and cleaned all the pots and switches with deoxit and cleaned the face using some of the tips from the forum. I need to revise my opnion on the condition, it looks like a brand new unit. I also set the dc offset using the steps outlined in the repair manual to <2 millivolts. Here's the problem: I plugged it in last night and the left channel sounds like a million bucks but the right channel is WAY distorted, almost cutting in and out, and the volume occasionaly slowly drops down by itself until you touch the volume knob. IT's the same problem on all the inputs, it stays the same speaker when you reverse the stereo channels, and it stays on the same side of the amp when you physically switch the speakers at the connection point. The only thing I have left to try is to deoxit the adjustment pots for the DC offset. Anyone have any other ideas? Thanks for all the input so far everyone.
 
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