Kenwood KA 7002

[Bigears]

Just picked up a complete '70's era system from an estate sale for cheap. All the components are in super nice condition, but the speakers and integrated amp got my attention to do the deal (seller was a total PITA). RSL 3300 speakers and a Kenwood KA 7002, both in pristine condition. The speakers are obscure in most parts of the country but well know in California as JBL copies that are quite good and were made in SoCal a few miles from where JBL made theirs. These join two other sets in my collection.

As for the amp, it needs some DeOxit as usual but sounds very nice. I think it sounds a lot like everything from that era, very bottomy with strong bass and flat highs, which had something to do with masking the hiss from tapes and pops from LP's. The control knobs are very detailed and have these strong detents for everything but the volume and balance, which feel like your turning gas valves they have so much dampening.

Anyway, I know nothing about the Kenwood KA 7002 except it was made in 1972. Anyone know the specs and what it sold for new?

 

[Divotdog]

I don't know anything about it, but it looks like you can hook up 2 turntables, that is always a plus in my book. :thmbsp:

 

[tcdriver]

Kenwood KA-7002

The KA-7002 was the successor to the famous Kenwood KA-6000.

KA-7002 Solid State integrated amp. 98 W/ch (dynamic) at 4 ohms; 20-50,000 Hz. response at +/- 1.0 dB; HD < 0.5% (at rated output); IM < 0.3% (at rated output); hum $ noise -65dB (phono); damping factor 45; etc.

Suggested retail $299.95

 

[Martin.Ca]

I have one too, which is quite nice once it was cleaned up. Still haven't found some 8volt bulbs for two of the lamps (14v in there now). Here's some info I found in the intarweb. I happen to think it's very nicely built.

(I just acquired the matching KT-7001)

KA7002 Specifications: 100 watts RMS continuous power, 50 watts per channel with both channel operating simultaneously with 8 ohms load at any frequency for 20-20kHz
68 watts per channel at 4 ohms load (1 khz)
55 watts per channel at 8 ohms load (1 khz)

Harmonic Distortion: Less than 0.5% at rated output from 20-20khz

Hum & Noise: Phono 1 (2.5mv):65 db
Phono 2 (.06 mv): 45 db
Phono 2 (2.5 mv): 65 db
Aux, Tuner, Tape Play: 77 db
Mic: 67 db

Damping Factor: 90 at 16 ohms load, 45 at 8 ohms load

The null balance button "offers a simple, audible means by which to balance the two channels". With a mono signal, push the null balance switch and adjust the balance control until minimum sound is heard. This is the point at which the two signals are balanced. Releasing the switch will return the output to normal and the two channels will be balanced.

 

[johnda]

I had a Kenwood KA-7002 amp and when I retired and moved it got lost in the shuffle. The only problem I ever had with it was the null switch could cause noise and had to be cleaned a number of times. It was 50 STRONG watts/channel. I now have the KA-6100 which is also 50 STRONG watts/channel and has the power level meters.

 

[Bigears]

Great info everyone. The KA 7002 I have is pretty much mint, all the lights work and after some DeOxit the pushbuttons are all working correctly too.

I was thinking about 50-60 WPC and pretty decent headroom too. Very robust build quality. This little guy feels like a bag of bricks when you lift it. Much heavier than I expected and solidly built. You can't get any movement out of the stamped steel panels when you push on them, which is something I don't think I've seen before.

Don't really have the room to keep this sorta stuff but it's SO mint...the sickness rears it's ugly head again...

 

[Martin.Ca]

Heh. The double set-screws per knob and the ball-bearing detents on the rotary switches were impressive, as was the intricate machining on the knobs themselves. Heck, the lettering on the faceplate is impressive, what with the depth of those (um..) "punched" labels.

 

[rallycat]

I have one too & like it a lot. The number of inputs & 3 speaker outputs make it easy to check out different sources & speakers.

Pop the top & poke around inside and you'll see the bass & treble controls aren't potentiometers, they're stepped attenuators with lots of resistors hand-soldered to the switches. Uncommon then and even rarer now.

Martin.Ca, thanks for the note on the null balance button. I always wondered what it did.

Anybody use the mono out RCA to drive a subwoofer?

Tom

 

[Bigears]

I have one too & like it a lot. The number of inputs & 3 speaker outputs make it easy to check out different sources & speakers.

Pop the top & poke around inside and you'll see the bass & treble controls aren't potentiometers, they're stepped attenuators with lots of resistors hand-soldered to the switches. Uncommon then and even rarer now.

Martin.Ca, thanks for the note on the null balance button. I always wondered what it did.

Anybody use the mono out RCA to drive a subwoofer?

Tom

You guys are killing me with all this...I was convinced that I'd be selling my newly aquired KA 7002 to fund more of my targeted components, but the high quality build evident in this unit and strong following here on AK has me thinking twice about it.

The bass and treble stepped controls have the nicest feel, now I know why.

 

[Martin.Ca]

Have you seen the matching KC-6060A scope yet?

http://www.members.cox.net/lizebay/kens2.jpg
http://www.members.cox.net/lizebay/kens3.jpg
http://www.members.cox.net/lizebay/kens4.jpg

Or the KF-8011 De-Noiser ?

http://i17.ebayimg.com/03/i/08/e3/b3/e8_3.JPG
http://i14.ebayimg.com/02/i/08/e3/7f/47_3.JPG
http://i18.ebayimg.com/06/i/08/c6/a3/6a_3.JPG
http://i22.ebayimg.com/02/i/08/e8/90/5f_3.JPG
http://i9.ebayimg.com/03/i/08/d9/fd/2d_3.JPG
http://i3.ebayimg.com/02/i/08/ee/7b/12_3.JPG

 

[Bigears]

Thanks Martin, I really needed to see the matching scope and de-noiser. I've almost convinced myself to keep it, and now you have to add this to the dilemma!

Nudes! I opened it up again to work do a clean up and work some DeOxit into the Null Balance switch, which is being stubborn. I'm sure this switch didn't get much use. See pic of bass control which rallycat informed me is a ball bearing detented switch with resistors, not a pot. The volume and balance knobs are billet and show tooling marks, nice!

Measured less than 1.5 mV DC offset. No hum with volume cranked, clean and very powerful bass.

 

[hpsenicka]

A very interesting example of early SS technology... I love the old-school controls!

I have the KA-2002A, which I believe is the baby of this family, and is doing daily duty as amplification for computer speakers..

 

[Martin.Ca]

I should look again in mine, I seem to recall it looking a lot more organized and tidier inside.

 

[Bigears]

I should look again in mine, I seem to recall it looking a lot more organized and tidier inside.

Mine looks completely hand wired. I've been giving it a good listening to ever since I got it home. Probably gonna keep her. Too hard to find this era vintage in such good shape.

Anyone have an Orion value on the KA 7002?

 

[geste]

Kenwood KT-7001 / KA-7002

Heh. The double set-screws per knob and the ball-bearing detents on the rotary switches were impressive, as was the intricate machining on the knobs themselves. Heck, the lettering on the faceplate is impressive, what with the depth of those (um..) "punched" labels.

I finally have the KT-7001+KA-7002 again after misplacing same about 25 years ago. Yes the machining and engraving are great and I really love nice, big unmistakble tuning and volume knobs like these. I have 'em for my desk stereo so I can stare at 'em.

Jim

 

[Bigears]

Yeah, my KA 7002 resides in the "keeper" pile in my collection. While it doesn't have the big ole VU's of the newer KA's, the build quality as evident in ball detents of the function knobs and the stamped faceplate, move it up several notches in my collection. Plus it sounds great.

 

[theophile]

My observations:
Kenwood and Accuphase being sister companies(very close at the time),look at the black rectangular buttons on the 7002,then look at the first preamp Accuphase released (P 200)you'll see the same buttons.
Look at the big grey power supply capacitors on the 7002,then look at Accuphase's first poweramp the P 300,yup,the same big grey capacitors and the black buttons.
I reckon that there were two schools of thought at Kenwood at the time.One school of thought just wanted to make the best,all out no comprimise products(Accuphase).The other school of thought wanted to accept some limitations and offer more affordable products(Kenwood).:scratch2:

 

[gearhound]

I own Kenwood KA-2002A and KA-4002 int. amps.
My wife has the KA-2002A at work, powering a pair of Coral BX-200 speakers.
I have a KA-4002/KT-2001 combo in the den, powering a pair of CSW model 6 speakers.
These units are well-built, reliable, and sound much more powerful than rated.
Your Kenwood KA-7002 should sound great...and serve you well for years.
Congrats on a very good score!!
Steve

 

[geste]

Ka-7002

.....the build quality as evident in ball detents of the function knobs.....

You just helped me figure something out. After reading that I couldn't help but reach over for a few snick-snick-snick turns of various knobs on the 7002.

The one little problem I had when this amp arrived was that right channel dropped out, but seemed to go away with Deoxit. But -- gasp! -- it came back after my fooling. But....I found the culprit. It's the tape monitor switch. I can make right channel drop if I torque that just a tad off center "source" position. Likewise I can bring it back by jiggling that knob in center position. So I think I just need to spend a little more time with that selector switch. In the meantime, I know to keep it running in stereo.

Jim

 

[Chum]

New to these forums...I bought my KA 7002 new when I was 15...I am 53 now and it still sounds great! In my "roaring" twenties someone spilled a beer into it:nono: and it shut itself off...started working again a week later and I never noticed a problem until around 2005. The left channel got weak...I took it to a repair shop and the guy said..."looks like something was spilled in here sometime ago". The beer finally hurt it almost 30 years later!:scratch2:
After $100.00 repair (clean up and a few transistors) sounded new again!
This amp has went through hell and back an is still the pride and joy of my system!