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Kenwood KA-8100

newbieone

newbieone

New Member
I have been listening to music for years on my computer or iPad with lousy sound quality.

Now I have the Kenwood KA-8100 with newer speakers...! Such as huge difference. Zeppelin's "Ten Years Gone" sounds so much better with speakers, more power and loudness...!

Musically speaking I've been living in a cave for 20 plus years- it's great to be back...

I'm planning out a second vintage system for my office... I can't wait...!
 
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I just did a complete recap and adjusted the voltages on mine and the difference was mind blowing. It sounds as good as any amp I've ever heard.
 
I'd never been satisfied with modern Dolby Digital systems...most DD gear, music just didn't sound good to me even in stereo unless it was externally amped. The receivers worked best merely as pre-amps as it turned out...and yet I had all this gear. I sure's heck didn't want to start buying amplifiers galore...so I kinda just accepted it for a bit.

A buddy had a KA-3500 he lent me last winter - a guy he knew from work gave it to him...unrestored, looked pristine, worked perfect. I thought it sounded pretty darn good with my CD player and turntable.

I always have engaged in some sort of trading/buying/selling gear my whole adult life (and generally always have extra gear lying around), so I said what the heck, let's see what I can do here on the cheap. Did some internet research, read lots of good stuff on 70's Kenwoods in general, and that some of their stuff was really good to great.

They were mostly very affordable too.

Last February, a near basket case KA-8300 I got cheap ($25) started it all. It nevertheless sounded as good as I had read about. I now have horse-traded my way into a KR-3200 (free, powered on but no sound when I got it...just needed Deoxit on all knobs and switches, works fine now, sounds surprisingly good). Next a KR-4070 ($20, needs a tuner alignment and needed one solder fixed, but after some Deoxit it sounds and works great otherwise), then a KA-7100/KT-615 combo ($130...amp needed Deoxit, is now merely awesome - tuner was free but needs the MPX/IF switches replaced, otherwise a sleeper tuner IMHO).

I fell into all those is the best way to say it. It's amazing what the internet, service manual pdf's, a multimeter, a soldering iron, and cans of Deoxit/non-residue contact cleaner with q-tips can do for old equipment. Might have to learn how to re-cap stuff myself someday. Kenwood made some pretty good stuff back then that today can be had fairly inexpensively if you aren't afraid to "dabble".

Lastly, a pristine professionally cleaned/adjusted KA-8300 paired with a clean KT-7300 (went crazy there, $350 total). Listening to that rig right now...my favorite rig (so far).

All I know is I love listening to my old Kenwood gear. I love listening to LP's, CD's, etc again. Hell, amazing how good FM can be if you got decent tuners and a couple good FM stations near.

I've noticed, I don't watch half the TV I used to either.

Just a bit more DD gear to sell off, who knows, get the rest of the Kenwoods prof-tuned and cleaned up. Maybe some more horse-trading...I just wish I had a couple more rooms to equip :crazy:
 
dlrhawks said:
Lastly, a pristine professionally cleaned/adjusted KA-8300 paired with a clean KT-7300 (went crazy there, $350 total). Listening to that rig right now...my favorite rig (so far).
Click to expand...

Looking for a decently priced KT 7300/8300 myself to pair up with the KA 8300. I think the 8300's sound is warmer than the KA 9100 and I like it's looks a bit better than the KA 9100. Not to mean that I'm giving up on my 9100 - it's an awesome amp - but the KA 8300 is a keeper in it's own right IMHO.
 
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The 7300 tuner is a good sounding tuner...doesn't have all the bells and whistles as far as tuning or gangs, but it's got pretty good sound. Modded I bet it would really sing.

I've never listened to a 9100 so I have no comparison, but my 8300 I really like (I believe they are related as far as build in some fashion), might be the best amp I've ever owned.

Smooth, easy power. I'd bet it's similar to a 9100 except the 9100 has a tad more ooomph.

Funny story - I sold off a couple components today, el cheapo stuff in the closet I'll never use again. The guy who bought them asked about my 7300/8300 rig, so I turned it on and he goes "that thing sounds fantastic...what model is that?"

Wrote the model down...

I had the "basket case but working" 8300 next to it and lit it up, warts and all. Power switch fused on, balance knob points to 7 o'clock (sound balances at 1 o'clock). Lights dead, scratched up a bit. He offered me $100 for it after listening to it about a minute tops. I said no...that bad boy's gonna get fixed up some day unless I need parts from it. It ain't going anywhere!

I dunno if my combo is a great rig when compared to other rigs (one can never listen to everything!), but for $350 (which is probably fair market value right now, maybe a bit low) it'll hold it's own quite well I'd bet.
 
Have to agree...these vintage Kenwoods are very nice.

I started by picking up a KT-5500 for cheap. That tuner sounded so much better than the crappy receiver I was using, I listed to my FM through that instead. Figured I needed an amp next.

Then I did more reading and decided I wanted a KA-3500. That didn't last long...changed my mind and decided to go big or go home with a KA-8300. So I ended up with a KA-8300 and KT-8300 and they sound fantastic together. I did a comparison test of the KA-8300 against my Dad's Luxman R-351 and they sounded very, very close in detail, clarity, and in how low each reached. Great low end on the KA-8300.

I love both of those so much, I decided to get a KA-3500 to match up to the KT-5500. After cleaning up the 3500, I cranked it and MAN that thing sounds so great! What an awesome little unit for the price and size! I love the warmth and the punch. It's awesome.
 
newbieone said:
I have been listening to music for years on my computer or iPad with lousy sound quality.

Now I have the Kenwood KA-8100 with newer speakers...! Such as huge difference. Zeppelin's "Ten Years Gone" sounds so much better with speakers, more power and loudness...!

Musically speaking I've been living in a cave for 20 plus years- it's great to be back...

I'm planning out a second vintage system for my office... I can't wait...!
Click to expand...

Nice! Welcome aboard! :beerchug:
 
Even if you don't dig FM, getting a matching Kenwood tuner will be a good acquisition and, if you use it, will be an eye-opener. Most folks haven't heard radio through a good analogue tuner. Do some research at Tunerinfo.com so you can snag a good Kenwood tuner.
FWIW, I have a KA-7550 and the matching KT-7550 tuner. Neither are going anywhere except to my heirs.
 
What sounds better 8100 or 8300?
I think 8300 has more power yes?
Which one easier to work on?
Is 8300 dual mono too?
What is correct matching tuner for 8100? I do not see anything called KT-8100? Match tuner for that ammp not have matching number?
Thank you
JJ
 
DrumminDaddy said:
The KT-7100 will have the same jewelry as the KA-8100

Regards,
DD
Click to expand...
Uhhh, the KT-7500 you meant right?. The KT-6500 is very similar too except for black plastic switch deco.
I have all 3 of those, KA-8100, KT-6500 and 7500 and they all make a great combo!.
 
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