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Kenwood KA Integrated Suggestions

geezerrocket

geezerrocket

New Member
I am looking for suggestions on which Kenwood KA integrated amps that I should be looking at.

I already have a mint KT tuner that I aquired a few years back so that is the reason I would like to stick with Kenwood.

I'm not interested in the Supreme 500, 600, 907, 9100, 8100 or any of the high power/ high cost models as this will be a part of a system for a cabin.

I have looked at Ebay and there are a few that have fight my eye - KA 4006, KA 3500, KA 405, KA 7100 etc....

I will be using it to drive a pair of restored KLH 23's or possibly a old pair of Kef 103's I recently aquired in a trade.
 
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heh, I answered you Someplace Else :-)

... but I do also have this amusing little pair of scans Here...

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Yeah, the KA-7100's a nice amp, too...
Dual secondary windings in the power transformer; separate power supplies for both channels.




(I didn't keep mine... but I am a Yamaha kind of guy when it comes to massmarket vintage Japanese solid state)
 
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It's nothing fancy just a KT 615. It is new though - really! When I picked it up a couple of years back at a estate sale it was new in the box.

The amp does not need to be a spot on match, just something from the mid 70's to early 80's that is.....

1) Kenwood
2) 30 to 60 wpc
3) sounds good - not shrill or tipped up.
4) looks good - scratched up faceplate need not apply.

I am handy with a soldering iron so changing out filter, coupling caps and resistors poses no big problem.

I really like the looks of the KA 4006, but have not heard it, or any Kenwood for that mattre, as I am basically a tube guy that has had more tube gear than I care to type about.
 
You'll never go wrong with a KA-8300 in ANY system, but that might be overkill for a cabin system. The KA-4006 might be the ticket you're looking for. It's definitely not shrill or tipped up, quite the opposite actually.
 
The spot on matched amps are nice units. The KA-501-65wpc, 601-60wpc, 701-80wpc, 801-110wpc and...wait for it...907 are the matching amps and have some improvements over the earlier gear with the high speed amps in them. The 907 is numbered different because it is a brute. 150wpc way more than needed for your speakers. All have the white aluminum faceplate finish of the tuner you have. The 501 and 801 have meters if that is on the list to get or avoid.

But you are right, no need to get exact match.
 
The KA-7100 is widely considered a very good amp for the price. I used to have one, sold it, and then bought another one recently. I recapped it and did some repairs and I think it sounds great. I do prefer my Yamaha CA-1000, but the 7100 is a very good amp.
 
Quick question here instead of opening a new thread.

It's about cleaning the faceplate specially those "silver" ones (Alluminium).

I just use hot water and soap. Work just fine. But sometimes I still have "deep finger prints" hard to remove.
I saw the picture below from a Japanese maintenance guy doing a restoration on this KA-8300.
Does anyone know this product (or any good other)?

http://amp8.com/tr-amp/trio/ka-8300.htm

ka8300-6.jpg




..
 
I have a KA-405. 55 wpc and a sweet sound. They can be had for very reasonable prices. The 305 and 3500 are also nice amps at 40 wpc
 
The Kenwood KA-6100 is a very nice sounding 50 wpc amp,looks especially good too with it's VU meters.The 65 wpc KA-7300 is another fave,personally I prefer it over the slightly later KA-7100 in terms of looks/style.
 
I would look for a KA-501 or 601. They are still under the radar and can be had for cheap. I have a 501, all recaped and sound
great!. Perfect match for a KT-615 (exactly what i've got in my garage).
 
I had a KA-4006 once and wish I hadn't sold it. Really nice little amp with virtually every feature you'd ever want. Rated at about 35wpc I believe. Not sure what the efficiency rating of those KEFs of your are, but I have the 103.2 and they love power. If your KEFs are inefficient, as most are, I would go with something a little bigger, like a KA-6006 or one of the ones Daunia suggested. As mhardy points out, the KA-7100 is also a good choice.
 
1462416301148-200576166.jpg

Ok, purchased a KA-7100 new in 1978, currently own a KA-7300, purchased a KA-4006 for my brother in law on his birthday a couple of yrs ago, liked it so much I now own two myself.

A couple of yrs ago I was missing my KA-7100 sold off in 1991 so began looking on eBay for a replacement. Was about to pull the trigger on one when I realized I needed the pre outs and main inputs like on the KA-7300 so purchased that instead. The KA-7100 is a sweet amp but the true dual mono and other features found on the 7300 get the nod. That said, the 7100 is fairly readily available, the 7300 not so much, plus the 7100 is a lot cheaper.

As for the KA-4006, it's a sweet little 34watt amp that has real synergy with my Klipsch Heresys. Not too shabby in the looks department, punches WAY above its specs, and easy on the wallet.

I recently simplified my bedroom system, Pioneer Elite DV-48V SACD/DVD player, Kenwood KA-4006 amp, and a pair of Klipsch Heresy I's. The KA-7300 is going into the dedicated entertainment room (mancave) system that's in the works.

Can't go wrong with any of these amps, if the 4006 has all the features you want then blow the cobwebs out of that wallet.
 
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I've rebuilt two KA-8006s, sold one and will not sell the other any time soon. That series of integrated sounds wonderful.

Dan
 
Karl vd Berg said:
Quick question here instead of opening a new thread.

It's about cleaning the faceplate specially those "silver" ones (Alluminium).

I just use hot water and soap. Work just fine. But sometimes I still have "deep finger prints" hard to remove.
I saw the picture below from a Japanese maintenance guy doing a restoration on this KA-8300.
Does anyone know this product (or any good other)?

http://amp8.com/tr-amp/trio/ka-8300.htm

ka8300-6.jpg




..
Click to expand...

After giving aluminum faceplates a warm water and soap bath, I usually finish cleaning up with BlueMagic. It removes whatever scrubbing did not lift and restores the luster removed by soap.I also give it a once over with Glade every now and then.
BTW, is that a US spec KA-8300 or a Japanese one? The faceplate looks different from the KA-8300 I usually see.
 
punprankster said:
After giving aluminum faceplates a warm water and soap bath, I usually finish cleaning up with BlueMagic. It removes whatever scrubbing did not lift and restores the luster removed by soap.I also give it a once over with Glade every now and then.
BTW, is that a US spec KA-8300 or a Japanese one? The faceplate looks different from the KA-8300 I usually see.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the suggestion, too, punprankster. :thumbsup:

The KA-8300 faceplate is from a Japanese Trio unit.

ka8300-i.jpg
 
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