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Kenwood KD-500 Turntable Tonearm Identity

Timothy Flath

Timothy Flath

Well-Known Member
Looking at a KD-500 turntable for sale with mystery tonearm for sale and only have one pic to look at. Can anyone identify the tonearm on it? Understand the KD-500 was sold without arm so it is likely an aftermarket arm? One article I read said it was quite commonly paired with Grace G707 or SME Series 2 or 3 - looked at pics of all three and doesn't seem to be those types....
Here is that article: http://liquidaudio.com.au/kenwood-kd-500-kd-550-direct-drive-turntable/

Here is what I have to look at (any good?):

Kenwood_KD_500_tt.jpg
 
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Timothy Flath said:
Looking at a KD-500 turntable for sale with mystery tonearm for sale and only have one pic to look at. Can anyone identify the tonearm on it? Understand the KD-500 was sold without arm so it is likely an aftermarket arm? One article I read said it was quite commonly paired with Grace G707 or SME Series 2 or 3 - looked at pics of all three and doesn't seem to be those types....
Here is that article: http://liquidaudio.com.au/kenwood-kd-500-kd-550-direct-drive-turntable/

Here is what I have to look at (any good?):
Click to expand...

The Kenwood KD-550 comes with a tone arm, that tone arm.

Google Kenwood KD-550 and you will see better pictures of that tone arm. :D
 
I ma
Balifly said:
The Kenwood KD-550 comes with a tone arm, that tone arm.

Google Kenwood KD-550 and you will see better pictures of that tone arm. :D
Click to expand...
I may not be out of the picture as buddy said he would keep me in mind if the deal falls through. He listed for $100 CDN and I said bummer, I would have gone as high as $250 (reasonable?) provided it was in excellent shape with no issues. That is when he came back to me and said, if the deal falls through....
;-)
 
I've got the, KD-550 with that tone arm for $150, lucked into that deal. I like it! I also have the KD-500 with Grace 707 as well. If all working well I, in my uneducated opinion think it would be great!
Good Luck!
 
Interesting that the KD-500 was sold as turntable without an arm (usually aftermarket Grace G707 or SME series 2 0r 3 were fitted by all acounts) and the KD-550 had this arm. They essentially made this a KD-550 with the stock KD-550 arm but yet the table is marked as KD-500....
Not holding my breath that I will be getting it though as you have to be fast with the vintage market around this neck of the woods :eek:
 
I can imagine! Maybe your friend will feel that you really should have it though!
I'm stuck with the 2 Kenwoods, a partially Marc Morinified AR-XB , and a Linn, just can't imagine selling anyone of them, well maybe the 550 as I do have the 500 with a Grace 707 and 2 Grace cartridges, the F-8 and F-9, at least that is what the seller said!
 
had a KD500 with mayware arm......nice deck. 35-50cu compliance carts went the way of the buggy whip, sold the combo some years ago.
 
Hi Marc! Up for some testing? KD-500 with Grace 707, have 2 cartridges, a Grace F9 and F8. Bug bit me for a little while. We can see how they sound
 
Timothy Flath said:
Interesting that the KD-500 was sold as turntable without an arm (usually aftermarket Grace G707 or SME series 2 0r 3 were fitted by all acounts) and the KD-550 had this arm. They essentially made this a KD-550 with the stock KD-550 arm but yet the table is marked as KD-500....
Not holding my breath that I will be getting it though as you have to be fast with the vintage market around this neck of the woods :eek:
Click to expand...

The installation of a take off 550 arm onto a 500 is something that could easily happen. Someone has a 500/arm they like but want to move the arm to another table and a 550 arm shows up because someone else wanted to upgrade that arm and well a marriage made outside the factory.

There were any number of arms put on the KD-500 back in the day. You short list is real short. Add to that the ∞ Black Widow (very common), the Mayware/Polk/JHReproducers/Sonus Formula arms, all being kinda similar or the same, the Magnepan Unitrac I for those fortunate enough to go that route and less frequently the ADC, other Grace arms and the Ultracraft. I'd say the most popular would be the Infinity, SME, Grace and Mayware-type arms in no particular order. The table got the arm that the dealer was selling at the time. Most dealers didn't have a lot of arms to chose from.

Let's hope you get the call!!
 
Blue Shadow said:
The installation of a take off 550 arm onto a 500 is something that could easily happen. Someone has a 500/arm they like but want to move the arm to another table and a 550 arm shows up because someone else wanted to upgrade that arm and well a marriage made outside the factory.

There were any number of arms put on the KD-500 back in the day. You short list is real short. Add to that the ∞ Black Widow (very common), the Mayware/Polk/JHReproducers/Sonus Formula arms, all being kinda similar or the same, the Magnepan Unitrac I for those fortunate enough to go that route and less frequently the ADC, other Grace arms and the Ultracraft. I'd say the most popular would be the Infinity, SME, Grace and Mayware-type arms in no particular order. The table got the arm that the dealer was selling at the time. Most dealers didn't have a lot of arms to chose from.

Let's hope you get the call!!
Click to expand...

In some literature, the Kenwood KD-550 - tone arm was an available option for the Kenwood KD-500 ( buyer's choice tone arm model). :music:
 
@Balifly do tell, what was the 550 arm called, did it come with an OM for the arm, was it boxed separately, just how cheap was it since you couldn't go the 2-400 or so that many good arms were selling for back then. Did you get it new? seems you post has an e instead of a u in that first letter after the word
 
Hose53 said:
Hi Marc! Up for some testing? KD-500 with Grace 707, have 2 cartridges, a Grace F9 and F8. Bug bit me for a little while. We can see how they sound
Click to expand...

absofreekinlootly ........hekk, bring your 8-hg and we'll see how the Signature 10MR compares to the Graces........

Marc(haven't heard a grace cart in eons)Morin
 
Blue Shadow said:
@Balifly do tell, what was the 550 arm called, did it come with an OM for the arm, was it boxed separately, just how cheap was it since you couldn't go the 2-400 or so that many good arms were selling for back then. Did you get it new? seems you post has an e instead of a u in that first letter after the word
Click to expand...

My was purchased second hand for $100.00 CDN plus a Grado F+1 and a new in the box Shure M 91 ED cartridge. :)

The tone arm has the plug in tone arm cable, and arm board .

Kenwood J91-0078-08
Kenwood KD-550 tone arm.JPG
 
Got my near mintlike KD550 with that arm and Ortofon F15 for $100 several years ago. Great table and very musical Jelco arm.
 
Another common arm for the KD-500 was the Sumiko MMT. Maybe someone remembers who made the tonearm for the KD-550, it was a well known and respected Japanese tonearm mfg. Either way, KD-500 or the KD-550, you can't go wrong with these two very popular vintage tables.
 
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