Kenwood KL-999Z thrift store buy?

madpioneer

Super Member
Found these lonely Kenwoods tonight on an unscheduled stop at a nearby Goodwill.
Could not resist those 15" woofers kept calling me!!!:eek:
 
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I have a pair of them hooked to my Carver A-500X amp and they sound great. At the time I got them, there was a guy selling the 888 versions on EBAY getting some $$$ for them and raving about them. Test them versus the speakers you have now and see what you think.
 
You know you got it bad,when you spend an hour cleaning,detailing speaker grills and they are still not clean enough.Only a real audio junky would be that dedicated.:stupid:
 
wjahn5,
I contacted a Ebay seller selling a pair for $200.Made a comment about the high retail cost.I asked How Much were they originally.He said $600-800 a piece? Can someone verify this? I do not have any Orions.Thanx! How much did you pay for yours wjahn5 if thats cool to ask? Condition?
 
Teamed the Kenwoods up with the CS-99A's.99's up on top of the KL-999Z's.A PIONEER SX-950 running 'em,MAN! talk about nice,woooohooo sweet shimering highs and way down deeep bass,WOW!
I know there are some purist here,that just one set of speakers has too do the job,but just for grins get your best two sets of speakers that are close in efficientcy and stack 'em and A + B 'em and you will appreciate them alot more fuller sound without speaker stands.B set on the ground gives you the deep bass,A set gives you sweet highs and mids closer to the level of your ear standing or sitting try it you will like it!!
 
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The KL-999's were bass boomers deluxe. Not sure how 'desireable' they are, but most of 'em that make eBay are sold.
I always thought the CS-99A was more 'honest' below 40 Hz, but the Kenwood's are amazingly efficient and pump it from 50 Hz and up.
Isn't that a 16-incher, though?

CRS,
pete
 
They aren't in my bluebook. They look incredibly thin for using a 16" woofer. I'm sure their worth the $100 you paid for them but their not my cup of tea.

Mike
 
Originally posted by madpioneer
wjahn5,
I contacted a Ebay seller selling a pair for $200.Made a comment about the high retail cost.I asked How Much were they originally.He said $600-800 a piece? Can someone verify this? I do not have any Orions.Thanx! How much did you pay for yours wjahn5 if thats cool to ask? Condition?

There's no way that these were $600-$800 a piece. Back in the mid 70's you could buy top-of-the-line JBL L300's and Altec Model 19's for less than $800 each. These were significantly higher end speakers than the Japanese Kabuki speakers of that era. My recollection of the 15"/16"/17" Kabuki speakers was that they were in the $200 to $300 range.
 
The closest thing I can find is price of $350 for a pair of KL-999X kenwood speaker - specs appear similar 5 way, 16" woofer, etc. This is from a 1980 Off Duty magazine.

I paid $75 for my pair but also got a "smaller" pair (don't remember model but they "only" had 15" woofers), KR-9600, and a Kenwood cassette deck all for that price. Ended up selling all but the 999Z's.
 
Appreciate all the input.I can always count on that here.
It does not matter to me what the ACTUAL Retail was on these.I would have to say that around $300 on average,but some may have payed an exorbient rate.Regardless if they are over engineered,designed to catch the eye more than the ear.Regardless what they would rate up against say a JBL-L100 or otherwise,they are some great speakers and at $100 I feel good about the purchase.Was just a little unsure at first.
Even though they have shallow cabs these will pound more than some speakers I have seen with much much deeper cabs.
They may look space age but they do sound good.There is more there than just eye candy.Some Japanese Kabuki Speakers could suprise someone with an open mind and ears,But they are not for everyone just a few who like to rock it hard!!!!
:eek: :D :boink: :bigok:
Someone elses loss my HUGE gain!!!!!;) :cool: :D
 
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