Mystery Kenwood Speakers, Need an ID

[bigcaddy64]

Over the weekend I was doing my usual routine of yard sales and came across a house with all sorts of interesting things, some audio related.

After speaking with the person having the sale, I was told that she had more audio stuff at her home but didn’t bring them. She was quite happy to take my number and send me some pictures over the weekend.

As promised, I received pictures and was pleasantly surprised with what was up for grabs.

I just restored the very same amp/tuner combo 2 months ago and loved how easy they were to work on. The cassette deck is probably pretty easy but I’m curious about the speakers.
Does anybody recognize them? I wasn’t given any info or model numbers but think somebody has to recognize them. They are Kenwoods, I’m just not sure of the model

 

[swechsler]

I don't recognize them, but judging by the black vinyl on the sides, I'm going to guess that they're newer than the other components (in the 70s, walnut or oak vinyl veneer was almost de rigueur). Also, the metal strip across the top suggests (although not necessarily guarantees) that these were styled to match a rack system.

 

[turboyam]

Pretty sure they are LS-660's. They are nice ones, aluminum woofer basket and a nice cast aluminum horn tweeter.

 

[bigcaddy64]

Pretty sure they are LS-660's. They are nice ones, aluminum woofer basket and a nice cast aluminum horn tweeter.

Did some quick searching and its the LS-660's!! They date to 1978 which is the same for the other components so this was a complete, original setup. We are going to meet tomorrow evening and i can hardly wait to get the stuff.

 

[turboyam]

They are the small brother's of the LS-770's the ones with dual 10inch drivers, one being a nice coaxial and the other, a passive radiator.
The 660's are most probably ''foam roth desease'' free, i think they had doped textile half roll surround. They could be bought separtely so, not part of cheap rack systems. I would get them !!!

 

[turboyam]

I have the original leaflet here, if you need details?!

 

[bigcaddy64]

Sure! I was bummed at her sale because i missed a mint Schwinn Beach cruiser for $5 bucks but my audio finds and now this have righted the ship lol. Might even end up with a car once the whole deal is said and done.

 

[swechsler]

Well, don't I feel sheepish...

 

[bigcaddy64]

Well, don't I feel sheepish...

I was with you when i first saw the photographs too. All i was interested in was the components

 

[bigcaddy64]

Here they are! Kenwood LS-660s!! Our meeting was moved up 24 hours and I was able to get the whole lot this evening!

The speakers look fantastic (a few scuffs on the bottom panels) but otherwise exceptionally clean. They were purchased in Hong Kong in 1977/78 while in the Navy

 

[turboyam]

Cool!. Let us know how the whole system sounds!. For my own info, could you please confirm that the woofer surrounds are not foam please!.

 

[bigcaddy64]

Cool!. Let us know how the whole system sounds!. For my own info, could you please confirm that the woofer surrounds are not foam please!.

Definitely not foam. They are a coated fabric material. I was poking them last night and they were still very soft/flexible. I've got capacitors/belts, etc in order to rebuild all the units to their former glory. Once i get everything back together, ill test it as a complete system.

 

[turboyam]

Good!, i was sure they weren't foam . Love the KA-6100 too, looking for one now and they are rare, for my garage kit!. Do you have some Caig Deoxit D-5? Faderlube?, these are your friends!.

 

[bigcaddy64]

Good!, i was sure they weren't foam . Love the KA-6100 too, looking for one now and they are rare, for my garage kit!. Do you have some Caig Deoxit D-5? Faderlube?, these are your friends!.

Oh yes. 1 can in my travel tool kit, 3 cans on the workbench shelf, more in the cabinet so i don't run out...... I'm covered. Ill test them this afternoon and see if that pot is scratchy. Then ill test the cap specs. If its off, ill replace it and clean up the cabs.

 

[bigcaddy64]

Got them fired up last night. Both worked right out of the gate but as soon as that level control was touched they both dropped the tweeters.

After a bit of cleaning/flushing, I was able to get them working smoothly again.

Now I need to address the capacitor. It looks like they used a generic radial cap. I’ve got the same values in my stash but they are polarized units. Should I spring for some higher end film caps and see what it does to the sound? I would think an old electrolytic is dried out by now

 

[SPL db]

I have a set of those speakers on my vintage rig. I really like how they sound with my setup.

I hope they work well for you, nice snag as they don't come up for sale very often.

 

[bigcaddy64]

I have a set of those speakers on my vintage rig. I really like how they sound with my setup.

I hope they work well for you, nice snag as they don't come up for sale very often.

I agree that they sound pretty good. I was testing a CD player so i used them and Boston sounded great. The tweeters kept cutting out but once i was able to find a clean spot inside the pot, i was impressed. I'm going to give them another go this evening with a much larger power amp. I didn't have time to test them after the deoxit cleaning last night.

 

[SPL db]

For me, they have a nice sharp, crisp high end with, dare I say it... a touch of sizzle without being fatiguing at all.

 

[turboyam]

I would replace them with non-polarized Solen fast caps.