The Official Kenwood KD 500/550 and 600/650 Owner's Thread

[jbjsr]

Schveet, what arm was on there before, and the differences you're hearing?

Guys, I previously had a JH Reproducers Formula 4 arm installed (very similiar to Mayware). Fluid damped uni-pivot / low mass arm which is a very good arm matched with a high compliance cartridge. I didn't change out because I was unhappy with the sound. I wanted to install a medium mass arm that would support more cartridge options. Also, wanted high quality removable headshells to make it easier to change / try different cartridges. I also switched from a Jolida J9 tube phono pre to a Forte FP1 w/ Threshold DC outboard power source. Both setups are great and have their + / - points.

 

[Isaac C.]

I've been experiencing some right channel sibilance with my setup lately that I need to get checked. Any ideas? Played around with VTA, nothing there. Alignment is good as it's going to get for being such a short tonearm. Other than that, Im not sure what to try next.

 

[Blue Shadow]

Any ideas?

Investigate anti skate. If only the right channel is sibilant, the needle might be riding hard against the left channel skimming over the right channel.

It could be the right channel side of the stylus is worn a good bit more than the left channel side.

The first, if your stylus is in good shape can be solved by adding anti skate since the right channel is the outer side of the groove

The second, try a new stylus or one of known, even, light wear.

 

[Isaac C.]

Investigate anti skate. If only the right channel is sibilant, the needle might be riding hard against the left channel skimming over the right channel.

It could be the right channel side of the stylus is worn a good bit more than the left channel side.

The first, if your stylus is in good shape can be solved by adding anti skate since the right channel is the outer side of the groove

The second, try a new stylus or one of known, even, light wear.

The Syntec arm doesn't have anti skate unfortunately and the stylus has less than 100hrs probably. Could my setup just be more revealing of previously worn records or bad recordings compared to my last turntable?

I'm going to investigate the alignment again today.

 

[Blue Shadow]

Yes it can be the worn groove, but if you have had a great turntable, something only decent it is doubtful the groove is bad.

 

[JT Hi Fi]

Hello. Relatively new here & stumbled onto this 'group' in looking round here on AK.. Had initially learned of these Kenwood 500/550's as well as the 600/650 from the liquid audio site. been putting my 'system' back together and improved on a couple items already.. Been going the vintage route, & not looked back! My whole system & layout & room is a big work in process at this point. I was looking at a stock 550 on the 'auction site' that looks pretty nice. I've learned from here about attending to (cleaning w/deoxit or similar) the speed control pots & potentially the speed selector buttons. Seems like a pretty simple overall (i.e. reliable) unit if you have a good starting point.. Most apprehensive about shipping of course. Had a not so good experience with a R2R last year that will need some repairs I'm not capable of..... Its way beyond a drive distance to just get it. I'm in WI & it's on the west coast...

I presently have a Miracord 10H that I cleaned up, & have that one up & running - & very pleased how it turned out btw. Guessing this one may be quite an up step, or certainly different.. I understand these are completely different machines.. Have another basic TT in the fleet in the works, but this looked very intriguing. I was wondering what others thoughts might be ref, is it worth looking into further etc... Thank you very much!

 

[Grenadeslio]

Hello. Relatively new here & stumbled onto this 'group' in looking round here on AK.. Had initially learned of these Kenwood 500/550's as well as the 600/650 from the liquid audio site. been putting my 'system' back together and improved on a couple items already.. Been going the vintage route, & not looked back! My whole system & layout & room is a big work in process at this point. I was looking at a stock 550 on the 'auction site' that looks pretty nice. I've learned from here about attending to (cleaning w/deoxit or similar) the speed control pots & potentially the speed selector buttons. Seems like a pretty simple overall (i.e. reliable) unit if you have a good starting point.. Most apprehensive about shipping of course. Had a not so good experience with a R2R last year that will need some repairs I'm not capable of..... Its way beyond a drive distance to just get it. I'm in WI & it's on the west coast...

I presently have a Miracord 10H that I cleaned up, & have that one up & running - & very pleased how it turned out btw. Guessing this one may be quite an up step, or certainly different.. I understand these are completely different machines.. Have another basic TT in the fleet in the works, but this looked very intriguing. I was wondering what others thoughts might be ref, is it worth looking into further etc... Thank you very much!

Price would dictate, I use my KD500 / Grace G707 arm combination daily and it's a superb table.

 

[gary7]

Hello. Relatively new here & stumbled onto this 'group' in looking round here on AK.. Had initially learned of these Kenwood 500/550's as well as the 600/650 from the liquid audio site. been putting my 'system' back together and improved on a couple items already.. Been going the vintage route, & not looked back! My whole system & layout & room is a big work in process at this point. I was looking at a stock 550 on the 'auction site' that looks pretty nice. I've learned from here about attending to (cleaning w/deoxit or similar) the speed control pots & potentially the speed selector buttons. Seems like a pretty simple overall (i.e. reliable) unit if you have a good starting point.. Most apprehensive about shipping of course. Had a not so good experience with a R2R last year that will need some repairs I'm not capable of..... Its way beyond a drive distance to just get it. I'm in WI & it's on the west coast...

I presently have a Miracord 10H that I cleaned up, & have that one up & running - & very pleased how it turned out btw. Guessing this one may be quite an up step, or certainly different.. I understand these are completely different machines.. Have another basic TT in the fleet in the works, but this looked very intriguing. I was wondering what others thoughts might be ref, is it worth looking into further etc... Thank you very much!

One thing being it's a total manual table. Less to go wrong with it. The 550 is a very decent stock arm, but can be upgraded when the desire hits. Overall a very nice, cool looking table.

 

[Blue Shadow]

500/Mayware
650
600/Fidelity Research now Magnepan
500/Magnepan
are all ones I've had or have now. My 500 came from Chicago a few months ago thanks to a couple akers for the Pony Express.

Prefer the ergonomics of the 500 but like the 600, too.

Both worthy tables well above the Miracord. A new listening experience.

 

[Isaac C.]

Hello. Relatively new here & stumbled onto this 'group' in looking round here on AK.. Had initially learned of these Kenwood 500/550's as well as the 600/650 from the liquid audio site. been putting my 'system' back together and improved on a couple items already.. Been going the vintage route, & not looked back! My whole system & layout & room is a big work in process at this point. I was looking at a stock 550 on the 'auction site' that looks pretty nice. I've learned from here about attending to (cleaning w/deoxit or similar) the speed control pots & potentially the speed selector buttons. Seems like a pretty simple overall (i.e. reliable) unit if you have a good starting point.. Most apprehensive about shipping of course. Had a not so good experience with a R2R last year that will need some repairs I'm not capable of..... Its way beyond a drive distance to just get it. I'm in WI & it's on the west coast...

I presently have a Miracord 10H that I cleaned up, & have that one up & running - & very pleased how it turned out btw. Guessing this one may be quite an up step, or certainly different.. I understand these are completely different machines.. Have another basic TT in the fleet in the works, but this looked very intriguing. I was wondering what others thoughts might be ref, is it worth looking into further etc... Thank you very much!

Welcome to the Kenwood KD 500/550 and 600/650 Owner's Thread! As others have said you can't go wrong with one of these tables. It will be a rather significant step up from the Miracord 10H, even a stock 550 with a decent cartridge.

 

[JT Hi Fi]

Thanks everyone! Appreciate all the info! It was complete with what looked to be an undamaged dust cover and the original headshell & a cartridge. Looked to be in a very good to excellent overall. It was not inexpensive, so that was why the questions for the experts here! Thank you everyone!

 

[losthorizon]

I think these turntables are great, I have always been a fan of Kenwood and own a kd990 myself,

 

[gary7]

KD-500 complete. Cover arrived today. Very Happy.

 

[Blue Shadow]

KD-500 complete.

Sweet

 

[mltl]

New table with grace 707mk2 ADC XLM mk2. Coming from a Philips 212. ADC cartridge will only get to 14.x mm overhang all the way forward in the headshell but sounds good so far. Has anyone mounted an adc xlm and know how to achieve a proper alignment with this arm?

 

[Grenadeslio]

New table with grace 707mk2 ADC XLM mk2. Coming from a Philips 212. ADC cartridge will only get to 14.x mm overhang all the way forward in the headshell but sounds good so far. Has anyone mounted an adc xlm and know how to achieve a proper alignment with this arm?
View attachment 2148521

From the picture the stylus looks to be far enough forward in the headshell for proper alignment, sure the arm is mounted in the correct spot?

 

[mltl]

From the picture the stylus looks to be far enough forward in the headshell for proper alignment, sure the arm is mounted in the correct spot?

Yeah i measured 222mm pivot to spindle and its the original armboard

 

[mltl]

From the picture the stylus looks to be far enough forward in the headshell for proper alignment, sure the arm is mounted in the correct spot?

Seller had a shure v15 mk3 mounted before selling and said they had that cartridge mounted as far forward as it would go as well.

 

[gary7]

New table with grace 707mk2 ADC XLM mk2. Coming from a Philips 212. ADC cartridge will only get to 14.x mm overhang all the way forward in the headshell but sounds good so far. Has anyone mounted an adc xlm and know how to achieve a proper alignment with this arm?
View attachment 2148521

Cool. have the same arm. I think it might be a Quad Master. Have a Signet TK7E on it, also have as far forward as it can go.

 

[Grenadeslio]

looks like you guys need to step up to a Grace, they fall right in the middle of the slots for perfect alignment, and why shouldn't it, they were designed to work together.