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

[Grenadeslio]

here you go, no affiliation, this is the same as I'm currently running on my KD500/Grace G707. You can tell it's the Advanced Luminal Trace 10th anniversary stylus by the '10 on the front.

 

[gary7]

This is how my Grace was installed when I got it. I can't get a 15 mm (as per manual) overhang as it is. the paper edge is 15 mm out with the center pointing to the arm center shaft.

 

[mltl]

This is how my Grace was installed when I got it. I can't get a 15 mm (as per manual) overhang as it is. the paper edge is 15 mm out with the center pointing to the arm center shaft.

View attachment 2148730 View attachment 2148733

My armboard looks exactly like yours.

 

[gary7]

My armboard looks exactly like yours.

According to the manual, should be 222 mm from spindle center to arm shaft center. Measured mine. it is 222 mm. But I can't get 15mm overhang.

 

[gary7]

I loosened the arm shaft screw so I could move the arm over the spindle. Just eyeballing it, overhang looked to be 8-10mm. That's with the cart all the way out in the head.

 

[mltl]

Yeah it’s really weird they would have made the Headshell slots too short for some of the popular high compliance carts..

 

[gary7]

Can I get a Duh! Realized when I made my little paper overhang gauge I measured the 15mm from the spindle outer edge, not the center. I measured it again and trimmed it back. Loosened the arm pivot, swung it around & checked again. Yes, it is 15mm, maybe a little more. I could actually move it back a little.

 

[Grenadeslio]

Can I get a Duh! Realized when I made my little paper overhang gauge I measured the 15mm from the spindle outer edge, not the center. I measured it again and trimmed it back. Loosened the arm pivot, swung it around & checked again. Yes, it is 15mm, maybe a little more. I could actually move it back a little.

View attachment 2150870

thought it looked plenty forward, that's awesome

 

[mltl]

Unfortunately I’ve checked all of my measurements five times over and I’m still only at 14mm. If I rotate my 45adapter a bit and put the arm just in front of the spindle then the needle sits on 15mm but I’m afraid this is not the correct measurement....

 

[Grenadeslio]

anyone interested might want to keep an eye on this, no affiliation

 

[gary7]

anyone interested might want to keep an eye on this, no affiliation

View attachment 2161735

What arm is that? Looks kinda like a Sony.

 

[Grenadeslio]

What arm is that? Looks kinda like a Sony.

This "is" the arm on that table, cables and all lol.

apparently they bought this arm and installed it on that table

 

[Grenadeslio]

Hope someone here got this.



I keep saying here, if you want to get the best deals look on eBay.

 

[gary7]

Nice buy. I got mine for less than 1/2 that.

 

[Grenadeslio]

Nice buy. I got mine for less than 1/2 that.

I also paid less with a Grace arm installed, but that was 6yrs ago lol. That price is a steal for that table today eh? Great deals are still out there, but you most likely won't find them in your back yard, and why I use eBay.

 

[gary7]

I also paid less with a Grace arm installed, but that was 6yrs ago lol. That price is a steal for that table today eh? Great deals are still out there, but you most likely won't find them in your back yard, and why I use eBay.

Got the table local. Got the cover off ebay.

 

[Grenadeslio]

Got the table local. Got the cover off ebay.

So are you trying to say these show up locally on a regular basis lol? Let's be honest here, you were lucky finding one locally, you had to source your cover through eBay.

And a dustcover for these adds at least $100 to the price so subtracting that from the above table brings it down to about what you paid.

If a KD500 not a 550 what arm came on your table might I ask?

 

[Jeffery]

I bought a NIB OEM motor/platter combo for one of these a while back. I built a simple power supply for it, it came with the manual for the motor so I could tell that the wires were and was able to include fine tuning speed controls for 33 and 45 RPM settings.

When the weather gets a little nicer I'm going to build a plinth. I bought a Pro Ject Evo 10CC arm off BT some time ago and plan on using it.

 

[RobRoy]

Lot's of beautiful Kenwood tables to drool over here!

It's been a long time since I've posted on this forum. Probably because I replaced most of my vintage gear a while back. The only thing I have still in my system are the STAX SRD-7 headphones. Had them refurbished and they sound like the day they were new. But I still have some stuff tucked away.

With that said, here is my KD-650 turntable. This has been sitting on a shelf in the basement for thirty years. Originally purchased by my brother in 1973, and passed on to me in 1975. This is the turntable I used up through the late 80's while CD players were taking over, and believe me, it has seen a lot of play time and gone through quite a few cartridges. I was actually surprised it powered up and spins. All original, including the dust cover and hinges still intact, which apparently is not seen too often. Didn't photograph the platter, but it's there. The only thing that might be missing is the original rubber mat, but I think I have it here somewhere. If you look close, you can see a slight crack in the base next to the caution label under the tonearm.

I have decided to breath new life into this exceptional turntable. Fortunately, I have a local shop that does excellent work on vintage audio equipment. I am really good at soldering and could easily do the cap replacement myself. But these folks do really good work, and I thought this table deserves to be as fully restored and brought up to speed as possible (pardon the pun). The left and right strobe lights do not work. Possibly the circuitry, but the lights could be dead. This shop can often get parts that are no longer available. The tonearm lift works, but it does not fall steadily along with the arm. I'm not sure if this is repairable, but not a huge deal. I am dropping it off tomorrow and will let you all know how it turns out.

Nice to be part of the Official Kenwood "KD" Series Owner's Group.

Have you seen this: https://liquidaudio.com.au/kenwood-kd-650-overhaul-repair-review/

I sold Hi-fi between '76 and '82. The setup I purchased in 1977 was a KD-500 with ADC LMF II tonearm and ADC ZLM cartridge. It is still my main system. My brother liked it so much he picked up a KD 750. It's in the "stored in the attic for decades" phase right now.

One thing puzzles me, though. I think the 600 and 650 were released in the late 70's. Your years may be off. I made this mistake regarding th Sony CD player that was the first ever released. I sold the darned things and I remember them being $1300 (they weren't) and having white plastic numbered buttons on the front (they didn't). The mind does strange things

 

[gary7]

So are you trying to say these show up locally on a regular basis lol? Let's be honest here, you were lucky finding one locally, you had to source your cover through eBay.

And a dustcover for these adds at least $100 to the price so subtracting that from the above table brings it down to about what you paid.

If a KD500 not a 550 what arm came on your table might I ask?

Oh, I agree I lucked up on this. Local on FM. The table is a KD-500 with Grace 707 & Signet cart. His cover broke & he threw it out. The cover I got is original. Fellow listed it and his 500 separate, he did not want to pack them together. Who bought his table is now looking for a cover.