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

[Grenadeslio]

Huh, guess I'll have to try it again.

Edited my previous post.

 

[Nat]

Wondering if the overhang gauge that Kenwood supplied isn't actually Stevenson - the stylus sitting on top of the high 45 adaptor on which the overhang is marked is going to be at a different location than it will be at record level since the pivoted arm travels an arc as it descends. Depending on arm height, this could be forward or backward of the marking. So it's a question.

 

[The Slider]

Had a breakthrough with my KD550 today.

In the few years I've been doing the turntable thing, I've always alternated back and forth between Stevenson and Baerwald alignment on different tables. All seemed to be well and I was running a very carefully set up Stevenson alignment on my 550. Sounded really good. No noticeable IGD. Trebles maybe a touch recessed, but I was putting that down to my speakers probably needing a re-cap.

While I was rummaging around in my stereo cabinet I came across a 45 adapter with lines embossed in it for setting overhang. I double checked and the KD550 calls for 15mm of overhang. I checked the lines on the adapter with calipers and sure enough, 15mm. With the Stevenson alignment the stylus was 3-4mm past that. Curiosity got the best of me and I moved the cartridge to exactly 15mm overhang and perfectly square in the headshell. Basically, if I set the cart on the spindle and lift the 45 adapter the stylus sitsoverhang right in the 15mm groove. It's now quite a bit off of Stevenson and waaay off Baerwald. I was a bit dubious but went ahead and rebalanced the VTF and grabbed a familiar LP.

Well, this is where this table likes the stylus to be! You don't know what you're missing until you're not missing it! Completely changed the soundstage, cymbals/hi-hats came out of the background, vocals more "present" and just more treble and detail all around. Better stereo image and better for the whole "speakers disappear" thing. Never would have thought it would make that big of a difference. I guess the Kenwood engineers knew something when they came up with 15mm overhang. Try it!

Not sure what protractor you were using, but a 222mm pivot to spindle distance like on the KD-550 would have 15mm overhang for Stevenson alignment if inner groove radius is set between DIN and IEC values at 59mm. You could go about 1mm further than that for a more typical inner radius if you don't play much classical music, but seems like 2-3mm would be pretty far off, that would be more like a Baerwald overhang, but you would need to change the offset angle by at least one degree then, so not surprising it sounds better at 15mm.

 

[4-2-7]

 

[Isaac C.]

Wondering if the overhang gauge that Kenwood supplied isn't actually Stevenson - the stylus sitting on top of the high 45 adaptor on which the overhang is marked is going to be at a different location than it will be at record level since the pivoted arm travels an arc as it descends. Depending on arm height, this could be forward or backward of the marking. So it's a question.

After seeing @percivilla's post, I decided to check the overhang on my Sanyo. Like the Kenwood it has a 15mm overhang with Stevenson and about 17mm overhang with Baerwald. My Sanyo has a 45 adapter with the 15mm marking as well and noticed exactly what you are talking about. When trying to set the overhang, the cartridge hits the spindle so I can't get an accurate overhang. The overhang is in a different position when lifted versus at record level.

 

[percivilla]

Alright, did some further checks today. The first thing I did was print off a fresh Stevenson protractor. Here's where I think the problem lay with my previous alignment. My previous protractor was printed on our old printer which was... Not great. I think the scaling was wonky or something. I verified the scale on the new one and it's spot on.

Anyway, I fine tuned things a bit further. I placed the 45 adapter on top of an LP and set it so the stylus dropped in to the 15mm groove in a straight line from the pivot. It was pretty bang on. I then laid the new Stevenson paper protractor on top of an LP and it's bang on Stevenson. Really, really sorry for any confusion from my previous post. Scaling was off on my old paper one. 15mm overhang in a straight line from the tonearm pivot is equivalent to a Stevenson alignment.

Unfortunately I can't edit my earlier post. Definitely a forehead smacking moment.

 

[Grenadeslio]

Alright, did some further checks today. The first thing I did was print off a fresh Stevenson protractor. Here's where I think the problem lay with my previous alignment. My previous protractor was printed on our old printer which was... Not great. I think the scaling was wonky or something. I verified the scale on the new one and it's spot on.

Anyway, I fine tuned things a bit further. I placed the 45 adapter on top of an LP and set it so the stylus dropped in to the 15mm groove in a straight line from the pivot. It was pretty bang on. I then laid the new Stevenson paper protractor on top of an LP and it's bang on Stevenson. Really, really sorry for any confusion from my previous post. Scaling was off on my old paper one. 15mm overhang in a straight line from the tonearm pivot is equivalent to a Stevenson alignment.

Unfortunately I can't edit my earlier post. Definitely a forehead smacking moment.

One of the reasons I suggest purchasing one rather than printing one, they're not expensive lol.

 

[Jota2]

View attachment 1795298 View attachment 1795300 View attachment 1795302 View attachment 1795303 View attachment 1795304

Very nice. I had a Black Widow on mine with my ADC-ZLM cart. Worked great!

 

[Isaac C.]

I've been bidding on tonearms all week without any success for my Kenwood KD 500. Hopefully the one I'm watching now will work out. By the way I put the Acos back on the other table as I want a dedicated tonearm for the Kenwood. I've bid on several Acos tonearms as they pop up quite frequently, but I'm currently going a different direction because I want to try something different.

 

[Isaac C.]

I just bought a NOS Syntec S-220 for the Kenwood. Yay!!! I've read these are simple, underrated tonearms, can't wait to see.

 

[Grenadeslio]

I just bought a NOS Syntec S-220 for the Kenwood. Yay!!! I've read these are simple, underrated tonearms, can't wait to see.

Schveet, should look and sound nice on "The Rock".

 

[ctjetta]

Because you piqued my curiosity I did a quick search. I found the following and you may find it of interest (from a seller of same product sold earlier at Canuck Audio Mart)-
"The Syntec S220 is rather short and designed for an odd alignment with null-point radii at 62.0-mm and 102.8-mm. I would recommend mounting it at 201-mm from the spindle instead of its intended 205-mm mounting distance. Then you can align it for null-point radii of 66.0-mm and 120.9-mm in accordance with Löfgren A. This will reduce outer groove distortion considerably.
I think it must have fairly decent tonearm wire to sound as smooth, full, and dynamic as it does. It mated well with several different carts, e.g., Denon DL103, low compliance, Stanton 600EE & AT440MLa, higher compliance, and Empire 2000E/III @ & Ortofon 2M removed email for privacy (sic)pliance of 20"

 

[Isaac C.]

I measured before I bought it to make sure I have room on the armboard, I think I'm going to make the armboard kinda like the SME one so I can adjust the pivot to spindle distance just by loosening the nut on the bottom of the tonearm base.

 

[Isaac C.]

If anyone has an Acos they are wanting to mount on the Kenwood, I made this template in Sketchup the other day. To use it, save the image and print it, but make sure the scale is right. The diameter should be 4.25". When I printed it I scaled it at 55% but that is just my printer.

I'll upload the design for the Syntec later once I make it.

 

[rs732]

I recently dug out of my Kenwood 550 out of the garage. It's been on my to-do list for way too long. Since, I'll be home until further notice, I thought I'd fix it up.

I just received a replacement badge & slapped it on.

Now, I just need to find a tone arm and hopefully find someone to sell me or make me an arm board.

 

[Isaac C.]

For the time being I made this out of 1/8" styrene plastic. I made a circle cutting jig for my Dremel.

 

[Isaac C.]

 

[Grenadeslio]

View attachment 1799802

Schveet

 

[Isaac C.]

My neighbor and relative has a 4 1/2" hole saw they let me borrow. My Dremel wasnt too precise. I've got some plywood I'm going to make an armboard out of. The styrene plastic is too flemsy.

 

[Grenadeslio]

My neighbor and relative has a 4 1/2" hole saw they let me borrow. My Dremel wasnt too precise. I've got some plywood I'm going to make an armboard out of. The styrene plastic is too flemsy.

007?