Kenwood L-05M Vintage Amplifier Review

[SIY]

When I play my SMSL D0100 Pro DAC into my Schiit Saga S pre-amp into my four Kenwood L-05M amps powering Vandersteen 2ce Sig II speakers, the sound is unforgivingly fatiguing to my ears, to the point of aggravating my tinnitus (but extremely detailed.) I expect the amps are just providing gain so they are not imparting any warmth to the signal. So my solution was to add a Hagerman Audio Tube Buffer in between the DAC and the pre-amp. Now the sound is wonderful, and the detail level is still very high.

Peeking is a strong drug indeed.

 

[GXAlan]

Full stop there.

But you cannot ignore the rest. Data is data. If I can ABX one day and not the other, it shows the variation in perception.

Here was my post. Logs are in “spoiler tags”

Does DSD recording benefit Japanese traditional instruments?

Is DSD 11.2 MHz "required" for recording taiko drums and Japanese stringed instruments? https://www.phileweb.com/review/column/202303/29/2088.html Original article in Japanese "The powerful and deep ultra-low sound of Japanese taiko drums and the penetrating treble of Noukan and Hichiriki...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Do you think my control was flawed? Or was the difference so small that after the first day, I could no longer perceive the differences?

10:33:15 : Test started.
10:34:21 : 01/01
10:36:29 : 02/02
10:36:41 : 03/03
10:36:50 : 04/04
10:36:58 : 05/05
10:37:07 : 06/06
10:37:24 : 07/07
10:37:32 : 08/08
10:37:41 : 09/09
10:37:47 : 10/10
10:37:54 : 11/11
10:38:06 : 12/12
10:38:13 : 13/13
10:38:28 : 14/14
10:38:35 : 15/15
10:38:42 : 16/16
10:38:42 : Test finished.

----------
Total: 16/16
p-value: 0 (0%)

-- signature --
1dd3718348e0b371bb665fa84488db04713b6695

 

[SIY]

But you cannot ignore the rest.

The part having nothing to do with the amp? Sure I can, it's not relevant to this discussion.

 

[olds1959special]

These amps sound a little dry and grainy, but have a balanced response with a lot of weight to the sound - at least compared to the Fosi ZA3 I was using.

 

[SIY]

These amps sound a little dry and grainy, but have a balanced response with a lot of weight to the sound - at least compared to my Fosi ZA3 I was using.

Really? I thought they sounded wet, fluid, and light. A bit refulgent at times, but always seemingly obsequious. Maybe you need to change out your speakers.

 

[wwenze]

Really? I thought they sounded wet, fluid, and light. A bit refulgent at times, but always seemingly obsequious. Maybe you need to change out your speakers.

Think your cables are too thick, or his are too thin

The correct cable diameter is important

 

[SIY]

The correct cable diameter is important

True. The Fibonacci ratio must be observed to prevent that dull and chalky sound.

 

[olds1959special]

I'm trying my second pair of L-05M's with my ELAC setup again. I'm starting to feel these amps are actually better than the Fosi ZA3.

 

[olds1959special]

My Fosi ZA3 has officially been replaced. Someone told me:

Those amps were designed to be placed close to each speaker and connected via a short, thick multi-stranded cable. The majority of the connection was provided by a long coaxial cable from the preamp. Originally was called “Audio Purist”.

So, I placed them on the floor (carpet) under each speaker with short cables (maybe 4 ft) and I'm leaving it like this. I connect direct from the DAC with 3 ft RCA's going to the amps and subwoofer. This setup is dead silent!

 

[SirPaulGerman]

My Fosi ZA3 has officially been replaced. Someone told me:

Those amps were designed to be placed close to each speaker and connected via a short, thick multi-stranded cable. The majority of the connection was provided by a long coaxial cable from the preamp. Originally was called “Audio Purist”.

So, I placed them under each speaker with very short cables and I'm leaving it like this.

It was not called Audio Purist

the T-2 tuner, M1 amp, C-1 and C-1 preamp, the KA-1000 were called Audio purist
Also the Kt-1000 tuner, I am sure I am missing more
Ka-900 and KT-900

the L stands for the Laboratory series in the L-05

Here

Kenwood KA-1000 Integrated Amplifier Review price specs - Hi-Fi Classic

www.hifi-classic.net

Kenwood C-1 / Kenwood M-1 Preamplifier and Power amplifier Review price specs - Hi-Fi Classic

www.hifi-classic.net

 

[olds1959special]

My subjective descriptions are meaningless but I'm constantly fascinated by the transparency I experience with these amps, especially since the design is so old now. One of my Kenwood L-05M's recently had to be repaired due to broken solder causing grounding issues. I have read that this can happen with the bigger brothers of this amp, the L-07M and L-08M, due to heat over time.