Let’s take this off topic conversation to a separate thread. This is an official review thread.At what level are these issues?
Thank you for your understanding and support.
Let’s take this off topic conversation to a separate thread. This is an official review thread.At what level are these issues?
Probably you are right. Still curiosity is just too highYes but based on measurements of dozens of similarly designed amplifiers and on circuit analysis the guess is quite qualified. Much more than a mere debate or a forum reading arguments. Of course not 100%, but that’s not needed.
IE transformers tend to physically vibrate so often make a little mechanical noise. There is nothing to dry out. The advantage of IE is no "soft start" circuitry is required.Vintage amp test. Superb Amir.
Anyone thinking about old vintage amplifiers, my advice: Research, find out how much hum comes from the transformer. Not sound out via loudspeaker, but from the transformer itself. Some may find this really annoying. It's the same sound level on this hum so it's not audible when the volume is turned up BUT it CAN be heard if the amp is on and no music is playing (depends, among other things, on how far away from the amplifier you are) .Of course, this does not apply to all vintage amplifiers, all models. It probably depends on many different factors if this is the case.
Edit:
In Sweden, the electricity grid changed from 220 to 230 VAC a few decades ago. If that could be the reason? Or do transformers just dry out, when they have reached their lifespan and this is the result?
Well, it's something, depends on something and I don't know what it depends on. It's pretty annoying anyway. With some vintage amp's I've had anyway.IE transformers tend to physically vibrate so often make a little mechanical noise. There is nothing to dry out. The advantage of IE is no "soft start" circuitry is required.
So, this machine is from the early 80s of the last century (no later than 1981).
There are 42 years old capacitors inside and so on.
And after 42 years, the amplifier shows the parameters declared by the manufacturer.
This is what we are losing in the flood of cheap Chinese nonsense.
Yes, but in those days, $900 USD for a pair of monoblocks would have been considered fairly cheap. Most 100 watt rated amps from the USA, Canada, UK, NZ, Germany and France would have cost substantially more ($2k-$5K). Even the Hitachi HMA 8500 stereo amp was likely a little more expensive than the Kenwoods. I paid $1.3K USD (I think MSRP was $1.5), for a brand long defunct (Acoustic Electronics, Model Air 2.2.). It was a low feedback design (if memory serves it operated with internal voltages around 300v, despite being SS). It killed transistors for a living. An APT Holman would have cost around $500, be far more reliable and more accurate, and be worth something today...but then again, Absolute Sound didn't give it a rave review Live and learn.Found this link: https://hifi-wiki.com/index.php/Kenwood_L-05_M
“Original price approx.: 60'000 Yen (Japan, 1979), corresponds to about 1'198 DM”
60K Yen = $452 USD in 1979
Using this site to calculate the cost in todays (2022) money value: https://www.aier.org/cost-of-living-calculator/
Result is this unit costing almost $3000 USD. ($2956.06 to be precise). So for a pair you’re talking $6 grand.
Boo! Class D is awesome.Amid all the class D crap, it's nice to see the review of a real amp.
Thanks Amir!
Send them in and @amirm will test themReally nice measurement results. If one owns this amp, there is no real reason to upgrade, if not more power is required. Surely, there has been same progress in amp technology, THX, Class D etc, but nothing will be audibly better.
I own some vintage Quad amps, 306 and 606 for being specific. I would really like them seen measured here as well.
I imagine there are tens of thousands of peeps or more that would be interested in the test results of vintage Quad amps. Very interesting gear with a history.Send them in and @amirm will test them