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Thoughts on Kenwood KT 5300

68.5.126.134
Posted on June 20, 2004 at 20:58:39
JeffH
Audiophile

Posts: 4574
Location: Orange County, So Cal
Joined: April 5, 2000
 picked up at a garage sale. This is my first tuner. Is it okay or should I be looking at something else. I only paid $10.00, but it works well. Thanks

 

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Should say first analog tuner..., posted on June 21, 2004 at 07:57:39
JeffH
Audiophile

Posts: 4574
Location: Orange County, So Cal
Joined: April 5, 2000
 I've been using a digital technics mini stc01 for awhile with okay results, but mostly because or it's small footprint. Reception is very good in my area. I just wanted to know the general consensus of the 5300.

 

Re: Thoughts on Kenwood KT 5300, posted on June 21, 2004 at 17:50:47
Scholl


 
10.00 is a small price to pay to check it out.

Some simpler cheaper analogs sound great.

You tell us how does it compare?

 

Well..., posted on June 21, 2004 at 21:50:50
JeffH
Audiophile

Posts: 4574
Location: Orange County, So Cal
Joined: April 5, 2000
 There is certainly more gain with this unit. As far as sound, maybe a little more open, although with radio it's hard to tell. For me, radio has, when compared to analog (tt) or decent digital seems more compressed. I've never really taken radio seriously, so I've have not put the energy into it as with other sources. Maybe more homework is in order. Thanks.

 

Re: Well..., posted on June 22, 2004 at 08:01:24
strieb
Audiophile

Posts: 235
Location: Sendai, Miyagi
Joined: November 13, 2001
 EVERY vintage tuner, that is an analog tuner from way back, is going to be transformed by a simple change-out of electrolytic capacitors. And one experiment in particular has convinced me that you need NOT use expensive or exotic types — just a good quality general purpose series such as United/Nippon Chemicon SMG, Nichicon etc. I am currently using a brand called TK (Toshin Kogyo). Of course, if you have money for more exotic caps, go for it. But don't judge an old tuner until old caps have been changed out. And possibley (and advisabley) an alighnment may be needed, which for most of us means engaging a radio tech.

Older tuners are generally the opposite of compressed. Warm, bloated, fuzzy and so on, but compressed, no. Even cheaper, more simple analog tuners from years ago can be amazingly rewarding, but if the effort puts you off, look at a new Marantz ST-6000, Affordable and apparently very nice sound. My advice anyway — got a soldering iron? — Lorne

 

Not a DIY'r, but.., posted on June 22, 2004 at 10:55:19
JeffH
Audiophile

Posts: 4574
Location: Orange County, So Cal
Joined: April 5, 2000
 I will seek out a qualified tech here locally. Might as well see what it's capable of. Thanks!

 

Re: Not a DIY'r, but.., posted on June 23, 2004 at 07:10:09
strieb
Audiophile

Posts: 235
Location: Sendai, Miyagi
Joined: November 13, 2001
 Well Jeff, this is where DIY starts for a reason as opposed to a whimsy — or not at all. If you get a quote for changing out all the capacitors from a professional technician, you'd better be prepared for a shock. Have a chair, a hanky and a brandy ready. He/she can probably do the job in a fraction of the time it would take you. But it still takes time at the professional rate techs must charge to make a living in an age when a tank of gas costs what a week's wages were some years ago.

On the other hand, if you yourself do it, you will very probabley lift some part of the circuit traces with too much heat. Following that you will have to learn how to repair them. It may be either rewarding for you, or on the other hand it may seem an insufferable, tedious bore. If you do choose to PAY someone to do it, the charges for the time involved will exceed anything in terms of the unit's marketable worth. And this is why even good old electronic components can end up in the dump!

Personally speaking, I have no embarrassment in regards to doing the bull-work re and re of electronic components and THEN taking it to a technician. Just learn how to solder properly first if you do not already know. It's a skill that comes with practice, and it is refined with even more experience. There you go; life in a nutshell! Go for it and see! The next thing you know you WILL be a DIYer. Of course, if money is no object, you can afford to just 'listen to the music'. No harm in that either.
— Lorne

 

I would absolutely..., posted on June 23, 2004 at 14:25:09
JeffH
Audiophile

Posts: 4574
Location: Orange County, So Cal
Joined: April 5, 2000
 not know where to start! But I'm not afraid to give it a shot. Sooooo, where the heck do I start? I do have a decent sodering iron with a selection of tips.

 

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