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Bargain Kenwood question

4.60.22.247
Posted on August 29, 2002 at 20:35:22
psgary
Audiophile

Posts: 8084
Location: So. California
Joined: January 24, 2001
 For $30 I picked up a 25-year-old Kenwood KA 3500 integrated on ebay for an extra system. It's quite musical, which really surprised me. Do the modern-day Kenwoods sound as good, I wonder?

But a question popped up in examining the amp. The power cord is very light and someone decided to make it a little longer, so they just cut it in two and twisted a bit more wire and a plug on to extend the dang thing. Obviously, the former owner was not a 'phile - no messy soldering. Why bother when you can just twist, right?

I popped the cover off to dust and tweak a bit and noticed the cord looked fairly easy to resolder and replace. How tricky is this to do? I'm not great at soldering, but I've done some DIY cables. Would the sound improve much by putting in 12 or 14 gauge wire and a better plug? I don't want to destroy the amp, so if the procedure isn't fairly idiot-proof, I'll pass. I don't have 10 thumbs but no one asks me to do brain surgery (on a regular basis, at least).

Thanks for any help. I thought of posting in Tweaks or DIY, but this is supposed to be about amps. Tell me if I'm in the wrong place.

 

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Re: Bargain Kenwood question, posted on August 29, 2002 at 21:59:29
Ted Smith
Manufacturer

Posts: 10297
Location: Seattle
Joined: December 29, 2000
 Howdy

If you had enough guts to open the top and you've soldered before without destroying things, I'd say that you have nothing to loose and possibly a little to gain.

-Ted

 

Gary: If you are not in a hurry we can do it the next..., posted on August 29, 2002 at 23:40:16
DeKay
 time we hang. I have everything we will need including a spare 14 gauge cord (the same type that is hard wired to the Paramours). If you don't require a ground (three pronged plug) I will file off the ground prong (so that you can reverse the plug for the best sound).

 

Great!, posted on August 30, 2002 at 19:28:46
psgary
Audiophile

Posts: 8084
Location: So. California
Joined: January 24, 2001
 Your soldering skills are superior to mine, DeKay, and it's easy to pull this this out of the system. You might find it interesting to hear it. The sound is very decent. Wonder if there are any other small mods we could do while we're in there.

Thanks.

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence, posted on August 30, 2002 at 19:32:04
psgary
Audiophile

Posts: 8084
Location: So. California
Joined: January 24, 2001
 Sometimes I get a little intimidated by the technical skills of some of the inmates. I'm not a total klutz and have found caution combined with close observation and a sense of adventure can be rewarding.

 

Hi Gary: Yes. we can strip any questionable looking..., posted on August 30, 2002 at 20:32:04
DeKay
 solder joints and redo them, I also have electrician's alcohal for cleaning up pots and other connections. I am still looking for Q-Dope locally, but if I cannot find it I will place an order with Allied Electronics. I would like to start using this to seal permanent rewire jobs (think either JR or Mr. Curl recommended this - my memory fails me).

Anyway, it will be fun and it is a very easy process (I went over the old Pilot 240 in 30 minutes, or so, and then just had to wait for the alcohal to evaporate from the pots). You on the otherhand can help me to ID some of the parts in the CAL player that I would like to try damping (as you did with the Rotel). I read the threads on this, but still cannot discern Shitaki from Shinola when I pop the top. LOL.

 

I'll bring the Blu Tack, posted on August 31, 2002 at 16:21:01
psgary
Audiophile

Posts: 8084
Location: So. California
Joined: January 24, 2001
 Okay. It's yellow and called Handi-Tak. But what the hey! It cost 99 cents, not 10 bucks, and did the job.

Thanks, DeKay. It should be fun.

 

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