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Kenwood KD500 improved

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Posted on March 9, 2017 at 12:49:39
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016






The rock is a great table, really stood the test of time. As good as the concrete resin (Corian) base is at dealing with vibration it can easily and cheaply be improved upon. Here is one of the modifications I've made to my KD500, the improvement isn't subtle.















10lbs of lead sinkers, differing in size, all sealed with plastidip. Not only does the increased mass help, but the vibration dampening properties of the lead itself are well known.

Martin



 

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Are you supposed to leave the can of Plasti Dip on the motor..., posted on March 9, 2017 at 13:07:03
...or should it be taken off in use?

 

RE: Are you supposed to leave the can of Plasti Dip on the motor..., posted on March 9, 2017 at 13:13:37
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
Whichever sounds better to YOUR ears.

It's a cheap tweak that works, use it or not.

 

RE: Kenwood KD500 improved , posted on March 9, 2017 at 14:44:20
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2442
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
Nice! I owned that table many moons ago. IMO,it was one of the best!

 

RE: Kenwood KD500 improved , posted on March 9, 2017 at 17:06:51
jtpzenith
Audiophile

Posts: 607
Joined: November 4, 2002



Looks good. Back in the day, one of the first things I did to my KD500 was to externalize the power transformer.

 

I think that it would make it easier to put the platter back on if you rermove the Plasti Dip can. )MT(, posted on March 9, 2017 at 19:53:24
J. S. Bach
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Posts: 9571
Location: Chester, SC
Joined: November 28, 2001
Contributor
  Since:
June 29, 2004


Later Gator,
Dave
Find more about Weather in Chester, SC

 

I picked this KD500 at a neighbor's garage sale fot $10.00: ..., posted on March 9, 2017 at 19:56:26
J. S. Bach
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Posts: 9571
Location: Chester, SC
Joined: November 28, 2001
Contributor
  Since:
June 29, 2004
...
 photo 100_1796_zpsplv8pnlq.jpg
Probably the only decent turntable score that I have had.


Later Gator,
Dave
Find more about Weather in Chester, SC

 

RE: I think that it would make it easier to put the platter back on if you rermove the Plasti Dip can. )MT(, posted on March 9, 2017 at 20:04:04
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
Makes no difference, that's the bottom of the table, keep the can if that's your preference.

 

RE: Kenwood KD500 improved- how good is it?, posted on March 10, 2017 at 03:21:07
digda_beat
Audiophile

Posts: 1723
Location: Canberra
Joined: July 31, 2003
Nice idea.
By the way has anyone compared it to any other high end decks (eg Sp10 etc?)

 

RE: Kenwood KD500 improved- how good is it?, posted on March 10, 2017 at 03:34:24
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
If numbers are your thing then the specs for both tables can be found on vinylengine.

Martin

 

RE: Are you supposed to leave the can of Plasti Dip on the motor..., posted on March 10, 2017 at 05:35:57
BillH
Audiophile

Posts: 3913
Location: Baton Rouge
Joined: December 23, 1999
You're supposed to leave the can next to the turntable so it can see why it's "Improved."
I had one once with a Grace 707 arm. It was okay.

 

RE: I picked this KD500 at a neighbor's garage sale fot $10.00: ..., posted on March 10, 2017 at 08:53:48
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
Great deal! What arm is that?

Dave

 

RE: Are you supposed to leave the can of Plasti Dip on the motor..., posted on March 10, 2017 at 10:54:13
Lew
Audiophile

Posts: 10911
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Joined: December 11, 2000
In my Denon DP80, I did something along similar lines using the beeswax fill from an old KLH 9 power supply that was defective. I melted the beeswax in the PS in our oven, and then while it was molten I poured it into hollow crevices in the underside of the escutcheon that surrounds the DP80 platter. Although not as profound as what you did, probably, it did reduce ringing.

I've got a lot of beeswax left from that particular adventure, since the DP80 escutcheon could accept only a small fraction of what it took to pot the KLH9 PS.

The beauty of the Kenwood L07D is that there is nothing left to do; the OEM constrained layer damped chassis is just about perfect for damping unwanted resonances.

 

I was told that it is a Pioneer PA-1000; the cart was a Supex, ..., posted on March 10, 2017 at 11:28:50
J. S. Bach
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Posts: 9571
Location: Chester, SC
Joined: November 28, 2001
Contributor
  Since:
June 29, 2004
...actually still is but the cantilever got snapped off (not by me; I gave the table to Mikey and got it back when he decided that he did not want it anymore). I really should put it in service for a while but I am so spoiled by the auto-return feature of my ScottRt hot-rodded SL-1600MK2. Plus that table/arm is deserving of more than one of my M97s.


Later Gator,
Dave
Find more about Weather in Chester, SC

 

RE: Are you supposed to leave the can of Plasti Dip on the motor..., posted on March 10, 2017 at 12:27:55
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
The arm is only as good as the cart mounted on it. That said, the arm worked wonderfully with my Grado wood body, but it really came into its own with the NOS Grace-F8L'10 installed. Something special happens when you combine the cart and arm that were designed for each other.

Martin

 

RE: Are you supposed to leave the can of Plasti Dip on the motor..., posted on March 10, 2017 at 12:35:01
BillH
Audiophile

Posts: 3913
Location: Baton Rouge
Joined: December 23, 1999
I think the last cartridge I had on it was the Grado Signature 8.

 

RE: Are you supposed to leave the can of Plasti Dip on the motor..., posted on March 10, 2017 at 13:24:14
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
Tried a number of different high compliant carts, my NOS Pickering XV-15 1200E/D1200 didn't play nice with the Grace arm, and the 625e wasn't any better. My Grado G1/8MZ V was an ok filler after the maidinator took out my Grado Platinum with her mighty dust rag. But even the Platinum was left flat after hearing the synergy of the Grace cartridge on the arm it was designed for.

I've always been a believer in the importance of good component synergy, but never have I been slapped in the face with it like I was here. I've always understood the importance of matching cartridge compliance with arm mass, but never even considered the synergy that might be attained if the same manufacturer designed and built both, using each to test and tweak, voicing one to work with the other.

I was lucky to stumble upon the Grace-F8L'10, and as it turns out the maidinator did me a favor, if she hadn't destroyed my Grado I wouldn't know what I was missing.



 

RE: Are you supposed to leave the can of Plasti Dip on the motor..., posted on March 10, 2017 at 14:09:01
SgreenP@MSN.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3536
Joined: April 23, 2007
Kingshead.....see if you can find a Sonus Blue or ADC XLMII for your Grace 707...just s suggestion.


 

RE: Are you supposed to leave the can of Plasti Dip on the motor..., posted on March 10, 2017 at 14:38:32
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
My cartridge search for the Grace is complete, but I do have four other tables heh heh heh. Actually I really like the way my Thorens sounds with the Pickering XV-15 1200E, and why i tried it on the Grace when my Grado was destroyed. Can't explain why this beautiful cartridge didn't work with the Grace but it didnt, and the 625e confirmed it just doesn't play well with Pickering carts.

My Kenwood KD770D has a new cartridge, but it really deserves a top notch cartridge, you know, something completely out of my price range lol, some day maybe.

Martin

 

RE: I was told that it is a Pioneer PA-1000; the cart was a Supex, ..., posted on March 10, 2017 at 19:08:42
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
Wow! The PA-1000 looks like a very nice tonearm. It is pretty light so it should work well with a Shure M97xe. I like the Shure. It should sound great on that table!

Dave

 

RE: Kenwood KD500 improved- how good is it?, posted on March 11, 2017 at 02:58:45
digda_beat
Audiophile

Posts: 1723
Location: Canberra
Joined: July 31, 2003
Are you the same Martin who rubbished the(idiot) reviewer of this deck on VE?

 

RE: Kenwood KD500 improved- how good is it?, posted on March 11, 2017 at 04:31:52
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
No clue, can you copy and paste it here or in a PM to me? My memory was never very good, and at my age now it's definitely not improved lol.

Martin

I believe I found the post you were referencing, I'll post it here for you to read.

 

Damping tt frames, posted on March 11, 2017 at 11:45:10
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6587
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since:
July 4, 2007
Nice job Martin.

Years ago I talked with a friend who was a physicist (but into Porsche restorations, not audio) about an effective means to dampen metal frames for turntables. He recommended a product called Devcon Flexane 60 Liquid which could be pored into the underside of the frame pockets as you've done with sinkers and plastic dip. Except that would not add as much mass as your idea. Must admit I never tried it but was always curious.

Edit: I intended to include a link to the current product.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

RE: Kenwood KD500 improved- how good is it?, posted on March 11, 2017 at 13:03:03
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
(Hey spare parts dude, hope you haven't been blaming your daughter for this all this time. The KD-500 is fully manual so no repeat button. If the table ran through the night it's on you not your daughter and shouldn't have damaged the table either way.

I realise your post is six yrs old but let's clear things up so your daughter can hopefully read this and place the guilt where it should be.)


LOL, is this the one you mean? If so then yes I'm the same guy.

Martin

 

RE: Kenwood KD500 improved , posted on May 23, 2017 at 13:26:51
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
This thread was brought up by a member in a different thread and I was reminded I hadn't mentioned another tweak. The big Kenny's platter and mat are fine, but a bit lightweight and under damped, there's definitely some coloration going on. It's not in your face, but once removed it's obvious it was there. Below is what I shared in the other thread but thought it needed to be added here.

For the platter I ordered a sheet of 1/4" thick sorbothane, cut out a circle the size of the mat and placed it between the mat and the platter. Sorbothane turns the vibrational energy into heat and disipates it, thus completely deadening the platter.

Years ago Audioquest sold a mat made of sorbojel for $90, I liked the first one so much I purchased a second. Unknown to me and many others it has a reaction with vinyl causing the vinyl to blister, like it has the measles. Ya, ruined many of my most treasured records before I realized what was going on. I read somewhere where Audioquest refunded and/or replaced many customers albums.

But that's beside the point, the point is it works, even when under the mat. Now at first listen with it under the mat you might think something is wrong, don't take it out, you need to acclimate to just how much more music you're hearing and how much less platter, really, I'm not kidding. Be prepared if you take this final step for a soundstage scarily holographic.

This alone had the biggest impact on the sound.

 

RE: Kenwood KD500 improved , posted on May 23, 2017 at 13:34:31
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
Awesome, moving the high voltage transformer away is always a good idea, one of the things I like about my Thorens TD166MKII with its "upgraded" power supply.

Martin

 

RE: Kenwood KD500 improved , posted on June 18, 2017 at 08:33:09
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016



Recently listening to the Doors, decided to take a couple of db readings to illustrate just how effective the damping is. No readings from "the before" improvements, but suffice it to say the 12:00 position on the volume knob could be quite problematic.

Now, there's actually no position on the volume control that results in acoustic feedback issues. I've taken readings on other occasions listening to heavier rock with higher results but this should suffice to make the point.

With peaks of 112db, and an average of 105db it's quite loud, but the improved Rock sails through without a hiccup.

Martin

 

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