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I stopped at a garage sale this morning and bought a Kenwood KA-7300 integrated amp. It was made around 1980 so it has the classic aluminum front. It has independent power supplies for each channel, Darlington Power Block, high capacity electrolytic caps and giant heat sinks, and attenuator volume control instead of potentiometer. It is rated at 65 watts per channel with no more than 0.1% total harmonic distortion. I haven't had a chance to hook it up yet but it looks like a winner. It weighs 31 pounds and came with original box, instruction manual and sales literature. I got it for $30. Does anybody have any experience with a unit like this?
Follow Ups:
it new back in 1977.only problem ever was the power-up speaker-protection relay going out.
great score for $30 !
I think the date on that is more
like 1977.I have the KA-8100 I bought
new in 77 with the matching tuner.
Its still in use in the family room.
It was very expensive stuff.
Some say, and I tend to agree that
it was the finest line Kenwood ever put out.
For $30 its a steal if it works fine.
Let us know.
I have hooked it up and it works perfect! I am very pleased. It has great definition, with nice crisp highs. Even though it is rated at 70 watts per channel, it sounds effortless. I have heard that amps that have independent power supplies for each channel are superior to the ones that don't. After listening to this amp, I would tend to agree. Did other Kenwood amps also have an attenuator volume control like the 7300? I know these are quite expensive. This amp has a dynamic power output of 250 watts. Is this why it sounds like it has power in reserve? By the way, the amp is hooked up to my ads 710 speakers. I also have a Pioneer TX-9500 tuner hooked up. It has the same look as the Kenwood so they look nice next to each other. I think this sounds better than my Pioneer SX-950 receiver.
Did other Kenwood amps also have an attenuator volume control like the 7300?Yes, the whole KA line except the very bottom model
if my memory is right.
I had tons of info on the subject up to this year
but my wife sent it out to re-cycleing.Lost it all
Im still sick about it. I have seen many good pictures
of the line on e-bay if you want to search around.
Actually, the finest Kenwood SS components are thought to be the "L" series. I don't know how long the Kensuko brothers were involved with Kenwood in the 70's, but these KA series integrates (along with the tuners) are definitly part of the heritage that they inspired!
By the way, does anyone know if any of these KA series integrate's came close to their Accuphase offerings of this period?
Great stuff, from 1978.Suggestions:
Replace binding posts
add IEC 320 and use Volex 17005 14 ga power cable
increase bias current
use home depot paving stone as an insulation baseI use use homebrew silver i/c and cat 5 homebraid cables.
Warm, mosfet-like sound, well defined bass, surprisinly fast for 25 year old amp.
you'll enjoy it a lot
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