NOT VERY GOOD get TW TABLE if you really want to hear LP.
Kenwood KP-990, anyone familiar with this model?
Before I get to my advice seeking questions I would like to tell you how I came across this beautiful looking table.Recently I answered a for sale ad of an LP collection.
Along with the LPs were an assortment of audio components one of which is this Kenwood model KP990 direct drive turntable. I purchased the lot which made me happy including the poor fellows widow
The table is in spotless condition and seams to work flawlessly except for a bend cantilever on the cartridge.
From what I gather looking over the web the designation KP points to the Japan market and the KD is North American, though I maybe misinformed
My question should I update the capacitors primarily which ones including anything else need taking care of?
Future plans are to rearm and replinth this table.
Thank you in advance for your advice
David
Along with the LPs were an assortment of audio components one of which is this Kenwood model KP990 direct drive turntable. I purchased the lot which made me happy including the poor fellows widow
The table is in spotless condition and seams to work flawlessly except for a bend cantilever on the cartridge.
From what I gather looking over the web the designation KP points to the Japan market and the KD is North American, though I maybe misinformed
My question should I update the capacitors primarily which ones including anything else need taking care of?
Future plans are to rearm and replinth this table.
Thank you in advance for your advice
David
8 responses Add your response
08-05-10: Ebm wrote What a lot of bollocks! You can enjoy vinyl via various means other than TW ok. You are so one eyed it's not funny anymore :) Now back to the topic, I don't have direct experience of the said Kenwood but if you haven't downloaded this, here's the vinyl engine instruciton/service manual. http://www.vinylengine.com/library/kenwood/kd-990.shtml Time for a new cartridge and check out the giant MM thread here. The bearing could use with a clean and some fresh oil( if you can access it) if the table has been sitting idle for a long time. As for recap, some here advocate this for decades old DD for peace of mind while others don't. I had my SP10mk2 PS recapped for the former reason. If you do replinth it later, the choice of arm will be plenty otherwise you are quite restricted in your arm choice. Enjoy the new find. |
Looks like a very competent vintage unit. Remember back then the Made in Japan Inc. turntables especially the higher up models were designed and built to the best of their industrial abilities. That tone arm of itself if used properly after all these years may be as good as an arm as you may think you need. The drive system is likely rock solid and if its not it would reveal itself upon playback. So changing caps may or may not be needed. My advice is to clean it up, verify the cartridge adjustments and fire it up. It may very well blow you away. From there you can decide if you wish to make rebuilding changes. |
Jaspert and creative edge thank you for the info and ebm for your encouragement As a long term user of Micro Seiki, Fidelity Research and Accuphase tuner from Kensonics I can tell you there is not much wrong using vintage/ near vintage stereo components. I'm no snob but I have listened to many new up to date offerings that fail to impress me. This Kenwood direct drive fell into my lap and I think it will be a fun project to work on |
Enjoy your "new" table. If you are really up for something DIY-ish, you might try destroying the plinth. :^) Something which some people with a DIY bent do in Japan is get rid of the plinth. People say it resonates, and the support structure of the KP-990 is cool, and does not need the plinth (though all told, it isn't bad-looking). If you look UNDER your KP-990, you will find a giant metal "X" with the motor in the center and the electronics strapped to the underside. You can see pics of what it looks like after taking off the plinth here. Lots of people add heavier-duty footers, and I have seen one person coat the X structure with something like damping material. Some people upgrade the power supply too. There are various websites (that's two right there) showing the process of how one goes about dismantling one. These two are for the KP-1100 and it is probably easiest to search for that, but you should also be able to look for KP-9010 and KP-990 because they all have the same X-shape understructure. If you want a few more websites with instructions, I can send you some more links. All in all, those late Kenwoods were pretty well-made, and they do not sound bad at all. I have always (well, for several years at least) wanted to do something like that. I love the spindly industrial look. Gee, that gives me an idea... |
Tbone this is much appreciated and I thank you. Agree the stripped down look of the table is attractive in that industrial way. With the table stripped down the whole design has easy access for maintenance and any electronic update if needed compared to other direct drives I briefly looked into recently. Regarding your system line up of tables I find it incredible ,your certainly in the right part of the world Regards David |