Kenwood KD 650 "The Rock"

[@dixielandfarm]

That is so interesting about the base! Very nice Anti-skating mechanism (springs do go out of adjustment). Super cool VTA adjustment as well! Also an ingenious overhang design! This table was engineered well!

[@socksumi]

Really nice table and the thicker, heavier platter is a real improvement over the Kenwood KD500 (which I own). I only wished this material was optionally made in black making it look like speckled dark granite. Contrasted by all the brushed aluminum it would be a real object of beauty.

[@hecubus]

Nice turntable. I picked up a Kenwood KD770d a few weeks ago and it has turned into our main table. When I saw it listed I remembered your video touting the 80s audiophile turntables and just had to buy it. Really glad I did. Thanks.

[@socksumi]

A cut above the Kenwood KD 550 because of the more inert and massive platter which offers superior resonance absorption. I own the KD 500 which has the same base and while the platter is okay this is the boss.

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Man, that thing is SWEET! Gorgeous turntable. I have a nice KD-3055, but that 650 is way more rad! 😎 Cheers

[@MrSailorsam]

Looks like that Kenwood was well taken care of.I've enjoyed your TT videos,very informative.Thanks for the tips on maintenance and repairs.

[@kylehill3643]

Out of a bunch of turntable reviews your the only one that mentioned the Q lever for lowering it and the platter which is essential says my Dad from the day.

[@stevenmbell]

Very very nice Table. I really enjoyed you speaking about the table .Kenwood made some beautiful Equipment back in the day.And that Turntable was so advanced for the 70's, They were sought after big time when vinyl made it's come Back. I don't like Direct Drive turntables as a rule but that one and the Denon Models above the DP 51 were also really nice.Again Thank you for sharing that fine piece of Audio Art. Peace My Friend, Steve @VT&A

[@dvduadotcom]

Omg, what do I see but an EON Record Pod on your turntable... funny because I met this guy who was an official vinyl archivist in Spain for many years and he gave me his old Eon Pod he had since the 80s! so I recognized it instantly in that video 😉

[@billdang3953]

Interesting look at a turntable which really should be more well known and appreciated. It is a lot like my Technics SL 1000 (consists of a SP 10 Mk 2 motor unit paired with an EPA 100 arm mounted in an obsidian base).

[@Paneeks1960]

Hey Mark, It is so great to see you back. I tried to post a new video today too and it got flagged in a few countries. So I got a bit annoyed because it took me eons to post it correctly and I deleted it. I know I am going to freak when I see this new turntable. I cannot believe you got another one and I have yet to order my new one. I held out looking for a nice classic but they are no where to be found around here. I will be back in a minute to comment on this video. Rob/Boston 1/2

[@zoetmb]

I have that same turntable, which I bought in 1981 for $360 (list was $400). That $360 is $955 in 2016 dollars (but it still feels like that $955 now is more than $360 back then). I've used it with a Stanton 681EEE cartridge, but I can no longer get decent styli for it (the last ones I bought from Stanton sounded so horrible, I had to return them - I was really disappointed) so now I have to find a different cartridge (thinking of the Ortofon 2M Blue). But it's a great turntable and it's operated perfectly for over 35 years. I prefer a high-torque direct drive turntable as long as the motor is still isolated and I believe it is in the Kenwood. The only weakness is the anti-skating: it really doesn't do anything. Maybe it would work if one added weight to the end of it. Before the Kenwood, I owned the original AR turntable (around $88 in its day), which was very similar to many of the belt-driven turntables sold today.

[@WordsRuinMusic]

Cool accessories also. Great table. Looks so clean...

[@beninski707]

My pleasure. I really appreciate the positive feedback. Thanks!!

[@davesakko8056]

I bought in the 70's a KD2055 when they came out. Had it for some years. Used an ortofon vms20e. Nice one thanks Dave

[@beninski707]

It certainly does. I kinda like the white too. Kind of a change as I've always been drawn to woodgrain tables. thanks for watching!

[@Pocat2011]

Great demo of a great table! I've been looking for one in excellent condition for quite awhile. If you ever decide to let go of this one, I'd sure like to know. Thanks!

[@Paneeks1960]

You can never have too many turntables~ My hello to Lisa. I will PM you very soon. I am sorry that I have not been in touch too much as of late. This was a fantastic video~ Rob

[@beninski707]

I think it's the coolest feature of this particular table. Thanks for your comments.

[@WordsRuinMusic]

That vta adjustment is so easy. Very nice.

[@mike.thomas]

These turntables are cool. A friend of mine had the "granite" Optonica. I asked him a last year if he still had it (hoping I could bum it off of him), but no, he'd given it away.

[@DoctorDeadwax]

They way that clamp works is you put it on the spindle over the LP, then you press down on that collet until it is snug, play the LP, the pull back up on that collet to release the clamp. Nice table, some people take these tables and set them into concrete. cheers

[@Paneeks1960]

Two of two: I am very impressed with the anti-skating, cueing and the whole tone arm. It is a really beautiful looking device. The vertical tracking angle adjustment is amazing too. Even the cork mat looks really nice. I have never heard that it took out any ringing sounds until now. Just to know that can make a difference in your bass sounds in huge. Old school tripod record clamp is very cool. That came with the TT? Outstanding presentation Mark. I am going to look for one. Talk 2 U soon~ Rob

[@redwest4865]

Cool shirt bro. Let it Be is a great album and cover.

[@cindykedzierski2415]

The reason for the VTA is not to make the tone arm level to the record. It is to get the stulus to be 94 degrees to the record. 94 degrees is the correct angle of the stylus inside the groove.

[@beninski707]

Hey, I get what you are saying but how do you get that degree of accuracy with the naked eye? We must trust the cart manufacture to have that angle already set when cart is 100% parallel to record surface. By making tone arm parallel with VTA adjustment, we can assure that this is so. Do you have a better method?

[@beninski707]

Thanks for the info on the Tripod Mark. You must have had one before. Great comments!

[@MeanMrMayo]

Welcome back. Looking forward to seeing more of you here at the VC! This is a really cool turntable, too. Playing records is so much more fun than downloads, isn't it?

[@swingmanic]

I've got the KD-750 that I restored 2 years ago. Sadly it died a month ago with no rotation which turned out to be a faulty TA-7179P voltage regulator ic which I bought off the net from two different suppliers in case I got a fake. It's back in action now and I wouldn't mind betting it shares the same electronics as the KD-650. I've fitted an Ortofon Blue cartridge and it performs really well!. The screws tend to loosen on the 33/45 and start/stop buttons but it's no big deal to tighten them up and it's worth replacing any suspect electrolytics whilst the main pcb is accessible.

[@beninski707]

swingmanic Hello and thanks for that input. Since making this video, my 650 has developed speed issues as well where it’s stable one moment and all over the place the next. Maybe same problem?

[@leafyleafyleaf]

@@beninski707 Did you ever resolve those speed problems? I have been eyeing one of these decks but keep hearing about speed reliability problems that are hard to fix…

[@beninski707]

You got that right! Thanks for the kind comments!

[@beninski707]

Thanks Jeff. I really appreciate the positive feedback. Curious as to what your turntable is???

[@SQDLVR]

Cool welcome back!! :-)

[@beninski707]

Thanks Gerdie!! I agree totally with your comments!

[@ginsud]

A true thing of beauty....

[@CoreysChannel]

35 lbs? It owns up to the name! That's sweet and I love the white

[@Kappeyron]

Just Beautiful!

[@beninski707]

Bernardino Contreras Thanks and thanks for watching!

[@poukypsie]

if i have to choose between a beautiful,sexy woman and this turntable... it will be this turntable. A masterpiece ! Love the big platter and everything behind it. Real goodlooking. Great buy Mark !

[@beninski707]

I really don't like the word "plastic" so in a way I agree with you. It does do the job however but if I had to give up this one or my aluminum one, the platic one would go first. For me it's more of a novelty.

[@DocStrangelyStrange]

That's a really nice turntable. Am I the only person that thinks that record clamp is the ugliest bit of white plastic I've ever seen. I would stick to the aluminium one. But I guess that's just my opinion. Nice to see you back. Take care.

[@ericperry72]

Ok, so I'm looking into these Kenwood turntables, and I'm trying to find out the differences sonic wise between KD-650, KP-770D, KD-750, KP-1100, KP-990, KP-9010, KD-7010, and KD-8030? Not sure which one to grab or search for. I have a pioneer and I'm ready to upgrade.

[@benjamingold6987]

Get a KD-600/KD-650 if you can

[@billsmit9141]

Funny just purchased 2-Kenwoods: KD3055 & KD2055. 3055 is done and is incredible plays as solid as yours. Do you know the year of yours as mine is 1978? The 2055 is a work in progress but I have an old time stereo tech who can fix it. Are you still releasing videos? Not many good LP stores here but have some good leads out here. Advise, BOB, Denver, Co

[@billdrummer1197]

Bill Smit Hi, Bill. I had a Kenwood- KD xxx i bought it 1979, and put an Infinity “BlackWidow” carbon fibre tonearm, this model did not come w/ a tonearm. Any help? Please?

[@theking-dn3sv]

Thanks for the info on this Kenwood. I wanted to ask you where you can buy replacement needles for this turntable? I want to keep the original cartridge. Thanks

[@johnsweda2999]

Not necessarily the case having the tonearm level with the platter or record should be. It is the stylish body that's got to be level. You do this by resting the little pimple of the stylus on the edge of the records and there's a gap use a card with a line drawn on it at the back and look through the gap line it with the cards. Better than that a microscope or webcam with a protractor getting 92° rake on a medium thick record.

[@beninski707]

Thank You!!!

[@buppa80]

Hello how god is the arm is it as god or better then a sme 3009 s2 improved i have i kd500 whit sme 3009 arm

[@butlegeo]

What hinges did you adapt? I have the same table with the same hinge problem and have been trying to figure out how to fix it

[@beninski707]

mrbook hey thanks for watching. I once had a collection of old hinges from cheap thrift store turntables. I managed to find a set that would adapt to the Kenwood but for the life of me can’t remember which ones as I made this video 4 years ago. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.

[@regis2424]

Hi ! where do you bought the clamp ?

[@treborsaldivar518]

where DID

[@randycraig20]

Are you willing to sell this turntable.

[@Mr.Relaxed]

Amazing player..but the music not so much :) Maybe some good jazz

[@socksumi]

Beefy solidly made turntables actually sound better. They have much lower resonant signatures to the parts. Flimsy resonant parts generate noise that interferes and modulates the stylus/groove interphase resulting in feedback, muddiness, blurring of transients, and reduction of detail and spatial information.

[@beninski707]

socksumi Very well put. Thanks for watching!!

[@stephendare942]

That is a terrible record

[@matthewtaylor7355]

crap music closely followed by the sound.