Vintage Goodness! Kenwood KA-3500 Integrated Amplifier from 1977! Sorry about the poor sound.

[@OldGuyHifi]

Sorry about the variable volume. I am still learning. Please like and subscribe. Thank you so much.

[@Ratboy1]

Great video, Ed. 👍🏼 Regardless of the variable sound volume, the music demo should be about 3 dB louder than it came across-your narration was significantly louder than the music.

[@OldGuyHifi]

@@Ratboy1 I totally agree. I am re-editing it to see if I can increase the volume. Thanks.

[@OldGuyHifi]

I would have to delete the current video and reupload the new video which would break all the links. I will make sure it doesn't happen again. Sorry.

[@mikecampbell5856]

You did great. I enjoyed the clip very much.

[@mikecampbell5856]

I am using my son's KA-305 right now in a home office, It is very similar to the KA-3500 and it is a great amp. When my ship was in Japan in 1978, I bought a Kenwood KA-7100 60 WPC amp and it had incredible specs and incredible sound. Unfortunately my other son was walking around the house when he was 7 months old and he was breaking things. My amp was a tragic loss.

[@OldGuyHifi]

Mike, That's a shame. My oldest boys favorite trick was to stand in front of the gear and point at while saying "No, no , no," because that's what I said every time he got near it. Thank you for your service, your view, and your comment.

[@imjustherefortheks]

Oh, what a beauty!!! I love Kenwood equipment... This is no exception... One of my dreams... Congratulations!

[@OldGuyHifi]

Thank you very much!

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

Just truly amazing equipment. The year I left high school. I couldn't afford it then and probably can't now, either. 😂 Thank you so much for this trip down memory lane and the wonderful sound example. Don't really see this kind of beauty today. Thanks so much for sharing this with us all. Stay well, Sir.

[@OldGuyHifi]

Thank you my friend. It is an amazing original piece. I wish you could hear it in person. Wow!

[@ralphmckenzie8802]

I bought one of these amps brand new in 1977. One of the best integrated amps I ever owned and wish I never sold it, got caught up with multi-channel amps a few years later and sold it to a mate. I loved the warmth and clarity of this amp and its bigger brother the KA-7100. The bigger amp was out of my price range so I settled for the KA-3500, paired it with the Kenwood KD-550 direct drive turntable, something else I should never have sold. A fully refurbished KD-550 nowadays can sell up to $3000 NZD depending upon tonearm and cart here in New Zealand.

[@OldGuyHifi]

Mr. Mckenzie, I also have a few pieces that "got away." The 7100 was a beast for sure but there is something special in the way the 3500 sounds. I don't have any experience with that model turntable. but I am sure it was a beauty. Thank you so much for watching and commenting.

[@mr.b4444]

This unit reminds me of the Lafayette LA-40 Integrated Amp and LT-40 Tuner that I owned around 1978 or so. That was good stuff back then.

[@OldGuyHifi]

Mr. B, Thanks for returning. That was an under appreciated brand. There are times that I wish I had been able to keep all my old gear. The problem is that I would have a ton of vintage audio but, huge repair and upkeep bills and no wife!

[@rafacq]

15 more to 1,000! Getting ready to celebrate with you! Another great video. Really enjoyed watching you go over the Kenwood. Wish I still had my dad’s HH Scott 222C tube amp I had for years.

[@OldGuyHifi]

Scott gear of that vintage was really nice stuff. Thank you for the encouragement.

[@jamesbennett1634]

Nice to see reviews of vintage gear. Fyi, it's no problem hooking up a subwoofer to vintage gear like this, with its two sets of speaker connectors.

[@OldGuyHifi]

True. Thx for tuning in and commenting.

[@Reaglestonify]

@@OldGuyHifi Careful, Kenwood usually wires speakers A + B in series. It sounds horrible. I just bought one of these 3500's . I had to wire sub in parallel at the terminals. It sounds amazing. Its a great affordable vintage amp.

[@nabman_]

Beautiful unit. Amps and receivers from that era sound darn good. And they are fun to repair and restore btw (I do that as a hobby).

[@OldGuyHifi]

This one is in beautiful original condition. All the caps are fine and with in tolerance. I was very surprised.

[@nabman_]

@OldGuyHifi Electrolytic caps are usual suspects but I find more issues with small signal transistors and some resistors in old equipment; many good quality ecaps and tantalumns stay within, or close to, specs after all the years. Yet it's better to replace them as they could fail anytime at their age.

[@OldGuyHifi]

@@nabman_ Good points. If it was my unit I would go through it thoroughly.

[@LanceGreidet-bi9zk]

@@nabman_ I just bought a Kenwood ka 3500 amplifier what do you charge to refurbish amplifier thanks

[@jim010109]

If ive said this once, ive said it a hundred times. If manufacturers would make newer equipment look like the equipment from the 70's, things would fly out the door, especially stereo receivers. Retro looking speakers sell like hotcakes. So would retro looking receivers, with modern insides. That NAD integrated amp that is retro sells really well.. awesome looking Kenwood by the way.

[@OldGuyHifi]

Thank you Jim. I agree somewhat. The current line up of NAD, to me, sounds nothing like their old gear. I had a 3020i and a 7240 for years. You are right though. Look at Yamaha, their sales are blowing up. Meters baby!! Thanks for watching and as always I appreciate you r input. Have a great weekend.

[@HaamRadio54]

@@jim010109 I agree with you brother. I've got a rebuilt ka 5700.....it looks so nice (sounds lush and full) that I could only replace it with something modern that legitimately blows it outta the water soundwise....which isn't easy.

[@fabriziovigni4076]

Wonderful sound!

[@mewzishun1]

@OldGuyHifi - I had the KA-3500 for many, many years. It was a wonderful amp. I had hooked up to a pair of JBL4406's. It sounded great. I ended up selling it to an old friend for cheap who is using it now. Now my daily driver is a pristine Kenwood L series setup I inherited with the original cables, manuals, etc (L07c and a pair of L-07m mono blocks). Pushing a pair of modern Wharfedale Lintons. I am very lucky.

[@OldGuyHifi]

Sounds like a great system. You are lucky you found the sound you love. Thanks for watching.

[@TheJeffcurran]

I had one of these in 1978 along with a Philips GA-212 turntable and a pair of Bose 501s.

[@richardsmith4803]

Excellent amp and one I am lucky enough to own myself. Very sweet sounding with loads of power for 40w. Loved the review and sound clips. Thanks so much!

[@OldGuyHifi]

I wish it was mine. I am going to have to fight my neighbor for it at some point. Thanks for watching and making me jealous!

[@stevezeidman7224]

Now we’re talkin’! I still love that old stuff. I’m still loaded down with it. I have my 60s-80s McIntosh and a number of other units on my self. Great job, Ed!

[@OldGuyHifi]

Thank you my friend. Please give my best wished to your lovely wife.

[@stevezeidman7224]

@@OldGuyHifi Thanks Ed.

[@alacpe]

I’ve recently got the same amp, and I connected into my LS-P9300 and wow. I love the sound

[@OldGuyHifi]

It is so punchy and dynamic. I wish I didn't have to return to the owner. I hope you enjoy it. Best wishes. Thx for the view and comment.

[@RanTausi]

Beautiful unit and warmish sound , It looks all parts are original inside. Thanks for this insight !

[@OldGuyHifi]

It is a time capsule. It is all original. I wish it was mine. Thanks.

[@bengleason508]

Thanks Ed.

[@rafacq]

Congratulations! You crossed 1K subscribers!

[@OldGuyHifi]

Rafael, Thank you so much 😀

[@sc51153826]

Nice piece, very retro-looking. The style is much like a Marantz 7 preamp I have that was from the 60's. At about the same time (1976), my brother opted for a modern-looking JVC receiver with higher power (110w), a large backlit display w/ VU meters, and sliding faders for volume, balance and graphic EQ. Despite of all my efforts to destroy it, I think it is still working too. I love the look, but most vintage gears are not going to work in my digital-oriented system with low impedance and low sensitivity speakers.😂

[@OldGuyHifi]

Simon, You make a valid point. There is a lot to be said for modern gear. I do like the nostalgia factor. My era. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@mts4651]

Yep just buy and old technics sl 1500 with this one all in super nice shape for my first setup its gonna be Amazing !

[@OldGuyHifi]

Wow! That going to be an amazing system. What speakers? Thanks for tuning in and commenting.

[@mts4651]

@@OldGuyHifi Hey thanks for your response good question for the speakers I don't have any good reference I'm actually searching, but I don't have much Space in my room, so a medium size passive should be good right ? 👍 I will be glad to ear it, If you have any advice, thanks a lot !

[@OldGuyHifi]

There are a ton of good inexpensive stand mount speakers available. What is your budget? I really like Wharfedale speakers a lot.

[@mts4651]

@@OldGuyHifi for my budget maybe 130 to 160 bucks maximum ;)

[@OldGuyHifi]

These are very good but just a smidge above your budget. amzn.to/4ctSwOc Way better then most in this price. Good bass for it's size. Let me know what you decide. Thx.

[@chrislj2890]

That's a real beauty. I always liked components having AC outlets on the back for daisy chaining, but I guess from an "audiophile" standpoint that would be a no no.

[@OldGuyHifi]

Not in my opinion. The extra outlets were great and I can't see how that would effect sound. I think they went away in part because of UL.

[@michaeljorcutt3142]

There’s a lot of room in there. Great if you have to replace components. What is the piece of tape covering in the rear? Super clean Amp.

[@OldGuyHifi]

I have no idea. The unit belongs to a friend of mine. I just cleaned the chassis and the pots. Sounds great for its age.

[@VintageStereoCollectorChannel]

Nice vid Ed 👍

[@OldGuyHifi]

Thank you sir.

[@natecisneros5550]

I currently have a marantz sr2000 would this kenwood be a step up from my marantz? I can pick this model up for $100

[@OldGuyHifi]

I don't have enough experience with either of them to render an opinion. Sorry. Thx for tuning in.

[@salvadorchang6300]

Was that subwoofer connected. And how was the connection.

[@OldGuyHifi]

It wasn't for the video but I did use it for listening. The subwoofer is a good platform for filming I never run it with gear on top. I connect via "High" level inputs, i.e., speaker level. My sub can do line level or speaker level. I prefer speaker level. Great question. Thx.

[@surendranalkarthigesu7387]

How about bass is that good enough for 15 inch speaker?

[@OldGuyHifi]

I would think so. I didn't test it that way. Back in the day I am sure they powered plenty of 15s. Thx for tuning in.

[@curlymoore7438]

Old Man Hifi said , " Modern gear is so much better in almost every way. " I TOTALLY DISAGREE .

[@OldGuyHifi]

You are entitled to your opinion. Thank you.