Why Doesn't Kenwood or Technics Make Your Top 5 Vintage Stereo Lists?? Do You Hate Them??

[@MrROTD]

My father had a full Technics component system with Warfdale speakers, sounded great and still works I inherited it.

[@russellcardwell6502]

In the early 70s working at a gas station when I was 16 and going to high school if it wasn’t for Kenwood’s practice of not overbuilding and pricing I would never have been able to have a quality sound system, to this day I have Kenwood in my collection, there beautiful and sound great

[@PaulBrower-qr8hf]

Sound is subjective, and the canon of the time was that receivers mattered little for sound, in contrast to speakers and audio cartridges. 18 wpc was 'good' for 'easy listening' music of the 1970's if you had Technics, but it was good for little else. Everything else had more dynamic range (and has not completely disappeared from what has been offered as music. Other brands, like Pioneer, had more reserve power.

[@KillerKlipsch]

@@PaulBrower-qr8hf Great Point.

[@bertroost1675]

@@PaulBrower-qr8hf 18 watts is plenty if one has efficient speakers. I personally find that those early low watt solid state amps/receivers sound more laid back/tubey (If I can say that?) than the later power monsters. I'm guessing that the early solid state was designed by old tube designers and therefore they have that tube type sound.

[@raygarafano3633]

Yup, the KR6030 and KR6600 damn nice receivers.

[@javiersanchez3061]

​@@PaulBrower-qr8hfIf he says Kenwood is the best for him, you and your idea of subjectivity don't matter. What someone likes and enjoys is what matters.

[@lcee6592]

I bought a Technics receiver when I graduated high school. It was less expensive than some of the other brands with similar power and features. It worked great for over 30 years till one day it stayed in protection mode. Bummer. You could tell it was not as cosmetically refined as some of the other receivers but still very clean and nice looking. Price was a big factor back then for a kid just out of school. It served me very well.

[@christopherhines2718]

some of the larger later SUV amps also had a protection fault i cannot remember which of the flagship suvs I had but it had the power transformer wound with OFC the protecion fault with all the suvs is simple they ran high current the protection relay got hot my one you tap him on his head bang bang and then he works it was the soldered joints of the relay that got hot and caused the connections to be dry joints after 10 to 20 years dry joints you can only realy see with a manifying glass like little carbonated rings on the terminals use a solder sucker remove solder and re-solder the joints good for another 20 years the one i i had was i think suv8x ofc tranformers and black gate supply capacitors

[@lcee6592]

@@christopherhines2718 I wish I knew enough about the circuitry layout in that old receiver. I'd try to track down the problem, but I'm afraid I would cause more damage than good! May have to send her in for a revamp!

[@Konrad_K.]

I'd expect that the relay contacts got dirty enough at one point, replace the relay or clean the contacts and then see and while you are at it, replace all the elektorlytic caps

[@borlibaer]

My first HiFi was the SU-8022k with it's tuner and an SL-Q2 attacked to Mini 2-ways HERU LS. The LS are still working in the Médoc, the turntable was spoiled at May sisters family and the amp with a RS63M tape deck is still running fine on my balcony attached to F1 LS. As a student I upgraded to High class DENON stuff attached to Cabasse Sampan 311. Still running fine unserviced and the sound is satisfying. I do own a lot of other historic (even High End) audio gears and I always focused on a clean efficient design with good finish quality until late 80s, and some stuff mid 90s. So Technics is on my top list regarding sound and build quality. Of cause they did die because they started to be more focused on cheap consumer marked, but this happened in late 90s. All brands offered high quality but also budget lemons. But also expensive high end I always would stay away from because of being error prone and idiotic and unrepairable and or servicable design. E.g. Sansui, nearly all german/ european stuff but first of all I stay away from Pioneer & Co. what U.S. Americans basically think it is of value. Of cause a Dodge or a Viper has got some kind of fun, but I always would prefer a Volvo or any "german" car brand, including an european Ford or even an Opel (ex GM Europe). 😊 🎉

[@timbullins2908]

I have owned a Kenwood KR-8010 for 35 years, bought it second hand in the original box for $50.00. It has 125WPC and has never been touched for repairs. Everything works perfect. I do not know how you could get much better than that. Sounds phenomenal to my ears. I absolutely love that thing. My dad is an Electronic Tech and has been since the tube days. he opened it up and was surprised how well it was built. Granted, he did not work on it, just looked at it. I completely understand what you are saying and actually agree with you but sometimes things do not have to be "overbuilt" to be great. Maybe Kenwood engineers understood what good enough meant. I would not trade it for a Pioneer or Sansui if I had to keep them. One thing seems to be evident, if you want a great deal in a vintage receiver, buy a Kenwood, they are not overbuilt/overpriced, they are just right.

[@thrillynewt]

In the market for one of those! Beautiful piece of kit. Wish me luck!

[@RobertMillerJustme]

A friend of mine has a Marantz He has owned new from the early 1970's and he has repaired it on average once every 12 years, he uses it daily while I still have a 1970's realistic I bought used in 1983 I use daily in my garage (by Daily I mean I just never shut it off) that is still playing and never been serviced, My High end reciever gets used on average 2 times a month. On my computer I have a Audio Refinement Complete that I would not trade for a marantz The sound is awesome, and extremely Rare when you find them listed for sale it is usually in Japan.

[@haroldbrooks4235]

I agree, my brother brought home a Kenwood System from Okinawa in 72’ he passed in 74’ so my Dad kept it. That was the best stereo system in the neighborhood. My friends all had top ( midrange ) like Marantz, Sansui, Technics, Pioneer & Realistic to name a few. I loved our Kenwood

[@phonebackup8132]

I have 2 8010's, one I purchased new and one I purchased at a yard sale for nothing. The one I bought new is minty today and has been used very hard, man the party's we had, you could cook on that thing! Never thermally shut down never failed never recapped (I know I should) to this day it runs perfectly. The one I got from the yard sale looked like it was dragged through the mud! Every knob and switch was bent but all the knobs and switch pices were there. So I tested it and it worked! Some static from the knobs and switches so I took the chance and bent everything back into shape and cleaned them washed the circuit boards and face plate, hooked it back up and it works perfectly everything! I can't imagine it was used harder than mine but who knows! This dude's tripping, had many friends who went the 2270 route and I had to fix them all. Most blew channels in the outputs, several had preamp issues in the tone circuits, Strange I thought. All I'm going to say about Sansui is they had problems with circuit boards loosing traces and poor soulder joints. Pioneer receivers early 70's ones would also pop the outputs but by the mid 70's they fixed that and I didn't have any friends to have problems after that. Technics was good until they started using modular circuits. Like he said everyone makes good and bad products but over the decades I just didn't see failures in the Kenwoods, Pioneers, and such like the formentioned issues. Also simpler circuits are usually better sounding, you know "the closer to a wire you get the better the sound".

[@raymondgarafano8604]

I bought a KR6030 back in 81, aside from the power/spkr sw switch and a few transistors This rcvr has been and still is a damn nice receiver, I am still using it. The KR6600 is a fine looking receiver, a little more control, this is built like a panzer tank rugged yet handsome with beef, I have that in the den. It really depends on what you want and I think many go for the very attractive silver face, I did, multiple inputs and able to take 2 or 3 pairs of speakers. A vintage Kenwood built in the 70's to me, beats the ass out of a Kenwood built in the 80's.

[@Dave78Ivey]

I’d love to see a video discussing the highest build quality in modern amplifiers. As a technician, you must have some perspective on this. Thanks for the great content!

[@NovaluxStereophonic]

Pass Labs is what comes to mind for me. Simple execution built to a high standard and serviceable.

[@Kevin-nc7hs]

I respect your justifications here. Vintage audio is a journey and quality is objective to a point. I have owned many vintage receivers over time and enjoyed the ownership experience with most. In the end, I have kept what sounds good to me in my room with my sources despite what others may opine. I’m not sure what you think of Scott receivers but my Scott 385r will never leave my room.

[@wawawis]

So basically, Kenwood is the audio equivalent of every TV brand except for Zenith in throughout the 1960's and 1970's? While RCA and virtually every other brand went to printed circuit boards by the late 1950's, Zenith prided and marketed themselves for being about the only brand to resist printed circuits boards and other advances in favor of sticking with the traditional hand-wired chaises. They were very proud of it and there was also a period where they used gold-plated contacts in their tuners. And granted, they were extremely reliable. And it was during this era that they developed the Chromocolor I and II picture tubes that were among the best CRTs in history. However, this didn't help them when they were forced to keep up with the other brands with the System 3 chases in 1978. Being 20 years late to using printed circuit boards extensively, they had bugs that the other brands had long since worked out. 1979-1982 saw their fully digital sets and their best picture ever with the Tri-Focus CRT that rivaled the Sony Trinitron, but their sometimes problematic modular boards were the start of their struggles. Eventually they would also have the worst CRT ever made. Anyway, just just like with audio gear, their 50 year/old hand wired sets would be easier to service nowadays than their newer modular sets with proprietary boards & chips, same as the audio brands mentioned in this video. And just like Zenith VS the rest of the tv brands, there was a time in the 1980's when Kenwood was more reliable than some of the other brands once they went to printed circuit boards. My father replaced a Stereo Console with a Kenwood Kr-810 stereo receiver back in 1982 and it was hooked to a pair of Becker ProA 303 speakers. I fell in love with the sound despite the receiver being toward their lower end and the Becker speakers being poor man's Cerwin Vega but descent. The system was still cable of volumes that could be felt in your chest. And while in the basement, I remember it rocking some of the upstairs light fixtures. Go to the 1970''s for raw power, and beautiful woodgrain & chrome casings. Go to the 1980's for huge VFD displays, 100 pushbutton panels & the second-best in raw power. The home audio industry continued to go progressively downhill in the 1990's and 2000's. as everything really started to look simple and cheap. I'll end by saying this. The old "beefy" designs may be easier to service, but PERFECTED circuit boards and chips designs are altogether more reliable and some do end up lasting forever with little to no problems.

[@hdgboy]

Interestingly, designers for Kenwood were so frustrated with Kenwoods penny pinching and design shortcuts that they left and formed Accuphase.

[@stephencallil6512]

Beautiful made and engineered and the SOUND is just WOW [i got a E 306 MODEL]

[@gregeney]

Accuphase is high end audiophile grade stuff. If they weren't happy making consumer mid-fi equipment is says more about them than Kenwood. Nothing wrong with either as they both have their market.

[@festersuncle6298]

Technics 5570 fairly rare and sweet and bassy sound. Excellent phono stage too. Mid to late 70's Kenwood intergrated amps are nice......to look away from receivers for a second. Budget in the 70's compared to anything today has my vote.

[@tonywestvirginia]

I have a pair of Technics speakers (120W) made in Puerto Rico . Still rocking today!

[@Trojan0304]

My Pioneer Sx 780 still rocks since 70’s, will outlast me

[@billd9667]

Kenwood receivers had some of the best tuner sections. As a matter of fact, Kenwood tuners are highly sought after even today. Technics stuff was good, but they excelled at turntables.

[@KillerKlipsch]

Excellent turntables.

[@RUfromthe40s]

i remenber when the tuner was one of the most important features in a system, that was the source of new music and styles that we could never had listen to, FM stations were the source of new music ,today it´s sad don´t even have a tuner conected to my system and in the 70´s i had a tube tuner with multipath and other filters to make FM sound perfect and record new compilations in cassette or reels ,today that is lost, today internet as everything but not personalised shows in FM stations that one could not miss or even have a timer to when not at home the shows were recorded entirelly into reels, than search for the records on several stores

[@billd9667]

@@RUfromthe40s Local FM is ruled by oligarchs these days. Internet radio is much better. I don’t miss what FM has become.

[@RUfromthe40s]

@@billd9667 if internet radio had at least half of the FM stations quality in content and sound quality and anyone could have a radio station ,in my country the best were all pirates ,mine was only legalised after 20 years

[@andyfletcher3561]

I had one of the first run 1200's. It was amazing. I could set the head weight/tracking force(it's been a LONG time)? to it's lowest setting and actually hit the body and it wouldn't skip a beat, and mean a solid thump.

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

Glad you did this video, maybe folks will understand more now. You guys see these everyday. You know what works, what lasts-what doesn’t. Most don’t understand or know these things.🙏🏻

[@cjackfly]

Yeah but he's blowing a lot of smoke. I have a Super 11 and got on eBay to see if what I need is available and it's ALL available. Sometimes these guys will diss on certain units to drive the prices down so they can buy them up for cheap. Not sure this guy's intentions but my guess is that they might be a teence more difficult to work on. So not ezpz as they say. 😢

[@socksumi]

Kenwood amps from the early to mid seventies were beautifully made and sounding products. They hired the same designers that made high end Accuphase separates. The same quality was also put into many of Kenwoods integrated amps. Kenwood's Supreme series was a good example.

[@stillastillsfan]

Kenwood KT-917 one of the all-time great supertuners, especially with upgraded components.

[@glenncurry3041]

@@stillastillsfan Most people do not know that Trio/Kenwood had three product lines. Audio, two way radio and test equipment. Because of being a world leader in two way FM radio, their tuners were 2nd to none! They used basically DSD technology by turning the FM signal's pulse density into PDM audio. I gave lectures on it. I still have a KT615 sales sample from back then.

[@pippocalippo2447]

@@glenncurry3041 Today, Kenwood sucks, instead

[@glenncurry3041]

@@pippocalippo2447 Today most of them do. Most are just names from the past bought and sold many times over the years. Denon, Marantz, Pioneer and Onkyo used to be separate companies in full competition. Now one company owns them all and makes sure cover different markets and do not compete.

[@pippocalippo2447]

@@glenncurry3041 then, Onkyo Is now dead

[@randybarrish1132]

Kevin, you did a great job detailing sound and adequate engineering differences, and, you as a repair & business owner made excellent points. I am not a brand snob, I own a Pioneer, Sansui, Kenwood, NAD, and Yamaha. With that said, in my stash of receivers is a Kenwood KR-4600 matted up to Yamaha NS-344 speakers. Over the past few years, many other brands and price points have come and gone like a Yamaha CR-620. Don't get me wrong the 620 is a great receiver but the KR-4600 sound is bolder and warmer, and the tuner is amongst the best also. I have owned this for more than 20 years and as there is no real $ value this receiver makes any speakers I hook up to just sound better. For those on a budget and who find a KR series from the mid-70s cheap and in perfect condition, I say go for it. Love you, Kevin, and keep up the good work.

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks, Randy!

[@RUfromthe40s]

i forget to mention Yamaha but once i saw a receiver from late 70´s where all inputs in the back had a tiny volume knob ,this to make all sources output sound at the same level, this feature i never saw it again in other brand and a very wise feature , but never found one for me, regards

[@petenamlook18]

I’m glad you showed photos of the guts of these receivers. It says everything about the build quality. I wish more people in audio cared about build quality and repairability as opposed to straight looks.

[@emeeul]

My dad bought his Jumbo Jet new in Thailand and it still works perfectly in 2023. This was my first intro to this space, and we had many house parties with that receiver, some Pioneer speakers and Thorens turntable. He also has a Teac reel-to-reel. He’s had other gear, but that’s the piece that started it all.

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Absolutely loved the dog with the Kenwood football. Enjoyed the video and your thoughts, I'm an analog circuit designer and verify your message about quality components and power supply size.

[@richardingamells7213]

Late reply. But a lot of Technics stuff had very large power supplies. Aside from their cheapo range. A 1KWT power consumption allied with very large reservoir capacitors. However they didn't sound that good for some reason. Flat & dull for most part

[@dboy6896]

I really enjoy your approach to these topics. Straight no BS but respectful always. Wish I lived close enough to visit your shop. I know I would love it. Happy healthy holidays to you!!

[@LordSamuelJ]

Build quality is not as important to me. Most of these older 1970s stereos last forever regardless if it is over built or not. Even the cheapest units of the 70s rival the best of today's stereos in build quality. To me, the most important is sound quality. An over built expensive receiver that sounds terrible is just an embarrassing waste of money.

[@SteveHart]

As a poor HS kid buying my first receiver with grass cutting money, the Technics SA-300, I appreciated the price. Thanks for the video. My Technics got me through college and I passed it on to a friend who still has it, but I know my current gear is better. Nevertheless, I have a soft spot for my old Technics. It kicked ass. 😃

[@johannjohann6523]

Have you seen the new high end Technics Receivers/amps that go for around $10,000? That blew me away they made such high end audio components. But like you, when growing up my first stereo was a Radio Shack. And when I saved up and bought my first Technics receiver, I thought wow I finally made it to the high end of stereo components. lol. Worked fine for many wonderful years connected to my Cerwin Vega speakers.

[@mtgreenwoodbustout]

My first receiver from delivering the newspaper and mowing grass was a Sansui R-30. Tons of problems.

[@SteveHart]

@@mtgreenwoodbustout that's a pity, when you don't have a lot, every penny really counts

[@rancosteel]

1978 there was a one floor mall near my place of work. It’s still exists today. They had a dedicated Technics store. It had a sunken second level about four step and a radial center. It was furnished with a semi shag bright orange carpet and a chrome ceiling of plastic tiles that looked like waves in the ocean. I wish I owned a camera back then.

[@robertcuny934]

I owned a 35 mm slr with a fast f1.4 lens and regret not taking photos of the showrooms in now long gone HiFi stores. Never expected them to disappear so quickly😢

[@timwillson9284]

Brings back a lot of memories. I was selling for World Radio in the late 70's and early 80's and concur with your quality assessments. Marantz was the acknowledged quality king with Pioneer and Sansui close behind. Kenwood was for promo and loss leaders in ads.Easy to upgrade .

[@bmboldt]

I remember going to World Radio in Omaha a lot as a teenager. I bought my first pair of speakers there. They were 3 ways with a 12" woofer. I think they were a no name house brand. For the life of me I can't remember what they were called. I sold them to a friend over 30 years ago.

[@scootb7400]

This was an informative topic. I began my hi-fi journey after college back in 2008 - I loved the idea of vinyl & vintage stereos, but didn’t know where to start. As chance would have it I moved into an old apartment, and the previous tenant had abandoned a pair of AR7’s! I loved the look, but had no clue about the brand 😂 The same week I found a silver Technics SA-103 for $5 at a thrift store. I paired them together with an old Technics turntable I was given, and I spent more money on wire than I had on the rest of the system! But it was a warm, inviting sound and I loved it… until I blew one side of the Technics. While doing some research on replacing it I found my “hifi feelings” being hurt when everyone on the forums poo-pooed the Technics. I thought they were saying my ears were bad, or that my taste was poor. In time I realized they were essentially saying the unit was unreliable and you could find much better build/fidelity quality for not much more $$. I enjoy the Top 5 lists because it always gives me some new unit to research, or makes a comparison to something I’ve never heard of.

[@hawkermustang]

I'm listening to this right now on my Kenwood receiver that I bought new from Circut City back in 1993. And I have used this stereo continuously since I bought it every year too. I bought the Kenwood not because it was cheaper, I bought it because I thought Kenwood was the best.

[@jasoncaine2600]

That's where I got my kenwood in the 90's it lasted till 2014 just redid the whole car audio all Kenwood & kenwood excelon

[@johnnicolazzo4146]

I had a Technics SA505 receiver and a Technics PL 100 turntable in the 1980’s and I was completely happy with the performance of both. I never had any problems and I wish I had them both now

[@robertcuny934]

I missed out on the silver disco era receivers; too young and poor. For a few months prior to the COVID lockdowns, stereo gear ranging from R2R and cassette decks to receivers were donated to thrifts. I bought an SA 500 and SA 505 for $4.99 each. Still functioning though I should rebuild them. Never found decent speakers for a reasonable price so the receivers sound good but presumably would sound even better with expensive speakers.

[@timkendrick5322]

I wouldn't trade or sell my 3 Kenwood 7600's, Awesome power, sound ,tuning,looks, multiple speaker out puts, one in the bar, one in the garage one in the house. If your looking for something that sounds incredible and beauty, made in San Diego USA, Get you a Kenwood 7600, had the one since 1979.

[@j.t.cooper2963]

All of the brands had some lower end models. My Technics SA-1010 was made in 1983 it cost $850 new and is still all original and works like new and has one of the biggest power supplies and pair of filter caps I have ever seen and is a beast of a build internally. Technics made the most powerful receiver ever made the SA-1000 (330 WPC 8 Ohms) I wouldn't part with it for anything and the same goes for my higher end Kenwood gear. I also love my vintage Pioneer gear as well.

[@dr.brucepierce]

I bought a Technics SA500 receiver when I first got into vintage. Loved it. I wanted to upgrade so I bought a Pioneer SX980 from the same (well respected) shop. I hooked it up and it was nowhere near as good as the Technics. I returned the Pioneer and then found a Technics SA700 and play both regularly. I am not a technician, so I can't comment on that, but I know what sounds better to me.

[@GlennBerrySQL]

High-end Kenwood tuners from the late 1970s, such as the KT-917, KT-815, KT-8300 and KT-7500 are considered to be very competitive quality-wise with Pioneer, Marantz and Sansui. The Kenwood L-02T from 1982 is probably the best analog tuner ever made.

[@zino815]

Still have my KA-701 & KT-815, I bought new in 79!

[@studydude]

I freakin love your videos man! The innards always tell the story of a unit. You just relay what I have been thinking for year(s).

[@grumpy9478]

excellent review Kevin. your contribution to vintage stereo is significant. no BS from an expert at the ground level in the service & resale end of the biz (bonus: a tech who can run a biz). tastes in audio, music & aesthetics vary widely, but the finite characteristics of hardware over time CAN be determined. it's also important to note you pontificate only on hardware you know quite well, while also distinguishing what you know w/ adequate certainty from the gray areas subject to opinion / preference / received wisdom. the point you made that most companies who make problematical products will undoubtedly turn over an occasional ace (& vice versa!) is important. on attachment to brand... yes, that is a major goal of modern corporate marketing (amplified by behavioral science), but also learned by consumers (even generationally - that handed-down Rolex, etc.). these days, the science of brand loyalty has been refined to the point that the image is often more substantial / influential than the content ("signature editions", fake rarity, etc). cheaper than investment in product development, + the execs get to hang out w/ infamous "ambassadors". it's getting worse, & will continue to do so until folk get a far better education in the better isms: rationalism, utilitarianism, skepticism & pragmatism (faint hope). anyway, thanks for the walk-through.

[@directcurrent5751]

I was in stereo retail in the 1980s. Sold Kenwood and Technics units by the truckload. But they did indeed struggle to get the comments we heard for Yamaha and Onkyo. Once Kenwood discovered the profits in CAR audio gear, they worked well into car radios and not as much into home gear.

[@fredjoel8113]

EE audiophile, repair tech, and former stereo shop owner here: I agreed with you on Technics and Kenwood receivers. Kenwood, however, made some excellent, well-made serious stereo tuners in the 70's utilizing their RF know-how from making 2-way radios which they still famously do today. Technics had their Pro Series line of separates, a big step up from their receivers. This included their excellent reel-to-reels, as well as preamps, power amps, and tuners. Of course their turntables were legendary, taking the market by storm.

[@silversurfer3636]

OMG dude nobody cares about what you did to electronics in the 70's jesus total Kenwood jock sniffer here!🤣

[@supersportimpalass]

Kenwood Eleven Mark I, II and III are nice sounding receivers. They are also very similar in looks to the KR-7600 and KR-9600 receivers that usually don’t have a wood case.

[@2wrdr]

"Sound is dependent oh how you hear things" = words so true. Inner and outer ear are the mechanisms which receive air pressure changes. The nerves to brain are the transmission lines. The brain is where the magic happens where the previous becomes sound, speech, and what we call music. The brain can be trained to "hear" more small intricate details in "sound". The more you concentrate on listening in a quiet, non disruptive environment, over time the more intricate you can hear and that ladies and gentlemen is a key ingredient component in becoming a true audiophile.

[@Psycho9263]

You didn't mention the Kenwood KR-6600. Good build quality, not empty inside. very well featured for a receiver in that power range. It has 60 watts per channel and it has turnovers. Not found on many receivers of that range. The 600 series was excellent. Probably the best line they had. Even Pioneer engineers admired its circuitry and build quality. Kenwood should have used a dual power supply on the KR-6600 since they used dual blocks.

[@glenncurry3041]

So were you actually there back in the '70's? I had the very unique opportunity of being in the middle of all of this. I was in HiFi retail starting in '70. Our stores were one of the first Panasonic/ Technics dealers. In fact we received a batch of Panasonic labelled receivers and were quickly told after putting them out to pack them up. They were being returned because Panasonic had come up with the Technics brand instead. Same models, different logos. In '71 I became a Manufacturers Rep in the S.E. for Marantz, Cerwin Vega, Empire, Maxell, Pioneer Car Stereo, ... My customers included the most highly respected Audiophile level dealers because of Marantz. The Marantz 1060 and a pair of large Advents was the defacto basic system. Then I started to lose business to this other line, the Kenwood 3500 was replacing the 1060 in all my dealers! Less expensive, more power and every of my Marantz dealers said better sounding! Because of my relationship with those dealers and their move to Kenwood from Marantz, I was offered the region for Kenwood and became the Kenwood, AR, AT, .... rep position. I travelled up to 6 S.E. states giving clinics and seminars. Some of my dealers were also Mcintosh. They never promoted it as the superior sounding line. Audio Research, perhaps! Krell! But one explained to me (college town) that a professor would walk in with elbow patches, briar pipe, ... they'd take him into the showroom and lightup and big blue meters. The guy would pull out his check book and sign. Yes the Mc was made better. You could pull the covers and show how all the caps were so neatly all facing exactly the same way! Massive output transformers not needed by others. Yes Kenwood offered a compromise to keep costs down. e.g. the 3500 was lighter than the 1060. Thinner chassis, face plate, ... but parts quality design and build was not compromised. I ran a regional Kenwood repair facility in Atlanta for a while. But pull the covers on a Kenwood KA-907 amp and tell me you can find a more powerful design and parts construction! It blew every integrated amp of the time away. I proved it with a travelling High Speed clinic taking on any amp anyone brought in for full power 10khz squarewave into 8 ohms! Harry Pearson Absolute Sound said the Kenwood L-O7M's were the best amps made and owned them as reference for years! I provided his demo units. I will still put them up against almost any equal powered amps made today. Yes unfortunately as TV/Media started to move in, they were one to start cheapening out. Today almost none of these companies exist. Just names bought by some larger company. Often the same holding company intentionally creating marketing differences between their own lines.

[@skylabsaudio]

Wish I could have experienced it like that. I am sure they were amazing times.

[@glenncurry3041]

@@skylabsaudio I've partied with Joe Tushinsky, the founder of SuperScope which first imported Sony and other than a few original components, was the Marantz company. SuperScope was actually a lens technology company that competed with CinemaScope. Howard Hughes, RKO used it. Joe was friends with Hugh Hefner, it was a private party with Hugh at the California Playboy mansion. Got lots of stories!

[@jackflackatari]

Kevin knows nothing about quality Classic Audio Gear.

[@johnb9187]

@@jackflackatari :)

[@Psycho9263]

I have the Kenwood KR-6600 rated at 60 WPC . What I liked about it was the "Acoustic " controls (like turnovers), which is something not found in many receivers. There are 2 amplifier blocks (DC), but they placed them so close, it looks like a single block. The amplifier blocks are located in the front behind the tuner. A set of heat sinks and output transistors, we call it a block. Just like an engine and spark plugs.

[@acrossthedial]

Kenwood was the first manufacturer to "de-content" their products in the mid-70's. Their early solid state models such as the KA-2000 and KA-2500 were well built and had a warm sound.

[@jnorten]

Where does Harman Kardon fall in the pecking order of Receivers?

[@NovaluxStereophonic]

Very well said! For Kenwood receivers I actually do not mind servicing the KR-9600 now that discrete replacements for the power packs are available. Small filters but really pretty unit, SX-1250 walks all over it in same wattage class but hey, sometimes you need handles! Again, well said. Keep up the good work.

[@richardelliott1810]

I owned a Kenwood KA-6006 and matching tuner myself back in college in the early 70’s and loved it. I think that may have been the last time they made decent stuff as by the 80’s it was clear they were declining and I turned away from them myself. I would gladly have anything they made in the 60’s or 70’s but would not tough anything from the 80’s on.

[@solobueno7483]

They were going strong then, that series of integrateds is great. In general, I rate their integrated stuff very highly, better than their receivers. The KR-9400 has excellent build quality, I think this guy would have to agree, but perhaps the build quality started to decline with the KR-X600 series.

[@edholmwood]

Ignore the trolls. The brand loyalty helps them justify their purchase decision years ago. It is insecurity on their part. Another good video. Thank you.

[@randy6999]

These are the same people that ask "How many watts are your speakers"

[@MashBill]

I agree, Kenwood made a few great items, but most of their products were ho-hum. Their L-07 series was really good as was the KD-5xx/6xx turntables. They made pretty good FM tuners. I have an L-07TII tuner that sounds and works great. I've always regretted selling my L-07M amps. I worked at a hifi store back in the 80's and Kenwood was never a big mover. Like you said about Technics.... turntables and reel to reel tape machines were the best from them.

[@JamesSavik]

I bought Technics back in the day because I could afford it. It sounded good, and I paired it with good components like a Technics turntable and Pioneer cassette deck.

[@Illinois_Steve]

Wow. I gotta tell you... this video was an eye opener. I'm a novice to the engineering of these products. I own two Kenwoods; a KR-4070 and a KR-3090, bought with my hard-earned scheckles when I was a teenager in the mid-70s. I also own an Onkyo TX-4500 MK 1 that I absolutely love. But you are dead-on about the empty box thing and the reason why I have been ignorant for so long is, while I was able to crack open these receivers, I never saw the inside of a Pioneer. Never too late to teach an old dog. Great stuff on this channel !

[@skylabsaudio]

Thanks, Steve!

[@ConcussionProtocall]

Unfortunately I am emotionally attached to Technics. Purchased my first receiver right out of high school in 1974. All i could afford was the SA-200. Still have it, still works. Have upgraded of course but still have my SA-200 in the garage. I have got to make a trip to your shop real soon!

[@alm5693]

My first receiver was a Kenwood KR-100 that I bought just before my junior year of high school (would have been 1970). I'll confess that what I knew about audio then was what I could learn from an Allied Radio catalog; mostly features and specs. I'll also confess that I chose it as much for the number of dials on the front. There was lots to play with. It was a great first receiver for me and I also loved the cheap Advents (not the small ones, the cheap ones) that I had at the time, but I was soon leered away by the new and fabulous Harmon Kardon 930 that I used for almost 20 years. I noticed that Harmon Kardon couldn't even get a mention in this video for bad or for good. What gives? Is there an older video about H-K?

[@RUfromthe40s]

HK was one of the best brands but from the 90´s till today their quality decreased a lot but always a brand to mention

[@janath9118]

@alm5693 Thank you for the information regarding Kenwood! I would have done the same thing if I could have afforded the same equipments back in the 70's. Later in early 80's I bought a Kenwood system but it was an amplifier, KA 30 and not a Receiver.

[@RUfromthe40s]

@@janath9118 still good , i bought a radio cassette player from kenwood in early 80´s when each brand had a diferent look and kenwood released maybe the best radio cassette player for cars at the time after changing one time the belts i used it till 95 ,it had treble and bass knob dolby switch volume with balance and fader included and auto-loudness when arriving with volume to half the scale the loudness came off and 4 crystal liquid displays for the fm frequency just by the cassette insert ,in early 90´s i bought the at the time new escort rs2000 and asked a friend to install on it the radio and asked him to put new speakers either than the 4 places from ford he put four speakers in the back from cobra and a equalizer from pioneer with fader and volume ,it was like a discoteque but i never liked that but i asked him and paid, when selling it the buyer asked me if i could leave there the radio ,i said yes

[@RUfromthe40s]

but the wing on the back was a head turner ,i didn´t knew thay had such a spoiler and from what i´ve heard was supposed to have an extra wing as the engenier designed

[@RUfromthe40s]

and cobra, the same brand from cb radio´s also antenas

[@bobmeyer7009]

I like your honesty, and the fact that you are not condescending to those who disagree with you. Kudos!

[@SamuelBarrPhotography]

Well said Kevin. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.

[@fullwaverecked]

The truth sometimes hurts, but when you tell it, it's a hoot! Great video and cheers!

[@fb6performance271]

Im 56 and have always been into audio...but its mostly car audio. I used to install amps...speakers and tape decks back when I was 14. I just took interest in vintage stereo receivers and my first must have unit was the one my parents had in our family room that I would push to its limit playing Kiss Alive 1 on vinyl. I just found a working Fisher CA-880 that is in perfect condition that I plan to use in my garage driving some old Pioneer speakers with a Cerwin-Vega powered sub. My local repair guy called it a "department store stereo " when I asked him about parts for it if needed (it looks hardly used...no vented caps..lights...knobs switches all work fine). I get what he said...but when you want to relive your youth...you look for that piece of history. Buying this unit and watching your videos has me itching to start a collection of the more quality units from the 70's and 80"s. By the way..my Mom still uses that same Fisher rack stereo that is in the same spot in her family room that I cranked up till the garage doors vibrated in the early 80's. Thanks for the awesome videos you post!

[@raydar2630]

Being a career electronics tech (geared toward two-way and microwave radio, but audio is a passion), I can really appreciate the "tech friendly" aspects of some of these pieces. RF is the same way. By law, they all had to meet certain specs. But some brands were universally hated by every tech I knew. I'll spare you the gory details. I'm curious about the STK darlington packs. I'm seeing the "discrete replacements" that have been showing up. BTW, my favorite receiver I've ever owned is a Kenwood KR-V86R. Bought it new. It's a beast. It's been my main system for most of its life. It's just now gotten to the point that I feel the need to remove the covers. We shall see. I'd also like to ask your opinion of JVC. I own an RX315, that is currently in the rotation. It's... okay. Heavy as hell, if nothing else. Thanks! Subscribed to your channel.

[@ronaldelliott4373]

I still have 2 Kenwood models bought in the 70’s, that are in beautiful working order. A 20watt version and a 50. Regular cleanings are all they’ve ever needed.

[@fernarias]

Both technics and kenwood put their high end into integrated amps and separates. Receivers sold well at the mid range; kenwood kr-9600, kr-9050 and technics sa-800, sa-1000.

[@markrussell.]

I've had Kenwood integrated amps and I've had Technics receivers all of it was good if you ask me anything that comes out of the 1970s is super good and I'll tell you another thing that's outstanding and that was the Kenwood tuners those things kick ass. The same goes for Sansui Pioneer all of them were good back then.

[@DavidMorley]

As a teen my dad had a Kenwood receiver with a pair of larger Kef speakers. He still has the speakers. At some point the Kenwood died after many years service. sounded GREAT!

[@russellcardwell6502]

Hey Kevin we’ll done an honest and truthful video, I currently own a pioneer SX1250, Kenwood KR9600, Kenwood KR8050, Toshiba 7100, Sony V5, all have been totally restored , it’s taken around two years to get them done, when I picked one up from my tech I would drop the next one off, they all sound great , if it wasn’t for Kenwood’s practice in pricing I wouldn’t have been able to put together a decent sound system when I was in high school back in the early 70s, I have listened to a lot of your videos more than once when seeking reliable advice, much thanks Regards Russell Cardwell

[@skylabsaudio]

Appreciate it, Russell!

[@RadioKilla07]

I think one of the main aspects missed here is that during the late 70s and early 80s', their were multiple "Line" series per brand. Kenwood and Technics both had the low end budget Line products but that same year, they also had a midrange line and an exotic line. Yes their may be "Wattage" competition, but not in the way I think this video presented it. I think in all fairness comparing the low end of the Kenwood and Technics Line to a somewhat a midrange Pioneer receiver is not really how to look at it. A better comparison to the Pioneer here would have been the Kenwood TRIO line of receivers , etc. Bare in mind the late 70's many companies went the way of cutting costs and using "NEWER" IC's and transistors to reduce the amount of parts. The Circuit design in the pioneer sx-1050 only had a revised power supply , the tuner section and amplifier section is still typical and simple. which is the reason why it could look pretty inside with its simple look. The Super 11 by Kenwood is of course going to look like a bunch of pcb boards and such, why? its a receiver with alot of preamp options. Equalization, Mic Preamp, Reverberators. Its actually easy to service these amps due to the dedicated PCB's in these amps. integrating all of this onto one PCB would have actually been more of a pain to service. So, internal Aesthetics and design from an Amp from Pre-1978 is not a big deal, Just a different time using older IC's, volt Regulators and Transistors, which results in using more circuit components.

[@directcurrent5751]

The lines were very distinct. Our technicians endorsed the Onkyo high end integrated amplifier over similar Yamaha and Pioneer high end units, 1980s, and we carried all four majors. They thought Onkyo's Dual Power Supply was real and spectacular.

[@erickdomingo6579]

At the end of the day we listen to the amp we bought. Nobody buys an amp and open it and relax by staring at the big transformers and capacitors the whole day.

[@Gord4well]

I walked into a stereo shop in 1977 at age 17 . I was looking to buy the best the first time . Geoff, the owner pointed out one that was on sale for 700 instead of 1000. ( Southern Ontario ) That Sansui 9090 still rocks today! Now it is need of some lovin, and will be going in soon. I'd say I got lucky way back then. :)

[@xminusone1]

That particular series is very good. I think it's the best receiver they ever made. I have many sansui, G series and the 5050 to 9090 and even tube stuff (SM) series that dates back to 1962-63 and the later A series 500A and 1000A and they're quite good too. Sansui started as a transformer company.

[@RUfromthe40s]

i had a sansui pre and amplifier but my father gave me his pioneer when buying a revox, i have to say that the sansui was stoped only some 7 years ago i restored it to sell it by a lot of money, but we are talking of brands that never went bad in 50 years of use ,some new brands will never work for 50 years without problems

[@RUfromthe40s]

almost forget to refer that in late 70´s bought the high-end amplification system from H.H.Scott and works till today with nothing to add, in speakers i have pioneers, JBL´s ,altec lasing,huge studio monitors bought in 1972, tannoy´s, celestion ditton series, Mission, wharfedale and Technics, Grundig, had some cerwin-vegas enjoyed them for 10 years and sold them because someone told me that the red menbrane was getting rotten in a lot of speakers ,mine were ok .

[@kanecooks8643]

I bought a Nakamichi TA -3A in 1985-86. Its SLAMMS ! I still have it 😁

[@richardduke6930]

My Sansui R-7 still works with a pair of Bose 601's .

[@bkoestring]

Love your honesty. Say what you think and don't worry about who you might offend. Keep up the good work!

[@jamesrogers2386]

just found this channel and i''''''m 65 got my 1st. componant system when i was 11 it was a midland am/fm 5w.pch. 3'' wood pulp box's was nice 1/3 the formal stereo size w/ inputs for my realistic cassette a brand new form of tape .. even now i feel the pride i had in ownership an wet corner in my eye but yea what you know is always how you will go .. love work site you guys i bet just kinda live it , psthat midland was a sears brand in 1968 ..peace and keep it real.. istic , i told you.. peace out - a fan

[@dwahnaslowdown8887]

Well spoken. "Vintage" doesn't equate to "Better," as so many Craigslist posts seem to infer. There were levels of quality (and price) in 1978 too. It's good to know what's under the hood.

[@pupwizard3888]

I have never understood why some people latch on to a brand and then doggedly defend that brand. I have a brother in law who is a vintage Sony fanatic. He goes to garage sales and resale shops and brings back things that he wants our local stereo shop to fix and then is disappointed when they don't turn out. Yet he still is adamant that Sony is the only way to go. He accumulates stacks of Sony components and collectively spends a lot of money on them in total. I have asked him why he doesn't just spend some money on one high quality overbuilt receiver from the 70s and he looks at me as if I am talking heresy. He acknowledges the quality of my Sansui and Pioneer gear but wouldn't consider getting one. When my sister in law wanted help getting vintage she asked him to outfit her and what did he buy her? Everything SONY. (Even the speakers were Sony.) Unfortunately for her the receiver he got her never worked right and she asked me to take it in to get it repaired. The repair shop told us it wasn't worth repairing. Then she asked ME for help picking out a replacement. I bought her a fully recapped and restored Marantz 2230 and she lived happily ever after......

[@bertroost1675]

I find very early low watt solid state Kenwood amps/receivers are pretty pretty pretty good.

[@primeanalogrecords]

Great video and budget receivers have their place! I recently built my daughter a vintage system in the heart of that is a Kenwood receiver, but I didn’t want to shell out big bucks for something that she might not really be getting into! Probably later if it dies I’ll get her more substantial unit !

[@Tr1hawaii]

Genau! I just built my daughter a vintage system also: Sansui 221, Kenwood KD1033, and some Paradigm book shelf speakers. Added a Bluetooth adapter to the AUX and she’s set. Good on you bro!

[@primeanalogrecords]

@@Tr1hawaii got mine a Kenwood receiver, Yamaha YPD4 turntable and put a Grado blue cartridge, a thunderbolt plug for iPhone steaming and floor-standing Polk Audios! It’s so great to pass on the knowledge to my daughter I received from my dad and now we share music! Amazing 🤩

[@alexandermckay8594]

Ha! I never realized how well built the Pioneers were. The thing is, the exterior matches the interior. I've always preferred the Pioneers because the knobs are milled aluminum, not hollow, the toggle switches thicker and have a much nicer feel. They just look better.

[@volker12321]

You are so right! For my ears the sound of the Pioneers (that's what matters most) is also the best.

[@haqitman]

About 15 years ago I picked up a Kenwood silver face at a garage sale for $25, i forget the model number. Once home the first thing I did was open it up. I was suprised at how light duty the internals appeared to be. It was supposed to be a 30-ish wpc receiver but my 15 wpc Pioneer sx 450 had an equivalent power supply and even bigger filter caps. It sounded ok and cleaned up nice but the whole experience left me underwhelmed and a bit confused because Kenwood was supposed to be, in my mind, equivalent to Pioneer, Marantz, etc. I ended up gifting it to a friend, who was happy to get it. A better friend got the Pioneer, lol.

[@shaynegaudet6131]

I had a SU V9 , it worked really well. Specs were way better than most, back then, and it showed when comparing.

[@ScottGrammer]

For those who live in areas with good FM stations, Kenwoods had great tuners. They drew on the expertise they gained in making communications and ham radios. Some of the higher-end Kenwoods had really hot tuners.

[@gittube417]

Technics make great products ...period. Sherwood came from Trio technology and started with quality standards.

[@mrhoffame]

Great honest review! I feel like so many people in the comments didn't actually listen in the video. You never said Kenwood or Technics receiver would "never last longer than 10 years" or "Will never sound as good to your ears as Marantz" or anything like that. You simply stated that they were NOT MADE with the same level of components as some other brands. I had a 2007 dodge charger. Bought it brand new with 17 miles on it. Just sold it last year with 368,000 miles on it. It was a GREAT car. Loved and it gave me few if any problems. That doesn't mean a Mercedes or Cadillac may not be built better with better quality components.

[@carloreubenvongerkin9760]

Idea...Top 5 kenwood, JVC, Technics Receivers That Almost Made Our Other Top 5 lists.

[@teb0072]

Most mid-fi stereo components produced in Japan in the mid-seventies use ICs; not even discrete components on a circuit board. They were engineered for good specs, not for good sound. The higher end stuff; Yamaha, Denon, Luxman, et. al., had big powerful transformers, discreet transistors requiring large heat sinks, etc. They cost more to make, sold for more money, and sounded beautiful.

[@ranrae]

I beg to differ on quality. I have a Kenwood Eleven 111 that is 46 years old,never been to the shop and sounds great. Also,Kenwood was well known for their tuners.

[@martintaylor984]

You are very right as a mechanic the fords are definitely built better and last longer than Mercedes 😂😂😂

[@bobkoep2846]

Hello from Idaho... Love the channel, I've learned a bunch. I'm one of those people who couldn't afford a hifi system in the '70s. So like many of my age group, now I can! Thank you for your insight on all things vintage audio. One request if you please. While you are discussing different pieces of equipment, could you include the dates in which they were made\sold? In this particular vid you went through several Kenwood and Technics receivers, and you only mentioned the decade. It's just something I'd like to learn. It's been a long time since I looked at this stuff in a shop! Keep up the good work! Bob

[@billschlafer]

If they built new Kenwood KA amps and KT tuners from the 70s, I'd buy em in an instant.

[@zino815]

I still have my KA-701 & KT-815. I purchased them in 79. Just had the 701 recapped and it sounds as good as the day I bought it!

[@peterofenback9263]

I own a Mercedes Benz and a Ford. Both take me from A to B. The Benz has many gadgets that are nice to have, but when driving the Ford, I really do not miss them. What does this mean applied to HiFi gear?

[@commonman317]

I feel fortunate. My Kenwood KR-V6040 discrete power amp receiver has been a work horse. I bought it in 1992, and it jams to this day. One benefit of this receiver is that it doesn't get hot. It barely stays warm, even after hours of blasting it loud.

[@mandymoo7406]

i was selling all these makes mid 70.s and often asked which was best,i took the top off the pioneer sx434 i had bought myself and still have and saw that pioneer had wrapped wires in a coil on a post before soldering,i was blown away by this quaility of idea so no poor joints in years to come,over here i always aquanted kenwood with food mixers rather than hi fi,im in the uk

[@jb678901]

Just bought my fifth Hitachi for $35, an SR-703. The faceplate was dirty, the lamps shot. No leaking or vented caps...I put in on the dim-bulb, all good. Let it warm up and checked offsets (both A&B; 18~19mV both channels). Blew/dedusted the interior, cleaned the face plate with warm/soapy water, cleaned all the knobs...and wrapped the black matte "veneer" with a nice drift-wood grained high-quality vinyl. The case was already in decent condition but I hate that black-matte OEM wrap Hitachi used on some units...it shrinks away from the heat vents with age and although it's smooth and robust...I either remove it entirely with a heat gun (if peeling is bad), else simply clean it and wrap it. The Tuner knob had deep scores/scratches...which I sanded out with fine grit polishing sticks, to get the same grain/reflection as the other knobs. Put it on a taped drill bit in slow speed to get the perfectly circular fine brushed grain of the other knobs ( 400 grit up to 2000 grit). To bring back the beveled edge high polish I used 5000 then 7000 grit. I already have an extra LED kit for another SR-903 and will use that to MOD the lamps. Gave it a sound trial and was surprised that it really performed well, even before a recap. Frankly, for a local auction, I was surprised to land it at only $35. A steal, imho.

[@stevengilmore1509]

Not to contradict the video, but back around 1974, my brother bought a Kenwood receiver. Pretty sure it was 85 wpc. It was absolutely gorgeous. The heavy flywheel on the tuner was so cool. We loved it!

[@stu3700]

Very cool stuff Kevin. I had a KR-7400 receiver in 1976. It felt and looked like a well-made, well laid out, aesthetically pleasing receiver. Like most buyers, I didn't pay attention to what was inside the cabinet. I'd say it sounded "good" with a pair of efficient "good" speakers. That would be my assessment of most receivers of the day. Unlike you, I consider sound to be the most important factor in judging hi-fi equipment. Of course, build quality can be directly correlated to sound quality. Yamaha and NAD were a modest step up in audible sound quality, and so capable of taking advantage of moderately better speakers. I bought a pair of pricey (at the time) KEF 104 large bookshelves. The KR-7400 wasn't up to the task. I don't think ANY receiver would have been. I clipped and blew out a couple tweeters. I replaced the Kenwood with a Dynaco ST400 amp and Nakamichi pre-amp, and o....m....g. Saying it was night and day doesn't go far enough. Was it the power and headroom of 200 w/channel? Yes, but I'm sure that even a 200 w/ch receiver would not have come close to the sound of these separates. My main point being - at least on a pair of high end speakers like the KEF's I had, I don't think there would be a big audible difference between comparably spec'd receivers of the early-mid '70's - whether Kenwood, Marantz, Sony, Sherwood, HK, Onkyo, Fisher. Technics did look and feel cheaper to me, and had the stigma (fairly or not) of being a subsidiary of Panasonic. I think all of these brands took a turn for the worse in the later 70's and 80's.

[@directcurrent5751]

It cheapened out very hard after the 1980s. The home audio necessity was eclipsed by cable TV and all the video explosion of the 1990s. Younger generations got away from clunky material investments and mini systems were good enough.

[@RichardinNC1]

I had a Technics SA-404 50 watt receiver thru college and beyond. Perfect for two big speakers with 12”s! It worked great for 8 years before it was stolen. The late 80s Technics digital receiver replacing it was definitely lesser built. Today I have a top Yamaha receiver.

[@dustinrilcof2504]

The early years of Trio Kenwood were supposed to be good. But I have not owned one of these. They went on to start Accuphase. Fun fact ! They started Trio Kenwood in 1946 then went on to start Accuphase in 1972. I did briefly own a technics 5570. Sold it in a week after being disappointed.

[@Kevin_Carlson]

Using a sports analogy, most of our favorite baseball players will never make the Hall Of Fame. That doesn't mean they weren't any good. They helped their teams win, and provided us with great memories that remain to this day. My favorite stereo receiver was a Hitachi 25 watt from 1981. A budget receiver if there ever was one. But it was my first new receiver, and it filled my dorm room with my favorite music.

[@steven3379]

I remember graduating in "72" I bought my first stereo, it was a Magnavox all in one system, a receiver, turntable/changer and speakers, the receiver and turntable were on a cart with wheels and a place for records on the bottom, the speakers you could place on either side about 6' away! 😅.. It served me well for about 3 or 4 years. Then I got a Marantz, never looked back, boy how I wish I still had that Marantz.!

[@bobk3840]

I’ve purchased new mid 70’s Marantz. I’ve also purchased mid 70’s Technics. Still using a Technics SA-600 45 years old today. I’d put it up against anything comparable.

[@PageCrowes]

I just got a sa600 last week off original owner. Hope I did good. All I had to do was spray some deoxit in the volume pot. Everything works. I just ordered some leds, warm white. Hooked them up to some avid audiophile 100 speakers I just got from an old lady she had since 1975 all original with rubber surrounds so they don't rot. They sound awesome . Also have cerwin vega vs150 I switch back n forth with the sa600. Denon turntable. Hopefully the sa600 gives many more years of joy.

[@ripmcmanus]

Bound to find those who disagree...like me LOL. I had a Kenwood KR-9400. Built like a tank, exceptional quality electronics, best tuner of any manufacturer before or since. More importantly, paired with JBL L-100s, it sounded incredible. Nothing I bought in the 40 or so years since I sold it sounded as good, and I spent a lot of money. If Kenwoods were built to a price point, so were the Pioneers. The Pioneer SX1050, same power rating, was $50 cheaper. I bought the KR-9400 because it sounded better.

[@skylabsaudio]

Right on! The 9400s are one of Kenwoods better receivers, IMO. If they sound better to you than an SX 1050, no one can argue against that, and you made the right choice. Appreciate the feedback

[@jimmccloskey4254]

Have you seen many Technics SA 5770, 5760? Try finding these in mint conditions. What are you top 5?

[@anthonyjackson7097]

Since these old recievers are usually in need of new parts at this point in time. If you want a bigger power supply, put one in. The Hovland HP100 is not a huge circuit. The chasis has plenty of space inside. But, when it comes down to performance it is legendary! I do agree that gimmicky additional circuits will add to reliability issues. Keeping transformers and power supplies away from the signal path. Can be the reason for space between circuits and a well practice to be sure.

[@vineshnaidoo9402]

Yamaha is a great brand and Sugden as well....These products don't get mentioned here and on Just Audio either but your vids are a treasure everytime....Theres so much of great gear out there. I have tons of vintage gear...currently running a Yamaha MX1000 with an immaculate Sansui AU777A as a pre amp driving PolkRTA12Bs and Kef104.2 and this has stayed in the lounge for a months now....My perfect setup after mix and matching 18 pairs of speakers from Monitor audio MA3s to HPM100s to Polk rti12s with vintage Yamaha , Marants , Technics , Sansui G9700 among others....so much good stuff out there

[@skylabsaudio]

Pretty sure Yamaha's were in two of our best of lists (Best Receivers Under $300 and Favorite Integrated Amplifiers). One of the most under valued brands of the 70's.

[@MatrixUSA]

I love my 2245 MARANTZ & PIONEER PL45 turntable for Asthetics but the INCREDIBLE SMOOTH SOUND from my 2003 YAMAHA RX V640 is AMAZING !!

[@Audiomainia2310]

I totally dig your honesty buddy. Like all things - for the most part, you get what you pay for.

[@charlessansom4849]

So why does overbuilt matter? If it does the job, it does the job. I’ve owned a Kenwood Eleven II since 1976, use it almost daily to this day, and for me it has done an excellent job driving a pair of Bose 901 Series VI speakers hard enough to shake the walls of my shop outside and making people walking and driving by outside give a thumbs up with a big smile. I’ve also got a 1970 Dodge half ton pickup that does the job. It doesn’t have to be a Lincoln pickup, over priced for sure, maybe overbuilt, but not necessary. You’re putting a lot of stock into potential here, what COULD be, what MIGHT be, but what IS is what really matters. This old stereo receiver will put out a solid 85 watts per channel with no audible distortion, and it has never been touched, not even recapped. No overbuilding necessary. And how do you know all these others are overbuilt compared to the Kenwood and the Technics? It’s because you’re inside of all of them, seeing the differences. And why are you inside of them? It’s because they broke down and need repair, maybe getting recapped, maybe replacing noisy pots. Why do they need all this repair if they’re so overbuilt? This video just smacks of stereo snobbery to me. Just my humble opinion. Maybe I’m dead wrong here, but maybe I’m not. And why does everybody pronounce it Techniques when it’s spelled Technics? Two completely different words.

[@quiksr20]

I started typing this comment 5 mins before I hit play, 5 mins in and its my thoughts exactly. Ive been dabbling with stereos for 30+ years but only getting into the repair side in the last 3 years. On the exterior they may look the same but once you get under the hood its clear as day, Its always the Kenwood or Technics that may have big watts but then you get inside and your like "Where is everything". Its either a larger than needed case to look beefier, Theres usually no bias/dc offset adjustments on kenwood/technics and some hokey resister setup. Large circuit boards covering multiple functions vs single boards per section. I find Sansui / Pioneer / Yamaha / HK have more discrete components for the same wattage / year, Just feel like a more quality build to me. I havent found a Kenwood yet ( not saying they are not out there ) that I didnt wanna sell after repair, None have wow'd me like the other mentioned brands.

[@skylabsaudio]

Agree 100%

[@KenV62]

Interesting analysis. I have had in this order, starting in 1977.... Pioneer SX650, Kenwood KR770 (bought in military in Japan), used Mac 6100, Nikko Gamma 1, Mac MA252, Kenwood KR4070, and a Vector Research VR5000. The last two bought used for $50 a piece on CL in almost mint condition, just for me to play with. The KR4070 only needed a controls cleaning and one side tuning dial fuse bulb. The tech was surprised it all tested to spec otherwise, and extremely clean inside. I rotate it out with my old original Pioneer for a second room system and both sound just as good to me in non critical listening, with all sources. Both share similar features, and with same power and speakers selection on same knob, but the Pioneer does have one extra tape monitor. At this model tier, I don't think either one looks overbuilt inside and both look very close components-wise. However when I see my big brother's Pioneer SX1250, it along with the similar SX850-1050 models are of course very overbuilt! Still, I like the simple Kenwood look with amber backlit dial, all metal build quality, and sprayed on dark gray texture surface. My Pioneer started peeling off of some of the wood color vinyl surface after many years of use, and has the particle board sides. No biggie, but I think the Kenwood is slightly nicer in that respect, and has knurled twist knobs for speaker connectors. So many choices of great vintage gear out there, for little money, so this and your other videos are quite informative to new buyers of vintage. Keep it up. Thanks!

[@rickya3877]

I come from the world of tube guitar amps and it's easy to relate to your points about part selection,layout,build quality,and serviceability...it's obvious there is no comparison