Opinions needed: Kenwood KA-60

joho1701
joho1701 Posts: 18
edited March 2013 in Electronics
Is the Kenwood KA-60 a good amp worth getting for vinyl listening with 2 KLH Model 16 speakers and the Polk PSW10
subwoofer?
Thanks :)
Post edited by joho1701 on
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited March 2013
    Sure, if you ditch the POS sub.
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • joho1701
    joho1701 Posts: 18
    edited March 2013
    decal wrote: »
    Sure, if you ditch the POS sub.

    Why?
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,650
    edited March 2013
    The PSW10 doesn't have a very good reputation at all. Pretty much in sound quality, musicality and reliability.
    There are far better subs out there for only a hair more money. The PSW505 would be an example and can be had on sale pretty frequently for around $189-$199.
    If you bump that budget up a hair and explore the used market, WAY better subs can be had.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • joho1701
    joho1701 Posts: 18
    edited March 2013
    ZLTFUL wrote: »
    There are far better subs out there for only a hair more money. The PSW505 would be an example and can be had on sale pretty frequently for around $189-$199.

    Ha, I've been getting that a lot since I've been posting. However, it's my first sub and I got it for $75. Got my turntabe
    for free also (AudioTechnica LP-60) and connected everything to an Superscope PAC770 tthat I used for music study brieflyn the late 90's and was about to sell or give away. So, as you can see, as a starter kit I've been able to keep costs way way down, which is the priority right now.
    I am hoping a real amp will help enrich the sound of my vinyls, particularly the mids and highs.
    :)
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited March 2013
    KLH 16? I don't know that model - are these vintage KLH or later ones? If vintage, perhaps KLH 6 or 17?

    As to the KA-60, I'd consider it slightly past the "golden age" but perfectly serviceable.

    newp19-KT-KA-60slim.gif
    new-specs-slimlines.gif
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,650
    edited March 2013
    http://www.amazon.com/KLH-16-Reference-Series-Speakers/dp/B00000J3FP/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited March 2013
    oh.
    OK
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,650
    edited March 2013
    (I'm just guessing anyway...trying to play it off like I knew what I was talking about...) :cheesygrin:
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited March 2013
    joho1701 wrote: »
    Why?
    ZLTFUL wrote: »
    The PSW10 doesn't have a very good reputation at all. Pretty much in sound quality, musicality and reliability.
    There are far better subs out there for only a hair more money. The PSW505 would be an example and can be had on sale pretty frequently for around $189-$199.
    If you bump that budget up a hair and explore the used market, WAY better subs can be had.

    What he said. I had a psw10, it's a POS.
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited March 2013
    :-)
    And I was trying to be diplomatic.
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  • joho1701
    joho1701 Posts: 18
    edited March 2013
    Now that my KA-60 is on its way how can I connect the PSW10 to it? I had a pre-out on the Superscope, but all the KA-60 has are
    phone, tuner and aux ins and one set of left and right +/- speaker inputs. (My turntable has a built in pre-amp.):
    rearkenwood2.png
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited March 2013
    joho1701 wrote: »
    Now that my KA-60 is on its way how can I connect the PSW10 to it?

    Hookup option 2 or 3 in the manual.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • joho1701
    joho1701 Posts: 18
    edited March 2013
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    Hookup option 2 or 3 in the manual.
    Thanks, but I'm not sure how they apply. This is a simple TT to amp to speakers set-up, not home theater. Am I supposed to run my speakers wires straight into the posts on the back of the sub sub then run wires from the sub-out posts to the speaker-in of
    the receiver? Or am I supposed to double up both speaker and sub wires to the in posts of the receiver?
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited March 2013
    joho1701 wrote: »
    Thanks, but I'm not sure how they apply. This is a simple TT to amp to speakers set-up, not home theater. Am I supposed to run my speakers wires straight into the posts on the back of the sub sub then run wires from the sub-out posts to the speaker-in of
    the receiver? Or am I supposed to double up both speaker and sub wires to the in posts of the receiver?

    1. TT to amp
    2. Amp speaker wire to Speaker in on PSW10
    3. Speaker out on PSW10 to KLHs

    My only question is how are you controlling volume? Did you mean to say amp or Receiver?
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • joho1701
    joho1701 Posts: 18
    edited March 2013
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    My only question is how are you controlling volume? Did you mean to say amp or Receiver?

    It's an integrated amp? It has a volume knob, bass, treble, etc as well as loudness lever.
    Here's what one looks like from the front
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kenwood-Stereo-Integrated-Amplifier-Model-KA-60-/261178266826?pt=US_Pro_Audio_Amplifiers&hash=item3ccf7014ca

    I'm thinking this will work fine for my turntable...
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,806
    edited March 2013
    yes, see the scan I posted earlier; it is a decidedly entry-level, compact footprint integrated amp ca. 1980 or very early 1980s.
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  • joho1701
    joho1701 Posts: 18
    edited March 2013
    Thanks to everyone who replied! I'm looking forward to hearing the difference the Kenwood makes over the Superscope.
    Best regards!
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