Edwin Powell
Active Member
700M, 700C I bought new in 75. Buy something of quality you expect it to last for years.
Yeah, and that was back when things were built to last.
700M, 700C I bought new in 75. Buy something of quality you expect it to last for years.
It isn't that the quality isn't there today as well, but more of a built in obsolescence nowadays that wasn't there 40 years ago. I sometimes catch myself looking at higher end integrated (solid state) amps like the Yamaha A-S3000 http://usa.yamaha.com/products/audio-visual/hifi-components/amps/a-s3000_u/?mode=model which for $7000 probably is in the ballpark of what I paid for the Kenwood 700M/700C in 1975 dollars. I wonder how these new amps sound over my old Kenny, and in 40 years will someone be able to go through it and make it like new again? Doesn't matter, being retired and 60 I couldn't afford a new amp like that and if I could, chances are it would easily outlive me at this point!Yeah, and that was back when things were built to last.
Heard...who knows. Have is easier...
KA-7100
KT-7300
KR-4400
KX-830
KX-720
KX-710
I like Kenwoods.
Then there's sentimentality, of which those will almost certainly pay for an item to be restored no matter what the cost. I've seen people put money into gear that's not worth squat, just because it was a family members item that was given to them and they want it to work again. I've got this early 80's Kenwood stack that doesn't work, but I'm sure it'll cost more to restore them than their worth, but I'm willing to get it looked at just to see if it's something simple. It's not sentimental to me at all, it's just the thought that counts and if it costs reasonable to get it fixed, I'd be willing to do so, then pass the karma, to a newbie who would appreciate it, seeing them smile and be happy would be payment enough for me.That's exactly what built-in obsolescence is—intentionally designing things not to last, presumably to protect future profits. I'm fully convinced manufacturers today put lots of circuit boards in their products in place of simpler and more reliable electro-mechanical components as de facto self-destruct mechanisms. Almost invariably, these control boards go out long before any mechanical parts give way but the control boards are priced such that it is usually more cost effective to replace the item than to repair it.
Technically I was simply joking with ya so maybe it's more like defying common sense of humor?Try listening to a Kenwood speaker without an amplifier if that is the thrust of your objection. Technically, that defies common sense.