I picked up a Kenwood KA-8300 integrated amp and a KT-7500 tuner from two separate households within a mile of my house about 5 days apart. The guy selling the amp said it didn't work all the time at higher volumes so I checked it out carefully. It worked fine but I wasn't too sure about the sound quality.
I'm fully stocked (or overstocked) with audio stuff so I asked my friend Rick if he wanted them. I cleaned the switches and controls, relamped the KA-8300 and fired them up together. Using known good test sources, the amp worked well with lots of power but sounded a little bright and harsh to me.
I compared it to a Marantz 1060 and a Yamaha CA-810 using two sets of ADS speakers, L1290/2s and L470/2s. My ears aren't great but I consistently felt that the KA-8300 sounded edgier and not as nice at the top end. Rick bought the two Kenwoods from me after auditioning them and took them home. I stopped by the other day with some interconnects for him and once again felt that the KA-8300 sounds a little bright, this time on ADS L420 speakers. He had the treble turned down a bit and seemed happy with it.
I'd think that the KA-8300, as one of Kenwoods near TOTL integrateds, should sound pretty nice. I thought it might be a bias or offset issue but it uses the TA-100 output modules and I don't think you can adjust those. I may lend him the CA-810 to see if he hears a difference. Or maybe I'll leave well enough alone and let him enjoy the Kenwoods. He loves the way they look, likes the sound, and I gave him a very good price so I'm OK with the status quo. Maybe I'm just curious.
Thanks for any thoughts or advice you may have. --Dan
I'm fully stocked (or overstocked) with audio stuff so I asked my friend Rick if he wanted them. I cleaned the switches and controls, relamped the KA-8300 and fired them up together. Using known good test sources, the amp worked well with lots of power but sounded a little bright and harsh to me.
I compared it to a Marantz 1060 and a Yamaha CA-810 using two sets of ADS speakers, L1290/2s and L470/2s. My ears aren't great but I consistently felt that the KA-8300 sounded edgier and not as nice at the top end. Rick bought the two Kenwoods from me after auditioning them and took them home. I stopped by the other day with some interconnects for him and once again felt that the KA-8300 sounds a little bright, this time on ADS L420 speakers. He had the treble turned down a bit and seemed happy with it.
I'd think that the KA-8300, as one of Kenwoods near TOTL integrateds, should sound pretty nice. I thought it might be a bias or offset issue but it uses the TA-100 output modules and I don't think you can adjust those. I may lend him the CA-810 to see if he hears a difference. Or maybe I'll leave well enough alone and let him enjoy the Kenwoods. He loves the way they look, likes the sound, and I gave him a very good price so I'm OK with the status quo. Maybe I'm just curious.
Thanks for any thoughts or advice you may have. --Dan