Kenwood SUPREME 600

A local store has a Kenwood SUPREME 600 for sale (500 $).
I know it´s a very well built piece of equipment.
What are your opinion?

I´m very thankful for all answers.

 

What is it?

 

a 70's integrated amplifier

 

It was Kenwoods top of the line integrated amplifier during the 70ties.

I will provide a link when I comeback from work.

 

O.K. Here it is. Looks nice.

http://www.thevintageknob.org/KENWOOD/SUPREME600/SUPREME600.html

 

Nice!

 

Thanks for the link KeithH

 

Well, I bought the amplifier.

My first impression is that it´s smooth with a well control bas. I have wait a few weeks before I can come with a final verdict.

 

Is Kenwood still in the US market? Akai pulled out of the US market back in the early 90's.

 

they were until about 2004/05 or so. since then, they have seemed to have dropped clean off the radar...

 

I like Kenwood and owned the KA-9100, an integrated amp which was my first foray into the world of separates. Kenwood was a solid mid-tier Japanese audio makers that made good functional designs, i.e. without all those flashy and largely useless bells and whistles ...

 

After seeing the picture, I think you can do much better with a new integrated amp from Pioneer Elite or a number of other manufacturers, assuming the $500 is US Dollars. Though the Kenwood is an interesting looking piece.

 

I believe the amp was made in the early 80's, right around the same time when Tandberg stopped making receivers and gone for separates. I love that golden era of audio - from the 60's through the early 80's.

 

I have had the amplifier a couple of months now.

My impressions are - it´s a very smooth and natural sounding amplifier. While it sounds smooth it doesn't loose the fine details. It also has a very good phonostage - dead silent (even with low out put MC).

I´m very happy - this is a very high quality product.

Edit: this amplifier was produced 1973-79

 

So this is a vote for analog sound?

 

I have a similar Kenwood amp, the KA-907, that shares much in the way of architecture...

http://thevintageknob.org/KENWOOD/KA907/KA907.html#

It won me over to the point that it replaced a pair of Outlaw M-200s.

The major issue with these older amps is that they should have a recap done. Then they really sing - excellent detail, great low end, wonderful phono section, and a good 4 ohm power rating.

 

I going to send mine away for a thorough check up as soon as my Electrocompaniet pre-apm is fixed (can´t live without music). This amp is a keeper.

 

I had the KA-901 ...

 

It appears the old Electrocompaniet equipments need a lot of repair. No?

 

That is a great amp, one of the best that Kenwood ever produced and built better than just about anything being made today until you get into many thousands of dollars. It is true that the caps tend to gradually degrade over time, so it is worth getting those replaced. But high-end vintage gear can sound a lot better than many people give it credit for.

A search over at audiokarma will turn up quite a few discussions of this amp...

 

Indeed. How much do you think you have to pay today for an amp of comparable build quality?

 

It was not only one of the best KENWOOD amplifiers ever made. It was one of the best amplifiers ever made. Made by the same people that founded Accuphase ! The difference in Kenwood Model 600 and Kenwood Model 500 is small : 5 dB less SNR and 2 x 100 W vs 2 x 130 W (8 Ohm, 20 Hz...20Khz, 0,08% THD)

 

Kenwood is still in the US market, but not in home audio. Now if you want car audio, commercial 2 way business band radios, or amateur radios, Kenwood still has a presence. The Kenwood Supreme gear was Kenwood's very best. Kenwood's best audio engineers went on to found Kensonic Laboratories, founder of Accuphase equipment.

 

Great integrated amp. I have a 500 I picked up at the GW for $35. The 700 was the top of this series.