Kenwood KL-555-D
A 3-way, 5-driver bass reflex speaker system from Kenwood’s late-1970s lineup
Overview
The Kenwood KL-555-D is a stereo loudspeaker system from the late 1970s. It's a 3-way, 5-driver design in a bass reflex cabinet with a front-facing port. The drivers are a 12" (300mm) woofer, two mid-range drivers and two tweeters. Sensitivity is 96 dB at 1W @ 1m, impedance is 8 ohms, and it handles up to 110 watts RMS. The crossover network (X21-1610-80,61) has selectable settings labeled "NORMAL", "CLEAR" and "SOFT", so the tone can be shaped to taste.
Specifications
| Sensitivity | 96 dB/ 1W @ 1 m |
| Crossover Frequencies | 900 Hz, 5000 Hz |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Max rated power | 110 Watts |
| System | 3-Way / 5-Driver system in a Bass Reflex Cabinet |
| Woofer | 12" (300mm) cone |
| Driver complement | 12" Woofer, 2 x Mid-range, 2 x Tweeters |
| Port Position | Front |
Design
The KL-555-D uses a true 3-way crossover with control settings for "NORMAL", "CLEAR" and "SOFT" output. The cabinets are finished in wood grain vinyl wrap. The poly molded grills have a distinctive 'cathedral' lattice design. The crossover board (X21-1610-80,61) carries an inductor (L1 21mH) and capacitors (C2 15 M). During restoration, the drivers and the rear panel are sealed with gasket material to keep the cabinet airtight.
Market
The common problem is oxidized attenuators, which cause distortion or signal drop-out. Cleaning the contacts fixes it. A service manual is available for restoration work. The KL-555-D is considered a rare find from Japan and appears across over 400 secondhand hi-fi markets globally.
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