Kenwood L-1000 C (1990–1995)
The Kenwood L-1000 C is a preamplifier from the company's late high-end era, produced between 1990 and 1995. It was part of the L-1000 series - along with the L-1000M power amplifier, the L-1000T tuner and the L-1000D CD player. The whole lineup was export-only and made in low quantities. The Vintage Knob has called the L-1000C/L-1000M combo one of the 1990s Japanese high-end pairings worth rediscovering, alongside the Onkyo P-388F/M-588.
The faceplate is plain and slim-line, but the L-1000C is technically impressive behind it. The layout is fully symmetrical, so the positive and negative phases of each channel run on separate paths. Unbalanced inputs are converted internally to balanced signal by transformer-less buffer amplifiers. The unit has a balanced XLR input, balanced preamp outputs, standard RCA line inputs and tape loops. The volume control is a motorized symmetrical 6-gang potentiometer. The power supply uses Kenwood custom-ordered 3300µF ELNA capacitors. The double-sided PCBs are suspended on isolated points to minimize vibration and microphony, and signal paths are kept as short as possible with relay switching throughout. The bass and treble controls, sourced from ALPS, are an odd inclusion on a component this clearly aimed at purists. A remote control handles source switching and volume.
Specifications from The Vintage Knob: phono MC input at 200µV/100 ohms, phono MM at 2.5mV/47kohms, line inputs at 150mV/47kohms. Frequency response is 20Hz-20kHz (±3dB) on phono and 5Hz-100kHz (+0/-3dB) on line. THD is rated at 0.003%. S/N ratio is 88dB (MM), 70dB (MC), and 100dB on line. Dimensions are 44 x 8 x 39.8cm, weight is 12kg, and power consumption is 30W.
The Vintage Knob calls the L-1000C "technically superlative," though it also describes the full L-1000 series as "rather bland looking and sloppily designed." The unit has a following among collectors. A Marktplaats want-to-buy ad specifically seeks a defective L-1000C or parts unit, and serviced examples have appeared on eBay from RetroAudio Berlin. A service manual exists (18 pages, including schematics). The owner's manual includes troubleshooting notes for noise, humming, and whistling during record playback.
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