Kenwood LS-505 (1976–1979)
The Kenwood LS-505 is a 3-way, bass-reflex floorstanding speaker from the late 1970s — a straightforward, well-regarded domestic design that has survived in collector circles mostly on the strength of its honest engineering. It paired a 30 cm cone woofer with a 13 cm cone midrange and a 2.5 cm horn tweeter, all housed in an enclosure made from Kenwood's SB-1 material. Rated at 8 ohms with 92 dB/W/m sensitivity and 60W maximum input, it was an efficient, easy-to-drive speaker by period standards, with crossover points at 500 Hz and 4 kHz.
Introduced in 1976 (some sources date it 1977–1980), the LS-505 was priced at ¥43,000 each in Japan — though one source lists ¥48,000 — and around $180 each in the US, or $299 per pair. The frequency response was rated at 30 Hz to 20 kHz, and each cabinet weighed 15.5 kg at 360 × 595 × 292 mm. High Fidelity (November 1970, p.111) covered Kenwood's expanding speaker lineup in this era, noting the company's push beyond receivers and amplifiers into full-system components.
Surviving owner commentary is thin but specific. One forum post sums it up: "The LS-505 is a good-sounding speaker, but the LS-408 is a better-made speaker." The same owner praised the highs and the crossover construction — "the crossover is well made" — while noting the low end is "a bit weak." As with most speakers of this vintage, the foam surrounds on the woofers degrade and the crossover capacitors drift; both are the standard restoration items, and both are well within the reach of a competent DIYer.
Known specs:
- Type: 3-way, 3-speaker, bass-reflex floorstanding
- Woofer: 30 cm cone; Midrange: 13 cm cone; Tweeter: 2.5 cm horn
- Frequency response: 30 Hz – 20 kHz
- Impedance: 8 ohms; Sensitivity: 92 dB/W/m
- Max input: 60W; Crossovers: 500 Hz, 4 kHz
- Dimensions: 360 × 595 × 292 mm; Weight: 15.5 kg
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