Kenwood S-5 (1978)

The Kenwood S-5 is a 3-way bass reflex speaker introduced in 1978. It sold for DM 390 per speaker in Germany. It's a floor-standing design with a 250mm woofer, a 92mm cone midrange and a 28mm dome tweeter, crossing over at 3500 Hz. The cabinet measures 35 × 62 × 28 cm and weighs 12.5 kg. Rated sensitivity is 89 dB/W/m, with 8Ω impedance.

The S-5 has two odd features. First, a passive bass radiator - a driver with no magnet that moves with the air pressure inside the cabinet and reinforces the low frequencies. Second, the crossover includes what Kenwood called a "spatial expander circuit," a proprietary twist on the usual crossover topology. There are also two pairs of terminals for bi-wiring.

Surviving documentation is thin. There's no record of market positioning or how long it stayed in production, though a 1981 issue of High-Fidelity (p.143) indicates Kenwood Electronics was offering the S-5 at that time. The practical side is better known. The foam surrounds on both the woofer and the passive radiator are prone to rotting, as foam of that era often does, but they can be refoamed or replaced. The Kenwood Database notes that as of 2022, examples could often be found for under $100 per pair, and that sonically the S-5 once compared favorably to speakers costing considerably more.

The S-5 is reported to be virtually identical to the Kenwood S-3, though the details of that relationship aren't documented.

• Type: 3-way bass reflex, floor-standing
• Drivers: 250mm woofer, 92mm cone midrange, 28mm dome tweeter
• Frequency response: 45 Hz – 20 kHz
• Crossover: 3500 Hz
• Impedance: 8Ω
• Sensitivity: 89 dB/W/m
• Power handling: 80 W music / 40 W continuous
• Dimensions (W×H×D): 35 × 62 × 28 cm
• Weight: 12.5 kg
• Special features: Passive bass radiator, spatial expander circuit in crossover, bi-wire terminals
• Original price: DM 390 per speaker (1978)

eBay Listings

AMERITE ~ STEP (SPECIAL) SERIES, S-5 MID SECTION 10' - AUTHE

$166

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