Kenwood L-08M Demo After Restoration

Quick demo of an absolutely beautiful pair of Kenwood L-08M’s which I recently finished a comprehensive restoration and repair on.
Thread on the restoration can be found here:
audiokarma.org/forums/index.p...

[@britishcomposers]

Fantastically accurately real and convincing sound there. We had these power amplifiers delivered new as Trio L-08M monos back in the summer of 1981 at Essex Hi-fi in Hadleigh, Essex. We were driving a pair of the just launched IAS Studio 811 loudspeakers, fronted with the matching Trio L-08C and a Trio L-07D turntable, a Revox B77 and a Trio KT-917 tuner and the sound was control room accurate on delivery with the best direct cut LP's and live Radio 3 broadcasts from the BBC on VHF/FM here in the UK. We probably gave the best demonstration of these fine amplifiers using this advanced loudspeaker system. I have just relaunched the built-to-order IAS Beaulieu 40R loudspeaker system, based on the original 1980 launched IAS Beaulieu, (similar to the Studio 811) of which the showroom back then powered these with the same set up, but using the earlier flagship (below the L-Series) Trio KA-907 integrated amplifier. These Trio-Kenwood high-speed amplifiers and pulse count detector tuners were, and are still, state-of-the-art in performance, and were far ahead of the competition back then and can still hold their own against a good number of leading designs today. I used to have the rare Kenwood L-09M mono power amplifiers some years later following the L-05M's driving Tannoy Westminsters, QUAD ESL's in massy stone frames sans rear damping used as free-space dipoles and latterly, Focal Utopia Scala loudspeakers. Just incredible, - though the L-08M's would naturally be the better precision article by comparison I'd imagine. The IAS Beaulieu and Studio 811 loudspeakers though were on a different level, and used the first-generation Volt B250 bass/midrange driver with an fs of 20Hz in an altered quarter-wave loading with additions, plus a very clever minimalist series-configured crossover designed by one of the UK's forgotten geniuses, Alan Willis, with cabinet work by David Hall. These speakers measured right down to 13Hz in what was a large stand-mounted design. They were and are capable of outperforming legendary loudspeaker designs that still get credited with huge recognition today. The new design can be seen here: th-cam.com/video/8RV5kYKVrMY/w-d-xo.html

[@PrimeHiFi]

I'm watching the video now. Thanks so much for the history and kind comment! I'm sure the Kenwood's paired with the IAS was spectacular!

[@Zazpi_Zezenak]

impressive work on those Monoblocs Connor

[@PrimeHiFi]

thank you!!!

[@spvlinn9009]

With mono, can you play some complex passages with slams like Dvorak No.8 last section? That will tell how good they are for sure.

[@Jayiyagi]

KENWOOD ! KENWOOD ! KENWOOD !

[@PrimeHiFi]

Still waiting on your review 🙄😂

[@musictypefoundry7345]

Oh, wow! I am so jealous! These are definitely on my purchase bucket list. Did you have the sigma cables and/or use the sigma drive feature? It kind of looks like you are with the two sets of cables running to each speaker. Very curious to hear your thoughts on the 8M vs. the 7M. Which did you like better? And how much are you charging for the restoration project?

[@PrimeHiFi]

These are certainly worthy of being on anyone’s bucket list! Yes, the sigma drive was hooked up and turned on in this video. I used thin speaker wire for the sigma sensor. The difference between having sigma drive on and off is quite noticeable.
The main changes are a larger soundstage, laser point imaging and immaculate bass characteristics.
I have not directly compared these to the L-07M’s, but I’m sure they would trade blows.
Restoration cost heavily depends on restoration scope of work, parts quality, and whether or not there is any troubleshooting and repair that needs to be done.

[@musictypefoundry7345]

@@PrimeHiFi Fantastic! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. For the restoration cost, I was meaning this specific job, not how you generally approach doing restorations/repairs.

[@ThujanK]

Gorgeous

[@01sapphireGTS]

Very, very cool.

[@baabdesigns9179]

Sounds phenominal

[@ericperry72]

Don't lol at me but is there a Kenwood integrated that is on par with these?

[@Donkusdelux]

Pretty pretty~

[@infrarosso]

I've the same system with his own pre (l-08c) and I'd love to know somebody able to make a similar job like you did on yours...
What are the speakers?

[@musictypefoundry7345]

The L-08C is even harder to come by than the L-08M. Where'd you get yours? You aren't selling yours, are you? lol

[@infrarosso]

@@musictypefoundry7345 after two years i come across this video and saw your answer... :D I might indeed thinking about selling those. I use them very rarely. Interested?

[@infrarosso]

@@musictypefoundry7345 I even have a second L-08C I used to get some spare parts. It was the only way to find some

[@piwex69]

What is that tune?

[@PrimeHiFi]

Archie Shepp Quartet - The Thrill Is Gone

[@baabdesigns9179]

@@PrimeHiFi thanks

[@marcoantoniojoaquim1797]

Perfeito me de papai

[@-havoc-tzu-3197]

S+

[@trondlien2690]

15000 dempningsfaktor 🤠🤠