A classic revisited! Kenwood KD500/Mayware Formula 4 MkII

[Haurock]

Originally Posted by ehoove

I picked up this KD500, and after sorting out the 45 RPM drift issue installed my Mayware Formula 4 arm on it using the armboard supplied by Blue Shadow (Thanks!). I'm running a A/T AT14Sa cartridge on it, but have a Sonus Blue Gold on the way for it. So far I'm impressed with the combo, and have yet to dial it in. The compliance of the Sonus is a dead on match with it's slightly stiffened compliance and should make this a great vintage table. I still need to finish the cleanup and refurb of the table, but the combo is a true classic of the era and the addition of the Sonus will make it complete. I have spun a few Van Cliburn discs, as well as the Dave Grusin Discovered Again Sheffield Labs LP, and noticed no cogging or wow and flutter. My other 5 Thorens tables are all belt drive, so this is a new TT adventure for me. FWIW
Regards,
Jim

..thanks for the walk down memory lane... last turntable I owned..

[Mikado463]

Originally Posted by Jim Perry

I have a KD-500 with a Sumiko Premier MMT.

That was my combo, albeit with a Grace F9e super, back in the day. One of the best DD tables for the money to come out of the seventies !

[JSCC]

Apart from the Yamaha YP-D10 which I own a year later, the Kenwood KD500 is a SUPERB turntable (coupled with the Grace 704 tonearm, own both versions, wood as well as drilled circular holes) I should not have sold.

Jim, I really envy you as you have a such a clean MINT piece. Simply beautiful and a real classic!

It does not matter if its Direct Drive, Belt of Idler, as long as its well engineered and a beautiful piece, its is a collector piece and you have one such good one!

Enjoy!

[Evans224]

Old thread, but I'm new here. I have the kd 500 which I bought new in 1980. It came with the black widow arm. I sold the arm a few years back. What I remember most about this combo was how sensitive to vibration it was. The tone arm was so light weight, any footfall or heavy bass would be heard. I was going to mount a Rega RB 301 on the table, but bought a music hall mmf5 really cheap. Maybe one day I will try to get it going again. It's in really good shape....