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Japanese Exotica Kondo, Leben, Luxman, Zanden

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Old 11-24-2019, 08:29 PM
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Default Elekit TU-8500 Preamp

Been trying to figure out what to do about a preamp for my vintage Kenwood L-07MII monoblocks that have just been refurbished. Was anxious to go with tubes and wanted a remote. But, have decided I can live without the remote and ordered an Elekit TU-8500 preamp kit. I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron and I'll order a set (4) of Clarity CMR coupling caps as an upgrade. If nothing else, will keep me out of the bars on those miserable winter nights.
https://wallofsound.ca/audioreviews/...amplifier-kit/
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Old 11-24-2019, 09:03 PM
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Sounds like a fun project. I love building stuff.
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Old 11-24-2019, 09:16 PM
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Very cool. I've been curious about that pre-kit. Looking forward to your impressions post build and burn-in :-)
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Old 11-24-2019, 10:16 PM
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Will be going 'slow & easy' on the build (prefer not to do things twice). Have gone with the opamp upgrade for the phono and know I want a coupling-cap upgrade, but am not sure if I want to go with the offered Mundorf or go with Clarity CMR, which I've been very pleased with in the past. Have until the 1st week in Dec to make up my mind.

EDIT: Decided to go with the Mundorf Supreme upgrade coupling caps offered with the kit for now. The design is such that access to the four (4) caps is good, so can not only roll some tubes can roll caps, as well. Along with the tubes (RCA clear-tops) it ships with, I have some JAN Philips and other RCAs to roll. Should ship today or tomorrow.
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Last edited by Formerly YB-2; 11-25-2019 at 05:28 PM.
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Old 11-25-2019, 05:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2 View Post
Will be going 'slow & easy' on the build (prefer not to do things twice). Have gone with the opamp upgrade for the phono and know I want a coupling-cap upgrade, but am not sure if I want to go with the offered Mundorf or go with Clarity CMR, which I've been very pleased with in the past. Have until the 1st week in Dec to make up my mind.

EDIT: Decided to go with the Mundorf Supreme upgrade coupling caps offered with the kit for now. The design is such that access to the four (4) caps is good, so can not only roll some tubes can roll caps, as well. Along with the tubes (RCA clear-tops) it ships with, I have some JAN Philips and other RCAs to roll. Should ship today or tomorrow.


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Old 11-25-2019, 06:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2 View Post
Been trying to figure out what to do about a preamp for my vintage Kenwood L-07MII monoblocks that have just been refurbished. Was anxious to go with tubes and wanted a remote. But, have decided I can live without the remote and ordered an Elekit TU-8500 preamp kit. I'm pretty handy with a soldering iron and I'll order a set (4) of Clarity CMR coupling caps as an upgrade. If nothing else, will keep me out of the bars on those miserable winter nights.
https://wallofsound.ca/audioreviews/...amplifier-kit/
Cool! I'm envious, would love to have a project like that to do over the holiday season.

Please keep us updated as you go if its not too much work.
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Old 11-25-2019, 09:55 PM
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Will try to remember pic's along the way. Will post if I do.

EDIT: Will be handing this off to a friend who is consummate DIY'er. He does top-shelf work and wants to listen to one before possibly purchasing. I'm traveling (snow-birding it) until the end of April, so works out well for both of us. He will be starting a thread, with pic's, on the DIY forum and I'll post a link when he does.
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Last edited by Formerly YB-2; 11-27-2019 at 03:05 PM.
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Old 12-11-2019, 05:31 AM
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Pic's from start to finish. Will take a while to get broken-in since am traveling for the holidays. Especially the Mundorf caps, which typically take 200-300 hours to sound their best.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Elekit1.jpg (86.1 KB, 26 views)
File Type: jpg Elekit2.jpg (91.5 KB, 32 views)
File Type: jpg Elekit3.jpg (97.0 KB, 30 views)
File Type: jpg Elekit4.jpg (94.1 KB, 29 views)
File Type: jpg Elekit5.jpg (95.9 KB, 31 views)
File Type: jpg Elekit6.jpg (62.4 KB, 33 views)
File Type: jpg Elekit7.jpg (73.7 KB, 32 views)
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Old 12-11-2019, 01:29 PM
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Looks nice Glenn, your friend does great work. Look forward to the review.
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Old 12-11-2019, 09:23 PM
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He reports good things thus far. Likes the phono-stage for the difference between it and his Pass phono-stage. Reports both to be very quiet.
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