Kenwood L-07D Turntable - Rare and Serviced

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General:
The L-07D is Kenwood's answer to a "cost no object" Turntable.

Incredible design meets a near 80 pound non-resonant build.

The result is something special... and rare.

Glancing at the turntable for the first time reveals its wide chassis + build. Possibly one of the coolest looking turntables to ever enter our shop. This particular example has one tonearm but two can be mounted at once for the ultimate in versatility.

On this turntable, Kenwood opted for a high-quality outboard power supply rather than an (often compromised) internal variant. For peace of mind we serviced the power supply/speed controller so it will be reliable for years to come.

We're pairing this turntable with a brand new perfectly calibrated Hana Umami Blue moving-coil phono cartridge. Also included is the rare original plastic platter protector and a copy of the owner's manual.

For more info on this incredible table you can visit an entire enthusiast website dedicated to this 'table by clicking here.

It's also featured on the famous "The Vintage Knob" website so you know this is truly something special.

"One of the ultimate, absolute and perfect turntable. Only a few play in the same league - the monster Denon DP-100M, the (often troublesome) Onkyo PX-100M, the unbelievable Sony PS-X9, the outlandish Micro Seiki SZ-1, the popular Pioneer Exclusive P3 or the finicky Nakamichi TX-1000.

If the saying "they don't make 'em like this anymore" sounds fine, it should be narrowed down for the L-07D to "they only made it once - and never will again".
And that is even more true of the 150kg R-6197 prototype which was entirely different and planned to be sold at 300,000¥ in october 1978. This not too pretty but certainly impressive item went away rather quickly and the actual L-07D was (re)developed throughout 1979.

So far, the production run of the L-07D (mkII included) remains a mystery, just as who really designed its engineering goal and its integrated tonearm...
But Micro Seiki quite probably had a hand in it, as with most Japanese high-end turntables outside of Matsushita, Sony, Pioneer and Victor."

Click here to read more from The Vintage Knob.

SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:
Some Light marks on the chassis and power supply. Some wear shown on writing. Overall good condition and presentable.

SkyFi Technical Notes:
This turntable came to us with some instability in the quartz lock circuitry. We reworked the power supply / speed controller, replacing the majority of the electrolytic, tantalum, and mylar capacitors.

We also changed out select integrated circuits responsible for speed switching.

After replacing the suspect parts, we aligned the quartz lock circuitry as described in the service manual. The table now locks and remains stable at both 33 RPM and 45 RPM.

Ownership:
Single Owner

Connections:
RCA, Ground,

Cosmetic Condition:
8/10 = Very Good. Excellent front faceplate, one minor flaw on chassis side or top. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and calibrated on our custom turntable calibration stand.

Included:
Unit and Manual

Packing:
Will be packed using our highly developed in-house process and custom packing materials.

Specifications Courtesy of l-07d.com:
Motor and Turntable:
• Drive System - Quartz Pll Direct Drive
• Motor - Coreless and slotless DC servo motor
• Platter - 13 inch diameter (330mm) aluminum alloy diecast laminated with Duralumin with stainless turntable sheet
• Speeds - 33-1/3 and 45 rpm
• Wow and flutter - less than 0.02% (WRMS)
• Rumble - better than -94 dB DIN weighted
• Load fluctuation - 0% (within 120g of tracking force0
• Transient Load fluctuation - less than 0.00015% (at 33-1/3 rpm, 400Hz, 20g.cm load)
• Transient Load fluctuation - less than 0.00008% (at 33-1/3 rpm, 1000Hz, 20g.cm load)

Tonearm:
• Type - Static balance type, J-shaped pipe arm, EIA connector
• Effective length - 9-5/8 inch (245mm)
• Overhang - 9/16 inch (15mm)
• Tracking error - +2 deg 26 minutes at 150mm; -1 deg 11 minutes at 85mm; +1 deg 48 minutes at 50mm
• Usable cartridge weight - 1 to 9 grams or 9 to 22 grams with supplied weight
• Adjustable height range - Within 1/4 inch (7mm) by helicoid fixture (0.1mm steps)
• Arm base - Collet chuck type, weight 3.3lbs (1.5Kg)
• Headshell - Compression molded carbon and boron fiber, weight 12g

Dimensions:
Turntable Dimensions - 21-7/8 x 6-5/8 x 18-1/2 inches (W x H x D)
Control Unit Dimensions - 5-1/8 x 4-11/32 x 14 inches (W x H x D)

Weight:
Turntable Weight - 68.2lbs (31Kg)
Control Unit Weight - 9-1/2lbs (4.3Kg)

Link to Manual:
Click Here

Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - Phono Interconnects

Kimber Kable - Flagship Phono Interconnects

Testing Process:
First we try to identify any mechanical issues, particularly in the tonearm bearings. We check for freedom of movement or any resistance on both the horizontal and vertical range. There is a quick test for this which involves placing the table on its front edge and allowing the arm to swing freely like a pendulum. We then make any adjustments necessary to achieve minimal resistance and sometimes adjust the bearing pressure. On gimbal tonearms we inspect the cone tip with a magnifier.

We then assess the platter speed using one of several methods, the most accurate being playing a test tone on a test record and measuring the frequency output with a frequency counter or oscilloscope. We also utilize test equipment to measure the wow and flutter to ensure it is within spec. We do this for all speeds available for that particular model (33 RPM, 45 RPM, 78 RPM).

Adjustments are then made to achieve proper speed which will vary depending on the turntable's drive design. Some require an adjustment of an internal or external potentiometer, some will require a pulley or motor adjustment. We also inspect the platter bearing to ensure it is properly lubricated, keeping in mind that some bearings don't require lubrication at all

We then inspect the power supply and address any issues with overworked capacitors, particularly on Linn and later Thorens machines which tend to need attention.

On fully mechanical vintage tables like the Thorens TD-124 and Garrard 301/401 we will go thought the entire mechanism. Then replace any worn parts and lubricate all components necessary to ensure smooth operation, speed change, and low mechanical noise. 

When fitting a new phono cartridge we will go through our detailed calibration process which can involve as many as 12 steps depending on the tonearm design. We perform this work on our custom turntable calibration rig which was developed in-house.

Some of these steps include:
• Pivot to Spindle Adjustment
• Tracking Force
• Anti-Skate
• Tonearm Height
• Lifter Height
• VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle)
• Azimuth
• Stylus Distance and Overhang

We then do a critical listening test using our test records and our test system to ensure proper sonics.