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Thread: Can Anyone Stateside Do What Kenrick Does?

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    Can Anyone Stateside Do What Kenrick Does?

    I've located a couple 4350s and 4355s with honest pedigrees over the past year or so.

    They could be the basis of a good 'ground up' restoration. I wouldn't mind owning a DD65000 (Why is this model so scarce? -- Old JBL 'box' look with new driver technology.), but I also wouldn't mind investing in a 4350 restoration that might end up costing the same. Long story short: I might want both.

    Can anyone stateside do the 43XX job? Without sending it to the land of the rising sun?

    Greg

    PS -- Related question would be how the 65000 would fare, compared to a 'first class refurbed' 4355. Why is there so little discussion comparing old vs new TOTL models? Or is there truly, "Nothing new under the sun?"

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    Senior Member Ducatista47's Avatar
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    Member saeman restores the cabinets (and builds complete 43xx speakers as well). Ask him if he works with drivers too. He is in Joliet, Illinois.

    PS -- Related question would be how the 65000 would fare, compared to a 'first class refurbed' 4355. Why is there so little discussion comparing old vs new TOTL models? Or is there truly, "Nothing new under the sun?"
    The 4350 and the 4355 to a possibly lesser extent are often considered to be better at loud than presenting refined hifi. I have heard the 4350 and 4355 and it may be that nothing else ever marketed does loud as well as they do. If I am ever invited to another home listening session of them I am bringing earplugs. The 4345 is a keeper.

    I can only report what others have told me, but the current flagships seem to be in another class. Array, K2 and 66000 series are each a step up from the last and can't be touched by the old monitors. I can personally say (4345 owner) that if imaging is your thing, it is not mine, that the 43xx don't do it to any appreciable degree.
    Information is not Knowledge; Knowledge is not Wisdom
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ducatista47 View Post
    The 4350 and the 4355 to a possibly lesser extent are often considered to be better at loud than presenting refined hifi. I have heard the 4350 and 4355 and it may be that nothing else ever marketed does loud as well as they do.
    I played my DD66000 stupid loud a few Saturday afternoons back and they will do what the 4355s will do and with just as much awesomeness... I think the comparison fails to occur because the vintage speakers are thousands of dollars and the new ones are tens of thousands of dollars.


    Widget

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    Senior Member Ducatista47's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Widget View Post
    I played my DD66000 stupid loud a few Saturday afternoons back and they will do what the 4355s will do and with just as much awesomeness... I think the comparison fails to occur because the vintage speakers are thousands of dollars and the new ones are tens of thousands of dollars.


    Widget
    I stand corrected. I had not thought about the issue because I never considered it a virtue. I did appreciate the warnings on the product sheets that the monitors would damage your hearing before they would audibly distort.

    Would I need earplugs at your place too?
    Information is not Knowledge; Knowledge is not Wisdom
    Too many audiophiles listen with their eyes instead of their ears


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    Senior Member tomt's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ducatista47 View Post

    are often considered to be better at loud than presenting refined hifi.

    a large speaker, most likely will need a large room.

    for a 4350/5, larger than most houses have space ...


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    the good news here is,

    there is still room for 4 more -


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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Widget View Post
    I played my DD66000 stupid loud a few Saturday afternoons back and they will do what the 4355s will do and with just as much awesomeness... I think the comparison fails to occur because the vintage speakers are thousands of dollars and the new ones are tens of thousands of dollars.


    Widget
    I may be incorrect, but if you purchase the nicest pair of all-original, one-owner 4350s available, plus pay to refurbish them 'showroom fresh' you are looking at tens of thousands of dollars. The question of comparison is legit, but perhaps naive -- hence the 'stupid' question.

    Greg

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    Quote Originally Posted by tomt View Post
    a large speaker, most likely will need a large room.

    for a 4350/5, larger than most houses have space ...


    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    the good news here is,

    there is still room for 4 more -

    Good morning, sir,

    How many square feet (or acres ) in your room. What is the floor covering? Beautiful .... just hugely gorgeous!

    Greg

    PS -- I am curious about the placement/orientation of the 2405s .... and your rationale.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cgregory4 View Post
    Why is there so little discussion comparing old vs new TOTL models?
    What would be the point? Everyone knows that the designer of both systems has only gotten better at what he does over the last forty-some years...

    I wonder if he ever had a pair of his 4355's in his living room... That could be a cool picture to see in a photo album. In any case, I highly doubt that a pair of his 4355's would ever replace his DD67000's.

    Besides, it is probably considered good manners not to discuss just how much better his newer designs are, and so much better on so many levels. - "light years better"

    BTW - I did know a guy who worked with Greg way back then who put a brand new pair of 4350's in his bedroom. There was room for a twin bed, two 4350's and a dresser. We thought it was beyond cool at the time, now it just seems funny. The album was Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedos. Release date: October 19, 1979 I will never forget how "Here Comes My Girl" sounded in that tiny room on those monsters.

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    Administrator Mr. Widget's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ducatista47 View Post
    Would I need earplugs at your place too?
    Doubtful... the playback I mentioned was an almost singular event. For 10-15 minutes I hit the speakers with hundreds of watts and while stunning I nolonger have 18 year old ears and felt that was plenty.


    Widget

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    Quote Originally Posted by 4313B View Post
    I wonder if he ever had a pair of his 4355's in his living room... That could be a cool picture to see. In any case, I highly doubt that a pair of his 4355's would ever replace his DD67000's.
    Ten years ago I had a pair of 4355 clones... they were easily replaced, my DD66000s are not.


    Widget

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Widget View Post
    Ten years ago I had a pair of 4355 clones... they were easily replaced, my DD66000s are not.
    Indeed! They truly are keepers.

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    No Offense Intended -- Please

    I intend no slight toward anyone involved in the pursuit of audio perfection. Please forgive me if it appears so. I suppose it was dangerous to 'think out loud' in my postscript.

    My main question was the restoration of 'honest' high-end JBLs, and that was answered with one recommendation.

    I have seen the utube installations of Kenrick installations in environments where the associated equipment revealed the purchasers could afford any speaker in the 100K atmosphere. But they were investing in restored vintage JBL -- and, it appears, for the sheer love of music. So, it was an honest, if naive, afterthought.

    Greg

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    Quote Originally Posted by cgregory4 View Post
    But they were investing in restored vintage JBL -- and, it appears, for the sheer love of music.
    It could be as simple as "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" meaning that if a system like the 4355 does it for you and you can get a pair then you're good to go.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cgregory4 View Post
    I've located a couple 4350s and 4355s with honest pedigrees over the past year or so.

    They could be the basis of a good 'ground up' restoration. I wouldn't mind owning a DD65000 (Why is this model so scarce? -- Old JBL 'box' look with new driver technology.), but I also wouldn't mind investing in a 4350 restoration that might end up costing the same. Long story short: I might want both.

    Can anyone stateside do the 43XX job? Without sending it to the land of the rising sun?

    Greg

    PS -- Related question would be how the 65000 would fare, compared to a 'first class refurbed' 4355. Why is there so little discussion comparing old vs new TOTL models? Or is there truly, "Nothing new under the sun?"
    I am sure someone in Texas can good do as well, if not better with the cabinets. If you look CLOSELY at some of those Kenrick videos they are guilty of some fairly questionable shit (with the small details)
    They've definitely got a hell of a finish man and that covers up a lot.
    They also cover up a lot by painting all their drivers.
    YES, their product is STUNNING in the looks department.............but elsewhere? I wouldn't angst too much over Kenrick.
    I do not know of anyone here though that does as well (verified) total turnkey restorations.
    But there are definitely folks here, that in their respective departments are as good as it gets ("edgewound" for one)
    You should be able to do it here as well or better than Kenrick but you will most likely being dealing with at least two, maybe three tradespeople.
    Are you able to do any of it yourself? The networks at least?
    What eaxctly do you need done?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Wagner View Post
    I am sure someone in Texas can good do as well, if not better with the cabinets. If you look CLOSELY at some of those Kenrick videos they are guilty of some fairly questionable shit (with the small details)
    They've definitely got a hell of a finish man and that covers up a lot.
    They also cover up a lot by painting all their drivers.
    YES, their product is STUNNING in the looks department.............but elsewhere? I wouldn't angst too much over Kenrick.
    I do not know of anyone here though that does as well (verified) total turnkey restorations.
    But there are definitely folks here, that in their respective departments are as good as it gets ("edgewound" for one)
    You should be able to do it here as well or better than Kenrick but you will most likely being dealing with at least two, maybe three tradespeople.
    Are you able to do any of it yourself? The networks at least?
    What eaxctly do you need done?
    Sir,

    Thank you for your excellent response to my original inquiry. I am somewhat familiar with a portion of the huge capabilities of the forum -- and am humbled by the majority of technical posts, which are difficult for me -- Oilfield trash, but BSEE 1971 -- to understand. Several forum members have done work for me, and 'edgewound' and I have a project 'on deck' -- just waiting for my cancer to let me get a bit stronger.

    But it puzzles me that a 'one stop shop' for JBL restoration is not available in the country that birthed the brand. Just an observation (A sad one I suppose.), and certainly not a criticism. Certainly lesser USA brands have shops dedicated to restoring various audiophile components -- often at twice the original price. But they seem to be doing OK .... if not thriving.

    Specifically, at this time I have no such candidate for restoration. My recent discovery of another original, one-owner set of 4350s, was the impetus for the thread post. He wants an insane amount for the set. And they need work. But there are a few idiots like me in the world that will pay 'through the nose' for a nice original set of anyone of a number of models, and pay just as much to have them restored to new (or better.)

    The marketing genius of Kenrick is amazing to me. And I have no doubt that they cross the 'original' line from time to time. But, they do rekindle the vintage JBL fire.

    Again, thanks for the response, and I have one suggested contact to act upon, so the thread has been useful from several perspectives.

    Greg

    I still don't know where all the DD65000s went.

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