Kenwood L-08C

Tabula rasa - the future starts now.

And the one (and only) japanese ads said it loud and clear : "Period."

Well, sort of : what was in them L-08 units wasn't all that new but for the (fake) alpha-numerical display :)
The fader system only is a less abrupt muting switch - here less tacky than on the KA-1000 or KA-900 as it is not backlit. However, inside is a normal 2-gang pot moved by a wheel+string for the "preset" level.

Among the numerous features are strictly selected parts, non-magnetic plastic front&top, DC structure from top to bottom, 850Khz frequency response (!), 4-way parallel differential MC section, Class A preamp stages, extremely low output impedance, Sigma-Drive outputs etc
Some versions have a back 3-way MM load selector, some don't.

The front flap hides the headphones' plug, four switches (DC path or subsonic filtered, mono/stereo, tape A/B and default tuner / aux input) and five knobs (three-step loudness control plus frequency, balance, rec-out selector and phono 1MM / 2MC selector).

Prefiguring a Mission/Cyrus or Naim staple, the L-08C could receive a 260VA supplementary and external power-supply : L-08CPS, available only in Japan and not shown much outside (the few) contemporary tests and reviews.
One transformer inside, housed in the externally redesigned but similar enclosure of the KA-1000 's power-supply.

However, tabula rasa indeed : Kenwood sold very few L-08C and making a magnificent 8-page catalog in Germany didn't help there either.
That brand's high-end audio production was too cahotic and replaced all too often during the early 1980s to gather some following.

The 08s remained somewhat available for a short year and a half - case in point.


A real L-08C here.