Kenwood L-02 tuner actually a unicorn

It does exist: http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/kenwood.html

I agree that there are pictures, reviews, people that say they love it, I just have never seen one for myself. That is the question. Anyone in Denver have one of these?

I thought I saw one once...but it turned out to be a weather ballon..

Fishboat that is exactly what I mean. I think they are all stored in a warehouse hanger in Roswell.

I was in Roswell once, saw a stack of 'em in a corner of a warehouse behind a really large cylindrical ship of some sort. I asked about the L-02's but the very small "people" didn't speak english (they were groovin' to an all-tube system blasting out Talking Heads tunes though).

Interesting that you mention Roswell, because I know the story behind this tuner.

My brother was a USAF officer in the 60's, assigned to military intelligence. He was assigned to a project in New Mexico, unrelated to any "UFO" type work.

One evening however, as he was dining in the mess hall, he struck up a conversation with another officer- a longtime officer at Area 51. They both discovered that they had a common passion- they were audiophiles.

As my brother tells the story: "the officer and I talked at length about our audiophile interests, tubes versus the newer solid state designs, tuner types, etc. After a long discussion, the officer invited me to a hangar in the very center of the base to witness something- and I quote- "amazing".

"As we proceeded through the hangar, the officer flashed his ID and 2 heavily armed guards stepped aside, allowing us entry to a small circular room. In the center of the room was a disc-shaped object, about 14 feet in diameter and 7 feet high. I was of course dumbfounded at this sight. The officer then showed me the most amazing thing yet- the craft's interior. Instrumentation of every sort was arranged neatly around the craft's center console. Among this instrumentation, to my utter amazement was a stereo setup! I remember the gear to this day- a pair of AR suspension loudspeakers, a Wollensack 8 track deck, a Citation tube amplifier, and, yes, a beautiful tuner bearing the badge 'Kenwood L-02'!

My brother continues- "In my amazement, I asked if I could photograph ONLY the hi-fi system- knowing everything else would be highly classified. The officer agreed, providing he could take the photos himself. He did so, and we promptly concluded our incredible tour.

"To this day, I still have these photos. Years ago I posted them on a FM Tuner website, and the Kenwood L-02 tuner photo was immediately noticed. To this day no-one has seen this tuner in person but me. I have searched ebay daily for several years trying to find this magical device, which could without doubt prove to be the most powerful tuner ever made."

So there it is. Scoff though you may, the truth is out there.

Just to add a funny note, and I know you are not going to believe this, but I was born in Roswell so this is all fitting together. If I only knew where that hanger was...

I used to sell all of the Kenwood LO gear when I was in retail. I liked them very much. I wish I would have kept a few for myself!! I remember bi-amping ADS L910 speakers with L-O9s on the bottom and L-O7s on the top. I also tried that set-up on the Infinity Quantum speakers.

I think that I saw some Kenwood LO models on display in Brooks Berdan's Audio Museum.

Best,

Barry

Yet another unicorn...I did see a Sansui TU-X1 on the German Ebay site a few months back...I don't remember specifically, but I think it sold for somewhere between $1500 & $2000.

Fish,

My boss has a mint TU-X1 and doesn't use it. Refuses to sell it to me too... pisses me off

I think most of them are in Europe. The last one I saw for sale was listed in a German Audio Salon.

Kerry

I have seen, but not listened to the Sansui, I think it was in the Roswell space and stero musuem, but never this Kenwood. Viridian don't be offened, some of my best friends are unicorns? Hack, have you heard the Sansui TU-X1?
Great tuners have a special sound to them. It may be nostalgic but the sound seems to linger a little longer. Warm and sweet so I just want to hear these two.

Hi guys. On audiomarkt.de there was one sold for € 2.200,- this year. Dealer was Audio Reference, Steinstrasse in 40213 Düsseldorf. I saw the L-02T but because of money issues I kept my L-01T. L-02T for sure is one of the few state of the art tuners available. I was lucky to compare the unit at the dealers showroom against Accuphase T-109V, McIntosh MR-78, Klein & Hummel FM 2002, Kenwood KT-917, Wega Lab Zero, Restek Metric, some tuner from Tandberg (can´t remeber), Sansui TU-1X, Linn Kremlin, Day Sequerra, Marantz 10B and Burmester 978 Reference - all tuners were sold through this particular dealer this year. All tuners were top performers whereas I liked the Restek, the Day Sequerra and the L-02T most.
I don´t know where this dealer got this bunch of great tuners from but as far as I know he sold all of them.

*** My boss has a mint TU-X1 and doesn't use it. Refuses to sell it to me too... pisses me off

Hack, kill you boss and while he was still warm snatch from him the TU-X1. You will spend 10-15 years in jail but, trust me, the TU-X1 does worth it.

I used to own,and really miss,my L-01t.At that time(and to this day)I lusted for the LO-2t.GOD,what a stunning,and classic product!!Best regards.

FWIW, in Japan, they show up on the used market from time to time. The FM band here in Japan goes from 76-90, making it useless in most other places. If I knew a) how to get the band widened for reception purposes, and b) get the dial and dial labels changed, I would buy one. As it is, I am not a fan of radio broadcasts in Japan (it may be slightly better than TV broadcast content quality but that's not saying much), I remain on the sidelines.

Well at least we know they really exist. I guess I will spend more time trying to get one. Maybe a trip to Japan is in order to see one.

I am the original owner of a L-02T and matching L-02A
Bought the pair back in 1982 from a friend that owned a duty free store and because of the price he was unable to sell it in his duty free store in Jamaica. He sold the pair to me at what he said was at his cost. I was never able to hear the full potential of this tuner as the transmitters in Jamaica were sub standard. I migrated to Canada and brought the Kenwoods with me but never set them up. It was not until I saw information on the www of the desirablity of this tuner that I pulled it from storage and gave it a second look and ear. Also have the original Brochure of the units.
Herman

Herman, have you got some pics of the unit? would you like to sell it?

I will take some pictures over the weekend.
I have not completely made up my mind if I should sell or not but I am on a border line with a decision. I have to decide also if I will be pairing the two units and sell as a package or separetly. I had the Tuner looked at before the summer and an alignment was done. The L-02A amplifier needs some cleaning done on the relays I imagine as some of the recout lights do not glow brightly or not at all when selected.
I will post when the pictures are uploaded.
Herman

cylinders: are you Jamaican?

Yes I am from Jamaica and migrated to Canada 1988 with my Kenwood :)
My collection is now at the other end of the spectrum. I collect Antique Phonographs and very heavy into Edison music cylinders thus the email [email protected]

Would you happen to be Greg Morris from Jamaica?

Herman Wedemire

Yes I am from Jamaica and migrated to Canada 1988 with my Kenwood :)
My collection is now at the other end of the spectrum. I collect Antique Phonographs and very heavy into Edison music cylinders thus the email [email protected]

Would you happen to be Greg Morris from Jamaica?

Herman Wedemire

I have two of them, so is that the same as a L-04T :)

Herman:

My first name is George.

I will email you offline.

Mburnstein, you have two L-02 tuners? If that is right, that is not fair. It is like having two wives. Illegal and just unfair.

Well just to update the thread, I have purchased one from a dealer in Roswell. I will believe it when I see it. I should have it next week.

One sold back in May 2005 on HiFi Do for 150,000 yen (equivalent to $1275 USD by todays exchange rates). I grabbed a photo in case someone wants a look and its at:
http://www.cartridgedb.com/photos/kenwood_lo2t.jpg

Ed

Let me try that again its at:
http://www.cartridgedb.com/photos/kenwood_l02t.jpg

Just to let people know, this tuner is amazing. The bass is the best I have ever heard and it has great soundstaging. It does not sound like any tuner I have ever had in my system. If you get a chance to get one of these, I am sure you will love it. I plan on getting a new Accuphase T-1000 and comparing the two.

Bought a Kenwood L-02t for $20 back in 2002. Did not know what I had till 2 yrs later when I browsed ebay and saw the raves on this model and decided to check my storage unit for which model I had.