For a few years in the mid 1980's Kyocera, the huge Japanese conglomerate now best know for cell phones and copiers, decided to break into the hifi busines. They used their experience as a ceramics company and went all out, with the TOTL models competing in sound quality with McIntosh and other high-end gear of the era.
This model comes from lower down in the line-up, but it's still very well regarded. Everything Kyocera made was excellent, great build quality, and, of interest here, awesome headphone capability.
THERE IS ONE IMPORTANT ISSUE TO BE AWARE OF:
The particular example I have for sale works amazingly well as both a head-amp and preamp. The speaker amplifier section needs some work however, as it outputs a very static-y signal. THIS IS NOT NOTICEABLE THROUGH HEADPHONES. In addition, there are pre-amp outs, so it can hooked up to any old power amp you might have lying around the house. You probably have more amps than you know what to do with anyway. (Or is that only me?)
I bought this unit with the intention of using it as a head-amp I could wrench on and repair into a full-fledged receiver, but I just picked up a Kyocera R-851 (which people have called the best-sounding receiver ever made) and won't be needing it anymore.
I highly doubt you could find a more accomplished desktop headphone amp for anywhere near this price, and of course you get the excellent built-in tuner, MM phono stage, and ability to restore this to its full-throated glory.
Cosmetically in good condition. There is one small scratch on the face that looks worse in the picture than in real life. This thing will be packed tight as a donated liver, so rest assured it will reach your home in the same condition it left mine.
$45
This model comes from lower down in the line-up, but it's still very well regarded. Everything Kyocera made was excellent, great build quality, and, of interest here, awesome headphone capability.
THERE IS ONE IMPORTANT ISSUE TO BE AWARE OF:
The particular example I have for sale works amazingly well as both a head-amp and preamp. The speaker amplifier section needs some work however, as it outputs a very static-y signal. THIS IS NOT NOTICEABLE THROUGH HEADPHONES. In addition, there are pre-amp outs, so it can hooked up to any old power amp you might have lying around the house. You probably have more amps than you know what to do with anyway. (Or is that only me?)
I bought this unit with the intention of using it as a head-amp I could wrench on and repair into a full-fledged receiver, but I just picked up a Kyocera R-851 (which people have called the best-sounding receiver ever made) and won't be needing it anymore.
I highly doubt you could find a more accomplished desktop headphone amp for anywhere near this price, and of course you get the excellent built-in tuner, MM phono stage, and ability to restore this to its full-throated glory.
Cosmetically in good condition. There is one small scratch on the face that looks worse in the picture than in real life. This thing will be packed tight as a donated liver, so rest assured it will reach your home in the same condition it left mine.
$45
