Kenwood P-110 turntable

[ramjet1962]

Hi. New here. After some clues and advice. I have owned one of these for many years. I have read that ditching the rubber mat and adding a 3mm acrylic mat will improve things a lot. New stylus is required as well. This is where I start getting into an area that I am not that knowledgeable on. However, something I have always noticed, but have not done anything about, is the vertical alignment of the cartridge/stylus to the record surface. It is quite definitely not at 90 degrees. Is there anything that can be done about that with this turntable or am I better off looking at something new? Thanks in advance. Michael

[ramjet1962]

Well I was able correct the vertical misalignment of the cartridge/stylus to what would be the record surface. Little bit of mucking around, but got there. Everything looks much squarer now.

As far as an acrylic mat goes, I am looking to try one from Spin Chemistry. Not super expensive and I will probably get a record cleaning kit as well.

As the stereo that this Kenwood turntable goes with is going to end up in my clock workshop, I am still going to look for another turntable to buy to go with my son's (now mine) Yamaha surround system which will be moving into the vacant spots left by the Kenwood stereo.

Just not sure what to look at. I picked up the AT turntables the other day in the shop and, well I've had frisbees that weighed more than some of them. The AT-LP120 would be the only one I would consider, but it has features that I would just never use, so I'm searching for something else I suppose.

There is not much to choose from down here in Geelong. I have also seen the JBL Spinner and a House of Marley turntable. There are two stereo shops, but when I looked at their websites, one only has the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo, which is a bit out of my price range at the moment and the other website just says they carry turntables with no list of any. I don't get much of a clue from the manufacturers list that they have either.

There is a shop in Melbourne that has the Rega turntables, but as my wife will listen to her 45's as well, she would not be much on having to remove the platter to change the speed as I believe that is what you have to do with the Rega Planars?

Anyway, any suggestions are appreciated.

[wasabijim]

hi

 

swapping the mat will change the sonics but it's more a tweak and matter of preference than a major upgrade. some ppl swear by leather, or use cork if they find rubber over dampens what the cart picks up. then there's various proprietary materials. I have cork sandwiched by thin silicon and a thin after market option.

 

are you able to name the cartridge and model at all?

a new cart or more refined stylus will make more of a noticeable difference. And of course getting the alignment right. It sounds like you've had a win with that, but it's always worth reading up on the core process steps and tips for good alignment. it's shouldn't be hard to find a blog, or video to cross reference. did you employ a protractor / stencil to get the cart aligned?

 

 

 

 

 

[ramjet1962]

N-69 stylus. All I could find online re the cartridge is that it is a Kenwood V-69 MM. Just an indestinct tiny silver box clipped into the tonearm with four pins coming out the back. No markings of any type on the case that I can see. 

[wasabijim]

did you come across the vinyl engine site - https://www.vinylengine.com/library/kenwood/p-110.shtml

 

it's a neat but budget unit from an odd time for TTs, i wouldn't think it needs a shop service etc. but I'm no expert, and hey if you're enjoying yourself! happy days! 

 

I'd suggest a new cart will get you a better $ for $ improvement vs a mat (but even this is secondary to proper set-up and basic cleaning each spin) 

this is a super popular and entry level benchmark for $70 odd. plus it has several stylus upgrade options for more refined performance down the track. you can even get fancy wood block cases for them (not an endorsement/recommendation). its also an option to swap it over to that  2nd TT if you get one. 

 

https://www.storedj.com.au/products/audio-technica-atvm95e-dual-moving-magnet-cartridge-w-elliptical-stylus?utm_medium=google-free-shopping-listings&utm_source=RQmedia&gStoreCode=41

[ramjet1962]

Hi, The cartridge and stylus that you have shown is for a head shell isn't it? The little Kenwood has a cartridge that clicks into place in the tonearm, so the AT cartridge won't work.

[wasabijim]

12 hours ago, ramjet1962 said:

Hi, The cartridge and stylus that you have shown is for a head shell isn't it? The little Kenwood has a cartridge that clicks into place in the tonearm, so the AT cartridge won't work.

oh I see
the arm and cart are all integrated, yeah not too many options to trick that up  

[ramjet1962]

Is an AT-LP120XBT-USB for $595 a good deal? I did see the TT advertised for $506 on the weekend at the same place, but it was a one day sale and I was too much of a piker. I am wondering whether I misread the label and it was only bluetooth OR USB. Not both as this deal is. Can I do better than that for the money?

 

I have looked at the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo which is more than I would be able to get past she who must be obeyed. The Pro-ject Automat A1 and the Yamaha TT-S303 are also turntables that I could get in Geelong. There would obviously be more availability of different turntables in Melbourne, but finding any shops that have an online presence is tricky. Keep getting online retailers in the UK or the US or interstate.

While I thought the LP120 might have more stuff than I would ever use, it has lots of things I would use. Just have to check to see whether the bluetooth speakers we have here are the same protocol as an LP120.

Don't know how I'm going to find all of that out. More 'googling' or 'Duck Duck Go'ing.

I have looked up things like 'Best turntables for beginners in 2025' and those are generally done by people overseas and a lot of the turntables they list aren't sold here in Australia.

 

I tired to add a post earlier today from my phone, but it didn't seem to work the two times that I tried. Unless my post still have to be approved?

 

Anyway, any assistance from anyone in Melbourne on info as to who to look at for turntables is greatly appreciated.

I'm still not sure about purchasing an acrylic mat for the little Kenwood.

Edited April 24 by ramjet1962

[ramjet1962]

Well I bit the bullet and now own an AT-LP120XBT-USB turntable. I'm not sure how I got offered the $595 deal, but it expired and I ended up paying $650. Not unhappy.

Have set up our family room with the son's hand-me-down surround system. Only has fronts, centre, rears and subwoofer, but that is better than what we had which was basically just the tv.

Turntable is levelled up and ready to listen to in a little while.

Working through the manual to work out how to set up the audio output of the amp. Bunch of options.

I'll let you know how the turntable goes.