Kondo / Audio Note Ongaku Japan

[nirodha]

My very close friend has the Kondo system and I am very intimate with its sound quality. The difference with and without preamp is night and day, that I would say a major portion of Kondo sound is from preamp rather than amp. You will give up a lot without a preamp. His speakers are 98db efficient If I remember correctly. If the speakers are less efficient, preamp is even more of a requirement to even sound right.

I believe you but….. having heard a new Ongaku in my set I am willing to ‘give up the day and stay in the night’ . There is always a better (the enemy of good) but the Ongaku on its own delivered BIG TIME

 

[nirodha]

What does the “i” stand for in G 72i? Nice to see the XLR inputs. Are they ‘real’ XLRs?

 

[Birdwatcher]

All actual Kondo products have the “i” since 2018, but maybe someone can explain it exactly.

 

[Juiced]

I'm guessing "i" is for "improved"

G70 --> G70i
Overture pm-2 --> pm-2i

• Ls-41 input wires instead of KSL-VzII,
• selected silver capacitors (gold label),
• copper chassis
• copper rear panel finished with lacquer
• silver speaker connectors AN-BP3, the same as used for Kagura and Ongaku (in the Overture)

 

[Rensselaer]

Hi all,
A question (or two) about the Japanese Ongaku. The Ongaku has been in production for years and I wonder if the early 2000 Ongaku (made by the man himself) differs from the current version regarding sound reproduction? What I have read is that the early Kondo is a bit ‘softer’ and less transparent… . I heard the current version a few times and simply love everything about it (apart from the price ). What were the prices at the time (around 2000) so I can evaluate the prices of secondhand ones? And finally, are the older versions ones still serviceable (or in need of service considering age)? Hope to hear from actual users and dare I hope, someone having used them from the two eras of production. Thank you all for your inputs.

Herb Reichert (author/contributor for Sound Practices magazine) used to sell them in the USA and, I think, still owns one from those early days. He chats with people for a fee about whatever they like on FaceTime, whats app, telephone etc. You can send him an email if you wish to set something up ( ishmael39@earthlink.net ).

 

[tsaett]

I'm guessing "i" is for "improved"

G70 --> G70i
Overture pm-2 --> pm-2i

• Ls-41 input wires instead of KSL-VzII,
• selected silver capacitors (gold label),
• copper chassis
• copper rear panel finished with lacquer
• silver speaker connectors AN-BP3, the same as used for Kagura and Ongaku (in the Overture)

I think i is for international, as in Japan the "i" models are not available (to my knowledge).

 

[pcosta]

Herb Reichert (author/contributor for Sound Practices magazine) used to sell them in the USA and, I think, still owns one from those early days. He chats with people for a fee about whatever they like on FaceTime, whats app, telephone etc. You can send him an email if you wish to set something up ( ishmael39@earthlink.net ).

An interesting video about Herb

 

[nirodha]

An interesting video about Herb

Yeah seen it. Two old geezers reminiscing . Herb is a great storyteller.

 

[nirodha]

I think i is for international, as in Japan the "i" models are not available (to my knowledge).

Makes sense!

 

[nirodha]

I had Ongaku ANJ around 1998/2000,then sold and bought Kondo Ongaku,then tried at home my Kondo Ongaku vs Kondo KSL,and now i have new Ongaku
My friend living 5 km from my home have the first ANJ Ongaku smaller and with the output jack in front,
so i know all very well

Hi Gian,
Have you got any info on the 2011/12 Special Edition Ongaku? I see it has the older Tango unit but I wonder if the “specialness” makes up for that.
As always, thank you for your input

 

[gian60]

for this i have few news because only 5 or 8 made and in italy never arrived but i think the new with new output trans and some better components inside could be similar quality,i think

 

[Amir]

Kondo is king, old or new both are ok

 

[nirodha]

Kondo is king, old or new both are ok

Even though I only have their cables for now, I agree

 

[Amir]

Even though I only have their cables for now, I agree

Kondo San audio thinking changed our audio world to a better place. I really love kondo products

 

[mtemur]

Have you got any info on the 2011/12 Special Edition Ongaku? I see it has the older Tango unit but I wonder if the “specialness” makes up for that.

AFAIK, only five Ongaku Special Editions were made in 2011, and one of them is kept at the Kondo factory. I’ve listened to two of the remaining four, which were sold to special customers. They come with an acrylic certificate signed by Masaki-san.

The Special Edition is certainly better than the regular Ongaku. If I’m not mistaken, around 2011, Kondo produced about 10 to 15 Ongakus for the China market that are very similar to the Special Editions, but with one significant difference, Black Gate capacitors instead of Unicons. They can be identified by their unpainted copper covers over the preamp section. I used Black Gate capacitors in the past and I don’t think they are in line with the lifelike, lively character of Kondo electronics.

Here are some pictures:

 

[bonzo75]

. I used Black Gate capacitors in the past and I don’t think they are jn line with the lifelike, lively character of Kondo electronics.

They were in the CAT JL7 which had no magic. Not sure what the BG did or did not do but there is hype about the fact they are in the model

 

[mtemur]

They were in the CAT JL7 which had no magic. Not sure what’s the BG did or did not do but there is hype about the fact they are in the model

IME/IMHO the BG capacitors have a very romantic, smooth sound. Some may prefer that kind of sound signature or it may fare well with Cd players like Marantz CD-94 or 95 but romantic sound is not my thing. BTW those Marantz CD players sound very good.

 

[bonzo75]

IME/IMHO the BG capacitors have a very romantic, smooth sound. Some may prefer that kind of sound signature or it may fare well with Cd players like Marantz CD-94 or 95 but romantic sound is not my thing. BTW those Marantz CD players sound very good.

The CAT JL7 isn’t romantic it is just sterile no nuance so I guess the KT 120 are outweighing the BG

 

[nirodha]

This is the Special Edition for sale. It looks wonderful. Still too soon for me though.

Kondo Ongaku Special Edition (7924699188) | Gebrauchtgerät | Verstärker (incl. Surround) | Angebot auf audio-markt.de

Angeboten wird „Ongaku Special Edition“ von Kondo als Gebrauchtgerät aus der Kategorie „Verstärker (incl. Surround)“ bei audio-markt.de - dem Online-Marktplatz für High-End. Das Inserat mit der Nummer 7924699188 endet am 04.08.2025 um 23:40 Uhr.

www.audio-markt.de

 

[mtemur]

This is the Special Edition for sale. It looks wonderful. Still too soon for me though.

Kondo Ongaku Special Edition (7924699188) | Gebrauchtgerät | Verstärker (incl. Surround) | Angebot auf audio-markt.de

Angeboten wird „Ongaku Special Edition“ von Kondo als Gebrauchtgerät aus der Kategorie „Verstärker (incl. Surround)“ bei audio-markt.de - dem Online-Marktplatz für High-End. Das Inserat mit der Nummer 7924699188 endet am 04.08.2025 um 23:40 Uhr.

www.audio-markt.de

Looks great but feet are replaced/not original. It's a minor detail though.