JVC KDV-6 (circa 1985–1986)

Little is documented about the JVC KDV-6, which period sources also list as the KD-V6. What the record shows: it was a three-head, single-capstan cassette deck aimed at the serious listener, released in the mid‑1980s. HiFI-Stereo (March 1985, p.31) said it combined above‑average performance with a strong feature set. That included Dolby B and C noise reduction, memory‑play functions, and an unusual digital peak‑level display. The record and playback heads are separate. Senalloy handles recording and hardened permalloy handles playback, so you can compare source and tape instantly. A test report in the same issue noted that the deck kept flat response all the way down to 20 Hz on ferric tape, a rare achievement at the time (p.32).

The following specifications come from a 1986 equipment listing:

• Dimensions: 17.4″ W × 4.75″ H × 8.75″ D; weight 7 lb
• Frequency response (ƒ3 dB): ferric 30–15,000 Hz; high‑bias 30–16,000 Hz; metal 30–16,000 Hz
• Wow & flutter: 0.08%
• Signal‑to‑noise ratio: 58 dB (metal tape, no NR); 66 dB with Dolby B
• Line input sensitivity for 0 dB indication: 80 mV
• Other features: microphone inputs, recording mute, headphone jack; black finish

No original price or production run has been confirmed. That HiFI-Stereo 1986 listing hints at a $100 price point, but the figure is uncertain and likely refers to a different model in the same table. The KDV-6 remains a moderately scarce deck today.

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