VINTAGE TECHNOLOGY ARCHIVE / AUDIO / KENWOOD

Kenwood

The Trio brand that became a hi-fi empire

History

Kenwood Corporation was founded in Nagano Prefecture, Japan in 1946 as the Kasuga Radio Co., Ltd. by Bill Kasuga, George Aratani, and Yoichi Nakase. The company initially produced radio parts before releasing its first consumer product, the A-8 tube amplifier, in 1951.

The company name was changed to Trio Corporation in 1960, and products were exported under the "Kenwood" brand name—chosen to evoke a sense of quality and the American market. The name combined "Ken" (a common Japanese name meaning "wise") with "wood" (suggesting reliability and naturalness).

The 1960s saw Kenwood establish itself as a major Japanese audio manufacturer. The company produced innovative tube and early solid-state equipment, including the famous Trio-Kenwood amplifiers that built the brand's reputation.

The 1970s marked Kenwood's golden era. The company released legendary receivers including the KR-8050, KR-9050, and the ultimate Model 600 (1978), Model 700 (1978), and Model 800 (1979). These "Supreme" series components featured massive construction, dual power supplies, and power ratings that dwarfed competitors.

The KA series integrated amplifiers, particularly the KA-9100 (1977) with 90 watts per channel, became classics for their combination of power, features, and value. Kenwood also produced exceptional tuners including the L-1000T (1980), considered by many the finest analog tuner ever made.

Today, Kenwood is part of the JVC Kenwood Corporation, continuing to produce consumer and professional audio equipment.

Key Facts

Fact Detail
Founded 1946, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Founders Bill Kasuga, George Aratani, Yoichi Nakase
Original Name Kasuga Radio Co., Ltd.
Export Brand Kenwood (from 1960)
Golden Era 1970s Supreme series
Current Status Part of JVC Kenwood

Legendary Products

Kenwood Model 600/600T (1978)

Kenwood's statement receiver, delivering 150 watts per channel with dual mono construction, massive power supplies, and comprehensive features. The matching 600T tuner made this a system that could compete with separates costing much more.

Kenwood KA-9100 (1977)

The flagship integrated amplifier of the classic KA series. With 90 watts per channel, phono stages for MM and MC cartridges, and exceptional build quality, the KA-9100 represents the pinnacle of Kenwood integrated design.

Kenwood L-1000T (1980)

Arguably the finest analog FM tuner ever produced. The L-1000T featured discrete circuitry throughout, exceptional sensitivity and selectivity, and the famous "Flywheel" tuning mechanism. It remains a benchmark for FM reception.

Kenwood Supreme 700M (1979)

Monoblock power amplifiers delivering 300 watts each into 8 ohms. These massive amplifiers used dual toroidal transformers and represented Kenwood's ultimate statement in amplification.

Classic Models Reference

Model Era Type Power Key Features
KA-7001 1970s Integrated 35WPC Early classic
KA-8100 1976 Integrated 70WPC Popular integrated
KA-9100 1977 Integrated 90WPC KA flagship
KR-8050 1977 Receiver 80WPC KR series high end
KR-9050 1978 Receiver 100WPC Higher KR series
Model 600 1978 Receiver 150WPC Supreme receiver
Model 600T 1978 Tuner - Supreme tuner
Model 700 1978 Receiver 200WPC Ultimate receiver
L-1000T 1980 Tuner - Ultimate FM tuner
Supreme 700M 1979 Monoblock 300W Mono power amp
KA-5010 1980s Integrated 100WPC Late classic

Sound Signature

Kenwood equipment is characterized by:

Collecting Kenwood

Vintage Kenwood gear is valued for:

Most collectible models:

Restoration Tips

Common Kenwood service items:

Competitors & Comparisons

Kenwood vs Pioneer: Both powerful; Kenwood more analytical

Kenwood vs Sansui: Both Japanese giants; Kenwood more features, Sansui more warmth

Kenwood vs Marantz: Similar quality; different sonic signatures

All Models in Archive (200)

BASIC C 11980-1983
BASIC M11987-1989
BASIC-C-21979
GE 420Late 1970s (approximately 1977-1979)
GE 771978-1980
ge-920Late 1970s (approximately 1977-1979)
KA 1400G1974-1976
KA 1500II1971-1973
KA 20001970-1972
KA 2000A1973-1975
KA 26001977-1979
KA 300B1970-1971
KA 35001974-1976
KA 4001970-1972
KA 40001969-1971
KA 40041971-1973
KA 4051977-1979
KA 40551981-1983
KA 5001972-1974
KA 5011983-1985
KA 53001977-1979
KA 55001977-1979
KA 550D1980-1982
KA 57001977-1979
KA 601980-1982
KA 6001968-1970
KA 60001970-1972
KA 6011977-1979
KA 61001977-1979
KA 660D1980-1982
KA 70001974-1976
KA 70021973-1975
KA 7011979-1981
KA 71001978-1980
KA 73001979-1981
KA 770D1978-1980
KA 80001973-1975
KA 80041973-1975
KA 80061973-1975
KA 8011978-1980
KA 81001978-1980
KA 83001978-1980
KA 90001977-1979
KA 9071978-1980
KA 91001977-1979
KA 92001977-1979
KA 93001977-1979
KA 99001978-1980
KA 990D1978-1980
KA 990EX1980-1981
kd-15001972-1975
kd-20551978-1980
kd-21001975-1977
kd-31001977-1979
kd-37r1980-1982
kd-4100r1978-1980
kd-50001978-1981
kd-50701979-1981
kd-50771978-1980
kd-55001980-1982
kd-55f1978-1980
kd-6001978-1981
kd-6501977-1979
kd-7501980-1982
kd-75001980-1982
kd-8501978-1981
kl-3090Late 1970s to early 1980s
kl-5090Late 1970s (approximately 1977-1979)
kl-555xLate 1970s (approximately 1977-1979)
kl-555zLate 1970s (approximately 1977-1979)
kl-666zLate 1970s
kl-7090Late 1970s (approximately 1977-1979)
kl-7771970s (circa 1975-1977)
kl-777a1973-1975
kl-888Late 1970s
kl-888a1970s
kl-888sLate 1970s (approximately 1978-1980)
KM 105Late 1970s (exact years unknown)
KM 1061980-1982
KM 107Late 1980s to early 1990s
KM 2051980-1982
KM 2091990s
KM 9911991-1993
KR 010Unknown
KR 100001978-1980
KR 23001974-1975
KR 24001973-1975
KR 30901973-1975
KR 32001973-1975
KR 34001977-1979
KR 40101972-1974
KR 40701977-1979
KR 41301977-1979
KR 41401973-1975
KR 42001975-1977
KR 4921980-1982
KR 50301977-1979
KR 51501977-1979
KR 52001976-1978
KR 54001977-1979
KR 60301977-1979
KR 61001975-1977
KR 61601975-1977
KR 61701977-1979
KR 62001976-1978
KR 63401978-1980
KR 66001977-1979
KR 70201977-1979
KR 70501977-1979
KR 7101975-1977
KR 7201977-1979
KR 72001977-1979
KR 7301978-1979
KR 76001977-1979
KR 771973-1975
KR 7701977-1978
KR 801980-1982
KR 80101978-1980
KR 80501978-1980
KR 83401980-1982
KR 90501979-1980
KR 90601979-1981
KR 96001978-1979
kt-20301973-1975
kt-5001973-1975
kt-571971-1973
kt-65001975-1977
kt-801975-1977
kt-8151979-1981
kt-83001978-1980
kt-9171978-1980
kx-1001980-1982
kx-10001981-1983
kx-1000d1980-1982
kx-10031980-1982
kx-10061983-1985
kx-10101982-1984
kx-10301980-1982
kx-10601982-1984
kx-1100g1980-1982
kx-1100hx1987-1989
kx-12001983-1985
kx-20601980-1982
kx-25201985-1987
kx-30101988-1990
KX-30301983
KX-30501984
KX-30601982
kx-311980-1982
kx-3301980s
KX-35101985
kx-4001980-1982
kx-5001980-1982
kx-511980-1982
KX-520-MKII1983
kx-5201980-1982
kx-57w1983-1985
kx-5p1981-1983
kx-6001987-1989
kx-6201982-1984
kx-6301980-1982
kx-6x1980-1982
kx-71r1982-1984
kx-72rb1980-1982
kx-7x1988-1990
kx-8001980-1982
kx-9001983-1985
L 01T1977-1979
L 02T PRO1977-1979
L 03T PRO1982-1984
L 05M1980-1982
L 07C II1980-1982
L 07D1978-1980
L 07M II1982-1984
L 07M1978-1980
L 07T1977-1979
L 1000T1980-1982
ls-100Late 1970s (approximately 1977-1979)
ls-1900Late 1970s
ls-200Late 1970s (circa 1978-1979)
ls-203aLate 1970s (approx. 1977-1979)
ls-300Late 1970s
ls-400Late 1970s (approximately 1977-1979)
ls-403a1970s
ls-500Late 1970s (approximately 1978-1980)
ls-770-mkiiLate 1980s (exact years uncertain)
ls-8801986-1988
ls-9Late 1970s to early 1980s
ls-p9200Late 1980s to early 1990s
ls-x-1-s1980s
ls-x-700Late 1980s
M 3S1990-1993
MODEL 6001977-1979
MODEL 6501977-1979
p5d
SUPREME 5001968-1970
SUPREME 6001967-1969
SUPREME 6501973-1975
SUPREME 7001973-1975
TK 88UUnknown
Models

Receivers, Amplifiers

Amplifiers

Cassette Decks

Speakers

Tuners

VINTAGE TECHNOLOGY ARCHIVE / 03-16-2026 / FEEDBACK