Kenwood A-92 (1985)
The Kenwood A-92 is an integrated amplifier from the mid-1980s, part of Kenwood's high-end "Class A" lineup. It sat above the A-62 and below the A-102, and shared its chassis and basic design with both. Introduced in 1985, it was priced at ¥148,000 in Japan and around $650 in North America. The gap is domestic versus export pricing, not a conflict.
The headline feature is the "Power Free" topology. It is a full Class A power stage delivering 25 watts per channel into 8 ohms, and above that it switches automatically to Class AB for up to 60 watts per channel. A front-panel switch allows manual A/B selection, with LEDs showing the active mode. Distortion is rated at 0.001% in Class A and 0.002% in Class AB (both at 1kHz into 8Ω). Signal-to-noise ratio is 110 dB (IHF A-weighted). Frequency response runs from 5Hz to 100kHz ±1dB. The phono stage is a particular highlight. It handles both MM (2.5 mV, 47 kΩ) and MC (0.25 mV, 100 Ω) cartridges, with gold-plated connectors on the MC section. Owners consistently praise it as better than many separate phono stages.
Inside, it is built like a tank. There are dual power transformers (one for the power amp, one for the preamp), all-discrete transistor amplification with no op-amps in the signal path, and 20,000 μF × 2 main filter capacitors. It weighs 17.9 kg in a 440mm-wide chassis, which is heavy for its size and points to the substantial power supply and heatsinking. Audio (May 1985, p.108) listed it among the season's amplifiers.
The known caveats are typical of 30+ year old Class A gear. It runs very hot in Class A mode, and owners describe it as a space heater. The speaker protection relays are a known failure point, causing intermittent sound or channel dropout. The front-panel selector switches can oxidize and need cleaning. Recapping the electrolytics is the most commonly recommended maintenance, and owners report it responds well. One said that after new caps it sounded better than a much more expensive amp. All internal components are standard parts, so nothing is unobtainable.
Collector interest has been rising as vintage Class A amps gain attention. Typical asking prices run from $350 to $600. The service manual circulates online in PDF form.
Known specifications:
- Power: 25W/ch Class A, 60W/ch Class AB into 8Ω (20Hz–20kHz, both channels driven)
- THD: 0.001% (Class A), 0.002% (Class AB) at 1kHz
- S/N ratio: 110 dB (IHF A-weighted)
- Frequency response: 5Hz–100kHz ±1dB
- Phono: MM (2.5 mV, 47 kΩ) and MC (0.25 mV, 100 Ω)
- Inputs: Phono MM/MC, CD, Tuner, Aux, Tape 1, Tape 2; pre-out/main-in jumpers
- Dimensions: 440 × 131 × 372 mm; 17.9 kg
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