Kenwood D-3300T (1986)
The Kenwood D-3300T is a high-end FM-only stereo tuner released in 1986 with a list price of ¥140,000. It was built for the Japanese domestic market, with a receiving range of 76 MHz to 90 MHz, which was the FM band used in Japan at the time. One Japanese source says it shares nearly the same faceplate as the Kenwood KT-1100D, but the internals are entirely different. The same source indicates the KT-3300D service manual is largely applicable, with differences mainly in the ICs used.
Kenwood's stated aim was to accurately convey the large amount of information in digital source broadcasts without the listener being aware of the transmission path. To get there, the D-3300T uses a "pentacle" circuit layout. Each stage is arranged around the power supply and connected by the shortest path. Signal grounds are kept separate from power grounds and tied at a single point on the front end. The power supply uses high-grade parts - a power transformer, Chemicon capacitors and a copper heat sink - and the front end gets a copper shield cover.
The RF section has a direct-linear reception synthesizer to suppress intermodulation. In the detection system there is a newly developed direct linear loop detector (DLLD), which linearizes the 10.7 MHz IF signal in a closed loop with distortion correction. A distortion collecting circuit cancels harmonic distortion generated by the IF filter, up to fourth order. The MPX section uses a "Direct Pure Decoder" (DPD), an analog multiplier that multiplies the detection output by a pure 38 kHz sine wave with no other components. Many low-noise, high-slew-rate op-amps are used throughout the amplifier stages.
The specs are impressive for the era. Mono signal-to-noise ratio is 100 dB, stereo is 92 dB. Wide-mode capture ratio is 0.8 dB. IHF selectivity is 70 dB wide and 100 dB narrow. Stereo separation is 71 dB at 1 kHz in wide mode, and frequency response is 20 Hz to 15 kHz ±0.5 dB. Harmonic distortion in wide mode is rated at 0.004% at 1 kHz mono. An RF selector switches between "direct" for strong-signal areas and "distance" for weak-signal reception.
Features include 16-station presets, a 3-station program function, antenna A/B switching for FM multi-station, IF wide/narrow switching and auto-tuning. It also has both auto and manual "Chinese arrowhead" functions (likely a tuning indicator or fine-tuning aid). There is a Rec calibration and modulation level meter, plus both fixed (0.6V/2.3kΩ) and variable (1.2V/1kΩ) outputs.
The D-3300T measures 475 × 88.5 × 327 mm and weighs 6.0 kg, with a rated power consumption of 20W. It came with a T-type antenna, antenna adapter and double pin cord. A Korean seller offering one noted it has two antenna connection terminals and predicted it "will perform well in poor reception areas", which fits its high sensitivity ratings.
Surviving documentation is thin. All technical specifications come from a single Japanese database (audio-database.com). No English-language owner reviews or contemporary magazine tests have surfaced. One collector's site received a completely non-functional "junk" unit as a donation, which at least confirms the model exists in the wild. A Korean Carousell listing from 2010 was marked sold, though the price was redacted.
Known Specifications
- Type: FM stereo tuner (Japanese FM band, 76–90 MHz)
- Original price: ¥140,000 (1986)
- Sensitivity (75Ω): 0.95 μV/10.8 dBf (distance), 10 μV/31.2 dBf (direct)
- SN ratio (85 dBf input): 100 dB mono / 92 dB stereo
- THD (1 kHz, wide): 0.004% mono / 0.007% stereo
- Selectivity (IHF): 70 dB wide / 100 dB narrow
- Stereo separation (1 kHz, wide): 71 dB
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 15 kHz ±0.5 dB
- Outputs: Fixed 0.6V/2.3kΩ, Variable 1.2V/1kΩ
- Dimensions: 475 × 88.5 × 327 mm; 6.0 kg
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