Kenwood KA-2200 (1982–1984)
The Kenwood KA-2200 is a high-speed stereo integrated amplifier built from October 1982 through roughly 1984. It was Kenwood's top integrated amplifier of the period and belongs to the company's Sigma Drive "L" amplifier lineage. It is essentially a KA-1000 without the futuristic styling, external power supply and Heat-Pipe cooling. It's also described as a slightly earlier, cheaper L-03A.
The specs are impressive for an integrated amp of this vintage. It's rated at 2x 150W into 8 ohms (20 Hz-20 kHz, FTC) and 2x 160W into 4 ohms (IEC), with a dynamic margin of 3.3 dB into 4 ohms. Total harmonic distortion is rated at 0.003% at rated power into 8 ohms, which still looks good today. Frequency response runs from DC to 200 kHz (-3 dB), with a rise time of 1.7 µs and a slew rate of ±100 V/µs. Damping factor is 1000 at 100 Hz. The phono stage takes both MM and MC cartridges, with relay-driven input switching. MM is 2.5 mV with selectable 33/47/100 kOhm loading, and MC is 0.1 mV into 100 ohms. Signal-to-noise is rated at 94 dB (MM, 5 mV input), 76 dB (MC, 0.2 mV input), and 110 dB on line inputs. Tone controls give ±10 dB bass and treble with selectable turnover frequencies. The loudness switch provides +3/+6/+9 dB boost at 30 Hz, with selectable loudness frequencies of 60 Hz or 90 Hz. A subsonic filter rolls off at 6 dB/octave below 18 Hz. Power consumption is rated at 900W max. It measures 44 x 15.8 x 38.3 cm and weighs 15 kg.
The design is all-DC throughout, with two power transformers and four 22,000 µF filter caps. Kenwood's Sigma-Drive speaker hookup is available on the "A" pair of outputs. The "slow-fade" muting is a handy touch. Press the button and the signal gradually drops by 20 dB. Press it again and the signal returns to its previous level. The preamp and main amp sections can be separated for use with outboard gear. There are connections for two phono inputs (each switchable MM/MC), two line inputs (one optionally on the front panel), and two tape loops with a record selector. Construction is solid but "industrial," with no copper plating. Kenwood did use shorter signal wiring and a ground connection with multi-core wire six times larger than usual. The high-speed amplification uses Kenwood's D.L.D. system.
The phono section is a single NFB loop with low-noise bipolar transistors for the MC stage and low-noise FETs for the MM stage. An MC cartridge impedance selector is provided.
The KA-2200 was upgraded once, in 1986, as the D-3300A. That amp is so different inside that it even has a digital section, so it's better treated as a separate amplifier. The slightly smaller KA-1100 and KA-990 saw numerous upgraded versions through the late 1980s (KA-1100SD, KA-1100D, KA-990SD, KA-990 V, KA-990D, KA-990EX). The KA-2200 itself was never iterated that way.
Owner impressions are positive. A diyAudio forum user said simply: "You will be surprised how good it is." A Russian forum member chose the KA-2200 over a Kenwood KA-660, KA-1100D, Pioneer A-616 MK2, Pioneer A-717, and Yamaha A-1000 for its accuracy. An Amazon.de reviewer called it "powerful and good sounding" with "good power reserve" and an "outstanding finish." At least one seller describes it as a "quite rare model." It also appears in a five-amplifier Kenwood KA-series review on zoloto.name alongside the KA-1000 and KA-1100D.
No original price is documented, though service manuals are available — a shame, since this is a serious piece of 1980s Japanese engineering that deserves proper documentation.
- Power: 2x 150W (8 Ohm, 20 Hz–20 kHz, FTC); 2x 160W (4 Ohm, IEC)
- THD: 0.003% at rated power (8 Ohm)
- Frequency response: DC–200 kHz (−3 dB)
- Damping factor: 1000 (100 Hz)
- Slew rate: ±100 V/µs; rise time: 1.7 µs
- Phono: MM (2.5 mV, 33/47/100 kOhm) and MC (0.1 mV, 100 Ohm), relay-switched
- Dimensions: 44 x 15.8 x 38.3 cm; weight: 15 kg
- Production: October 1982 – 1983/84
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