Kenwood KA-7006 (1974)
The Trio KA-7006 - sold in Europe as the Kenwood KA-7006 - is a solid-state integrated amplifier released in 1974, originally priced at ¥75,000. According to the listing that documents it, it was designed by engineers from Accuphase at Trio-Kenwood Corporation Japan.
The specification record, drawn from Japanese audio databases, is quite complete for a model of this vintage. The power section is rated at 50W + 50W into 8 ohms (20 Hz - 20 kHz, both channels driven). In single-channel operation at 1 kHz it is rated at 65W + 65W into 8 ohms and 90W + 90W into 4 ohms. Music power (IHF) is rated at 160W into 8 ohms and 250W into 4 ohms. Total harmonic distortion is 0.3% at rated output, dropping to 0.05% at rated output minus 3 dB. The damping factor is 30, and the output bandwidth (IHF) runs from 6 Hz to 45 kHz.
The preamp section has phono inputs (MM, 2.5 mV/50 kΩ, switchable to 30 kΩ, with a maximum allowable input of 250 mV), line inputs at 150 mV/50 kΩ, and a microphone input. Signal-to-noise is rated at 84 dB for phono (IHF-A, 5 mV input) and 95 dB for line-level sources. The tone controls give ±10 dB at 100 Hz (bass) and ±10 dB at 10 kHz (treble), and there is a defeat switch. Filters include a subsonic filter, a rumble filter at 20/40 Hz (12 dB/octave), and a scratch filter at 7 kHz (6 dB/octave). Loudness compensation adds +8 dB at 100 Hz and +3 dB at 10 kHz at volume −30 dB.
The KA-7006 uses an all-stage direct-coupled circuit from first stage to last. The output stage is pure complementary, with Darlington PNP-NPN pairs. The power supply is a ±2 system with a first-stage differential topology. A limiter protection circuit guards the transistors - if the output is short-circuited, the limiter level drops within 100 msec. A relay protects the speakers and suppresses shock noise at power on/off. The tone control circuit uses a DLOA (dual low-noise operational amplifier), and the DC current at the output terminal is 0V, which also suppresses shock noise. It also has audio muting, a mode selector, 4-channel input/output terminals, and a microphone input. Carrying handles (D-9, ¥5,000 per pair) were sold separately as an option from around 1975.
It measures 435 × 157 × 300 mm and weighs 11.8 kg. Power consumption is rated at 140W. The phono stage's RIAA deviation is ±0.5 dB, and the line-level frequency response is 10 Hz - 20 kHz +0/−0.5 dB.
Beyond the specifications, the record is thin. No independent period reviews have surfaced, and no production years beyond the 1974 release are documented. The unit appears in listings described as “near mint” and “very new,” which suggests surviving examples are well preserved. No market price is reliably established. If you own one and have the manual or measured performance data, the Archive would welcome the addition.
Known Specifications
- Output: 50W + 50W (8Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, both channels driven)
- Music Power (IHF): 160W (8Ω) / 250W (4Ω)
- THD: 0.3% at rated output; 0.05% at rated output −3dB
- Phono input: 2.5 mV/50 kΩ (switchable to 30 kΩ), max 250 mV
- Line inputs: 150 mV/50 kΩ
- S/N ratio: 84 dB (phono), 95 dB (line)
- Dimensions: 435 × 157 × 300 mm; 11.8 kg
- Original price: ¥75,000 (1974)
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