Kenwood KA-8700 (1978)
Documentation on the Kenwood KA-8700 is thin. It was sold as the Trio KA-8700 in its home market, and most of what survives comes from period listings and forum posts rather than formal reviews. The record shows an integrated amplifier made for the Japanese domestic market from 1978, with a recommended retail price of ¥120,000 (roughly $1,200 at the time). It ran on 100V, which is why units that have made their way to Europe and elsewhere are often sold with a step-down transformer included.
One seller's listing describes the KA-8700 as a "dual mono" class integrated amplifier. That means the two channels are electrically independent, typically for better channel separation. No power output, THD, frequency response, or other technical specifications have surfaced in the available sources. A forum thread confirms the Trio/ Kenwood naming crossover: someone seeking a service schematic refers to it as "Trio-ka8700, he is Kenwood ka-8700."
Condition reports from the few listings that have appeared are positive but general. One Russian listing says "looks great externally, a beauty!" and a Finnish one says "quite clean and fully intact amplifier." A buyer's forum discussion also names it as one of several vintage integrated amplifiers under consideration, alongside the Kenwood KA-1100D, Denon PMA-780D, and Sony TA-F505ESD. The original price is a point of conflict between sources. One listing states ¥120,000 and another leaves the price blank. The figure above comes from the more specific of the two.
Known facts, such as they are:
- Integrated amplifier, dual-mono design
- Produced for the Japanese domestic market starting 1978
- Marketed as Trio in Japan, Kenwood abroad
- Original retail price: ¥120,000 (~$1,200) in 1978
- 100V unit; often sold with a 230V step-down transformer
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