Kenwood KD-1600 (1980–1982)
A Japanese-made, belt-drive turntable with semi-automatic operation and a straight tonearm, produced in the early 1980s.
Overview
The Kenwood KD-1600 is a belt-drive turntable made in Japan between 1980 and 1982. It is semi-automatic with tonearm feedback and plays 33 and 45 rpm. A KD-1600 MK II was also released, with similar specifications. The tonearm is straight and statically balanced, and a counterweight sets the tracking force. It originally shipped with a Kenwood V-39 MKIII phono cartridge and Kenwood N-39 MKIII stylus. Kenwood's lineup also listed the KD-40 R, KD-50 F, KD-2100, KD-4100 R, and KD-5100 alongside it.
Specifications
| Dimensions | 440 x 130 x 372mm |
| Weight | 5.2 kg |
| Motor | 4-pole synchronous |
| Speeds | 33 and 45rpm |
| Effective length | 225mm |
| Operating mode | Semi-automatic with tonearm feedback |
| Tonearm type | Straight tonearm, statically balanced, with counterweight |
| Original price | 350 DM |
| Color | Silver |
| Made in | Japan |
Market
Used KD-1600s turn up at around $160 for serviced units with a new stylus, and one was listed at 55€ in Europe. The Orion Blue Book cites a value of $145. Replacement styli are available from specialty vendors like Dacopo Audio and LPTunes, and OEM tonearm parts occasionally show up on eBay. Forum discussions note possible speed inconsistencies, and one thread is titled "Kenwood KD-1600 speed woes."
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