Kenwood KT-1100D (1986–1989)
The KT-1100D is a quartz-synthesizer AM/FM stereo tuner from Kenwood's late-1980s run, sold in Japan at ¥74,800 (around 1987). It's a compact book-shelf unit in a metal case, weighing 4.6 kg and measuring 440 × 88 × 331 mm. The FM tuning range is the Japanese band of 76-90 MHz. It has 16-station random preset memory, auto-tuning, and a 3-station program mechanism for recording. The front panel also carries a Rec calibrator and a modulation level meter.
Kenwood put its "4D system" and Pentacle Circuit into this one. The front end uses a direct linear reception circuit, the IF stage a distortion-collecting circuit, the detector a direct linear loop, and the stereo demodulator a direct pure decoder. The Pentacle layout was Kenwood's answer to classic tuner problems: circuit design, grounding philosophy, and high-frequency amplifier stability. The power supply connects to each stage at the shortest possible distance to avoid inter-stage interference. The local oscillator is said to produce a clean signal with no extra spectral content. An RF selector switches between direct (strong field) and distance (weak field) modes, and the IF band can be set wide or narrow. Chip components - resistors, magnetic capacitors, FETs, and diodes - were used in the IF, DCC, and detection sections to cut mutual interference.
Performance figures are strong for the era. FM distortion in wide mode measures 0.005% at 1 kHz mono and 0.008% stereo. Signal-to-noise hits 100 dB mono and 92 dB stereo at 85 dBf input. Selectivity is 70 dB wide, 100 dB narrow. Frequency response runs 20 Hz to 15 kHz ±0.5 dB. AM specs are more modest, as expected: 10 µV sensitivity, 55 dB S/N at 30% modulation. The AM band was clearly not the headline act.
One German-language site calls its KT-1100D experience "Triumph and Tragedy," with the tragedy apparently involving an alignment mishap.
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