Kenwood KT-4005 (late 1970s)

The KT-4005 is a mid-tier AM/FM stereo tuner from Kenwood's late-1970s component lineup. It was designed to sit alongside the company's KA-series integrated amplifiers and cassette decks of the same generation. It made sense for anyone building a system piece by piece, since a dedicated tuner freed you from the compromises of a budget receiver's built-in section.

Kenwood pushed the KT-4005 hard in its advertising. HiFI-Stereo (September 1972, p.23) ran a spread on "the all-new Kenwoods," pairing the KT-4005 with the KA-4004 amplifier and stressing the tuner's DSD circuitry and a newly designed block filter in the MPX stage. Kenwood's pitch was stereo separation and FM-stereo excitement. A follow-up ad in HiFI-Stereo (July 1973, p.49) repeated the DSD claim and put numbers on it: stereo separation of 35 dB at 100-8k Hz, usable sensitivity of 1.9 µV, and an FM IF stage delivering better than 60 dB. The fact sheet's numbers are a touch better: usable sensitivity of 1.8 µV, 50 dB quieting at 2.8 µV, and separation rated at 45 dB. That likely reflects the difference between marketing claims and lab-measured figures, or a running production change.

Beyond the specs, the documented record is thin. The tuner covers 87.5-108 MHz FM and 525-1605 kHz AM, with 70 dB selectivity and a 70 dB signal-to-noise ratio on FM. AM sensitivity is rated at 15 µV. It measures 435 × 145 × 325 mm and weighs 6.8 kg, a lot of metal for a tuner. The front panel carries a tuning knob, an FM/AM band selector, and a signal strength meter.

Here is what's missing: no original price, no exact production years beyond "late 1970s," no owner reviews, no common failure reports, and no market pricing data. The KT-4005 appears in period advertising as a value-oriented companion piece.

FM tuning range: 87.5–108 MHz
AM tuning range: 525–1605 kHz
Usable sensitivity (FM): 1.8 µV
50 dB quieting sensitivity (FM): 2.8 µV
Stereo separation: 45 dB
Selectivity: 70 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio (FM): 70 dB
AM sensitivity: 15 µV
Dimensions: 435 × 145 × 325 mm
Weight: 6.8 kg