Kenwood M 2
The Kenwood M 2 is a stereo amplifier in Kenwood's BASIC series. Kenwood's own advertising pitched the lineup as "components so technologically advanced, they can be appreciated by serious audio enthusiasts, yet afforded by anyone." High Fidelity (November 1983, p.13) ran that pitch in a full-page ad for the series. That suggests the M 2 was aimed at the value end of the high-performance market, not the flagship tier.
The record shows the M 2 as a solid, no-frills power amplifier. Rated output is 2 × 100 W RMS into 8 Ω (20 Hz-20 kHz, 0.05% THD), rising to 2 × 130 W into 4 Ω at 1 kHz. Signal-to-noise is a strong 110 dB (IHF-A), input sensitivity is 150 mV into 47 kΩ, and the damping factor is specified at 60 into 8 Ω. It measures 400 × 145 × 380 mm and weighs 11.2 kg.
One period reference adds a design detail. HiFi-Stereo (June 1984, p.54) described the "Basic M-2" as a 220-watt-per-channel amplifier that includes the speaker cables in its feedback loop, at a price of $600. The amplifier compensates for the cable's resistance and reactance as part of its feedback path, instead of treating the speaker leads as a passive afterthought. The wattage figure in that review doesn't match the HiFi Engine spec sheet exactly.
Beyond that, documentation is thin. No production years, no original price beyond that one 1984 mention, and no detailed circuit information have surfaced. If you own an M 2 and can confirm the speaker-cable feedback arrangement, or add anything about its internals, the archive would welcome the input.
- Power output: 2 × 100 W RMS (8 Ω, 20 Hz–20 kHz, 0.05% THD); 2 × 130 W (4 Ω, 1 kHz)
- THD: 0.05%
- Frequency response: 20 Hz–20 kHz, +0 dB / −0.5 dB
- S/N ratio (IHF-A): 110 dB
- Input sensitivity / impedance: 150 mV / 47 kΩ
- Damping factor: 60 (8 Ω)
- Dimensions: 400 × 145 × 380 mm; 11.2 kg
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