Kenwood Supreme 1 (1975)
The Kenwood Supreme 1 topped Kenwood's lineup when it was introduced in 1975. It remains one of the most respected Japanese solid-state integrated amplifiers of the decade. It was the flagship of the Supreme series, which also included the Supreme 2 and Supreme 3, and it was built to take on the likes of the Sansui AU-20000 and Pioneer's Exclusive series.
The headline number is 300 watts per channel into 8 ohms, a figure that was unusual for an integrated amplifier of the era and is confirmed across multiple sources. One source also lists 400 watts into 4 ohms. Distortion is rated at 0.01%, and the signal-to-noise ratio at 120dB, with a damping factor of 60. The frequency response is given two ways depending on the source — 20Hz–20kHz (±0.5dB) and a wider 5Hz–100kHz — which likely reflects different measurement conditions, though the record doesn't clarify. Input sensitivity is 2.5mV for the built-in MC phono stage and 150mV for line-level inputs.
This is serious, heavy stuff. It uses dual mono block construction with separate power supplies for each channel, a toroidal transformer, direct-coupled output, a Class A preamp stage, and both MC and MM phono stages built in. It measures 480 × 180 × 460 mm and weighs 30kg. Power consumption is rated at 700W. Inputs cover phono (MC and MM), aux, tuner, and two tape loops, with pre-out and rec-out on the output side. The preamp and power amp sections are switchable, and the terminals are gold-plated. The original price was $1,500, a serious sum in 1975.
Collectors hold the Supreme 1 in very high regard. Many call it one of the best Japanese amplifiers of the 1970s, and it's frequently described as a high point in Kenwood's amplifier design history. The praise isn't universal. Some listeners find it neutral and detailed rather than "musical" compared to tube gear, but the consensus is that it makes effortless, authoritative sound. Audio (March 1968, p.77) ran an early Kenwood ad campaign that claimed the company's amplifiers "sound like a million dollars." That ad predates the Supreme 1.
The Supreme 1 is rare in the U.S. market, with most examples found in Japan. Current asking prices range from $3,500 to $7,000 depending on condition. That price comes with caveats. The heavy transformer and components can cause solder joints to crack over time, the bias circuit is known to drift and needs recalibration, and the protection relay is a common failure point that owners recommend replacing proactively. The output transistors are no longer manufactured, and a damaged toroidal transformer is expensive to repair.
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