is a
JapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese manufacturer of
amateur radioAmateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
as well as
Hi-FidelityHigh fidelity—or hi-fi—reproduction is a term used by home stereo listeners and home audio enthusiasts to refer to high-quality reproduction of sound or images, to distinguish it from the poorer quality sound produced by inexpensive audio equipment...
and portable audio equipment.
History
The company first started in 1946 as the Kasuga Radio Co. Ltd. In Komagane City,
Nagano Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
, Japan. In 1960 the firm was renamed "Trio Corporation". 1963 saw the foundation of the first overseas office of Trio, in
Los AngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
,
CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA.
In the early 1960s, The
LaFayette Radio CompanyLafayette Radio Electronics Corporation was a radio manufacturer and retailer based in Syosset, New York. The company sold radio sets, amateur radio equipment, citizen's band radios, and other communications equipment, as well as electronic components and tools through retail outlets as well as...
rebranded and sold Trio's products, unfortunately focusing on the doomed 23-channel
CB radioCitizens' Band radio is, in many countries, a system of short-distance radio communications between individuals on a selection of 40 channels within the 27-MHz band. Citizens' Band is distinct from the FRS, GMRS, MURS and amateur radio...
.
Their component HiFi reaches back to the all valve era, with their stereo receiver-amplifiers
often having 2 tuning dials and 2 separate tuners, some of which would tune in multiple carrier
AM stereo broadcasts.
Innovation at the company was very significant during this period. Trio built
oscilloscopeAn oscilloscope is a type of electronic test instrument that allows observation of constantly varying signal voltages, usually as a two-dimensional graph of one or more electrical potential differences using the vertical or 'Y' axis, plotted as a function of time,...
s, such as the popular 10 MHz CS-1562A.
A group of
Japanese Americanare American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
audio enthusiasts consisting of Bill Kasuga, Yoichi Nakase and George Aratani, who also founded Mikasa & Company started an import company in 1961 that would satisfy their desire for high-quality audio recording equipment. They came across Trio, and started importing their electronics. During that period, Japanese manufactured goods were considered low-quality but Kasuga had faith in Trio's products and decided to create an American-sounding name for them. He described the origin of
Kenwood as being an alliteration to
Kenmore AppliancesKenmore Appliances was a line of household appliances produced by a variety of manufacturers such as Whirlpool Corp, GE, Panasonic, LG, Bosch, Electrolux, and Mabe Mexico, and controlled by Sears Holdings Corporation; the brand is owned by KCD IP, LLC, a special purpose entity created by Sears...
, with "Ken" being a Japanese and Western name, and "Wood" being a reference to the durable substance as well as Hollywood.
The brand recognition of Kenwood would surpass that of Trio's, and in 1981, Trio decided on using the Kenwood name worldwide and renamed itself
Kenwood Corporation in 1986.
Kenwood introduced Japan's first
FMFM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
tuner and
solid stateSolid-state electronics are those circuits or devices built entirely from solid materials and in which the electrons, or other charge carriers, are confined entirely within the solid material...
amplifierGenerally, an amplifier or simply amp, is a device for increasing the power of a signal.In popular use, the term usually describes an electronic amplifier, in which the input "signal" is usually a voltage or a current. In audio applications, amplifiers drive the loudspeakers used in PA systems to...
. The company introduced an amplifier with integrated audio and video signal switching in 1981. This product is seen as a precursor to today's
home cinemaHome cinema, also commonly called home theater, are home entertainment set-ups that seek to reproduce a movie theater experience and mood with the help of video and audio equipment in a private home....
systems.
In 1984, Kenwood designed and manufactured the first anti-theft car stereo receiver.
Kenwood introduced its Sovereign line of components in 2001. This high-end line competes with prestige brands of other manufacturers such as Pioneer Elite, Sony ES, Onkyo Integra, and Matsushita Technics. In the car audio market, the "eXcelon" line similarly competes Pioneer Premier and Sony Mobile ES brands.
Kenwood announced its intention to merge with
JVC, usually referred to as JVC, is a Japanese international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927...
after Matsushita spun off the company. The new company formed
JVC Kenwood HoldingsJVC Kenwood Holdings is a company formed from the merger of JVC and Kenwood Corporation on October 1st, 2008. Based in Yokohama, Kenwood Chairman Haruho Kawahara is the holding company's chairman, while JVC President Kunihiko Sato is company's president...
on October 1, 2008.
Amateur radio transceivers
Kenwood has offered distinct lines of
HFHigh frequency radio frequencies are between 3 and 30 MHz. Also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decameters . Frequencies immediately below HF are denoted Medium-frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Very high frequency...
, VHF/UHF, and portable amateur radio models, not to mention some with built-in Digital data modes (APRS, built on AX.25 Packet) & the modems needed to send & receive these.
Among the product lines, the "TS" series of HF
transceiverA transceiver is a device comprising both a transmitter and a receiver which are combined and share common circuitry or a single housing. When no circuitry is common between transmit and receive functions, the device is a transmitter-receiver. The term originated in the early 1920s...
s can be said to be among Kenwood's
flagshipA flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
products. These radios cover the HF ("high frequency") bands, from 1.8 to 30 MHz, and can easily let the user communicate around the world, via voice,
CWA continuous wave or continuous waveform is an electromagnetic wave of constant amplitude and frequency; and in mathematical analysis, of infinite duration. Continuous wave is also the name given to an early method of radio transmission, in which a carrier wave is switched on and off...
(
MorseMorse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
),
PSK31PSK31 or "Phase Shift Keying, 31 Baud" is a digital radio modulation mode, used primarily in the amateur radio field to conduct real-time keyboard-to-keyboard informal text chat between amateur radio operators.- History :...
or
RTTYRadioteletype is a telecommunications system consisting originally of two or more electromechanical teleprinters in different locations, later superseded by personal computers running software to emulate teleprinters, connected by radio rather than a wired link.The term radioteletype is used to...
(digital modes of communication), with output power of around 50-100 Watts. These included:
- TS-800 series—From the late 1970s, the TS-820 was one of the first Kenwood transceiver
A transceiver is a device comprising both a transmitter and a receiver which are combined and share common circuitry or a single housing. When no circuitry is common between transmit and receive functions, the device is a transmitter-receiver. The term originated in the early 1920s...
s to gain widespread acceptance in the Amateur Radio community. The original model included a single VFO (variable frequency oscillator), although a second VFO could be purchased as a stand-alone option; a matching receiver, the R-820, was also available, which permitted split frequency operation. A digital display was another option, availablle to be retrofitRetrofitting refers to the addition of new technology or features to older systems.* power plant retrofit, improving power plant efficiency / increasing output / reducing emissions...
to the original device. With the digital display installed, a TS-820 could be named a "TS-820S": all future Kenwood HF transceivers have used the "S" designation to signify presence of a digital display, though the feature has long since become standard equipment.
- TS-900 series—From the mid-1980s, the TS-930S and, to a greater extent, the TS-940S represented a step-up in features, size, and cost from the 800-series models. Introduced around 1986, the TS-940S was considered a classic of its time which was later succeeded by the TS-950. It was Kenwood's first model to permit the HF transceiver to be fully controlled by a personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
(via RS-232In telecommunications, RS-232 is the traditional name for a series of standards for serial binary single-ended data and control signals connecting between a DTE and a DCE . It is commonly used in computer serial ports...
cable and an aftermarket interfaceIn computer architecture, a bus is a subsystem that transfers data between components inside a computer, or between computers.Early computer buses were literally parallel electrical wires with multiple connections, but the term is now used for any physical arrangement that provides the same...
, the IF-232). In later years, this became standard equipment on almost all serious HF radios, and some radios would drop the human interface features entirely, being controlled entirely by a remote computer. The TS-950SDX was the last of this fine series, and its receiver is still a strong performer even when compared with much newer and more expensive radios.
- TS-100 series - From the late 1982, the TS-120 was one of the first Kenwood solid state line of the litle radio. After this models arrived, other models appeared: TS-130S - TS-140S - TS-180S.
- TS-400 series—with models including the TS-430S, TS-440S, TS-450 and TS-480, these units featured a smaller size, were operated on 12 Volts -- meaning batteries could be used—and were suitable for use as a portable base station, such as during Amateur Radio Field Day
Field Day is an annual amateur radio exercise, widely sponsored by IARU regions and member organizations, encouraging emergency communications preparedness among amateur radio operators...
. The TS-430S was one of the first compact HF rigs offering "full coverage" receive, literally from 1-30Mhz. The TS-440S added direct keyboard entry and an internal auto antenna tuner option. All at a very attractive price point not seen with the main competitors of the time.
- TS-600 series—These models were mainly identical to their 400 series counterparts but offered the 6 Meters
The 6-meter band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum allocated to amateur radio use. Although located in the lower portion of the VHF band, it nonetheless occasionally displays propagation mechanisms characteristic of the HF bands. This normally occurs close to sunspot maximum, when solar...
band as an addition. For example the TS-450S and the TS-690S have the same exterior and mostly the same specifications on the 1.8-30 MHz HF bands, but adding the 6 MetersThe 6-meter band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum allocated to amateur radio use. Although located in the lower portion of the VHF band, it nonetheless occasionally displays propagation mechanisms characteristic of the HF bands. This normally occurs close to sunspot maximum, when solar...
band.
Other series include the 100, 500, and the new 2000 series. The
TS-2000The Kenwood TS-2000 is an amateur radio transceiver manufactured by the Kenwood Corporation. Introduced in the year 2000, the radio has come to be very popular among hams for its "all-in-one" functionality...
is Kenwood's current top of the line model. It includes all-mode operation on HF,
6 metersThe 6-meter band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum allocated to amateur radio use. Although located in the lower portion of the VHF band, it nonetheless occasionally displays propagation mechanisms characteristic of the HF bands. This normally occurs close to sunspot maximum, when solar...
,
2 metersThe 2-meter amateur radio band is a portion of the VHF radio spectrum, comprising frequencies stretching from 144.000 MHz to 148.000 MHz in International Telecommunication Union region Regions 2 and 3 and from 144.000 MHz to 146.000 MHz in ITU Region 1...
,
70 centimetersThe 70-centimeter amateur radio band is a portion of the UHF radio spectrum. This band is used by amateurs engaged in emergency communications where portable and mobile radios are frequently used. Many such radios have dual-band capabilities, operating on both the 70-centimeter and 2-meter bands.-...
(420 - 450 MHz), and in the "X" model the
23 centimetersThe 23 centimeter, 1200 MHz or 1.2 GHz band is a portion of the UHF radio spectrum internationally allocated to amateur radio and amateur satellite use on a secondary basis. The amateur radio band is between 1240 MHz and 1300 MHz...
band (1.24 - 1.30 GHz). Kenwood also offers a "B" model which is a transceiver without display or controls and is completely controlled by a remote computer or a separate control unit. This allows using it as a mobile transceiver where the main unit is placed in the trunk or an area that provides enough room to house it, possibly closer to the antenna, and have a control unit in the front of the car. A setup like this allows the control unit to be placed closer to the driver and the transceiver closer to the antenna which shortens the cable, reducing possible interference.
Kenwood has not entered the "big box" high end HF radio market that has become the high ground in the amateur radio market. While the TS-2000 offers solid performance in a very compact package, it is missing key features found in the high end offerings from Icom and Yaesu.
- Radios with built-in Digital data modes & modems (for APRS)
Kenwood TS-2000 also have built-in Digital data modes (APRS, built on AX.25 Packet), as do the mobile TM-D710A (which replaced the earlier TM-D700A) and handheld TH-D7 series. A
UK White Paper shows a number of applications of the popular APRS (ie, Automatic Position Reporting System, a.k.a. Automatic Packet Reporting System).
L-series product line
In the late 1970s Trio Kenwood put to use their experience in DC to high-frequency amplification used in
oscilloscopeAn oscilloscope is a type of electronic test instrument that allows observation of constantly varying signal voltages, usually as a two-dimensional graph of one or more electrical potential differences using the vertical or 'Y' axis, plotted as a function of time,...
s and embarked on what was to become their signature
high-end audioHigh-end audio is a term used to describe a class of consumer home audio equipment marketed to audio enthusiasts on the basis of high price or quality, and esoteric or novel sound reproduction technologies. High-end audio can refer simply to the price, to the build quality of the components, or to...
gear, the L-series (or Lab-series). Starting with the L-05, 7 & 9 pre/power amplifiers, the L-07T tuner and the L-07D direct drive turntable.
In 1979 they started the New-Separate amplifier series with the L-01A integrated amplifier and matching L-01T tuner. In 1983/4 the L-03A and T where launched, but were aimed primarily on the Japanese market. The first L-series CD-player was the L-03DP which had a front loading mechanism much like a casettedeck. In 1989 the L-1000 series were launched. The L-1000 series consisted of a control amplifier, power amplifier, tuner and CD-player. The last line of the L-series came in 1994 with the L-A1 integrated amplifier and the L-D1 CD-player. After 1994 no new L-series were launched.
Most of the L-series were designed by Kenwood, but manufactured by Kensonic (known today as
AccuphaseAccuphase Laboratories, Inc. is a Japanese high-end audio equipment manufacturer founded by former Kenwood engineer Jiro Kasuga in late 1972. Kasuga was not happy with the views of Kenwood relating to the follower of their High-End Supreme 1 unit...
).
In 1978 Kenwood introduced it's KR-4070 Stereo Receiver that sold for around $315.99 & it puts out 40 wpc sounds more like 80 wpc. It features 1 phono,1 Aux, 2 Tape Inputs Loudness on/off,AM,Auto Muting,FM,Mono,& Separate Bass & Treble Controls.
D.R.I.V.E.
DRIVE stands for Dynamic Resolution Intensive Vector Enhancement. This IC invented in the early 1990s is intended to enhance soft signals in CD players by interpreting the signal and then relaying it through various filters in order to recreate as close as possible the signal as it was recorded. Many improvements were released with new versions of the DRIVE ICs.
T.R.A.I.T.
TRAIT stands for Thermally Reactive Advanced Instantaneous Transistor. This means that the thermocouple necessary to compensate for temperature effects in power transistors is housed inside the transistor instead of the traditional place on the heatsink. This minimizes the time difference between actual temperature of the transistor and measured temperature on the heatsink. This improves the sound quality of the amplified signal.
TRAIT transistors have 5 pins instead of the normal 3 (Base, Collector, Emitter or Gate, Source, Drain for MOSFET's) TRAIT transistors, manufactured by Sanken Electronics, were used in the mid 1990s for the first time in Kenwood amplifiers. TRAIT is called K-Stat in the USA.
TrueX Optical Drives
In 1998, Kenwood released the TrueX line of
personal computerA personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
CD-ROMA CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
drives, first at the speed of 40x, then 52x and 72x. The TrueX CD-ROM drives use a low rotational speed (approximately 6x to 10x) with seven laser pickups functioning in parallel to read data at faster overall speeds. After the initial marketing hype died down these drives had numerous problems, most notably the inability to correctly handle copy protected CDs and the drives suffered from very poor reliability.
NV-301/701
The NV-301 and NV-701 were 2 hi-fi systems were released in 2000 as part of the NV series of hi-fi systems. Both had half mirror, acrylic blue and silver panels. The NV-301 was a standard 2 speaker system, and the NV-701 a 5.1 surround sound system. Both had a 3-disc CD player and a cassette deck with Dolby B Noise Reduction. The units incorporated many functions that you would expect to find on bulkier units in such a small form factor. The functions (e.g. reverse mode, Dolby NR, CD programme, graphic equalizer etc) are accessed by pressing the menu button. Use of microcomputers allowed such a small design to be created. These features made the NV-301/701 highly advanced for the time and even today they could still be considered as modern hi-fi systems. The design of them is also ahead of its time as well and today it could easily fool people into believing that it's a brand new unit when it's actually 12 years old. Units from other manufacturers never matched the Kenwood NV-301/701 in terms of technological advances and design. Only recently that some higher end hi-fis have caught up with the NV-301/701, incorporating a microcomputer and possible accessing functions via a menu button. The only feature to identify the NV-301/701 as old is the large headphones jack, new hi-fi systems nowadays feature a small jack.
HD30GD9 Media Keg MP3 Player (for sale in Japan only)
In 2006 Kenwood released its own high end digital HDD MP3 player. While lacking in features such as a video player the HD30GD9 makes up for it in the quality of its music playback.
HD60GD9 Media Keg MP3 Player (for sale in Japan only)
In 2007 Kenwood introduced the HD60GD9, unlike most of the MP3 players on the market that focus on forms and extra capabilities, Kenwood's new Media Keg focuses entirely on sound quality. It is one of the only MP3 players with superior digital amplifier equipped with a vibration-free plastic shell and gel mount for the hard drive, as well as a non-magnetic metal frame used inside the device, to help the system prevent interferences. Kenwood's new "Supreme EX" decoder for better compressed music file reproduction.
Lamborghini Murciélago
Kenwood Corporation Multimedia Car Audio Products are standard equipment on
Lamborghini MurciélagoThe Lamborghini Murciélago is a two-door, two-seat sports car produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 2001 and 2010. Successor to the Diablo and flagship of the automaker's lineup, the Murciélago was introduced as a coupé in 2001. The automaker's first new design in eleven years, the car...
models.
McLaren F1
McLaren commissioned Kenwood, its supplier of radio equipments for the team, to create a lightweight car audio system for the
F1The McLaren F1 is a supercar designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. Originally a concept conceived by Gordon Murray, he convinced Ron Dennis to back the project and engaged Peter Stevens to design the exterior of the car...
; Kenwood, between 1992 and 1998, used the F1 to promote its products in print advertisements, calendars and brochure covers. Each car audio system was tailored to an individual's listening taste, however radio was omitted because
Gordon MurrayProf. Gordon Murray , is a renowned designer of Formula One race cars and the McLaren F1 road car.-Early life:...
, the vehicle's designer, never listened to the radio.
SsangYong Rexton R-Line
A Kenwood GPS/entertainment system comes standard in the
SsangYong RextonThe SsangYong Rexton is a sport utility vehicle based on the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, initially released in Korea by the SsangYong Motor Company in late 2001. This vehicle offers standard appointments such as quiet on-road performance, car-like handling, and off-road capability, and can be configured...
R-line.
External links