Kenwood - The masters of desirable yet attainable Hi-Fi

[@Techmoan]

As usual there’s additional information in the *video description text box*

[@JohnDRobinsonelectronicdrums]

all great information as always

[@ddanny3108]

Trio lo7d is real high end! That’s Kenwood.

[@techno-sorcery9852]

"But what about [insert company name here]?" - Somebody who didn't read the description

[@stokesd3]

Should have in there your greatest vid yet imho really compelling... had to watch at 1x for once to take it in 😄

[@derekporter7658]

Wonder why they changed from Trio to Kenwood?

[@tiderfish]

My parents bought a full Kenwood 7 component rack with this CD player in the early 90s. One night they were out, and I popped a CD in the plus 1 slot, and the disk tray closing pushed the CD between the magazine and the plus 1 tray. So I frantically took all the components off the CD player, and took apart the CD player to fish out that CD. I got it all back together and working before they got home. Now I do stuff like that for a living. They still have that system, and I have been pining over it ever since. It had a separate radio, pre-amp and amp unit, and 7! way floor standing speakers. This thing would shake the house!

[@CheebaTimeTv]

What model is it?

[@tiderfish]

@@CheebaTimeTv I will have to check the next time i visit.

[@michael5089]

Absolutely brilliant!!

[@Coneman3]

ISTP?

[@MrSleepProductionsInc]

1900’s - audio manufacturers did everything to help you record music. 2000’s - audio manufacturers do everything to stop you from recording music.

[@nkt1]

Mr. Sleep You’re forgetting SCMS.

[@MetalTrabant]

I could copy CDs and tapes to cassette just fine with my LG hi-fi from 2003. Okay, it didn't have too many helpful functions like these decks above, but did the job just right for my teenage self. There was some synchronization though when recorded from CD, so it paused the disc when the tape reached the end of a side, so you could continue from that point on the next side, but I hate to split songs like that, so it wasn't much help.

[@MessalineApghar]

@SevelRomanov Sony too. And WB had QC issues with Disk Rot.

[@MessalineApghar]

@SevelRomanov absolutely. There were a lot of shit brand blank CDs and DVDs that rotted. But i was talking about prerecorded :)

[@SoCalFreelance]

I spent all of my summer job money on a complete Kenwood system back in the early 90's. Watching you interact with the unit, how it functions, the sounds it makes, what the display shows, all brings back fond memories.

[@jamelo2132]

And now I can spend my summer job money on those systems that people sell on ebay. For me it's sometimes astonishing how much hifi stuff cost back in the 90s and how "cheap" I can get it now on Ebay. Yes it's 30 years old but you can't get this audio quality for a reasonable price nowadays.

[@reidkeevers]

Imagine my surprise hearing about the Mikasa-Kenwood connection whilst eating off my 1970s Mikasa plate and drinking out of my matching 1970s Mikasa mug.

[@heathwellsNZ]

As a radio HAM before the internet came along... I remember Kenwood mostly for their excellent transceivers...

[@motodevcam]

I was just about to make a similar comment. Kenwood radios are superb.

[@Emphasis213]

Kenwood is a communication s powerhouse today. Many of their radios (walkie talkies) are used by public safety agencies.

[@thecianinator]

I can tell you're that old because of all the ellipses that you use lol

[@turbochargedfilms]

@@thecianinator I write like that too... And I just turned 20!

[@josephjames259]

Kenwood TS-820S owner here. Bought it because it doesn’t have the proprietary parts of today’s units. Stayed for the rich audio.

[@samvandeneynde3590]

Somehow the effort invested in these old mixtapes I used to do as a teenager made you appreciate the music a lot more. Great video.

[@Eman-wj8gq]

So true

[@Ephoros]

This video is the reason there is a full Kenwood stack sitting in my living room. Thank you!

[@ernestopenalozaromero1518]

I own a Kenwood system with a CD player, equalizer, amplifier, cassette deck, and radio. I bought it 27 years ago, and it still works. Note: 7 years ago, I tried replacing it with an Onkyo. The sound simply was never at the same level. I ended up fixing the small details of my Kenwood, and to this day, it's still in the living room.

[@TheWarmotor]

I had a Kenwood thru my childhood years into my teen years. It was doing double duty as the stereo in my room as well as the PA system when playing with my band. One day I blew a resistor running it too hot without my big mains and I wasn't in a position to have it fixed. I wonder what Onkyo unit you have? As far as modern receivers go, I haven't found a better company... My original Onkyo HT5.1 unit is in my bedroom now with some 15" sansuis up front, a 12" passive sub and Sony bookshelf speakers on center/surround. Home theatre has a newer 7.1 unit (BT is nice) with dual 15" subs and my TV stand is made up of two massive massive classic speaker boxes that run the center channel, all of the satellites house a pair of both Onkyo paper cone units and polycarbonate cone Sony units. I'll always remember the aggressive, colorful tone of my old Kenwood, but it was pure hifi and wouldn't support BT or any sort of digital surround. Onkyo fills that role a lot better :)

[@coventrykid08]

I've had my Kenwood system for 32 years it's used daily and has never missed a beat.

[@LA-db9xj]

I've always been a fan of Kenwood . My first real receiver back in the early 70's was a Kenwood KR-2400. I also had a full Kenwood rack system back in the 80's. My current vintage setup includes a Kenwood KR-5600 receiver, a Kenwood GE-1100 grapic equalizer and a Kenwood PD-M 6640 6+1 multi-disc cd player. Love the beautiful looks, warm sound, dependability and excellent build quality of Kenwood gear!

[@paulsmith4568]

Hi, I still have my Kenwood mini system from 30years ago. It cost over £1000 at the time, but was worth every penny, as everything still works and it has never been opened or repaired. It still sounds fantastic (much better than most new systems), it’s very understated, therefore, still fits into a modern lounge. I use my Amazon echo dot through it, as well as cds, tapes and records (on the dinky record deck!!). Mine has the fully auto CCRS, although it hasn’t been used recently and remember that it worked flawlessly. I really love this thing and hope it will give me many years of pleasure to come. Always enjoy your videos, you are one of my favourite youtubers. I really appreciate how much effort you put into making high quality, engaging content. Thanks Paul.

[@Yardbirds777]

In 1976 I bought a brand new Trio/Kenwood KD1033 turntable from a shop in Tottenham Court Road. This turntable is still my main turntable. It's only ever needed a belt change and cartridge/stylus changes and has never let me down. Trio turntables were highly thought of back in the '70's and were considered proper entry level hifi and gave the Pioneer PL-12D a run for its money.

[@stigofthedump4058]

Bought mine about the same time only in Whitechapel, Liverpool. Like yours mine is still in use as my main turntable with no servicing apart from belt changing. Fantastic gear.

[@dano272]

Thanks for the "this is easy" demonstration of potentiometer adjustments. Will have to get right on that for my deck later as I noted the same difference in levels on my JVC deck. Sometimes you don't know what you don't know.

[@kareno8634]

D Heatherly - i know, doesn't surprise me either. Techmoan always pops in with the cure for issues i've not thought to address.

[@White-Wolf1969]

I need to pull my Pioneer out and clean the record pot on the front as it likes to drop one channel completely during adjustment

[@emprsnm9903]

JVC had DDRP, which was their version of the kenwood DDRS. Feature set, Tip-ring-sleeve interconnect cables, suspiciously similar. Wonder if the same company was behind the scenes (Sony?) in providing the feature? Looks like Kenwoods cd changer magazine was even used in JVC changers.

[@SeanBZA]

@@emprsnm9903 Suspect they had a base set of informal must support commands, and then each would layer on propietary extensions. As to the company i would hazard NEC, as they were the de facto supplier of the intelligence in the majority of cases, and even Sony used them for controllers, even if they came with a Sony branding and house code on the epoxy.

[@Noah-Lach]

My father still owns a Kenwood stereo from when he was a teenager in the 80's. I remember drooling over the beautiful amp/radio when I was a kid. Even if modern gear sounds better, that thing was built like nothing in its price range today. Every knob and button felt perfect and the entire unit could probably survive a nuclear blast.

[@SeanBZA]

Did have to repair the tuner, stereo decoder chip died, and the replacement is still working decades later.

[@23ofSeptember]

I first learned about Kenwood because of the stickers guys would put on their back windows of their cars in the 1990s. I remember my first home stereo was a Kenwood that I bought from A&B Sound in Canada. Now, in Japan, I own a Kenwood Navigation system, and a Kenwood Hi Fi home stereo system.

[@albertloan396]

I'm surprised that such an extensive overview of the Kenwood company ignores their expertise in shortwave radio equipment. They produced some of the best high end shortwave receivers and transmitters money could buy. The Kenwood R2000 was a landmark in receiving equipment at a price hobbyists could afford.

[@jinky0u812]

I was talkin' with a group the other day and had mentioned that I felt that these older systems from the 70s, 80s and early 90s sounded much better than stereos we have today. I really miss the big speakers with woofers, mid-range and tweeters. The new stuff today all crammed into little cubes are impressive indeed that they can push the depth that they can, but the range just doesn't seem the same. I also think older equipment looked much better too.

[@josegallardo3635]

I agree, the bass nowadays are impresive, but I REALLY LOVE the sliders, leds, mesmerizing spectrum analyzer and the impresive displays in the late 80's early 90's and turning up volume with those giant knob, not the same clicking a button.

[@cjsebes]

I was just chatting with a buddy about the same thing. I'd love to get an older 80s or 90s rack system with all of the components and huge speakers. I just need to find the room for it.

[@infadeldog13]

Always liked Kenwood - fell in love after visiting the local Kenwood dealership in my town as a kid - can still smell the electronics of all those warm amps. They only seemed to sell Kenwood and later a bit of Denon. Still got by original boxed UD70 Midi Separates system I bought new in 1992. Spent hours watching the animated 'DEMO' mode on the massive 'Spectrum Analyser' display on the Graphic Equaliser.

[@BobMuir100]

Ohhhhhhhhhh pure joy to this teenager, KENWOOD & Denon!!! Went thru purchasing both brands, then a car and that sucked up all money: Capri 3.0 Executive (used) and it was a great fun money pit!!! I guess whichever way I went both would be gone by now....... lol

[@bobuilt10]

I've still got all of my Kenwood components. They were demoted by my missus in to the garage over 20 years ago where they have been regularly subjected to grinding dust, spray mist and all of the other detritus which goes with a home mechanics garage. It's testement to the build quality as everything still works perfectlyeven though I have destroyed four or five sets of speakers over the same period. I now tend to use a Bluetooth adapter with it but when I fancy a bit of nostalgia and pop in an 80's mix tape it still sounds great.

[@Kilo-ct8dh]

Me too. Still works like a charm.

[@paullestrange]

My parents had a system. And when they thought it was too big for the room, took it down the dump...they had a linear tracking record deck which I would love now.

[@Jingleboy14]

Well I learned something today. Initially I had the same thoughts on Kenwood as your brother did: "Why would a food appliance company make HiFis?".

[@Techmoan]

Yamaha make motorbikes and pianos - so it’s entirely understandable to assume Kenwood weren't beyond making food mixers and HiFi

[@RudalPL]

@@Techmoan Well. at least YAMAHA is known from their massive instruments market. And they made some really good cassette deck as well.

[@неболтай-в2о]

@@psynrg Philips too

[@SimbaSeven.]

I just picked up a Kenwood KX-1030 yesterday. I plan on fully restoring it, but would prefer a professional do it.

[@stevenlamb3971]

Kenwood also makes high end amateur radio transmitting equipment.

[@grimreaperalphax1247]

Back in the days all Sony and Kenwood systems are designed and build in Japan. This electronic is made to basically last forever,with a quality that china manufactured items could only dream about,everything is another level... I have Sony system bough in early 90s,that is manufactured in Tokyo Japan,still works as new without any problems,never been opened or repaired. And this days you buy a new electronic gadget which is almost certain made in china and in a year of owning it's more in repair shop then in use...so i miss the old days.

[@silarge]

Still got my Kenwood component HiFi from the early 90s and it's in regular use. Love the sound quality.

[@leeforsythgriffiths]

Mate can i jjust firstly say "happy new year", but also , your content always touches on something iu always have either been fascinated by myself, or find interesting. your content and the quality all round is, in my opinion, definitely some of the very best on you tube.. Thank you , yours Lee Forsyth-Griffiths

[@jimcullen2211]

This video made me scratch my nostalgia itch. I was like your brother in 1986 and I bought my first system after graduating college. I bought the Kenwood, unlike your brother. I was thrilled with it. I upgrade the system in the early 1990s to another Kenwood System. That system was replaced by home theater equipment in the early 2000s. After watching this video, I tried to find the same model as my original Kenwood receiver online. I located a KR-V95R on Craiglist locally for $120. It looked great and I was going to use it as a secondary unit. I set it up to test with my main system. I was surprised how well it sounded. It brought back many memories and I enjoyed the buttons and lights again. It's still set up two months later. I think it pushed my Toshiba to the secondary status.

[@SolarMoth]

this channel is a visual and audio time-capsule that will never come back

[@rubenalmeidajr.4728]

Not a HiFi enthusiast at all, but in 2016 I was given a Kenwood receiver by a coworker to accompany the record player I was gifting my girlfriend and I LOVE this receiver. It's as old as I am (I turn 30 in June) and it still works and sounds wonderfully. The all black also fits our current little set up.

[@smrp1984]

Great video as always, I really liked the format of dipping in and out of history and storytelling and showing us the components.

[@EricAdamsYT]

One of your best pieces yet. I've really enjoyed watching you over the years and seeing how you've developed as a creator. Just top quality work. Thanks for what you do.

[@davebarnes2601]

My Dad still has his Kenwood Separates they have not missed a beat for over 30+ years. I remember using the CCRS function to record CD's to Tape did an amazing job =) Fantastic content as always keep up the the amazing work =)

[@MrJef06]

Fluorescent displays look so cool 👍 They were everywhere in the 80s...

[@absalomdraconis]

Since the VFDs are sort of a vacuum tube, maybe we'll all get lucky & that company that's making vacuum tubes in chip-socket form with do a dot-matrix VFD as well.

[@mzimmerman1988]

I think this is my favourite video of yours. Thank you for all the hard work!

[@jameskeyes1131]

Excellent video and very impressive features on those components for the money. The black color and graphics looks modern and classy. Hard to believe these things are 30 years old. Someone took care of them for sure. I had Kenwood stuff in the 1980s and was always happy with it.

[@a500]

I’m lucky to have kept hold of my kenwood Amp and CD player. They still work and sound great. I loved the look of them and remember lusting after them when I was young.

[@TheeDuhscientist]

Oh Yes!!

[@eriks74342]

Techmoan, as a longtime fan of both Kenwood and your channel, I really enjoyed this video. And I think there's a reason Kenwood doesn't command the reputation of some of the other brands, even though its best was as good as any of the others. You've talked about your love for Pioneer components, and I think you've shown a few examples from its glory days in the late seventies. Pioneer commands high interest, partly because of its quality and partly because it made one of just about everything. Not just the standard stuff, but the stuff everyone wants to have, graphic equalizers, reel-to-reel decks, sound filters and more. All with flashy lights. And it made them all at the same time, in the late '70s, in consistently designed silverface cases, the only ones most collectors will touch. Well, Kenwood made most of the same stuff, and even a few esoteric components Pioneer never did, but it didn't do it at the same time. So you can get everything in Kenwood, superb quality, but the cabinets don't quite match. I oughtta know. I assembled an all-Kenwood monster stereo a couple years back, and I tracked down "one of everything" (in silverface), starting with the top-end 1978 components. Took plenty of research. I had to go back as far as 1971 for the reel-to-reel, 1972 (I think) for the oscilloscope (KC-6060) and as late as 1982 for the graphic equalizer. There's an early-'80s reverb (same one you tested in an earlier video), with a matching speaker output meter and digital clock/timer, a late-eighties silverface spectrum analyzer sold only in Japan, an early-'70s reel to reel "noise filter" and a silver 6-disk changer from the home theater era. There's supposedly a silver hi-fi/HQ VHS player I'm missing -- that's the only thing I haven't found. The top-end amp, tuner and cassette for 1978 are marvels -- the tuner is the best I've ever heard, the amp is really two separate amps tied together. The turntable has a uniquely massive concrete base. Totally top-notch. But you have to look pretty hard for this stuff, and when you do get it, the cabinets aren't consistent. Not like Pioneer. Looks terrific, though, when you turn off your lights and gaze at your monstrous glow-in-the-dark stereo.

[@hunterr1ar727]

I had the double tape deck version and the 6650 CD version. Bought in early 90s. Awesome machines. I had the kenwood MOSFET driver stereo amp as well. A beauty. Still in use today. CD player still works after 30 years. Tape deck sold. I also had the nice EQ that matched but sold that ages ago. Kenwood was excellent.

[@sjeeke]

Watching this video in 2020 and I now know more about 1980's/1990's tape decks then I ever did back then. Never knew about those combined button pressing. 😊

[@808v1]

I love how you timed the CD change w a nixie clock...only techmoan.

[@billchessell8213]

Kenwood, Sherwood, LaFayette, Realistic. I wish I could remember the rest! I’m a bit young to know much about Lafayette, they were out of business, I think, before I had a job, but each of the others had systems that were desirable. I would collect them like you do, if I wasn’t now deaf. I still have a component system, thrift store bargains that sit in an oak audio cabinet but I’ve never bothered to hook them together. I just can no longer assess what they sound like, so I don’t bother. Boy do I love your descriptions! Vicariously, through your explanations I can enjoy my old hobby again. Thank you so much.

[@magreger]

Wonderful! The song you chose for the recording test sounded really good. These are the type of stereo systems I grew up with as a kid. I too have a fondness for this era of audio systems.

[@dcaseng]

I haven't heard of Kenwood in YEARS. They were never considered audiophile quality, but they were one of "the best of the rest".

[@thewind-ne8rh]

love all the older sound and video equipment , takes me back . THANKS

[@johnballantyne3458]

24:45 - just LISTEN to the kick drum the bass. That bump and growl in the low end that you really only get with a cassette and Dolby. God, I love that sound.

[@johnballantyne3458]

One man's "muffled and distorted" is another man's "nostalgic and characterful".

[@-abacchus]

I was today years old when I learnt Kenwood audio and Kenwood appliances were two different companies. Both logos are black and each even have a triangular shape in red, albeit in different places, but still...

[@pcno2832]

I saw a pile of "Kenwood" stand mixers in the isle at Christmas Tree Shop for about $70 a piece a couple of years back and still have no idea who was selling them. Given that the Kenwood UK appliance maker has almost no presence in the USA, it could have been some importer who assumed it could get away with slapping the name on some generic stuff from China. I doubt a real Kenwood mixer would be that inexpensive.

[@VOLVO850MR2]

I am a fan of kenwood. I am very glad to see a fan like you to talk about the products of kenwood.

[@techbaffle]

Underrated brands: Kenwood, Aiwa, JVC. Some pretty good stuff on eBay - not a magnet for Hi-Fi enthusiasts

[@UrOpinionsSucc]

I remember Aiwa & JVC. Very underrated indeed! Back then i had a Kenwood cassette deck in my 1998 GMC Sierra cab. Good times.

[@SeanBZA]

@@UrOpinionsSucc Still using an Aiwa boombox every day, it has been in use for 30 years with only minimal repairs, though the cassette deck is broken, but it is still a good radio receiver.

[@Icalasari]

First video I've seen since subscribing. Good way to start my work day!

[@octap79]

Welcome aboard

[@DesDiamondS]

I grew up with a Kenwood setup my dad bought in 1990. This was a nice stroll through memory lane.

[@DarylSawatzky]

After watching your whole video, I glanced back at the Kenwood cassette player I bought second hand to replace an Onkyo that failed after playing maybe 10 tapes... and this Kenwood has CCRS. I didn't even know what that was. Thanks for telling me.

[@SSJfraz]

I just love those old 3 way speaker designs. Much classier looking than most modern systems.

[@russofamerica]

I don't know which KZbin algorithm recommended this video, but maybe it was the algorithm that knew I had a Kenwood stereo system when I was a teen. It was fantastic. Audio tuner, CD, dual cassettes, amp with graphic equalizer, and speakers that would pound the bass to my heart's content. Fantastic. I'm not an audiophile, but it hit the marks for me blasting everything from NWA to the Sex Pistols. My parents had a better Kenwood system with multiple CDs and maybe a few extra bells and whistles, but their music wasn't as demanding of this tech as mine was.

[@BEdmonson85]

Funny enough, amongst ham radio enthusiasts, Kenwood is still to this day considered one of the best radio transceiver manufacturers in the business for their excellent sound quality during receive and transmit.

[@spiff2268]

Aiwa made some pretty damn good stuff back in the day. A friend of mine had an Aiwa boombox that was only half the size of the average boombox of the day. We called it his "baby box". Yet it was the best sounding of all of ours.

[@bcccl569]

i love how these brands lost in time are given their proper due in this channel. not hi-fi by today's standards but the stuff of dreams for kids (now adults) saving up for a home system.

[@billedmonds7958]

I was in the audio/video business for 30+ years and it's kind of funny what little details you forget. Of course, the memory is there and comes back very fast. I sold a sh1t-ton of Kenwood gear.

[@DJdavefromlondon]

Mate - simply love your videos, I'm from Manchester originally, about your age, now in New York and your presentation and content really cheers me up. I recall buying all the Kenwood, Technics and simialr back then. Keep it up mate

[@chriso8485]

Says Dave from London

[@phixi0n]

I have fond memories growing up of my dads Trio stack stereo system. He bought it sometime in the 70s, it was beautiful. Wooden case with brushed metal front. Very heavy, high quality mechanical buttons, dials and switches. Had lovely analog VU meters that were lit. We don't know where it is nowadays... Probably long gone, but he does still have the Record Player. It's such a shame we still don't have it.

[@andrewmcphee8965]

Enjoyed the video, as always. I own a Kenwood KA-1500 that my brother-in-law bought new in the late 70s. He couldn't throw it away and I spotted it in his shed one day and he gave it to me. I put my modern Pioneer receiver (too many buttons and weird settings for my taste, anyone want it?) back into it's box and eagerly hooked up the Kenwood to my pair of 80s Wharfedales. Sonic bliss ensued!

[@Mydickfelloffagain]

I’ll take the pioneer one

[@tannermarlow5162]

Just seeing the thumbnail made me think about CCRS. And then you said it. I didn't think I would ever hear about it again. It worked very well.

[@johnzito125]

Kenwood was always a well respected name in the 70's and 80's for home and car audio. I still to this day run a 1977-1979 vintage KA-7100 Integrated Amplifier that has had 2 service visits over 43 years and it will rock the house all day long and barely get above room temperature doing so. This was the golden age for consumers because companies like Pioneer, Kennwood, and Sansui were competing for best in class status, so we got some real gems from this era. Just look on Ebay and see the rage for these products. People buy them and refurbish them too. In my opinion they really do sound "that good" to this day.

[@rationalraven8956]

Kenwood also has a similar reputation in the amateur radio world...they don't produce budget radios and don't produce extremely expensive radios, but they are perhaps the most reputable brand in the mid-range space ($1.5-7k for a base station transceiver)

[@markwilliams2620]

Pioneer. Bought it in 1988. Finally had to sell it in 2010. Aside from replacing the woofer foam surrounds it always worked and sounded great. Aiwa was what my suitemate had and it was even better.

[@christophermorin9036]

Aiwa...so underrated.

[@MrAsBBB]

I felt exactly the same seeing the two stacked together. As a teenager this amongst other thing used to get me excited. Thank you for the memories!

[@kenneychappuis1853]

I really appreciate your hard work putting a video together. Thank you

[@Carstuff111]

Honestly, I love Kenwood of old, because the quality is good without the sticker shock of sometimes...barely better "Higher End" name brand "low end" stuff. A good friend of mine had a Kenwood home stereo component setup with a multi-disc CD changer and a pair of 12 inch subwoofers..... That was glorious to listen to. Had another friend with a full Kenwood compact cassette stereo with a separate multi-band EQ and trunk mounted 6 disc CD player in his 1990 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am...all of it Kenwood and that was an amazing setup as well.

[@Johanniscool]

This video has it all! History, feature descriptions, pot twiddling, crowd sourced researching, and plenty of retro hifi goodness. One of your best videos.

[@lyricalgateway2193]

I like your comment about there being a "certain magic" about this era of technology. I personally very much like the blue color of the displays on these units. It's something I want for my personal system.

[@tiloalo]

Yep but then you cannot stream to it for your kitchen ^^

[@TechRyze]

@@tiloalo It should be possible to put something together to do that, tbh. Take a line out from the stereo and go from there with a SFF PC, Mac Mini or RasPi. Perhaps put another smaller system in the kitchen and playback though that via a line in and another device receiving.

[@Kenszen]

“Kenwood” was great, unbelievable in my opinion when they had the “Audio Purist” series.

[@thehyperspacevault]

I miss the days when stores like Circuit City, Sears or Montgomery Ward had aisles of Hi-Fi components and stereo rack systems with huge speakers. Seeing the glow of all those displays with spectrum analyzers. It was a magical time. I always preferred Technics from this era. Still have a Technics system setup and it still sounds great 30 years later. Great video.

[@That50sGuys_Reviews]

I bought a Kenwood KX-W595 and it's served me very well! Plus, it was cheap for a high-quality deck with noise reduction and chrome tape support!

[@Tedd755]

I really appreciate the clever engineers adding features to the deck without encrusting the fascia in buttons. My parents' Pioneer system did the CCRS thing slightly better though - It would scan the entire disc and play back about 10 seconds of the loudest part in a loop for you to adjust the recording level. Myself, I never recorded CD to tape. I only used the feature to set a maximum volume for playback. Also, we had a choice for the calculation of which tracks go on which side of the tape - either sequentially (and only contiguous - it wouldn't skip over any tracks like the Kenwood did at 23:43) or randomly. Random would, of course, make better use of each side of the tape due to the freedom of picking any track to fill the space.

[@robertdavis5714]

Well done Sir, I always appreciate your high res and attention to detail filming. I love their stuff from late 1970's and own a 9000G.

[@AcornElectron]

Saturday Techmoan is a definite yes from me! Keeping me entertained no matter how blasted I am 😂😂😂☺️ Holy shit! I always thought they were the same company! Ever since the 80s

[@Erebus-PCFX]

Kenwood. The definition of a forgotten hero.

[@BreakTime10101]

I bought a Kenwood rack system when I was a freshman in high school. It had all the separate components, 3 foot speakers and a wood cabinet with a glass door and top. It had CCRS, made making tapes from albums and CD’s a breeze. It was awesome. BTW, I love your videos, brings back a lot of memories from growing up as a kid. How far we’ve come when it comes to listening to music.

[@ellamcclanahan9811]

Not in a good way the old systems were way better

[@Roof_Pizza]

When I think of Kenwood I think of my brother in the 70's and that reminds me of Neal Peart.

[@cutrara7]

rip

[@Hawk1966]

Poor soul, I hope he's found peace.

[@BigMuff75]

Bless Neil Peart.

[@liquidalloy]

I am STILL using my Kenwood components that I bought in 1994. Receiver, dual cassette deck and CD player. ZERO issues

[@CheffBryan]

My father gave me his old receiver, he had gotten rid of the CD player with six disc cartridges and tape player, but this video got me into picking up all the components I could find. Anyways, all of the components are explicitly from around that time and extremely nostalgic! You just can't beat the old stuff.

[@ClandestineRecords]

My Hi-Fi is Kenwood :) Bought it second hand last October to listen my tapes and I'm happy! Never understood about that CCRS system, thank you!

[@Agamemnon2]

The automatic recording playlist generator function on the CD player is a really cool feature I had no idea existed on anything.

[@amirjubran1845]

While Kenwood might not be in the minds of many HiFi enthusiasts, their lineage lives on in the Accuphase brand, which was started by a former Kenwood employee and also partly owned by Kenwood for a time. Accuphase continues to be one of the finest brands in HiFi today, but unfortunately the prices they command make them far from attainable for most.

[@shsavvy]

I purchased a Kenwood system new in about 1994 with one touch CRSS... complete with receiver/amp with analog Dolby Surround Sound, separate tuner, 5 disc carousel CD changer, and dual cassette player/recorder; came with a black shelf with a glass door, and 2 tower speakers with 12" subs. Overall an amazing sounding and loud system. I have held on to it for 25 plus years, and still use it regularly in my basement!

[@Kreln1221]

*At the **10:46** mark, a JRC4558D dual op-amp chip is shown, which is famous for being "the" op-amp chip to have in vintage electric guitar overdrive effects pedals, such as the Maxon/Ibanez TS808/TS9 Tubescreamer series, and the BOSS OD-1 Overdrive and SD-1 Super Overdrive. Some people even buy old vintage gear to salvage JRC 4558D chips. (The JRC stands for, "Japan Radio Corporation".) Sometimes, NOS versions can go for good money, to the point of counterfeiters even removing the markings on other similar op-amp chips, and then re-marking them as JRC4558D chips. There's a big story just around these particular chips, the insanely priced vintage gear that contains them, and the markets, both legit and black, for them... It would make a very interesting video... (hint... hint...)*

[@berkeleygang1834]

Kenwood is still a top brand in communication gear. Probably #2 behind Motorola for commercial 2-way radios. Among the top brands for Amateur Radio operators (HAMS) (neck and neck with Yaesu I believe - competition is strong). The company has a solid reputation.

[@frankiemouse992]

This video convinced me to buy a Kenwood tape deck, it was a bargain and I'm really happy with it! Thanks!

[@trevor_mounts_music]

The picture at 3:25 makes my mouth water. I'd do terrible, terrible things to have that setup in my house. Massive kenwood 3-way speakers with a deathstar hi-fi rack and a sony tube tv? heaven....

[@donaldklopper]

Very interesting video! I've always thought that with Kenwood you're getting more than what you're paying for...

[@Aleziss]

I had a dozen of kenwood car audio pamphlets from 1985-1996 and it seems I trew them off... once I saw the pictures of the audio equipement in your video, I instantly thought about those and I regret that I lost all of them... I had one of the very first CD player in my car from kenwood, it was a CD player only, it had to be paired with another kenwood cassette/tuner, that cost me a fortune back then ! I always liked how kenwood audio gear looked like, one amplifier I wish I could get my hands on back then was the Basic M2A, beatiful to listen at and watch ! Fun to watch your video !

[@robertoaguiar6230]

Excellent video production. Also, Kenwood make some of the best HAM radios out there.

[@ntacoustics500]

Kenwood remains my go to brand for both home and car audio, I've ever never had a Bad sounding kenwood reciever. They always have great bass and clean highs that I can't get from any other receiver. I've owned so many and today regret selling.

[@TheTruthKiwi]

Not sure about newer home audio but they certainly make nice car audio gear

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

The newer stuff is a no go.

[@caturdaynite7217]

I love Kenwood. I still have my 1992 system. CCRS stills works, it's been a joy to use over the decades.

[@Cyba_IT]

I haven't got one cassette tape in the house, not one, but I now know pretty much everything about the Kenwood KX-4520 Cassette Deck :) Also I remember when Aiwa were super popular for their mini systems in the mid to late 90's. Everyone had one and the Technics mini systems were slightly higher quality.

[@eraldogiovannijauck229]

Thanks for the tape deck review, I have this model and as I don't have the user manual I didn't know about the tape repeat function. Greetings from Brazil and congratulations for the channel.

[@davidlium9338]

Maybe you can Download the user manual?

[@azmike1956]

I am so glad I found this post as I am repurposing some late 80's components to use with a home theater system & a small system in an adjacent room. I believe it's a Spectrum 88 & uses the CCRS system. I'm using the KM-208 main amp to power 2 MTX 10" Black Gold subs in my HT & the rest to listen to in a separate den. The KM-208 is a beast. As a test I used it to power a pair of JBL Venue Stage columns & a pair of Bose 6.2's at the same time. At approx 40% we could hear them thru-out the neighborhood & I felt sorry for the speakers! I have always had great luck with Kenwood in the past & look forward to more in the future. Thank you so much!!

[@LakeNipissing]

"Pots to twiddle." ... only electronics geeks can appreciate it !!

[@andymouse]

When I read this I glanced over to my bench to check my " Pot Twiddler " was there !

[@carolineleonard8214]

And scratch your balding pate....adjusting your half round specs at the same time.

[@userPrehistoricman]

Get the tongue at the right angle

[@andymouse]

@@stonent always.

[@andymouse]

@@carolineleonard8214 I have a full head of hair and I don't like any of these meaty spreads.

[@mm9773]

17:06 The list checks out from a German perspective: I believe that back in the Nineties in Germany, many people bought Kenwood car stereos because they wanted the huge sticker for the rear window of their car, and that’s how the brand became known and popular. I used to have a Kenwood tape deck and it was fine, but the desirable-attainable brand was always Yamaha - perhaps slightly more expensive than Kenwood, but in the same category.

[@graemeyetts3465]

I remember all this gear.Yes,Kenwood and Pioneer sold a lot of car units. My first ever proper cassette deck was a well-made and reliable Yamaha Natural Sound player. I had my Dad's Goldring/Lenco Turntable (I still have it) and the then almost ubiquitous Nad 3020 and Mission 700s.

[@ratman262]

My experience with Kenwood stuff is that it's fantastic quality and built to last. About a year ago I found a whole Kenwood hi-fi system (separate amp, radio tuner and cassette deck) with His Master's Voice speakers in an antique shop. The QC stickers inside date it December 1979 and it's in pretty much perfect nick, just needed a new belt in the cassette deck. I wasn't alive back then and was surprised to learn that they were middle of the range at the time they came out, considering how great it sounds and how well it has aged.

[@cjsebes]

That's one of my pains that my kid will never encounter: trying to figure out what tracks will fit on a cassette without cutting off a song. I'm still using my Kenwood DP-47 CD player that my parents got me for Christmas in 1987. It has outlasted all of my other Hi-Fi equipment.

[@MetalTrabant]

Before the internet, I think I just fast forwarded all tracks on a CD, wrote down the duration of the individual tracks on a paper (if it wasn't on the CD inlay), and then did some math to find out what fits to a side. But I'd never change the order of songs of an album just to fit better onto a tape. Of course this didn't work when you wanted to catch your favourite songs from the radio to your mixtape... that was pure guess.

[@roymindmybusiness6908]

I did have some of the hi end Kenwood gear -Techmoan - I used to own very rare Kenwood LM 07 monoblock amps - state of the art (amp collector they blew away 90%). Then when THX came out Kenwood released the very First THX approved amp and preamp - bloody amazing and superb quality - if you get your hands on that set you might be amazed at how clean and pure low distortion the sound was

[@jcksnghst]

Kenwood is good stuff. It's always been my #1 preference for car audio receivers. Gr8 video, ty!

[@souta95]

Although slightly off topic to this video, I wanted to mention Kenwood's Amateur Radio equipment. Kenwood is considered one of the "Big Three" Amateur Radio equipment manufactures (the other two being Icom and Yaesu). Kenwood stuff has a reputation for having some of the best audio quality out of the box (using stock microphones, and built-in speakers, etc).

[@pakrattuk]

Was just about to post a similar reply when I came across this one. Agree that Kenwood has always had the highly held reputation although maybe not as innovative as the other manufacturers (although it could be argued that the others are reinventing the wheel over and over). i mainly have Yaesu gear but have a couple of Kenwood transmitters (a handheld THF7E and their all in one TS2000) and love them both