About the Company
Kenwood Corporation is a Japanese electronics company founded in December 1946 in Komagane, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, originally as Kasuga Radio Co., Ltd. and later renamed Trio Corporation before adopting the Kenwood name. The company became known for a wide range of consumer audio equipment, communications gear, and hi-fi products. In 2008 Kenwood merged with JVC to form JVCKenwood, and the Kenwood brand continues under that larger corporation.
Kenwood’s primary reputation historically lies in receivers, amplifiers, tuners, cassette decks, and radio equipment, but it did produce reel-to-reel tape recorders in the 1970s for the consumer high-fidelity market.
Reel-to-Reel Production History
Entry into Reel-to-Reel (Early 1970s)
Kenwood began appearing in the **reel-to-reel tape recorder market around 1971–1972. These models were manufactured in Japan and were solid-state (transistor-based) designs aimed at consumer hi-fi use rather than professional studios.
This move coincided with a broader diversification of Kenwood audio products in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including hi-fi receiver systems and stereo amplifiers.
Notable Kenwood Reel-to-Reel Models
While Kenwood reel-to-reel models are less widely cataloged than those of major brands like Sony or TEAC, several are known from collector and vintage audio references:
KW-5066 (circa 1970–1972)
Stereo model with four heads, enabling features like fast reverse erasing and improved recording/playback flexibility.
Supported multiple tape speeds (1 7⁄8, 3 3⁄4, 7 1⁄2 ips) and up to 10½″ reels.
KW-4066 (early 1970s)
A solid-state stereo model with three-head architecture and typical 7 1⁄2 ips operation — typical of mid-range hi-fi units of the era.
TT-50 (1970s)
A larger consumer unit with six heads and auto-reverse functions, capable of fairly competitive specifications for the time.
Other Models (e.g., KW-8077)
Enthusiasts report seeing other Kenwood units like a KW-8077, indicating there was a modest lineup of reel-to-reel decks sold under the Kenwood brand — though these appear sporadic and less well documented than mainstream competitors.
Manufacturing & Design Notes
Kenwood reel-to-reel machines were solid-state designs typical of the era — transistorized rather than tube-based — and were sold in various voltage versions for both Japanese domestic and export markets (100 V, 110–120 V, 220–240 V).
The company’s tape recorders were primarily consumer hi-fi products, not professional or studio gear; performance and features were geared toward home enthusiasts rather than broadcast use.
Some community commentary suggests that certain Kenwood reel-to-reel decks may have been badge-engineered or OEM models rebranded for Kenwood, which was common in Japanese hi-fi production of the period — though specific sources vary.
Market Position & Decline
Kenwood’s reel-to-reel offerings never dominated the market — that position belonged to brands like Akai, TEAC, Sony, Pioneer, and Tandberg — and Kenwood’s focus shifted over time to cassette decks, car audio, and other consumer audio products.
By the late 1970s and 1980s, as cassette technology surpassed reel-to-reel in popularity for consumer tape recording, Kenwood’s emphasis on reel-to-reel fell away, and the company largely exited that specific niche.
Legacy
Kenwood reel-to-reel tape recorders are today considered vintage hi-fi collectibles. They illustrate how even a primarily communications and consumer electronics manufacturer like Kenwood engaged with the reel-to-reel segment during the format’s late golden age in the early 1970s, producing solid-state stereo decks aimed at home audio enthusiasts.