Kenwood GE-1000
A 10-band-per-channel graphic equalizer from Kenwood's late-1970s component line — a stereo analog EQ with rotary slider controls, designed to fit between preamp and power amp in a serious separates system.
Overview
The GE-1000 is a stereo 10-band graphic equalizer from Kenwood's component lineup of 1979-1981. Each channel has ten ISO-spaced bands from 31.5 Hz through 16 kHz, with ±12 dB cut/boost per band. The unit is meant to be inserted at line level between a preamplifier and a power amplifier — the standard pro and high-end home configuration of the era.
Graphic EQs were popular accessories in the late 1970s as audiophiles tried to compensate for room modes, speaker irregularities, and program-material variation. The GE-1000 was Kenwood's serious offering in that space — separate L/R channels, full-bandwidth response, modest insertion noise.
Specifications
| Type | Stereo 10-band graphic equalizer |
| Bands per channel | 10 (ISO standard: 31.5, 63, 125, 250, 500, 1k, 2k, 4k, 8k, 16k Hz) |
| Cut/boost range | ±12 dB per band |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz – 100 kHz (flat) |
| S/N ratio | ~92 dB |
| THD | 0.05% at rated level |
| Input impedance | 50 kΩ |
Applications and Legacy
System tuning, room compensation, recording playback EQ. Working examples trade for $80-180. Modern listeners often skip outboard EQ in favor of room-correction DSP, but enthusiasts who want fully analog signal paths still appreciate the GE-1000 as a clean, transparent unit.
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