Kenwood KX-1000D
A 3-head stereo cassette deck with direct-drive capstan motor and Dolby HX for high-fidelity analog recording
Overview
The Kenwood KX-1000D is a 3-head stereo cassette deck made by Kenwood, designed for high-quality analog tape recording and playback. It features a direct-drive capstan motor system with an 8-pole, coreless and slotless 3-phase switching plane drive motor, supported by a large inertial mass flywheel and high-accuracy capstan for minimal wow and flutter. The deck uses ferrite combination heads for recording and playback, with a 5 μm recording gap and 1 μm playback gap, and includes separate power supplies for recording and playback circuits to enable real-time monitoring during recording.
Specifications
| Track format | 4-track 2-channel stereo |
| Motor | Capstan: FG Servo Direct Drive / Reel: DC Motor |
| Heads | Recording: ferrite combination type / Erasing: ferrite |
| Wow and flutter | 0.035% WRMS |
| Frequency response Normal | 20 Hz to 19 kHz (20 Hz to 18 kHz ± 3 dB) |
| Frequency response Ferrichrome | 20 Hz to 19 kHz (20 Hz to 18 kHz ± 3 dB) |
| Frequency response Chrome | 20 Hz to 19 kHz (20 Hz to 18 kHz ± 3 dB) |
| Frequency response Metal | 20 Hz to 20 kHz (20 Hz to 19 kHz ± 3 dB) |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Dolby HX ON above 5 kHz / OFF) Normal | 67dB / 57dB |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Dolby HX ON above 5 kHz / OFF) Ferrichrome | 69dB / 59dB |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Dolby HX ON above 5 kHz / OFF) Chrome | 69dB / 59dB |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (Dolby HX ON above 5 kHz / OFF) Metal | 70dB / 60dB |
| Total Harmonic Distortion | 0.3% or less (metal tape, 0 VU, 1 kHz) |
| Input Sensitivity / Impedance MIC (low impedance) | 0.25 mV / 10 kΩ |
| Input Sensitivity / Impedance LINE | 77.5 mV / 50 kΩ |
| Output Level / Impedance LINE | 390 mV / 100 kΩ |
| Output Level / Impedance Headphone | 50 mV / 8 Ω |
| Power supply | 100 VAC, 50Hz/60Hz |
| Power consumption | 20W |
| Dimensions | 440 mm (W) x 123 mm (H) x 373 mm (D) |
| Weight | 7.1 kg |
Design
The KX-1000D uses a direct-drive capstan system where the motor shaft directly drives the capstan, employing an 8-pole, coreless and slotless 3-phase switching plane drive motor for low torque ripple and high efficiency. Motor control relies on an all-round integral AC generator combined with a high-accuracy capstan and large inertial mass flywheel. The mechanism is under full IC logic control, and the deck features a ferrite combination 3-head system with dedicated recording and playback gaps. It includes the Dolby HX (Headroom Extension) system, which dynamically adjusts bias and equalization during recording to expand dynamic range, and separate power supplies for recording and playback circuits to allow real-time monitoring and comparison.
Features
The deck includes Dolby HX and Dolby NR, a 4-step tape selector, a large VU meter with 3-point peak indicator, and a tape monitor switch. Mode changes can be made without pressing STOP. It has auto rewind with options for repeat play or stop upon completion, an auto lead-in mechanism for quick recording standby after the tape leader, and a REC Mute function that creates silent segments while pressed. Also included are a single MPX filter, REC/PLAY timer standby, and a bias adjustment volume.
Market
A used unit sold for USD $75.00 in July 2023.
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