DirectDrive Museum - Trio/Kenwood

Trio/Kenwood was a major player in the game during the golden age of innovation and performance. Trio/Kenwood was the first company that made some efforts towards resonance-damping plinths. In the mid 70s Kenwood started to use materials like artificial stone and corian which led to the development of the legendary L-07D in 1980.

Trio/Kenwood KD-550

The KD-550 was a bit of a Rega of his time. In the 70s the KD-550 was one of the cheapest DirectDrive decks that you could fit with an arm of your likes. Sonically the KD-550 was just the ticket if you wanted to smoke your neighbours Thorens. With good solid plinth heavy platter and solid motor-regulation this deck stands to his guns even by todays standards. Used prices today have already reached the new price of the deck at 300,- Dollars.

Kenwood L-07D

Kenwood's statement in 1980. 70 pounds of ingenious engineer's work made out of aluminium and incorporating corian to the turntable market for the first time. The platter weighs a whopping 11 pounds and is fitted with a steel "mat". The main-bearing is supported by magnets underneath the platter. Sonically the L07 is a very fine deck with his - then innovative tonearm leaving some precision in the bass. But fit an SME V on this machine and place it on a well decoupled stand and this monster will play in the champion's league of today's turntables. Rarely seen, you have to pay around 1000,- Dollars for a nice one.

Kenwood KP-1100

Only available in Asia the KP-1100 was clearly inspired by the venerable L07 but looking much more like a conventional turntable. Look at the aluminium chassis pictured above and you will see that Trio was serious about resonances that days. Don't know what it's worth as I have never seen one on the used market.