Kenwood Corporation

 (originally known as Kasuga Radio Co. Ltd. and later Trio Corporation) was a Japanese company that designed, developed and marketed a range of car audio, hi-fi home and personal audio, professional two-way radio communications equipment, and amateur radio ("ham") equipment. Since October 2011, Kenwood survives as the brand of JVCKenwood Corporation.
History.
The company was established in 1946 as the Kasuga Radio Co. Ltd. in Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. In 1960, the company was renamed Trio Corporation. In 1963, the first overseas office was founded in Los Angeles County, California, USA.
In the early 1960s, Trio's products were rebranded by the Lafayette Radio Company, with a focus on citizens' band radio.
A&A Trading Co. was an importer of Japanese-made electronics for RadioShack, and a bilingual Japanese-speaking manager from A&A, William "Bill" Kasuga, partnered with George Aratani and Yoichi Nakase to establish a company that would be the exclusive importer of Trio products.
The name Kenwood was invented by Kasuga as being the combination of "Ken", a name common to Japan and North America that had been tested and proven acceptable to American consumers in the name of Kenmore appliances, and "Wood", referring to the durable substance as well as suggesting a relation to Hollywood, California. The brand recognition of Kenwood eventually surpassed that of Trio, and in 1986 Trio bought Kenwood and renamed itself Kenwood. George Aratani was the first chairman of Kenwood USA Corporation and succeeded by Kasuga. In October 2008, Kenwood merged with JVC to form new holding company, named as JVCKenwood.
Kenwood introduced its Sovereign line of components in 2001. In 2007, Kenwood discontinued its line of consumer audio receivers, home theater systems and other home electronics.
Today, products marketed by the company to consumer and commercial audiences fall within the home audio, car audio aftermarket and OEM, in car entertainment, amateur radio, professional two-way radio and DECT wireless intercom sectors.
Products.
Speakers.
Kenwood offers a range of speakers at different grades ranging from stage sound to hi-fidelity.
X series.
Kenwood's ultra high grade flagship audiophile grade of amplifiers and speakers that deliver high density realistic sound and a spatial sound impression.
Hqr series (High Qualtiy Reference).
HQR series amplifiers and speakers are a step down from their flagship range, however they still provide a high grade level of audio for listeners.
Ps series (Performance).
Integrates pure performance and excellence, continuing to uphold Kenwood’s philosophy of delivering super-live sound experience.
S series (Stage).
If you’re looking for an easy solution to improve the sound quality while you drive, the new S series are ideal for their ease of installation. The S series will provide hi-quality “stage” sound and enhance your driving experience.
Bass solutions.
Kenwoods range of subwoofers to provide lower range frequencies.
Marine series.
KENWOOD marine and outdoor audio products provide sound for outdoor experiences. Made to withstand a harsher outdoor environment.
Amateur radio transceivers.
Kenwood has offered lines of HF, VHF/UHF, and portable amateur radio models, including some with built-in digital data modes (Automatic Packet Reporting System, built on AX.25 packet radio) and modems needed to send and receive these protocols.
KA Series hi-fi systems.
Kenwood's series of "Integrated Amplifier" stereo power amplifiers, launched in 1977 and produced through the mid-1980s. The design for most of these items features a true dual-mono path for stereo output (in other words, no electrical components are shared between left- and right-channel amplification). Front plates were typically made in brushed aluminum with aluminum knobs and switches, glass covers, and in some cases analog VU meters.
Amplifiers in this series included (in no particular order)
NV Series hi-fi systems.
These were a series of mini hi-fi systems launched in 2000, featuring a new design aesthetic.
The NV-301 and NV-701 both shared a three-layered half-mirrored design with the main difference lying in the specification of the two systems. The NV-301 was the basic model with two speakers and with a phono input (marked for MiniDisc and DVD players) while the NV-701 was a 5.1 Dolby surround sound model with A/V inputs. Both featured a three-disc carousel, a cassette player with Dolby B noise reduction, a natural display, intelligent features and the ability to save up to 40 radio stations, utilising microcomputers to reduce the size of the unit.
Communications equipment.
Kenwood is a brand of JVCKENWOOD Corporation making two-way radios including wireless DECT intercom systems, PMR446, dPMR446, dPMR, P25, DMR and NXDN. The Kenwood communications product range includes hand-portable and mobile terminals (including Intrinsically Safe and ATEX / IECEx hand-portables), repeaters, infrastructure and application solutions.