Trio KP 660, a Japanese-made direct-drive turntable. Trio was known in Western markets as Kenwood, and the model presented here was never released outside the Japanese market – a fact that reinforced its exclusive status even at the time and today enhances its appeal to collectors. It was manufactured in 1983, immediately following the launch of the first CD players; the compact disc was a new format for the time and would gradually supplant vinyl, leading to its decline for a couple of decades; In that historical context, vinyl was entering a transitional phase, and this model stood as a mature expression of the Japanese direct-drive school, just as the market began to shift towards the new digital technology.
This direct-drive turntable featured a platter weighing over 1 kg, a design that contributed to rotational stability and smooth operation. Speed control was via a quartz PLL system, as was standard on turntables of the era, a system that ensured precise speed regulation through a stable electronic reference, in line with the finest designs of the early 1980s.
The automatic operation also included motorised tonearm movement, reflecting an advanced level of design for the category. The tonearm drive system utilised a contactless position sensor and an electronic drive system with a horizontal linear motor; the movement was smooth as there were no mechanical noises or external vibrations during tracking, which were inevitable with the traditional mechanical drive system. The force applied for anti-skating was electronically controlled and selectable via a potentiometer on the front panel, a solution which, at the time, highlighted the focus on precision and the reduction of mechanical interference.
The straight tonearm was highly rigid to suppress resonance within the tonearm itself, whilst the tonearm bracket was made from die-cast aluminium to prevent external vibrations and, at the same time, clarify the operational fulcrum thanks to the weight of the metal. Furthermore, a horizontally positioned counterweight had been developed to make the structure resistant to the arm’s torsional moment, allowing for more faithful tracking in line with the Japanese manufacturer’s design philosophy at that time.
This unit is an original Japanese model and has been internally converted to operate on the European 230 VAC mains supply, maintaining the technical configuration consistent with the original design but adapted to the continental voltage.
The cosmetic condition is visible in the photos; the chassis has been repainted to address cosmetic imperfections, a procedure carried out to restore visual uniformity to the unit. The transparent cover is new, custom-made by a firm specialising in plexiglass work, an element that enhances the overall presentation of the unit.
A collector’s item, refurbished and in excellent cosmetic condition.
