Kenwood 2000 Annual Report Download - page 9

While we all benefit from the efficiency of
technological innovations and high performance
electronics, people also enjoy unsophisticated,
personalized objects that have distinctive character.
Kenwood wishes to fulfill this inherent human desire
and tries to create unique lines of products, in
addition to developing high performance equipment
filled with advanced technologies. The Mask series
car audio players, which registered a huge success in
the US market with their unique retractable anti-theft
device, and Rampage MD-radio-cassette players,
which captured the hearts of youngsters in Japan
with their vivid 5-color variations, are two examples.
Meanwhile, our outdoor radio with heavy-duty
specifications is an example of a completely new
line of electronic product that performs well in
nature. Kenwood continues to locate undiscovered
demands and to develop products that expand
people's lifestyle.
Making use of its strengths,
Kenwood gives birth to new product categories
with creative design techniques and the latest technology
Creativity
KENWOOD Corporation Annual Report 2000
7
Outdoor Radio
Kenwood introduced a high-performance portable radio that
performs well under the severe conditions of mountain
climbing and marine sports. Its impact resistance is
outstanding, thanks to a sturdy body made of titanium alloy
and a shock absorbing gel on four corners. It also has
superior water-resistance unprecedented in conventional
portable radios, in the event it falls into the water. In addition to
the AM/FM tuner that covers the broadcast bandwidth of the
entire planet, it features a short-wave tuner
which is indispensable for obtaining weather
reports. Added features, such as an IC
recorder with a timer and a switch layout that
enables one-hand operation even with a glove
on, make it a perfect device for outdoor life.
Rampage
In the past, home audio equipment was either silver or black.
The product that broke this industry practice and set the trend
for colorful audio products in the Japanese market was
Kenwood's Rampage MD-radio-cassette players. The latest
variations released this spring come in untraditional colors:
violet, red, yellow, green, etc. Rampage
is expected to gain even more market
share with its fashionable design and
outstanding performance.
Mask
The US is the biggest market for Kenwood's car audio business,
now celebrating its 20th anniversary. Having enormous
popularity in this market is the Mask series of CD player-receivers.
The secret to its success is, in addition to the fundamentals of
superior sound quality and high functionality, the unique
retractable anti-theft device in which the operation panel flips
over and hides. The practicality of the device, plus the intricate
mechanism that amuses consumers, captured a large number
of hearts. The recently introduced middle-rank D-Mask series,
with an anti-theft mechanism
that functions as a detachable
device as well as a retractable
one, is also performing well.