KENWOOD KSA-DX1B Network Hi-Fi AMPLIFIER

Kenwood KSA-DX1, the compact connected amplifier

With the KSA-DX1, Kenwood fits a complete hi-fi system into a compact enclosure. Amplification, a tuner, a network player and an input for a turntable share the same aluminium housing. The front panel features a glass screen, and the unit can be controlled from either a smartphone or the supplied remote control.

A compact aluminium enclosure

The KSA-DX1 measures 30 cm wide, 23.2 cm deep and 8.95 cm high, and weighs 2.5 kg. It therefore fits on a shelf, desk or TV stand, where a conventional amplifier requires the standard width of 43 cm. The chassis is made of aluminium. Two large knobs flank a 4.3-inch (10.9 cm) IPS colour screen protected by a glass panel, which displays the current source, radio station or information about the track playing. Two finishes are available, silver and black.

One hundred watts per channel for passive speakers

The KSA-DX1 delivers 2 x 100 watts RMS and drives passive speakers, which you choose yourself and connect using speaker cables. This is what sets it apart from a closed connected speaker: the sound depends on the speakers you pair it with, and you can change them without changing the amplifier. The substantial, gold-plated speaker terminals accept speakers with an impedance of 4 to 8 ohms and a power rating of at least 30 watts each. Before amplification, a digital signal processor (DSP) handles high-resolution files up to 24-bit and 192 kHz and adjusts the signal before sending it to the speakers.

Network streaming and radio

Over Wi-Fi, the amplifier receives music from Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect. You keep using the service’s app on your phone, while the KSA-DX1 takes over playback in the lossless quality offered by these platforms. AirPlay 2 streams audio directly from an iPhone, iPad or Mac. Bluetooth 5.2 allows quick smartphone pairing. The Auracast feature, based on Bluetooth LE Audio, sends the same stream to several compatible receivers at once. Thanks to AirPlay 2 and Auracast, the KSA-DX1 also integrates into a multiroom system and streams the same music to other compatible devices around the home.

Three radio modes are available. FM with RDS displays the station name and broadcast information on the screen. DAB+, digital terrestrial radio, offers more stable reception and more stations than FM. Internet radio provides access to online radio stations from around the world.

All connected features are based on AURIA, a streaming platform shared by models in the new Kenwood range. The unit’s software updates automatically over the network, allowing streaming features to evolve over time.

Direct connections for vinyl and TV

A turntable connects directly to the KSA-DX1’s Moving Magnet (MM) phono input. The phono preamplifier required for a moving magnet cartridge is built in, with no additional box needed. An analogue line input accommodates another source, such as a CD player, and a digital optical input is suitable for a TV or another electronic component. For TV sound, the ARC function connects the amplifier to the TV using a single HDMI cable. Finally, a dedicated output accommodates a subwoofer to reinforce the bass.

Glass screen and OKTIV control

The front panel, remote control and app share day-to-day control duties. The two knobs and the buttons surrounding the screen handle volume, source selection and menu navigation, while the aluminium infrared remote control provides these functions from a distance. The OKTIV smartphone app is used for initial setup, music searches and full control. The 4.3-inch colour screen confirms the active source and current track at a glance.

Technical specifications

Amplification and audio processing

• Output power: 2 × 100 W RMS
• High-resolution digital signal processor (DSP): sound optimization and high-resolution audio file management
• High-resolution playback: up to 24 bits / 192 kHz
• Bass and treble adjustment
• Equalizer with custom settings and presets: Normal, Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Voice

Recommended speakers

• Impedance: 4 to 8 Ω
• Minimum rated power: 30 W per speaker

Radio reception and podcasts

• FM with RDS: station name and broadcast information display
• DAB+: digital terrestrial radio, more stable reception and more stations than FM
• Internet radio and podcasts
• Presets: 40 FM, 40 DAB+

Network and wireless connectivity

• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 5.2 with LE Audio
  • Codecs: SBC, LC3
• Spotify Connect: control Spotify from the app, with lossless quality
• TIDAL Connect: control TIDAL from the app, with lossless quality
• Apple AirPlay 2: direct streaming from an iPhone, iPad or Mac
• Auracast: wireless audio sharing to multiple devices simultaneously
• Multiroom streaming via AirPlay 2 and Auracast: stream the same music to multiple rooms in the home
• Supported streaming formats: MP3, AAC / AAC+, FLAC, ALAC
• Automatic software updates over the network

Inputs and outputs

• Solid gold-plated speaker terminals
• DAB+ / FM antenna connector
• Analog line input
• Phono input for moving magnet cartridge: direct connection of a compatible turntable, without an external preamplifier
• Optical digital input: up to 24 bits / 96 kHz, for a TV, amplifier or other source
• HDMI ARC input: audio connection to the TV with a single cable
• Subwoofer output
• Wi-Fi / Bluetooth antenna connector

Display and controls

• 10.9 cm diagonal IPS color display
  • Real glass front panel
  • Tilting display
  • Adjustable brightness
• Two front-panel rotary controls
• Control from the OKTIV smartphone app: iOS, Android
• Alarm and sleep timer

Power supply

• Power consumption: 200 W
• Network standby power consumption: 1.7 W

Included accessories

• Aluminum infrared remote control with 2 AAA batteries
• DAB+ / FM antenna
• Wi-Fi / Bluetooth antenna
• Power cable
• Multilingual user manual

Construction, dimensions and weight

• Robust aluminum enclosure
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 30 × 8.95 × 23.2 cm