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This is a late-’80s single-disc player, so timing matters mainly because older CD decks can be fantastic value if the transport is healthy and the seller can show it working. At £48, it looks like a fair-to-good buy rather than a steal, sitting roughly in line with typical used asking prices for similar Kenwood CD players in the UK and well below what a clean, serviced vintage deck can command.
The appeal here is straightforward: Kenwood’s better mid-tier players from this era are generally well-liked for solid build and an easy, musical presentation, and the DP-860 sits in that sweet spot. If it’s original, reads discs quickly, and comes with the remote or box, that strengthens the case; the main thing to check is reliable loading, cueing, and no skipping, since age-related transport issues are the real risk on any player this old.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Kenwood traces its origins to December 21, 1946, when it was founded as Kasuga Radio Co. Ltd. in Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, by a group of entrepreneurs led by William "Bill" Kasuga. Emerging in the postwar era, the company initially produced electronic components and amateur radio gear, renaming to Trio Corporation in 1960 before adopting the Kenwood name in 1986 to appeal to Western markets—blending "Ken," a familiar name across Japan and America, with "Wood" evoking durability and Hollywood. This rebranding fueled rapid international growth, starting with a U.S. office in Los Angeles County in 1963.
The brand built its legacy on high-quality audio and communications equipment, excelling in home hi-fi amplifiers like the acclaimed 1970 Supreme 1 multichannel model, receivers, tuners, and speakers with innovations such as polypropylene cones. Kenwood also pioneered car audio systems, including the first audio/video amplifier for home theater in 1981 and anti-theft cassette decks, alongside professional two-way radios and amateur transceivers. While maintaining roots in consumer electronics, it expanded into automotive infotainment.
Today, as part of JVCKENWOOD since the 2008 merger with JVC, Kenwood holds a solid mid-tier position in car audio and professional communications, prized by enthusiasts for reliable performance and aftermarket upgrades. Its vintage home hi-fi gear from the 1970s and 1980s commands respect among collectors for robust build and warm sound, though it no longer dominates pure hi-fi markets.
See all Kenwood listings on RADAR.
