The JVC RX-5042 mods
Why the RX-5042 for modification?
The JVC RX-5042
In our previous article we rant about the cheap RX-5042 which can be picked up for next to nothing. The problem is that it is a home theatre amplifier, along with the poor tone controls and lack of MM or MC cartridge inputs. To keep the audio circuitry strictly short path analog and of course ensure that power amplifier speaker protectors remain operative we add minor changes – a separate stereo preamplifier plus RIAA turntable input.
Relays configure the routing of the left and right channels, the center and surround inputs are muted (grounded) and an LED shows when analog with Baxandall tone controls have been selected.


In our next article we will drill down to the changes showing stereo preamplifiers with tone controls and switching. This will include LFE out.
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