JVC A-X 5

Data

General:

• Manufacturer: JVC
• Model: A-X 5
• Type: Super-A integrated amplifier
• Years of manufacture: 1979 - 1981
• Made in: Japan
• Color: Silver
• Remote control: no
• Power consumption: 500 W max.
• Dimensions: 450 x 140 x 420 mm (WxHxD)
• Weight: 11,5 kg
• Original price approx.: 1'150 DM (list price)

Connections:

• Inputs:
  • 2x Phono (MM or MC)
  • Phono MM : 2.5 mV/ 47 kOhm (max. 250 mV)
  • Phono MC : 0.2 mV/ 100 Ohm (max. 18 mV)
  • Tuner, Aux, Tape 1, 2: 200 mV/ 47 kOhm.
• Outputs:
  • Tape 1,2 Rec Out: 200 mV/ 680 Ohm.
  • 2 pairs of speakers
  • Headphones

Technical Data:

• Continuous output power
  • 8 Ohm: 2 x 70 Watt (8 Ohm, 20- 20.000 Hz, THD: 0,007 %)
• Dynamic power
  • 8 Ohm: ~ 2 x 100 Watt
• Intermodulation distortion:
  • 0.004% (60 Hz: 7 kHz = 4:1) at 70 watts,8 ohms.
• Attenuation factor:
  • 75 (1 kHz,8 ohms)
• Frequency response: DC - 100 kHz +0, -3 dB
• Power bandwidth : 5- 70,000 Hz
• RIAA MC +- 0.3 dB, 20- 20,000 Hz
• RIAA MM +- 0.2 dB, 20- 20,000 Hz
• Signal-to-noise ratios MC/ MM/ Line: 70 dB/ 85 dB/ 110 dB
• Tone control: Yes

Bass: +- 8 dB at 100 Hz Treble: +- 8 dB at 10,000 Hz

• Loudness: switchable, adjustable
• Subsonic: switchable, 18 Hz - 6 dB/ Oct.
• Muting: switchable, -20 dB

Special features:

• DC-Servo phono preamplifier
• Super-A output stages
• 3-stage DC construction with passive preamplifier
• fully discrete construction of the audio electronics

Notes

• Other models in the same series:
• Integrated amplifiers:
• JVC A-X 1
• JVC A-X 2
• JVC A-X 3
• JVC A-X 4
• JVC A-X 5
• JVC A-X 7
• JVC A-X 9

• tuner
• JVC T-X 5
• JVC T-X 6 L

Pictures

• Picture: JVC A-X 5

• Picture: JVC A-X 5

Tests

• Stereoplay April 1981 9 amplifiers in comparison

Reports

• Quite rare integrated amplifier from the late seventies by JVC in the then fashionable pseudo-puristic front flap design.
• Compared to the big brother A-X9 noticeably slimmed down in terms of haptics, internal design and circuit luxury equipment, but compared to this hardly impoverished quality by a sophisticated and well-equipped audio electronics, which is currently an average "high-end" integrated amplifier of the 1500 € class would be good to face - but then ultimately not offered there.

The silicon and circuitry used in the A-X5 is, from today's point of view, simply exquisite, for example: 2SK146 JFETs in the phono preamplifier, 2SK150 JFETs in the Class-A driver stage and 2SC2525L/ 2SA1075 RETs as output stage.

• • Zero electrolytic capacitors in signal path and a true DC design not only of individual amplifier stages but of the entire device.
• The only coupling capacitors are a couple of oversized PP foil C's at the output of the Phonopre`s.

The whole thing runs at +- 50V and has a bandwidth that would make the amp usable as an HF amplifier. Separate transformer windings for phonopre and driver stage. 2 x 6800 µF charging electrolytic capacitors per channel for the output stages and complex voltage regulators for the preamplifiers. Everything is of course fully discrete. Of course the A-X5 needs a fresh set of electrolytic capacitors after 34 years, but thanks to the careful design of the circuitry, the amount of capacitors is manageable.

• On the negative side, the A-X5 offers quite modest crosstalk attenuation between inputs and is not exactly low impedance stable.
• In this respect a typical Seventies amp, which should not be concealed here.