JVC Nivico 5001 & Pioneer SX-535

[xXSHADoW93Xx]

Here's today's thrift store finds of the day.

A JVC Nivico 5001 which was priced at $29.99 and a Pioneer SX-535 priced at only $14.99. It was also a 25% off day, so decided to pull the trigger.

JVC Nivico 5001:

I'm surprised they had a switch to switch between using a magnetic cartridge or a ceramic cartridge (labeled X-TAL) for the phono input.

Decided to swap the SA-60 for the 5001:

And after hooking everything up:

And now up and running!

Shots of the Pioneer (and my bun in the background):

 

[redk9258]

Great find! Never anything around here!

 

[tom3]

I sure remember lusting after that JVC back in the day when it came out. FETs and that Equalizer was space age stuff. Super buy there I'd think. The Pioneer might be the real find though, but not for me.

 

[GD70]

Unable to see your pics. Am I the only one?
JVC was way ahead of their time when the 5001 & 5003 were put on the market. My dad has the 5003, the GB-1E omnidirectional speakers and JVC TT, don't know which model. He's the original owner from 1968. He doesn't listen to it any more and I have to go pick it up at some point. I grew up with this system, hense my love for JVC gear.
Congrats on your scores!
Glenn

 

[superdog]

Those late 60s units are interesting.Way less common than all the 70s units.

 

[GD70]

Now I can see the pics! Nice 5001! How's it sound?

 

[xXSHADoW93Xx]

Now I can see the pics! Nice 5001! How's it sound?

Love it! Has more power than my Panasonic SA-60. Recently, lightning struck the house next door and it blew up the left channel of the phono preamp, but at least the rest of the receiver survived.

 

[GD70]

Love it! Has more power than my Panasonic SA-60. Recently, lightning struck the house next door and it blew up the left channel of the phono preamp, but at least the rest of the receiver survived.

Yikes! Hope on one was hurt!
You going to get it repaired? Looks like you have a nice TT there.

 

[xXSHADoW93Xx]

Yikes! Hope on one was hurt!
You going to get it repaired? Looks like you have a nice TT there.

I just need to rebuild the phono preamp, which should be a no-brainer since I have the schematic for the preamp.

The only loss was my neighbor's TV and cable box, but nobody was hurt.

 

[Vintageaudio123]

Hi there, I am considering a Nivico 5003 for a secondary setup with a pair of small JBL Control 1. Actually grew up with one of these receivers being the main system at our house with a pair of coaxial Pioneer PAX-A30 speakers mounted in custom boxes, plus the obligatory Garrard Zero 100, and as a teenager seem to remember back then it sounding very nice. My question would be, now from a more refined point of view, I would be curious what is your impression so far on the sound quality of your model 5001? (which I believe has a very similar topology to the 5003).

I actually started off my search by considering getting one of the older Pioneer SX series, something like a 828, or a 737, maybe even a 990, but so far I'm still looking for one in decent shape at a realistic price (and without the deal breaker shipping cost), as all the prices lately seem to be climbing apparently due to increased demand and of course the "vintage" factor craze. Meanwhile I was remembering our old Nivico 5003, so it would be great to have your objective opinion as a reference point. They still seem to go for a very reasonable price, and as I recall they where very well build and felt quite heavy too (big transformer, and lots of metal parts).

Also if someone has the full schematics of the 5003, including the missing detailed sections of both the main power amp and the power supply, which are not included in any of the online manuals I've come across so far. It looks to me like maybe the last page was left out during the scan to PDF, which possibly is where these two missing sections where located. I already have a copy of the 4-page schematics but these are the ones with the missing page. There is a 5-page schematic of the 5003 at Elektrotaya but the additional one is only a "Hifi Engine" cover page. Thanks.