Genesis:Preamp Fix (Model 1)
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Early model 1 Japanese Mega Drives and the earliest US Genesis consoles have slightly overdriven audio from the headphone jack, slightly spoiling what is otherwise well-balanced and clean stereo audio output. Although this issue was corrected with the later VA3 motherboard revision, it can also be corrected on VA0 through VA2 model 1s by substituting several component values. It is also worth noting that this is the only audio modification approved by the 16-bit Audiophile Project for recording high-quality Genesis/Mega Drive game soundtracks.
Required Materials and Tools
- JIS/Phillips head screwdriver
- Soldering iron
- Leaded solder
- Flux
- Tweezers
- Two 10K ohm 1206 SMD resistors
- One 18K ohm 1206 SMD resistor
- Two 4700 pF 1206 SMD capacitors
Procedure
Follow the below picture for whichever motherboard you have.
VA0 and VA1
VA2
Samples
- This sample, recorded from a VA2 Genesis, demonstrates what a stock VA0 through VA2 sounds like through the headphone output.