JVC S-201 (JR-S201) (c. 1978–1981)
Not much is documented about the JVC S-201. The Archive has no factory fact sheet for it. What survives are period magazine entries that identify it as the JR-S201, an AM/FM stereo receiver current from the late 1970s into the early 1980s.
HI-Fi-Stereo-Buyers (January 1979, p.51) listed it at $350 in a metal cabinet. The magazine described an AM/FM receiver FTC-rated at 35 watts RMS per channel into 8 ohms from 20 to 20,000 Hz, with THD no higher than 0.03%. The feature that set it apart was a graphic-type tone equalizer, still a rare thing on a receiver at that price. The magazine said it let the listener match the overall sound to the listening room. The same entry noted signal-strength and center-tuning meters on the front panel. A later HI-Fi-Stereo-Buyers receiver rundown (1980, p.46) placed it near the JR-S301 but rated at 35 W/ch continuous, quoting 0.02% THD and 0.005% IM distortion.
JVC's own advertising in High Fidelity (March 1979, p.15) called the new receiver generation revolutionary in looks and performance. That is ad copy, of course. A later JVC ad in the same magazine (March 1981, p.77) boasted that only JVC combined Super-A output purity with graphic equalization in a receiver. That was the marketing theme this model's tone controls belonged to.
Known specs (period sources)
- AM/FM stereo receiver
- 35 W RMS per channel into 8 ohms, 20–20,000 Hz (FTC rating)
- THD no higher than 0.03% (1979 report); 0.02% THD / 0.005% IM (1980 listing)
- Graphic-type tone equalizers
- Signal-strength and center-tuning meters
- $350 in metal cabinet (1979 list price)
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