JVC JP-S7

Rare preamplifier adorned with very interesting looks which may make it look like a 1970s gadget. Said looks survived, in simplified form, until the A-X9 in 1981.

Of course, the Victor JP-S7 isn't a gadget - at 170,000¥ in 1975, it wasn't meant to be.
The accompanying power amplifier, JM-S7, was equipped with NEC's V-FET and cost the near-TC-880-2 sum of 230,000¥ - high-end indeed.

Visually striking is the volume slider which is more technical than it may seem : it hides four gangs, two at the buffer output and two at the input for reduction of residual noise and better linearity at low listening levels.

Among the many features, the phono stage is MOS-FET charged and operates in Class A.