VA3 SEGA Genesis Model 1! Audio Mod Gone Awry: Can Wolfman Repair It??!!

[@rubenmejia4881]

So glad to see you tackle a model 1 wolfman! 👏

[@wolfmanrepairs]

Thank you!! It’s crazy how different it is when you compare it to a model 2!! 🐺🐺😁😁

[@ZonicMirage]

You know you're in for a ride when not only is a housing screw missing, but the top half of the RF shielding is gone as well. At least it isn't necessary, unless you're still using RF.

[@wolfmanrepairs]

Yup!! Thankfully I don’t plan on using the RF output but it would have been nice to have!! 🐺🐺😁😁

[@mattr8893]

Great soldering job. Thanks for another entertaining video.

[@wolfmanrepairs]

Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed it!! 🐺🐺😁😁

[@patracioppo8046]

Nice job !

[@wolfmanrepairs]

Thank you!! 🐺🐺😁😁

[@JDPeters538]

The VA3 has the best stock audio. I'm not sure why they would even mess with an audio mod on this VA3 since it is for other model 1 consoles.

[@wolfmanrepairs]

I’m not sure either. I also could not find any info on this mod for the VA3 🐺🐺

[@bufordmaddogtannen]

What's that wire across C46 at 15:26?

[@wolfmanrepairs]

That’s a bristle from the cheap brushes I have. It happens every time I use them. It’s really annoying!! 🐺🐺😁😁

[@thardump859]

Yeah.... This is EXACTLY why I don't do these kinds of mods to my consoles. I much prefer them in their original state, and even if I didn't, I still wouldn't want to screw around with the circuitry and risk something like this happening. I mean taking apart the console to see the circuitry and chips is one thing but modifying it is just way too much for me....

[@TheHulkingMenace]

The SMD components on the bottom are glued by the factory, My guess is they did this, so they wouldn't have to heat up the board twice to melt the solder paste on top and bottom. They are a pain to remove without fiddling around with the Iron on the sides. My guess was the person who was trying to attempt the mod might had been too rough and ripped the pad off.

[@wolfmanrepairs]

I think so too!! It’s also hard to see what’s going on. That microscope is truly a game changer!! 🐺🐺😁😁

[@jd213_]

Huh, there's the "Preamp Fix" for VA0-VA2, but VA3 is supposed to be the gold standard on which the Triple Bypass is based, so not sure what that mod is supposed to do

[@TheHulkingMenace]

It's to reduce the lowpass filter to basically match the audio heard on VA0-VA2.

[@ZonicMirage]

​@@TheHulkingMenace Yea, it restores non-muffled audio without an overdriven preamp.

[@wolfmanrepairs]

It seems like a pretty straightforward mod and the console sounds really nice!! 🐺🐺😁😁

[@jd213_]

Ah OK. Just replace C46/C47 with 4700pf caps? I don't have a VA3 but I'll give it a try on one of my VA6 boards sometime.

[@TheHulkingMenace]

​​@@ZonicMiragetry using 1000pF for really unfiltered audio. 😅 VA0-VA2 uses these by default.