 The Victor Company of Japan Ltd is probably known to you by their worldwide brand name, JVC. An electronics manufacturer founded way back in 1927, as a subsidiary of US based Victor Talking Machine Company. JVC separated and went it alone during World War II, producing Japan’s first televisions in 1939. Still going strong they produce Audio, Video, Car Entertainment and other consumer, as well as professional products. In Japan their products are sold under the brand name, Victor. A partnership between Sega and JVC came about as Sega wanted to produce a CD-Rom unit for their successful Megadrive videogame console. 1991 saw the Mega-CD add on released, adding not only CD-ROM game storage, but also updated graphics, sound and processing power to the Megadrive. As part of the deal JVC designed and produced their own variation on the console. April 1992 saw the release of the first all in one unit, the Victor Wondermega RG-M1 for ¥82,800. Combining a Sega Megadrive, a Mega-CD, and a Karaoke machine. JVC added a Digital Signal Processor chip for audio enhancements and MIDI output. Later on that month, a Sega branded version, the HWM-5010, was released for ¥3,000 less, with a Sega logo rather than Victor. The premium price of the Wondermega reflects a premium product. Looking like a piece of sleek 90’s, high end, bespoke, Hi-Fi equipment. The Megadrive Cartridge slot on the left, has split dust flaps that spring closed when there is no cartridge. The CD drive sitting on the right is a top loader, but JVC added a touch of luxuriousness to it, making it a powered mechanism. Watching it open and close automatically is a joy to behold. Power and Access lights, as well as side disc drive lights, beautifully highlight the CD area. To the right are the DSP audio preset buttons, one for Game, EX-Bass, Karaoke and Off. There are circular Power and Reset bottoms set in the bottom left corner of the top of the console. Around the back of the console, you have dedicated RF (via adapter), AV and S-Video connectors, as well as a MIDI out port. This is the only Megadrive with a dedicated S-Video option. There is also that weird DE-9 EXT port and screw hole, for the short lived Sega Mega Modem. To connect power there is a barrel socket accepting a 9.5V DC in. The front has the usual two D-Sub controller ports over on the left. But on the right is a slide door panel that reveals the magical Karaoke controls. Sockets for headphones, and two microphones. Knobs to control volume on each of those and a fourth to dial in how much Effect is being added. The expensive price tag of the Wondermega, means it did not sell many units. You could buy a regular Megadrive and Mega-CD separately for less. But if you wanted that sweet Karaoke functionality, a Mega-CD Karaoke unit would bring you up to about the same cost. The Victor and Sega models were followed by a second Wondermega by JVC, the RG-M2, which was later modified for American markets as the JVC X’Eye, removing some features. To be covered in a future article. JVC also released a matching pair of speakers with the same branding, the Wonder Sound RG-SP1. Truly a Megadrive collectors holy grail of a console, the first combo Megadrive, premium costs, limited availability. - Asobi Quang DX September 2020 Back |