Finally finished deconstruction and ready to connect some dots.
lots of room inside, and a surfeit of good speaker output jacks
For now I will terminate the audio amp inputs to RCA and plug directly into the cheap 5.1 decoder (probably the weakest link) and subject to upgrade. I will make some passive attenuators to trim channel balance from my stash of 30+ YO 10k pots.
The market for bare bones 5.1 preamp front ends is pretty slim, but the recent one I just picked up is noticeably better than that old first generation one I was using. The added master volume control feature is useful and they fixed the weak sub output.
I could keep the fancy series output inductors on the old output jack PCB but shouldn't need them so probably not.
It will look better with the cover back on. I may try to repurpose the stripped down old front panel but probably not practical. KISS.
JR
PS: I have a huge pile of salvageable parts to pick through. Humpty will never go back together again, but lots of cool looking stuff. You can see the plastic tub sitting on the floor overflowing.
[edit The big black lumps on the output board are nice 24V relays... only 5 of them, even big dog AV receivers ASSume powered sub woofers /edit]
Disregard the snare drum, that is where I do final QA for drum tuners before I ship them.
It's nice to be nice.