hey, all!! i just aquired this rare beauty, a highly sophisticated programmable remote from 1988~1990-thereabouts. this particular version, of which there were at least two, came with JVC's TOTL A/V receiver from 1989 or so, the RX-1010VTN;





i myself have seen only one other touch panel remote from the 1980s, a brand-specific SONY that was included in their 1986 "Axcess" complete A/V system package. this JVC, however, is far more sophisticated, and LARGE, too!! it is easily the largest remote i own, dwarfing even the PIONEER CU-AV200, my former record holder for sheer size in a programmable remote. anyway, i've wanted one of these for a few years now, but, as it is rare, there has only been one available on the BAY for $178. i've waited, and the waiting paid off when i finally found this one for a song!!
as i just mentioned, there is at least two versions out there of this remote design. this Gunmetal colored RX-1010VTN version, and a black version that came before it, probably in 1987/88, attached to the then TOTL RX-1001VBK:








i prefer the black version myself, but i count myself lucky just to have gotten the opportunity to own one at all!! anyway, some expose' pics;

i had just noticed that the RX-1001 and RX-1010 remotes actually have different touch panel layouts. i wonder if anything else between them is different?

Hoorah for MacGyver! Thanks for being into mid-vintage stuff!!

Thanks!! i've been thinking about procuring an RX-1010VTN based on the strength of how much i like this this remote alone. not to use, not to replace my VSX-D1S or anything, jus to collect, is all...

I never saw one of those before. Tanx for sharing.

Didn't realize that touch remotes were built back then.

I have a Sony AV-2100 myself that I need to program some day.

Thing's the size of a desktop calculator.

there we are! yeah, i recall fiddling around with one of those in the home theater demo at the TRI-CITIES, WASH. CIRCUIT CITY some years ago. they had them as part of their two or three demo setups right up till they recently folded. works on the exact same principle as my JVC, though the JVC looks cooler, IMO. the JVC has a defeatable roger-beep that sounds whenever a button is pushed. PIONEER also has had a touch-panel remote as part of their TOTL ELITE A/V receivers for several models now, from 1999 to current, i believe, and YAMAHA included one with their 2001 TOTL RX-Z1 AVR as well. all of which are more sophisticated than either the JVC or the SONY:

still, this remains my all-time favorite programmable remote, eminently flexible and configurable, plus it fits my VSX-D1S like it was made for it;



PIONEER CU-AV200 (1989)

Mac: I saw a CU-VSX158 like the one in your pictures and was sorely tempted to buy it. The VXS-158 receiver itself sold a few weeks ago at the same shop so sadly, I think the remote became separated.

how much? you can often get a complete VSX-29TX with that remote on EBAY for $300-600. still, i'm inclined to believe that the remote is the only redeeming aspect of that receiver, as it is quite notorious for failures due to heat buildup and cold solders, and a DD/DPL board that tends to go wonky after a while...

I passed on the VSX receiver. It had the wood side panels and looked very nice. Now that you mention the cold solder joints, I probably avoided some trouble.

Is this the Steve Hoofyman site? Man thats a lot of pictures.
Hi Wally.

you have a PM.