Hello everyone,
I've recently completed the A/V mod (via the RetroFixes kit) to an NES top-loader. Everything went smoothly except when I was removing the RF box, I forgot to desolder the audio, video, and ground connections to the motherboard (which is why you don't start such projects late at night after a busy day at work).
Thankfully I came to my senses before I could do any real damage and desoldered the connections. They were freed but when I removed the RF box I noticed the copper through-holes came out with it. I chose to proceed with the mod anyway and soldered a lead from the RF audio connection (sans its copper through-hole) on the motherboard to a pair of bridged RCA (I don't care for the 'stereo' mod).
The system powers up fine and produces clear sound to both speakers. I did notice the top-loader's sound levels are lower than those of a toaster. I hooked up the newly-modded top-loader alongside a toaster via a composite switch box and flipping back and forth the difference in sound levels was apparent. Sound quality seemed similar.
QUESTION 1:
I've read that the top-loader does not have amplification on the audio circuit while the toaster does; suggesting my experience is expected behavior. Is that true?
QUESTION 2:
For the through-holes I pulled the copper from, did I do any lasting damage? I'm assuming the NES-101 board is only dual-layered and from what I can see, the connections I mention (RF video, audio, ground) are only traced on the bottom layer.