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Rating: 
Summary: A whole new way of thinking.
Review: I am a former user of an Onkyo Pro-Logic receiver, where everything is straightforward and volume level is predictable. I got this unit to take advantage of digital dolby on my satellite system. I have been totally baffled by the instructions, and the basic concept of how this receiver works for the last three weeks, two of which have been waiting for it to return from JVC repair where I sent it when I could not get the fiber optic hook ups to work (instructions take careful and deliberate reading on this and everything else), and the volume seemed to go only so high (Not very). This is an important point-volume is asymmetrical-goes up to a high number without much gain-then rockets over the next five-say 70-75. I got it back dented yesterday with a one liner explaining that "software was re-installed , it was tested and released." Up until this morning, I was despairing that I had blown a wad, and was ready to send it back to the service center. You have to pay the sending postage. I was finally able to get the fiber-optic hookups to work, (changed the tv hookup from tv to dvd-go figure), and finally located a help number via the service center. This number might be in the book, but I was so spooked by this experience that I didn't think to look. Find this number first before you panic, unless you are a techie which I certainly am not. Anyhow, the ecstasy after the agony is a dramatic improvement in sound and dolby-just like the theater. Bottom line, get it, don't panic, and call for help before you get embroiled.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent sound, minor usability/hookup quibbles
Review: I've owned this model for a couple of months, and have been quite satisfied. It sounds wonderful -- clean signal, nice tonal quality, hardly any noise. I listen mostly to jazz on a pair of big KLH speakers, from which it extracts clean sound without evident distortion of piano or flute notes, as I've encountered with other amps. No comments to be made about the surround features, which I don't use. Most of the DSP environmental effects are worthless, though a couple are passable (the "live club" acoustics actually do convey that impression, though with a studio recording it's a bit silly.) Various notes: the RF+IR remote is a nice feature, but the RF range isn't that good, and there's an odd lag in responses to remote commands with RF that's not there with IR. The RF antenna on the receiver extends upward past the top of the unit by an inch or so (and can't be relocated with parts supplied), which might cause issues fitting it into the top of a cabinet. It also produces quite a bit of heat -- to be expected, but it'll need adequate convection space. The video-passthrough connections are a bit fussy -- you'll probably want to hook the thing to your TV through as many of the available interconnects as are mutually supported. The remote worked fine with all my other equipment (Sony & Toshiba mostly), except the DirecTV receiver. While it can control the basics of a DVD/CD/VCR/TV/etc, it can't do anything at all complicated -- like navigate a DVD's menu. While it can turn a TV and one VCR off and on, it can't do so for anything else.
Rating:
Summary: Great Performer at a Great Price
Review: Once you figure it all out, this is a great sounding receiver. The surround sound is precise, especially in Dolby DTS 6.1. I love the ability to fine-tune the levels on each of the groups of speakers individually with ease, using either the on screen display or the remote. There are more than enough DSP modes to satisfy anyone. The remote is a bit clunky. And it's LCD is pretty useless unless you are using it in another room to control a second set of speakers. I found the RF to work really well. I did have a lot of trouble setting up the receiver. The biggest was getting a digital audio signal from my DVD player. This was actually very easy to overcome by changing the output setting on the DVD player. More importantly figuring out how control all of my equipment through the receiver and how to manipulate the sound output was a bit challenging. After about a day of fooling around it all began to make sense. Now I can get the sound I want from the source I want easily. The bottom line is be patient and you will be rewarded.
Rating:
Summary: Tremendous Product for my Needs
Review: This receiver met my specific needs perfectly. My criteria were as follows: 1. Plentiful S-Video Connections
2. Excellent Home Theatre Sound
3. Multi-Room Capability with the ability to drive a different Source into other rooms.
4. Ability to vary amplifier power into Sub-rooms.
5. RF Remote capability
6. Relatively inexpensive I have a large den with a DISH satellite receiver and a five speaker home theatre set up. Off the den is a patio with outdoor speakers and next door is the kitchen with ceiling mounted speakers. The kitchen and patio are connected to the receiver through a Niles Speaker/Volume box. Experience with my previous receiver showed that I needed the ability to drive considerably more power to the patio than to the kitchen; if speaker volume was OK in the kitchen, you couldn't hear the patio speakers. Also, if I was in the kitchen or patio, I could not control the receiver because I needed to be in the "Line of Sight" of the IF remote. With these factors in mind, I sought a new receiver. This JVC fits the bill perfectly. Extremely versatile Home Theatre that has everything I need. Tremendous power to the Surrounds. The Multi-Room capabilities are tremendous and you can drive more than enough power to your Sub-rooms for any application. I LOVE the RF remote. You can sit on the Patio and when the phone rings, you can turn down the volume or change to a different Source. The remote is able to power up and change channels on my DISH receiver and power up my Toshiba TV. Does it all... I have become a JVC fan and have purchased a JVC SVHS VCR and a JVC DVD player. They are all wired together with COMPLINK. This is an excellent feature that automatically switches from component to component as you hit the Play Button on the front of the respective units (among other things). Sold on it. My only gripe is with the User Manual which leaves quite a bit to be desired in explaining how to Configure the Initial Settings. JVC makes up for this with an excellent phone support group.
Rating:
Summary: Tremendous Product for my Needs
Review: This receiver met my specific needs perfectly. My criteria were as follows: 1. Plentiful S-Video Connections
2. Excellent Home Theatre Sound
3. Multi-Room Capability with the ability to drive a different Source into other rooms.
4. Ability to vary amplifier power into Sub-rooms.
5. RF Remote capability
6. Relatively inexpensive I have a large den with a DISH satellite receiver and a five speaker home theatre set up. Off the den is a patio with outdoor speakers and next door is the kitchen with ceiling mounted speakers. The kitchen and patio are connected to the receiver through a Niles Speaker/Volume box. Experience with my previous receiver showed that I needed the ability to drive considerably more power to the patio than to the kitchen; if speaker volume was OK in the kitchen, you couldn't hear the patio speakers. Also, if I was in the kitchen or patio, I could not control the receiver because I needed to be in the "Line of Sight" of the IF remote. With these factors in mind, I sought a new receiver. This JVC fits the bill perfectly. Extremely versatile Home Theatre that has everything I need. Tremendous power to the Surrounds. The Multi-Room capabilities are tremendous and you can drive more than enough power to your Sub-rooms for any application. I LOVE the RF remote. You can sit on the Patio and when the phone rings, you can turn down the volume or change to a different Source. The remote is able to power up and change channels on my DISH receiver and power up my Toshiba TV. Does it all... I have become a JVC fan and have purchased a JVC SVHS VCR and a JVC DVD player. They are all wired together with COMPLINK. This is an excellent feature that automatically switches from component to component as you hit the Play Button on the front of the respective units (among other things). Sold on it. My only gripe is with the User Manual which leaves quite a bit to be desired in explaining how to Configure the Initial Settings. JVC makes up for this with an excellent phone support group.
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