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Rating: 
Summary: Tons of inputs and great performance
Review: There are a couple of key features that really make this unit stand out:1) It has more inputs than you can shake a stick at, and once you have the thing configured properly, everything works just like you'd expect. Most notably, it does audio *and* video source switching. All your video devices send their signals to the amplifier, and a single video out cable is run to the monitor. So when you switch inputs on the amp, the appropriate video source is automatually routed to the monitor for you. It has 1 digital co-ax connection (RCA jack) and 4 fiber-optic digital inputs, and they can be assigned to different sources. In my case, I used a digital cable box as the co-ax source, my JVC cd changer as optical 1, and my JVC DVD player as optical source 2. Not only does this provide an all-digital input path for these digital sources, but it greatly cleans up the wiring at the back of the unit. And it still has inputs for 2 VCRs, a tape player, a turntable, a video camera (front inputs) a CDR/minidisc player, and a USB audio connection! 2) If you have other JVC components, the Compu-Link interconnection is a godsend, especially the Text-Compu-Link output from the CD changer. This allows the CD changer to export its displays (normally confined to the little LED readout on the changer) to the TV, via the amp. Search for disks/tacks/artists on the TV screen! This revolutionized the use of the CD changer. All the amplifier features can be accessed this way as well. 3) Performance is very good. This is a very clean and crisp amplifier - perhaps not audiophile-quality, but there is no noise or distortion that I could detect at reasonable volume levels. The surround processor automatically recognises Pro-Logic, Dolby Digital, and DTS input streams and does the appropriate thing with them. I moved up from a basic Pro-Logic (RF, Cen, LF, Rear) amplifier, and the difference in sound dynamics was amazing. The only beefs I have are minor: 1) The remote is poorly designed. Prior JVC remotes have been ergonomically designed, with common fucntions (volume, channel, DVD cursor) larger and located in such a way as they could be operated by feel. This remote is a plain rectangular grid with all the buttons the same size. Luckily, JVC seems to have kept the same IR codes for the last 10 years, so older remotes with better ergonomics can still be used with this unit. 2) Setting the unit up can take some patience. the manual isn't bad, but it takes dilligence to get all the inputs assigned and working correctly, especially the digital inputs. Some behavior was not initially obvious - but it IS all documented, if you take the time to _carefully_ read the manual. Highly recommended! DG
Rating:
Summary: JVC RX-8010VBK
Review: This is one of the best receivers I have ever owned. This model has all the features you are looking for at a reasonable price.
Rating:
Summary: JVC RX-8010VBK
Review: This is one of the best receivers I have ever owned. This model has all the features you are looking for at a reasonable price.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor JVC Support
Review: This receiver unexpectedly turned off during the warranty period. It was more of a distraction than a problem, so I decided not to bother JVC with a repair request. After the warranty expired, however, the receiver would not stay on. So I wrote to JVC, explained that the problem surfaced during the warranty period, and asked if JVC would therefore be kind enough to repair it within the warranty. In response, JVC's "Customer Care Coodinator" (Betty Sierra) told me that JVC would charge me full price for both parts and service to repair the receiver. She also structured the arrangement so that I would have to ship the unit outside of the city in which I live and, to boot, pay the shipping cost.
I have written JVC and asked for reconsideration of this decision and will update this posting with its answer.
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