JVC FS-V5 Executive Microsystem

Rating:
Summary: Excellent sound and features, but three minor complaints
Review: I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and depth of the of sound. The buttons and features are very well designed - simple and intutitive to use, but with lots of functionality packed into some buttons for those who take time to read the instructions. The clock, timed on, timed off, and sleep functions make this a bedroom centrepiece. I love the styling too - looks pretty cool, don't you think?

However, there are three minor "features" that I don't like:

First, your microphone that you got with your PC multimedia kit, or your other audio system, may not work with this unit. I have three mics at home, and all work with my assortment of audio equipment. They do NOT work with this unit. Apparently a mic with a specific impedance is required, and that impedance seems to be not one commonly found... (at least around here).

Second, the speakers do not have cable clips at the back - rather, the cables are permanently attached to the cones, and exit the speaker box through a tiny hole. Thus, if you want to lengthen the cables, you must either solder the new cables onto the old ones, or open the speaker box. Both solutions are not satisfactory. It would have cost JVC almost nothing to install cable clips on the speakers.

Third, the "bass boost" feature is not dynamic. That is, it boosts the bass very well at low volumes (which is what it's aimed for). But, at higher volumes, when the bass response of the speakers picks up, the bass boost does not diminish, and must be turned off manually, since the bass is now too great. Surely it would have been a simple task to reduce the bass boost with increasing volume? Comments?