Nice sound. But, Denon sound better, cleaner and crisper.

DTS, Dolby Digital and Surround Sound Processor died. JVC wanted $300 to replace the four (4) IC. The receiver is worthless. On good for listening to CDs and radio station in stereo mode only.

Great receiver when is was working. This received was plugged into a Monster Power/Surge Protector HTS2100. I can't understand why the four (4) intergrated chips died.

Similar Products Used:

I now owned a Denon 1082 Receiver and what a big difference. Buy Denon.

Sounded nice when it worked.

It's JVC. They now have not responded to my inquiry on the failure of this component, as they did not respond to my inquiry on the failure of their top of the line DVD a while back.

JVC wants $900 for this piece of scrap metal that didn't even last 18 months? I found it trying to give professional sound with an amateur interface. Too many bells and whistles. Could have focused the cost of developing it into more powerful, but less confusing sysems. Kinda like the way windows ruins a computer when DOS does the same thing better and faster for a person who has brains. Suddenly, the display is gone, there is no throughput, and JVC will not respond to inquiries posted at their website

Similar Products Used:

Older JVC tuner amps.

From Casual in El Prado, NM:

"like the unit, but I have a big question: I connected the DSS receiver and cannot get the 1028 to decode the Dolby Digital signal from Direct TV. I installed the optic cable, I checked the optic socket assignments and every thing else I could think to do. Then I switched the DSS/DVD cables and the 1028 will decode the DSS Dolby 5.1 when the cables are hooked to the DVD port so it must be the 1028?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!"

You have the DSS connected to the "DBS" input of the 1028, right? Well, on your remote, there's a button called...hmmm...can't remember, but it's on the top and you digital switch so you can change the input signal from analog to digital. When your Source is "DBS," you can switch between "DBS" and "DBS Digital".

Tons of features. Good sound (I can't hear a hum). RF remote kicks arse. Lots of digital inputs.

No digital output(s) (arrghhh), Text Compulink glitch w/MD recorder, no Loudness button on remote, comp-3 sucks

Okay, I'm gonna start w/my biggest pet peave:

I'm playing the JVC 301BK md/CD, I switch source to DBS or VCR1. MD still playing; good. I switch source BACK to MD and that damn player/recorder stops and restarts from the beginning. That is so friggin' lame!

Also, if I have the Text Complink hooked up to my 301BK, I can't do any MD editing (e.g. Move, Combine, etc.). That sucks big time, but the Text Compulink is a joke anyways. MD/CD track info is truncated and it doesn't scroll! So who knows what the real title is? Thank goodness it's on the 301BK.

Reason I'd like digital output is so I can record from my 301BK MD to my Sharp Portable MDS-702 MD recorder. To do that I have to now unplug the digital input fr. the back of the 1028 and put it in the Sharp, but now can I hear anything? No, so I have to switch to MD analog.

3-D Phonic sounds like crap. I don't use it. Just Dolby Pro-Logic, Digital, and DTS for video sources.

Other than that, it's all good. Sound is excellent, remote is great (once you know how to use it) and that one-touch operation where you can memorize listening profiles (volume, SEA, DSP, etc.) to each source. I hated switching source from VCR to my CD/MD on my old Sony and then have to muck w/the volume and surround settings.

I wholeheartedly recommend this unit for the sound quality, features, and value (I paid $550.00 on the net, but buying electronics from the net sucks big time).

Similar Products Used:

Sony.

Loaded with Features, S-Video Switching, Digital Inputs, Good Remote

Remote has no DVD codes. Cannot learn.

Exceptional value for dollar spend, $530 from pcWonders.com.
No hiss or hum as reported by others. Unit is driving Paradigm Monitor 7, Paradigm Atom surrounds, and Yamaha Sub. Exceptional sound clarity and depth. Remote works well with Hitachi TV, Echostar sat., RCA VCR. Remote does not have learning function or DVD codes. At least I'm down to only two remotes. Overall rating 4 stars due to lack of DVD codes for remote.

I shopped Onkyo Integra DTR-6 (first choice except for price), Sony ES series, JVC 888, Yamaha, and Kenwood.

Excellent buy for those working on a budget.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Marantz

Flexibility, channel separation, performance

Hiss?

Man, just spent an hour putting together a review just to have the power flip off! Here we go again...

These units are going for $309-$349 over at Ubid and they're selling a ton of 'em. Go buy one! Super value! For me, this is an upgrade to get DTS. It has very good equalization flexibility - capable of saving eq settings for each source. If has the features of a true $1000 unit (which it originally was) if not the performance (which I really don't know, since I'm not looking to spend $1000 on a receiver). As a sub-$400 unit this is a killer.

Is there hiss? If you look hard enough, you can find a very smooth hiss. The DSP modes are like most other units - noisy and cheesey. If you're into those effects, you might notice the hiss. However, in 5.1 Digital (without the "3D-Theatre" DSP) the hiss rests about 75dB below the signal (technically -75dB s/n ratio). That is, turn up the dialog to about 95dB (loud, but not ear-shattering) and you'll hear the hiss during the silences at 20dB (quiet, but perceptible if you are in a very quiet environment with no fans, HVAC, dogs barking or traffic noise). Of course the next explosion will make your ears bleed and then it won't matter anymore. Seriously, where you are most likely to catch the hiss is at the beginning of a movie where you have it turned up and your hearing hasn't been compressed by the loud signal (or before you've had the sense to turn it down.) Obviously, cranking the volume at an extended silence can really make the hiss obnoxious, but that's a funny way to watch a film. Hiss is primarily high frequency and will be accentuated by turning up the upper frequency eq. This is a common practice by those who've lost some hearing due to exposure to loud music and movie sound tracks, and may be a reason for some of the "hissy" comments. By comparison, the TEAC I'm upgrading from had a hiss/buzz which had about the same s/n ratio, but was easier to perceive due to the buzz. I heard the same hiss/buzz from an $800 Kenwood about a year ago. Again, all this talk is about a very subtle imperfection.

Hum? There is no hum. Hum is most likely a ground loop problem in the system (despite assertions otherwise). Some models can be more suseptable to amplifying hums of other units when not properly grounded, which is why the hum seems associated to the newly-installed unit. Tracking down ground loops is half art and half rocket science.

If I had paid close to retail for this unit, I would be making comparisons to a different level of receiver. Perhaps there is better, but I don't care. For sub-$500 (and especially sub-$400), this is a steal!

Similar Products Used:

TEAC 9100

Features, advanced Supe-A tech

Nice remote but will not operate a DVD player

This unit was purchased in Oct 1999 and had to be sent out to JVC for repairs in March 2000. While listening to the unit it just went dead, no display, no control. They had to replace a fuse and 2 SI Transistors under warranty. At this time the unit has worked flawlessly (cross my fingers)

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR-DE935

Awesome sound...totally blew away the Kenwood i owned

None that i can see

Instead of going into a 42 page essay I will describe it in 1 sentence.

A wonderful stylish, flexible, quality, super sounding receiver.

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood 2080

Plenty of power: 130 watts per channel, min RMS, driven into 8 ohms, with no more than 0.02% THD. Multi-Room/ Multi-Source, RF remote. Compu-link, which integrates JVC CD players to this receiver.

No 5 channel stereo, remote does not have learning capability or macro functions

The JVC RX-1028VBK is a fine receiver. Plenty of power, with clean sound. I currently use this receiver to power speakers in my bedroom and dining room via Kimber Kable. The receiver is located, or rather hidden in a pantry next to a JVC 200 disc CD player, both of which I can control any where in the house via the RF remote. Very convenient to be able to switch from CD to FM stations while in either room. I power my home theatre setup in the living room with an Onkyo TX-DS676. I actually feel the JVC has the better sound, however the Onkyo has 5 channel stereo and a learning/ macro remote. If this receiver had either of these features it would be superior to the Onkyo, IMO. I haven't experieced any problems in nearly two years of almost daily use.
My ratings are:
Value Rating: 4 stars, Great deal
Overall Rating: 4 stars, Very good product

Similar Products Used:

Onkyo TX-DS676

Good all around unit.

Over all, I would say I have been very pleased with the unit...until tonight.

I bought the new Santana live concert DVD tonight. It has Dolby Digital and DTS. Well the DD worked just fine, but when I switched to DTS (on my DTS equipped DVD player) I got no sound at all. In fact, the Linear PCM light came on.

I'm going to let a friend of mine try out the DVD just to eliminate that as the possible culprit.

Has anyone else experienced this phenomena?