Price Paid:  $179.00 from BX

Summary:
This is the best CD player Ive heard. I've read the other reviews about the door opening when you turn it on every so often. This is not a malfunction. This is a self diagnostic mode to determine where the discs are and that it is operating properly. It is best that you use the optical output and that you use high grade optical cables. Just like regular interconnect cables, If you buy cheap poor ones you will get lower quality. If used in conjunction with the JVC flagship reciever there would be no competetion from other systems.

Strengths:
Signal to noise ratio dynamic range 1-bit PEM DD converter Compu-link system Ability to send a DTS CD signal on a DTS bit stream to a reciever using the optical output.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
JVC RX-DP10VBK Reciever Monster reference optical cable Monster Mseries 2.2 speaker calbes JBL Sseries center channel speaker II JBL Northridge series ND310 -main speakers Bose acoustimass 5 seri

Price Paid:  $99.00 from JandR.com

Summary:
Worked good out of the box...but after a couple days the tray door would start opening after random power ons (probably 3 out of 5); I had read that this had occured before on Amazon and the like but assumed it wouldn't happen to me. Then it started skipping horribly on many, many perfect CDs; it wouldn't just skip, sometimes it would go back, sometimes it would just like 2 minutes ahead and it would make a horrible noise like pushing down on the needle on a record player...waste of $100, I'm selling it and buying a non-JVC

Strengths:
sounds good when it works

Weaknesses:
Tray door problem BAD Skipping

Price Paid:  $109.00 from Curcuit City

Summary:
What a sleeper!!! This unit amazes at it's ability to play scratched discs. I played a particular damaged disc on Arcam, NAD, Rotel and even Classe and Mark Levision units and the JVC was the only one that could get through the disc. Besides this feat it also is quite adept in it's portrayal of soundstage and detail, heads and tails above any changer I've ever heard. Okay enough praise---this deck does not compete sonically with units over $1,000 as it exhibts a little thickness in the bass and some rounding off of higher frequencies but it is a great listen and is a no brainer buy.

Strengths:
Ability to play scratched discs, Soundstage, Timing

Weaknesses:
None at this price

Similar Products Used:
Harmon Kardon FL 8250, Sony SCCD 775,

Price Paid:  $259.00 from Visions

Summary:
descent it''s a CD player what can I say, i like the optical out. its freakin ugly, and huge but i don''t really care i rarley use it, not because i don''t like it but i just don''t listen to music at home that much.

Strengths:
optical out, sound is good for the price.

Weaknesses:
whenever i turn it on, it opens automatically, I think it might just be mine, but its pain. does anyway else have this?

Similar Products Used:
yamaha,pioneer

Price Paid:  $129.00 from Circuit City

Summary:
In addition to this work of art, I also own a JVC FS-5000 minisystem that puts out exceptional sound as well. I was considering the Yamaha and Sony equvalent, but realized that when compared to the JVC, it seems as if it were stripped down to an eye, a remote, and scrap metal, thus obviously crappy. I was going to buy the Yamaha but it was sold out so after careful deliberation, I made my choice with the JVC. I have a weak little Sony DAV-S300 (which will soon be extensively upgraded to a nicer system altogether) in which I hook this phenomenal cd player to via an RCA(brand) optical cable. This cd player obviously does not live up to its full potential through this stupid home theatre system, but puts out extraordinary sound anyway. If it sounds great now, it will sound 10 times better coming through a much more powerful receiver. Do not underestimate the power of any audio component of JVC, it will definitely leave you speechless with its great deal of power it has to offer. Any potential buyer who has considered this incredibly refined piece, I highly recommend this to a beginner or even a knowledgeable audiophile who doesn't want to pay an exorbitant amount of money for some apparatus with unknown paramenters, yet a fancy, well-respected name to hide these flaws. You will definitely not regret the purchase of this model.

Strengths:
Outstanding sound quality through the optical output. Apparatus and remote are very user-friendly. Quick play transfer from disc to disc.

Weaknesses:
Grey carousel panel makes black cd player look shabby, fit for a novice. Multitude of buttons clutter the front panel...only cosmetic weaknesses.

Similar Products Used:
Teac PD-D1200