Price Paid:  $430.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
This review is on the Cinema ProPack 600II. The low price at BestBuy was a clearance price and I got the last unit in the store. I bought this unit to upgrade my 1980's vintage stereo receiver and "towers of power" speakers. I wanted Surround Sound for a small room at an affordable price, and this system fits that bill nicely.

Strengths:
SOUND! I'm not a techno-weenie, but this system ROCKS! I'm very pleased with the cinema-quality sound when viewing DVD and music sound good, too. Though passive, the subwoofer sounds great. And yes, my system plays CD-R's without any difficulty. There are also ample connections on the back of the receiver for all your A/V equipment.

Weaknesses:
The remote control really, really, really SUCKS! For example, the keypad layout is not standard; rather than 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 it's laid out 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 Impossible to use without turning up the lights and looking right at it. Who engineered this? The patented JBL One-Click does not effectively operate my satellite receiver (there aren't enough scrolling buttons on the remote). I tried to program another remote that does operate everything else, but it won't work with Harmon Kardon's electronics. When viewing DVD, the video signal is briefly interrupted whenever an abrupt bright scene is broadcast to the television monitor--this is consistent at the exact same spot every time. I've just emailed JBL for some help and am waiting for a response...

Similar Products Used:
None--first home theatre system.

Price Paid:  $499.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I bought this system at such a low price that I couldn't turn it down! It had everything I was looking for; DVD+CD/R+MP3 player, small speakers, and BIG sound. The remote can control up to 8 devices and has the "All off" and "all on" macro built in. Some say the unit is too big, but I think it looks great. of course I had to cut out the cardboard backing from my entertainment center to fit it in there! The receiver puts out a great sound and has more than enough inputs so your system can grow. My only complaint resides in the DVD player. I didn't see the crisp picture my old Sony had and the "disk skip" feature is slow unless the button is pressed twice. It also likes to autoplay the last disk used when turned on. I can't turn that off! Overall its a great system for sound, but JBL needs to work on the video aspect now.

Strengths:
BIG sounds from small speakers; plenty of connectors, remote compatibility; great value

Weaknesses:
DVD picture quality; DVD autoplay; disk skip feature is slow; When component is selected on remote, the receiver switches to that component. I don't recommend using the remote if you need to use a cable box to change channels.

Similar Products Used:
none

Price Paid:  $660.00

Summary:
Well, I have limits...limits of space that is in my apartment, and while I am an audiophile to an extent, I just was tired of tripping over my Paradigm and PSB speakers and I wanted a multidisc DVD that would play MP3. So went with the JBL Propak 600 Mark II and am fairly pleased. Overall sound is really surprisingly good with movies and music. Receiver is quirky in that I cannot hook up my digital cablebox via S-Video to the receiver through "TV" and must use "Video 1" which limits me. Plus, I cannot stand the weak remote sensitivity on both receiver and DVD. Also very big components. Overall, ok though, certainly for the price.

Strengths:
GREAT sound at this price. Very unobtrussive speakers, MP3, CD-R playback, V-CD playback, Pro logic II and Logic 7.1 work very well on 2 channel sources.

Weaknesses:
Passive sub (not true 5.1), Extremely weak remote sensitivity, my old Denon and Toshiba DVD were much better, must point remote directly at units and then usually press a few times, PRONTO no better here, cabinet finish cheesy, TV inputs limiting

Similar Products Used:
Friends Sony HTIB, Sony REALLY lame in comparison.

Price Paid:  $650.00 from J+R Music World

Summary:
I've done extensive research on the JBL ProPack 600 and have come to find out that there are 2 models Let me point out one HUGE difference: the 600II (next gen of the 600) plays MP3 cds and CDR, while the 600 does not. Very important to most of us out there. Also, the 600II has a much-improved connector layout on the unit's back and has added a 6-channel input for DVD audio. Personally, I recommend the 600II (well worth the extra $250 if you can spare it) over the refurb'd 600. I wish someone had pointed this out early in the game, as it's not immediately apparent.

Strengths:
PLAYS MP3 and CDR! Read the summary...you need to purchase the NextGen 600II

Weaknesses:
Big, yes...but that's what allows it to kill all other HTIBs.

Price Paid:  $800.00 from bestbuy

Summary:
This is no ''cheap beginner system'' home theater package. The difference in sound quality, volume, and bass response between this unit and one of the cheaper sony units is like night and day. The JBL is unreal. It can go extremely loud and remain ''clean'', without any distortion of the sound. The unit supports pretty much everything you would probably want. It has tons of inputs to allow you to hook up all kinds of things into the unit...including a front mounted set. This unit is literally capable of shaking the windows of my house with the bass reponse. It actaully makes you feel like you are in the movie. I have seen movies at friends houses on other systems (low end sony, panasonic, JVC, and BOSE) and they don''t seem to compare to the JBL. Check the types and numbers of inputs, the speaker sizes and wattage, and the amplifier output of this unit compared to the competition...this is not your ''average'' home system. It has some problems...see below. Overall, I''m happy with the unit and would buy it again.

Strengths:
Unreal surround sound. DTS support. Lots of inputs and outputs (including opticals)...many more than the competition. Fantastic BASS repsonse from subwoofer. Support for analog signals and non surround signals in very good ''fake'' surround sound. Sounds great with music CDs too. Speakers are small (except sub)...smaller than competition, and therfore easy to hide in living room.

Weaknesses:
DVD player seems loud (can hear discs spinning). It does not play CDR/Mp3 CDs (as another reviewer mentioned). Remote is ''quirky'' and could have better integration of the to modules of the system. Package is LARGE. The box is 90lbs. The DVD and amp are huge by comparison to other comapanies...as is the subwoofer (must be close to 35 pounds). You need two LARGE, DEEP shelves on your entertainment center just to hold the components. I guess the upside of this is that is ''looks like a serious system''.

Similar Products Used:
None.