sbenson4@wi.rr.com

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.25 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $2400.00 from buydig.com

Summary:
I purchased this JVC HD-61z886 in November, 2005. It sat in my basement unused until March, 2006 as I was finishing out the basement. The first week of July, 2006 (TV only in use 4 months) and the lamp blew. I called JVC and they sent me a replacement lamp (now a week and a half later) Surprise! that one did not work either. JVC then told me to call an "authorized service rep" in our area. I live in the Milwaukee Meto area (1.5 million people) and JVC has only ONE --- YES ONE!!! authorized service rep to take care of my TV. AFter much complaining and phone calls, I finally got JVC to "escalate" my problem. Long and short of it now some 3 weeks later my TV still does not work. Authorized Service Rep is waiting on ballast replacement and a new bulb.

This TV set has awesome features and is a great value --- when it works. My concern is that my warranty is up 11/15/06 (even though I did not start using the TV until April 2006) and will these problems continue? Will JVC do the right thing and correct the problems? Time will tell.

Strengths:
Great Picture
Great Looking TV

Weaknesses:
Lamp/Ballast
Lack of service reps in Milwaukee Metro Area

Micco26

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $2800.00 from Retail Store rather

Summary:
I did some product research whenit was time to buy a big screen. The most important for feature was clarity and overall picture quality. That is why i choose this television. After seeing it over and over in the store, comparing with other models it totally blows the competion away. I received my TV by delivery and right away noticed some rub marks on the screen, i thought it was on the outside later that same day realizing it was actually on the inside. The very next a new set was delivered and the same marks were on this set. The sales rep at the store told me they had no more in stock but to remain with this set until new one's arrive. Two weeks later I inquired about new sets coming in and still nothing. I did however learn that a "BAD BATCH" of TV's were produced and JVC is trying to correct the problem. On the 15th day that set blew out it's lamp. I had it picked up and replaced with an RCA 62"(my JVC is an 61"). The RCA was just a loaner until new JVC were received. Two weeks more go by and finally a new one arrives, also in the box the delivery guys take it out and unwrap it in front of me. I plug it in set up and in 98 minutes theat lamp also blew out!

I then placed a call to JVC to find out what in the world is going on here. I was explained that the most crucial piece of equipment that this television has (the lamp) is assembled by a 3rd party that improperly manufactured these lamps and they are blowing out instantly or within a month of use.
I was told they are aware of the situation and that JVC engineers are making this lamp NOW!
The solution to the problem is for me to remove the lamp which is easily done which needs to be done normally every 8-10 months this i was aware, and replace it with the one shipped to me 2nd day air. That was last week i'm still waiting for the replacement.
I'm almost ready to go to my second choice and return the JVC and give it.

Strengths:
Great picture, the best HD quality out there not a bad buy for the price point.

Weaknesses:
Poor workmanship and lousy customer service. It's really ashame cause the product in working condition is excellent.

chibear

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.71 of 5, 21.00 votes

Price Paid:  $2400.00 from Buyers Club

Summary:
I did a lot of research on picture quality and, according to the experts, the JVC HDILA comes out on top. I have not been disappointed. In my research, I discovered that big screen TVs are very source-dependent. That means you want to put as good a signal as you can into it. Otherwise it's garbage in, garbage out. If you are considering this unit, you need to input at least a digital signal (through component or HDMI imputs). To fully realize its potential, you need to view upconverted DVD signals or HD TV. Throw away your VCR and don't even consider using the composite or S-video inputs. I don't know why they even put them on the unit. As far as the unit performance, with the proper signal, the picture is ultra sharp. I play all my material in "native" mode which means blacl bars either left-right or top-bottom, depending on the source. I find the zoom "features" of no use and distorting (I am not one of those people who has the need to fill the screen in front of him) I have played with all the settings and always seem to go back to the unit as it was out of the box. The TV does have a warm up and warm down cycle that takes a little getting used to and there is a fan, which I find noticable only with the volume off. Controls and remote are easy to use. The only weakness I perceive is in the sound: For normal TV it's OK, but for 5.1 broadcasts and DVDs, a home theater system is a necessity

Strengths:
PICTURE, controls

Weaknesses:
sound