Great audio, fast forward, easy installation

INCONSISTENCY!!! LACK OF RELIABILITY!!!

This is my first DVD player purchased and from the firt day that I bought it I have had problems. I have had some discs that have worked flawlessly after repeated viewings. However, there have been so many incosistencies with some discs to the point where each time I buy a new DVD, there is about a 50/50 chance that it will play without problems. I originally thought that it was a problem with the individual discs (which in some cases it was). However, I now realize that the player is simply not dependable. If the problems were consistent, that would be one thing, but I have had different problems. Some discs play fine at first then all of a sudden skip. Some skip at first then play fine. On some occasions, I put brand new DVDs in the player, they spin but do not play and then when I eject them, they have large scratches on them! Some DVDs won't play special features but play the movie fine!

I thought that my situation might be isolated but from reading these reviews, I now realize that I simply made a mistake buying this player.

The player, when working correctly is fantastic. Great audio, good video and easy to use. However, until it works on a consistent basis, I will not be fully satisfied.

It worked for almost a whole year! It looks good and sounds good on DVDs it can play, plays CDs

I doesn't play my Favorite DVDs anymore, weird remote, ugliest component on the rack

In my previous review of this thing I hoped to God that I wouldn't be hit with this glitch. Unfortunately, even God is powerless to stop it.

I don't know what is wrong, I haven't taken it in cause the repair shop closed at 5pm. But last night, after finishing watching Aliens, I put in Dune, and it froze on the FBI warning. I eject. Put it back in. Doesn't even get that far. The disc spins, but no screen comes up and the disc won't eject, but at least the power button works. At least 2 other DVDs do this and I am afraid to try others, cause I don't trust this machine not to break them in this state. I tried Highlander and it worked *shock!* What's with that? I woke up this afternoon to try again, still won't play Dune. I'm afraid that the JVC bug has hit my machine as well. Compared to this, the other downsides to this DVD player are rather trivial. There's that weird remote. The joystick I like. The number pad, with numbers 4 across, is really messed up. Who designed that? Where did they come from, outer space? And the thing looks ugly compared to every other component on the rack. I think all JVC components look ugly, personally, IMHO. The fact the DVDs that do play look and sound good is moot, since it doesn't play all DVDs anymore. So, there's really nothing good left on this DVD player. It doesn't do what it says it's supposed to do.

Unfortunately, my wish to have this thing last me at least 2 years is dwindling, though I may now have a CD player for my bedroom (it still plays them). Ratings: oooh, I hate giving any products low grades, but if any one deserves them, this one is it. Value rating: hmmm... at the time, it was a good value. I could even accept if it lasted two years, because this is only a 2nd or 3rd gen machine, and maybe they hadn't worked all the bugs out. but less than one year? I probably wouldn't think twice if this happened next year, but to replace it now is EXPENSIVE! rating = 1. Overall: this thing says DVD player on the front. That means it can play all DVD videos. It doesn't play all DVD videos. It doesn't do what it says it can. I hope that the guy raising a class action suit scares the living crap out of JVC, then maybe they will do something about this. Rating = 0

Similar Products Used:

a Toshiba

Plays most DVDs.

R-E-L-I-A-B-I-L-I-T-Y! This unit needs serviced often.
It also does not play CD-R, CD-RW, etc.

This unit is a nice unit with nice features. However, JVC disappoints me. You've heard people say that JVC has no customer service. That is an understatement. I have never had them respond to an e-mail and it is impossible to get a human on the phone. JVC has no customer support indeed. This unit has had an optical lense die on me twice. I have had to reset the PROM several times.

While I am disappointed with the unit, I am moreso disappointed in JVC. I will now begin looking for a new company to purchase products from.

Having been a very satisfied with my JVC S-VHS and VHS products over the years and owning several other JVC DEFINE Series components for 10 plus years I selected the 501 as the dvd player for my DD HT. There has not been much press about this unit and it never seems to part of comparison charts for under $500 players but I know one thing, I had a bad experience with the Toshiba products in the fall with both VIDEO and AUDIO issues and this player is rock solid. Additionally, OneCall is a great mail order store who actually reccomended that I try this unit to replace the Toshiba's.
There is a feature called Video Fine Tune which allows you to raise and lower the amount of video noise reduction and sharpness level unique to this unit. This is one of those things you adjust everyday for a week just to play with the feature and then set it and leave it alone. A video reverence dvd is helpful but not necessary, set the sharpness where you feel the picture looks best and adjust the noise reduction until the "blue ghost" are gone around the bright whites. The unit also feature component video out which will put a great picture in front of you if your big screen or projector has the inputs. The DD output is only Toslink, so make sure you have an optical input to your decoder. Great player at a good price value.

Sorry to post again. I've gotten numerous emails about where I got this dvd player. It was from a local store called Abt, and I got it when it first came out. Paid around $350 (not sure really about the exact price cause my dad was the one who paid for it :) But we did get 4 free dvds and some coupons for jvc headphones, and we are supposed to get some free dvd rental coupons. They have probably raised the price a little by now, but i'm not sure about that. Still, for under $400 this dvd player offers a lot. I highly recommend it.

I just bought this player and I love it! I'm a PC-DVD ROM convery, and this was my first player. I keep seeing people saying they're getting 4 free movies with the player. I didn't get any with mine! Are these DVD's store "gifts", or are thay actually inside the box?

Good GUI interface
Good Picture when it Works

Poor Product Quality
Locks up on playing Special Features
The only movie it would play consistently was Austin Powers

This product seems to have serious reliability problems. I watched 5 movies before it completely died. To date the unit has been in warranty service longer than I used it. I talked to the dealer the other day and they said the place they shipped this product to for warranty work has worked on over 500 of these models.

I have been satisfied with JVC products in the past, but I can say that I will never buy another JVC product again after this experience.

Great Video, great audio, easy to configure and navigate

weird numberpad on remote, ugly looking chassis, bright front display.

I've been reading some bad things about this player. I hope mine doesn't just die after several months! So far, though, mine's worked fine. It has had a couple times when it has just locked up (when surfing through the features on a couple DVD's) and I had to turn it off and on again to get the disc out. But for just watching a movie it's great. After all, I just walked in the store one time and they had a deal on this one ($420CDN after taxes, was very good in October) and I sure didn't want the RCA model. I did little research or looking around, I saw this one on sale and bought it. My parents bought the Toshiba model, which is no-nonsense, and I like no-nonsense. But, if this thing can last me for at least 2 years, I think I'll be happy, because by then I'll probably want a changer ;) Anyway, this player is about average. I'm sure there's better stuff out there, and now that the price is even lower, anyone can get a great DVD player. Just do your homework before you jump in :)

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba basic DVD

Dts,Component video,On screen display,Nice remote layout

Where do i start? Dts sound pops and drops out ocassionally,
player freezes,multi angle does not work on any discs,pixilation on many discs, more prominent the longer the unit is owned.

Well not much good to say about this unit.I origanaly purchased this from crutchfield back in june of '99.
played fine for about four or five months, then it started pixelating and freezing. Multi angle never worked and dts sound was unimpressive. I usually watch about 5-6 movies a week and with problems like these who wants to deal with
this piece of crap. I finally called crutchfield and they were very helpfull with letting me return it and letting me know its been discontinued. I also used to have the dolby digital reciever ($400 range) made by jvc, after about one week of ownership i boxed it and returned the piece of garbage as well.my advice is to STAY AWAY FROM ALL JVC PRODUCTS, they make crap and their customer service sucks.
if you want a huge headache buy this product.
since there is no negative # for reviewing i guess 1 will have to work although not deserved.

PS IF YOU WORK FOR JVC MAKE A BETTER PRODUCT BECAUSE I TELL EVERYONE I KNOW, HOW SH*TTY THEY REALLY ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Sony cant remember model #, $350 price range

SUPER machine, best deal around, zero problems and lots of "toys" to play with!! Got mine for $308.00 with the free movies. Buy it again? You bet!