S-Video Switching, OSD

Volume range, subwoofer output on music

Bought the reciever about a year ago. Best bang for the buck receiver that had s-video switching. I had s-video for dvd, direct tv, a computer input. It makes it real convenient. Sound is pretty good for movies. Sound for music is average. It also has 3 digital inputs, 2 toslink and 1 coxial. This is nice if your dvd player doesn't have a toslink out. A good bargain if you don't need DTS.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha 1103

Price

no switched outlets

Ok, assuming all your components and cables are of good quality, your wires are of the correct gauge, and everything is hooked up properly. Next, read the manual, understand the manual. Next, sit in your viewing postion and adjust speaker levels. Play some CD's, watch some DVD. Become very familiar with all the different settings. Spend some time with this receiver, and learn all it can do. If after all of the above, you still have complaints about this receiver, then you are a very picky individual who needs to spend a lot more money. For the price, this receiver cannot be beat. In fact, price aside, I think this is an excellent receiver. I've read countless reviews on many different receivers, and there is always someone who doesn't like something about every one of them.

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JVC Prologic Receiver

Overall, considering the price of this unit, I have been very pleased with the quality of sound it produces. I initially purchased the Kenwood 209, based on online reviews and magazine reviews. I was extremely disappointed in the sound of the Kenwood. It sounded just OK in DD mode, but the stereo was severly under powered. I found that my old Sony receiver at only 80 watts per channel blew away the Kenwood with 100 WPC. So I returned the Kenwood and decided to try the JVC. So far, the stereo mode is at least the equal of the old Sony, but I have upgraded to DD 5.1 with the JVC.
The Dolby Digital sound is sensational. I could never go back to Pro Logic after experiencing the 5.1 sound. I admit that I can hear hiss up above 60 on the volume control, but only in the quieter passages. Pausing the DVD cancels the hiss, so the problem may be in the DVD audio source, rather than the receiver. Anyway, for the types of movies that require pumping up the volume, I don't generally even notice the hiss.

I was looking for an inexpensive point of entry into DOlby Digital and the JVC has been an excellent choice. I am sure there are other units with superior sound, but not within at least $100 of this unit and probably more.

I can't get over the negative reviews on this receiver. I think alot of people are forgetting the price of this unit is 300 - 400, and it offers an impresive array of features. Sure if you compare it to a Yahama receiver which costs nearly twice as much, I'm sure the more expensive unit will sound better, and have a few more features. But If you are buying this receiver you are looking to get the most bang for your buck, and as far as I am concerned that's what you get. I got mine a few days ago, and I am quite happy with the purchase. It sounds great, the people complaning about the hiss must be sitting with their ear up to the speaker. I am still tweaking the settings, and I need to get a better center channel and rear speakers, but I am very satisified with the sound the receiver produces. Plus this receiver has a built in AC-3 decoder, try finding that in another receiver at the price.

First of all this is a very good reciever. I have not heard any hiss, nor has it overheated. The only negative thing that I have noticed about it is that it has very weak bass output. But this reciever can be had for under $400 mail order and you beat its value. It has S switching and OSD. For anybody on a tight budget this is the one to buy. For about $175 more, go with the Onkyo 656, it has incredible separation, fantastic bass output and all the other features of the JVC.

Has what I needed

Have been using the 884 for a bit over a year now with absolutely no problems whatsoever. Am no audiophile purist, but this unit had the inputs/outputs I needed for DVD, satellite, etc ... have enjoyed the unit a great deal ... is used approximately 4 - 5 hrs per day (more on weekends) for all TV viewing, so it's getting it's fair share of use. For the money, I think it's a great buy.

At first I was really excited and impressed with all that the 884 had to offer, from cool options to big power. When I received my 884, I hooked it up and went to work. I liked all the neat options and on -screen display, though I found many DOWN falls as I continued to give it a test ride. First I will evaluate the PROS: 1.Very cosmetically attractive, 2.total gain control over all five channels, 3.Center tone control, 4.and of course Dolby Digital. As for the many CONS: 1.My biggest disappointment was the LACK of bass response, my piece of junk SONY blew the 884 out of the water in bass production!!! And yes to all you saying, just buy a sub, I do have a sub, and a GREAT one for that matter(DCM). My original settings on my sub when I had the SONY where set at: Frequency response: 30 Hz, Gain Level: half way, with the 884 I left the Frequency response the same, but had to CRANK my sub gain control to even tell that I was using it, and yes I read the manuel about TEN times over to see if all was good. As for the bass response in Dolby Pro Logic, the bass was just as weak, maybe weaker, it felt like the sub was not even on. I am a big fan of SOLID bass response, and the 884 just didnt come close to pleasing me. 2.Another real disappointment was NO bass or treble controls what so ever, the only way you can tweek your speakers is through the S.E.A. EQ, which adds alot of treble, but very LITTLE bass, I still dont understand whay JVC doesn't have seperate controls for both, it really does make a difference in having complete control over your speakers. 3.As for the Dolby Pro Logic output, I was again disappointed! I needed to crank the volume to about 45-50 to even get the effect, and still it didnt sound very good. Where is that 110x5 I read about??4. Lack of power??? I was pumped about the 120x2, it may be so, but it sure didnt feel like it, in order to get good sound I needed to turn it up to about 55. Though when it was up, there was no audible distortion. 5. DSP modes??? Whatever. They say they have different sound fields as Hall, Theater, Live Club, etc. They would have been better off just having ONE sound field cause they all sound the SAME. As for the 3D-Phonic, Im not at all impressed, again lack of sound reproduction and bass response. 5. Can you say cook?? My 884 ran real HOT, never shut down on me, but I never had the chance to play it LOUD for a long time. Again my SONY runs cooler than it. All in all my 884 was rather a dissapointment, yes there are some cool features and Dolby Digital is always nice to have especially at the 314$ I paid, but the CONS just outweighed the PROS. I am not in any way promoting SONY products I still think they are all a waste of money, but when I bought my SONY STR-DE515, I was young and anxious to get a reciever, I didnt take the time to look. If your looking for a good reciever, I would consider YAMAHA or PIONEER, and yes of course the more expensive DENON and HARMON KARDON, if you can afford it. I give the 884 only 2 stars!

My brother had this receiver and returned it. His review is below. But I must disagree, I have the Kenwood 2090 and this unit hangs with it. It's(JVC) stereo performance is above average and the DD is quite good and very loud, when played with dynamic range compression off. Only downfall is no DTS, which is overrated. DTS is louder, and that's all. I've tried comparisons with same discs with dts and dd, and dts is louder, that's all. I like the style and the options are plentyfull. Plus the remote is simple, compared to my joystick remote. All of this for $299? You can't go wrong.

It is a great receiver!

Does anyone know the difference between the amp in 880 and the 884vbk receivers?