Price, 3 trays, quality

Optical cable not included.

This is my first DVD player and it performs better than I had expected. I have it connected to a JVC 888bk Dolby Digital and DTS reciever and the combination is great. I have tried many DVDs and I haven't had any problem playing any of them. It also has some very nice features such a screen saver, multiple sound types, auto-resume, etc.

My only issues with this was that it didn't include an optical cable to hook to my optical input on my receiver. This cable cost $20.

I didn't read me manual very well when I hooked it up and I noticed that my receiver wasn't playing the movies in Dolby Digital. This was fixed by reading the manual and noticing that the DVD player is preset to play PCM sound. I just had to change that setting to Dolby Digital.

I only paid $225 for this DVD player from Mercata after a $50 first time customer coupon. Great Deal.

I'm giving this DVD player 5 stars.

Price was great, picture and sound fine.

None for price

No problems with DVD's, everything has played well on this unit. Matrix no problem. For the price (249 at one call) I couldn't be happier. My receiver a Denon 2800 has the decoders for DTS and 5.1 and I was worried about new formats coming out such as DVD audio and competing CD formatts so I was looking for a multi-disk DVD that would hold me over untill the formats get decided on. This works great for DVD's and not bad on CD's either.

Similar Products Used:

No DVD before, Denon CD player

3-trays;compulink

Can not program movies to play one after the other.

I started out with JVC 701 and turned it in when I got the JVC 888 reciever. I like the 3 trays, bu the remote is suckie. I wish it had more features like the 701 had adjustable rew. and ff. all and all it is nice, never had a skip or freeze up and it looks good in my case. Hooked right up to my JVC 32D800 television. Still wish I had another remote. If anyone out there in cyberland knows of any nice universal remotes let me know.

Similar Products Used:

JVC 501

3 Trays, Good composite output quality, Compulink support

Poor remote, cannot shuffle across disks, poor quality

I picked this unit up from Vanns.com - for a mere $220. The unit performed admirably - until exactly 90 days after purchase. The exact day the warranty went k-put, my unit's ability to output a video signal went bye-bye. At first, I thought it was my Yamaha 795A acting up - then I thought it was my TV - nope... it was the JVC 555.

It ends up that if I smack the unit around a bit (gently!) the video signal comes back... for about 30 minutes. A few minutes later, my problems are compounded when for some strange reason, the Parental Lock activates itself; and I cannot turn it off. YES, I have read the manual, but the Parental Lock will show up on ALL movies - ranging from Mulan to the Matrix. To really finish off the unit, it freezes up sometimes and must be turned off.

If that weren't bad enough, the unit even fails to play audio CD's well - it cannot read CD-R's and cannot shuffle across different disks.

However, as I said eariler, this unit did perform well before the problems arose. It's video quality was very good, and the unit has all the features that a user could want if their receiver is doing the 5.1 decoding. The 3 trays is a plus, but is more novelty than useful. Most of the 'sound effects' that the unit offers don't seem to do anything of use. I don't think it's within the bounds of physics to simulate a Dolby sound system with your regular TV speakers. Sound output is good (using the optical output - haven't listened with the regular RCA outputs).

Bottom line:
If you want a entry DVD player, this unit is good, but if you've got a rather expensive setup, and really could use the extra benefit of durabilty and quality - consider the the Sony 330/550 or the Yamaha DVD-S795.


The value ranking as average - basically any entry level DVD player today offers what this unit offers.

Overall rating is low because the unit broke - right on the warranty expiration date.

Similar Products Used:

None

3 trays, reliable, no problems with any DVDs so far.

None so far.

First off, to criticize this player for not having discrete audio outputs is ludicrous; this unit does *not* have a built in Dolby Digital decoder, which is the whole reason to have socalled discrete audio outputs(an RCA jack out for each channel). So, like all DVD players *without* built in DD decoders, it has a digital optical output(some have coax digital) for hooking the unit up to a DD/DTS receiver.

I bought this player in Dec. 99 and have had no trouble whatsoever. I have around 140 DVDs and I have been a Netflix Marquee member since I have had this player and not one problem has occured with any titles, including problematic discs such as The Matrix, Arlington Road and, the most recent problematic disc, ID4(which certain Toshiba players will not play, despite Toshibas glorious reputation online).

I use the both the S Video (which I run through my receiver) and the superior component video outputs (hooked directly to my TV and not to be confused with the single cable composite video). The picture while using component video looks amazing on my RPTV. Definitely better than S Video, though this player, like nearly all DVD players, outputs a decent picture with that, too. This unit has no problem passing the DD and DTS bitstreams to my Denon receiver either. DVDs sound glorious, although it is really because of my Denon receiver and Paradigm speakers, not because of my choice of DVD players; any DVD player these days, or almost any, can accomplish the job of passing the DD/DTS bitstream.

Overall, I recommend this DVD player for its 3 trays and for the price. My mom also has this player because of my recommendation and has had no trouble whatsoever. At first, I thought that having 3 trays was not a big deal, but it is great for listening to CDs and when you just want to watch bits and pieces of films to demo your sound system, for example. I would hate to go back to a 1 tray player at this point.

Similar Products Used:

RCA, Pioneer

Easy to setup and to operate Compulink support

Remote does not work well, poor quality

I have nothing to compare this unit to but so far it works just fine for my home use. I like the convenience of DVD and
CD with three trays is a plus. I have it connected to a RX-668VBK JVC receiver with Bose surround speakers. So far no problems picture and sound are both excellent. I paid
$259.00.

Similar Products Used:

First DVD Player

3 discs, optical digital output

Will not play CD-Rs

This product is very nice for the money. 3 discs is a nice feature, but i guess i only bought that feature because i like to overdo things. Probably should have used the extra money to buy a higher quality single disc, but oh well. Actually, this player does a good job with both DVDs and regular CDs. I haven't come across any DVDs that i haven't been able to play. I have this player hooked up to my JVC 888BVK reciever via digital optical cables. The DTS and 5.1 channels are nice. playing music through this system can be done, but lacks most functions and can't play CD-Rs. I have a seperate JVC CD changer for the purpose of playing music, so this is not an issue with me. For the cash this is a good first DVD player. I recommend it, but consider if you really need the 3 disc system. If so, buy this one.

Similar Products Used:

first DVD player

great picture and sound

won't play 'enhanced for 16x9' DVDs (like all the new Star Trek films)

Sounded like a great deal from all the reviews, but either I have a defective unit or this unit will not play 'enhanced for 16x9' dvds properly, giving me a black and grey bar at the top and bottom of the screen. I hope this is just a bad unit, cause the player will be useless once the digital tv craze begins (aka 16x9 HDTVs)

Similar Products Used:

RCA DVD/Divx, Apex 600

3 Trays. Easy to use. Compulink.

2 Lockups in about 5 months.

Picture clarity is great and sound quality via optical is excellent.

Aside from having 2 lockups during quick requests for pause, play, ffd etc (can't remember the particular combination), I haven't had any problems.

I realize that there are problems with other DVD players with lockups and that they are sometimes due to the disk.

Full points given due to very intermittent problem as opposed to low price paid for features.

Similar Products Used:

None.

Features, Picture, Outputs

Remote & Entering configuration parameters could both be better, No discrete audio outputs.

I have read the previous reviews and purchased this unit anyway. I believe that people are providing biased, slanted and misinformed information about this player. Here is my spin on it:

First - the fact is that most DVD players DO NOT read CDRs. Certian Phillips and Toshiba DVD players do, and if you are looking for something to play CDRs then buy one that claims to do it or buy a good quality CD player. I agree that the JVC website is misleading, but the 555 will play all CDRW's. I have some high quality AUDIO (not computer) blanks I may try, but I have a CD player (the JVC 334) that plays CDR's so I don't use this as both. Crutchfield online has a matrix of DVD players that list if they play CDR's. Ask them for a free catalog if this is so important. Geesh. This supposed to be a DVD player.

Second - I have used this unit heavily (at least 6 movies per week for the last four months). I have had no lockups, no need for EEPROM resets and no glitches. I pause for long periods of time sometimes and I get no distortion or lockups afterwards. This unit plays The Matrix & Arlington Road perfectly and I have had no problems playing rented (and sometimes discs with fingerprints and dust particles) DVD's. No problems playing 16x9 movies as well. In fact, it plays exceptionally good.

To whoever said it was noisy ... huh? It sounds like any normal CD player. Get a life. I would love to know how you know "it has a poor quality motor". This is your opionion, heresay and I would suggest that you do not have the proper knowledge to make such an assertion. Have you ever opened it up and inspected the motors? No? Ok. Enough said.

The unit has optical audio digital out (nice for DVD digital) via a TOSLINK cable. It also has composite video outs, which I have not used yet. It also has S-Video and regular component video outputs. As I said in the weeknesses, the unit does not have discrete audio outputs (6 jacks for 6 channels), but using the TOSLINK output takes care of it.

I would agree that the remote is lacking. It is uncomfortable to use, and awkward and I would be lying if I said that I never pressed the wrong button (no backlight). Also, I don't like the configuration GUI and it seems like the only time you can change it is when no discs are playing and everyting is stopped. You then have to press that silly shift button to get into the configuration setup. All in all, I have learned to get used to it (with the lights on) and it is a small complaint next to the overall quality of the unit.

I feel the best marker of a good DVD player is the picture. The 555 has an awsome picture, even through component video outs (I tried s-video and component, not composite). I have no problems switching angles or audio features, and all in all I am VERY satisified with the product and would suggest it to anyone looking for a mid-grade DVD player that does the job in a reliable fashion. I am giving this 5 stars for value and overall because it deserves it.

I also suggest to people who whine and cannot read product specs to go ahead a buy a Toshiba for $1000 that plays CDRs. All I know is that when it comes to picture, I bet you cannot tell the difference, and I paid less than $250. Take that whiners.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba, RCA