Excellent Progressive scan picture, display modes provide easy to reach stats on the DVD

Bug in sub-title logic on certain DVDs (incl Star Wars I: Phantom Menace)

Note: I have the changer version of this player - the 90BK.

Initially I was extremely pleased with this player as it offers a good progressive scan picture and lots of features for the money but now I've run into a nasty bug.

On most movies its a good player though. The picture is excellent, it offers bitstream output as well as an internal decoder. It plays DVD Audio which sounded nice on my Onkyo 898. The feature set, while a little confusing to use is well rounded. You can control progresive modes, scaling for 16x9 sets, and retrieve stats on the DVD its playing.

However, there is the matter of this sub-title bug which has ruined it for me. I was playing the Phantom Menace and reached the scene where Watto speaks in Huttese and the sub-titles are missing! As I've researched this on the boards apparently there are problems with other DVD sub-titles as well. Even my first generation panasonic I have in another room handled this basic function.

I tried calling JVC and got a 'we know about it and are working on it - don't call us - we'll call you' response.

So, with this lousy fly in otherwise good ointment I have to recommend against this player.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic A110, C220

DVD-A, Zoom, decoders, mp3, PAL, coaxial and optical out, component cables included

none (as of yet)

I narrowed my DVD player choices down to this JVC and the Panasonic RP-56. I ruled out brands (like Toshiba, Sony) that were documented as having the chroma bug. The RP-56, even with its sage chip, didn't have the full set of features I wanted, (ie DVD A, zoom, decoders) plus on a completely superficial level, I didn't like its build.

The picture is beautiful. I have yet to tweak it using Avia but out of the box, the picture was really nice. I rented some DVDs and there were no read problems (as there shouldn't be, its a new player!). I have read that this player is one of the few that can convert PAL discs to NTSC. I have yet to try that feature. It also comes with component cables in the box. Probably not the best quality but still a nice thing to add. I haven't used the MP3 playback feature yet. The remote is easy to use and one advantage is that you can switch from interlaced mode to progressive using the remote. (I hear some players need to be switched on the actual player) I am very happy with my choice of player.

I was able to get a really good price from HiFi.com. At the time they had a DVD player sale, Free Shipping, and on top of that I had a $20 off coupon. They also offered a 30 day low price guarantee, and a 45 day return policy. I would order from them again.



I wanted to comment about a previous post. Yes this JVC player (and several other brands for that matter) suffers from the 'Phantom Menace subtitle bug'. I don't believe that this minor bug justifies a 2 star rating on an otherwise solid player. Please don't let this miniscule bug deter you from buying this player. This bug might very well have a fix for it in the future. No DVD player is perfect, they all (yes all) have their quirks. This JVC is otherwise a quality, feature packed player with a beautiful picture at a good price. The only player I think might be arguably better is the Panasonic RP-91 but I couldn't justify spending an additional $150-200 on a player that most likely will be upstaged by a cheaper, better player in 6-9 months anyway.

Picture, Sound, Menu Access, Remote

Same as Kannan's as well as no auto CD resume except from CD Menu

I researched and shopped two players of equal spec. It was my original intention to own the 4700 even though my system is JVC. After evaluating it for two weeks, I encountered certain problems and issues which I detailed on the Toshiba 4700 review listing...

...which leads me to the 70BK. It has equal performance in Video quality and (on paper) a slightly superior range in Audio. Out of the box, it's Normal picture setting is too dark and the Cinema setting is still a shade darker than the Normal picture setting of the Toshiba, which is top notch. There are also two User settings which have complete adjustability in all important perameters, including sharpness and gamma. Although it gives 3 user settings, the 4700 lacks these two variables. Because of this, I was able to adjust the User 1 setting of the 70BK to exactly mimic the Toshiba Normal picture and run AVIA calibration tests side-by-side.

The JVC 70BK is a superb performer in all respects. Picture quality and resolution is outstanding and quite 3-D on the right set. The same can be said for the Toshiba. Both have Audio capabilities only a bionic ear could ever truly appreciate but, you know, you just gotta have it. This is unbelievable technology at this price! IMHO the JVC is simply friendlier to use because of the addition of several features which the 4700 lacked:

-the 70 BK has VFP (Video Fine Processor) which gives COMPLETE control over picture settings (see above) with direct one button access (no sub-menus)
-it has FULL Frame Advance/Reverse Still/Step with no silly frame jumping and relocation
-it has remote access to Progressive/Interlaced Mode
-it has a GUI which is more useful than the admittedly pretty menu system of the Toshiba (with the exception of the Setup Menu which is well-organized and easy to access on the 4700)
-it has full remote control access without any hidden panels
-it has remote TV control
-it has better zoom function without any annoying on- screen superimpositions
-and as of yet, it does not lock-up and require resetting by unplugging (surprisingly, the Toshiba did several times (and no, the discs weren't defective or dirty))

In a direct comparison, the JVC is lacking in a few areas:

-it has no CD Text function (although the implementation in the 4700 is quite sparse)
-it has limited CD auto resume
-it has no remote verification beeps
-it has no cool blue LED

There is a caveat which is worth mentioning from my own experience. Early generation players from JVC like the 501BK were absurdly failure-prone. It appears JVC has made vast improvements in the two intervening years and has learned from it's mistakes. But as the 501 was an outstanding performer up until the day it suddenly died, only time will tell if quality is now 'job 1' at JVC. Therefore, an extended service contract is highly suggested. It may never be needed but then again...

Similar Products Used:

JVC 501BK (1 1/2 yrs. then kaput!), JVC 65GD, Toshiba 4700

Progressive Video, DVD Audio

No material weaknesses (except for TPM subtitle issue)

This is my 3rd DVD player. I had a Panasonic 110 which I sold to get the Pioneer to match my Mitsubishi 55807 HDTV. I was happy with the Pioneer, but knew that the picture quality could be better (no 2:3 pulldown). I wanted to wait for the prices to come down some before I invested in a better player. Admittedly, I expected to wait longer than a year, but the prices really dropped quickly on the progressive scan players with 2:3 pulldown. I researched the different players and found that most people and reviewers were picking the Panasonic RP91 and 56 models, the JVCs (60/65, 70/75) and the Sony NSP700. Noone seemed to recommend the Toshiba models (4700/5700), due to the chroma bug (the Sony has it as well, but most said that it was less evident on the Sony).

I decided to go with the JVC due to its value ($209 was a great price -- I have a friend who works @ PC Richards) and the small minority that spoke about the Panasonic 56's color pulsing issue. With the Mitsubishi's color decoder pushing reds I felt that any other color issues would be more noticeable. The match of the JVC and the Mitsubishi is fantastic. I couldn't be happier. The clarity of the movies that I watch has been great and the amount of detail when compared with the Pioneer (now in the bedroom) is really unbeliveable.

As an added bonus, the player has DVD audio. Originally, I really didn't care about this feature (it was $20 more expensive than the Panasonic 56 and JVC 60), but after listening to the sample discs included in the box, I am very impressed. The old tracks (ELP - Lucky Man and Grateful Dead) sound almost new.

Bottom line I highly recommend this player.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer DV434

Picture Quality, Ease of Use

MP3 Playback

First let me say that this is a good DVD player.
My main complaint is the MP3 playback.

I wanted a DVD player that played as many formats as possible, including and MP3.
I looked at the Toshiba SD4700/5700 and Panasonic RP56 and eventually settled on the JVC.

If I burn a disk with MP3 files in the root directory it plays anywhere from 50%-100% of the files. If I put the files into a directory structure, sucessfull playback is around 5% it simply won't play the MP3 files.

The disks I burn will play OK in other MP3 compatible devices.
I have tried burning the CD's in different formats and combinations, nothing seems to work.

I contacted JVC and they guess that it could be a faulty unit, so I exchanged it and encountered exactly the same issues.

I am considering exchanging it for a different make/model.
I do not want to as I like this unit, except for MP3 compatabilty.

Has anyone else encountered the same problems.

If you are looking for a unit to play MP3 files look else where.

This is the reason I am giving it a low score until these issues are corrected, otherwise it is a good DVD player.

Similar Products Used:

None

Correction to review several posts ago

I was reading the review I posted, and realized I said 2 things which are pretty incorrect and could influence people's bysing, so I thought I would correct them:

1. This model does have BOTH Digital Coaxial and Digital Optical outs. I earlier said it had just a Coaxial out.

2. I said that the more basic model, the JVC XV-SA 60/65 does not have the ability to play mp3s- That's wrong, I meant to say it does not have the ability to play DVD-Audio.



Sorry about that, I think it was late when I posted, and sleep deprivation reared its ugly head!

dvd audio, dts decoder, zoom

none so far

I purchased this player as an upgrade to the Pioneer. It gave me the items listed in the strengths above, and I am very happy with all three. I also think the dolby digital sound is clearer and more natural then they were with the Pioneer running through the decoder in my Onkyo receiver.

I don't have a widescreen set yet, but the picture is as good, if not better than I've been accustomed to. The user adjustments, when used in combination with your televisions, made it pretty easy to get a very satisfying picture.

Another reason I picked this machine was the Yes dvd audio that was included with the unit. Being a big fan of theirs I couldn't wait to hear their new cd "Magnification" in 5.1 surround. Its a great sounding cd, but a fantastic dvd-audio.

Great price, loaded with features, nice performance, well constructed, quiet drive...what more could you want in a dvd player?

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic A110, Pioneer 525.

Price, Picture Quality, Appearance, Menus, Ease of Use

Various weaknesses in MP3s playback

In short, I feel this is the 2nd best DVD player available for under $1000. The #1 model I would get if money were no object is the Panasonic RP-91, but it sells for over $400, almost twice this model. $250 is in the lower end of the market for DVD players, and to get one so loaded with features for this price is a steal.

Off the bat I eliminated all Toshiba and Sony players due to the chroma bug. On principle, I'm not going to buy a piece of equipment with a known bug that the manufacturers are aware of but refuse to fix. I then narrowed it down to 2 players, and did an in home comparison between this player and the Panasonic RP-56. I had heard good things about the RP-56 mainly due to its chip, the Sage. The JVC uses a supposedly inferior MediaMatics deinterlacing chip, but was geting rave reviews by users, and so I felt I needed to compare the 2 models side by side. The complete details of my review are available in the JVC section of www.hometheaterspot.com, but to summarize, the JVC gave a superior picture in film-based DVDs (what I watch 99% of the time)) and was much better constructed, and had a better remote, better on screen menus, far more attractive unit...essentially every single other intangible factor I told myself I wouldn't allow to influence me went in favor of the JVC- and it added up. The only advantage of the Panasonic is that it gives a superior picture on TV-based DVDs than the JVC. An example of this would be episodes of Friends, X-Files, the Simpsons, etc... looked sharper and clearer on the RP-56 than the JVC, but as I said, this constitutes about 1% of my total DVD watching, so was not a major factor. Film-based DVDs, 99% of my viewing were less color sytaurated, sharper, and more realistic on the JVC than the Panasonic RP-56, and that's what I was really looking for: the bets possible picture for the money.

With the major competition out of the way, lets focus on
the JVC:

It's a very slim, attractive unit, and looks great on the shelf. The loading tray is flimsy, but all DVD players' are. The unit is sturdily built, and has a solid feel to it. The manual is easy to use, and the remote control is well laid out, and important buttons are made of a glow-in-the-dark plastic, which was a nice bonus. Setup was easy, and the on screen menus are amazing. Very easy to use, and I love that the movie keeps playing in a reduced size occupying 1/3 the screen while you adjust preferences. How about the picture, you ask: Quite simply, just about the best picture I've ever seen out of a DVD player, period. It's so much sharper and clearer than my 3 year old Sony, I couldn't believe it. The progressive vs. Interlaced difference isn't like comparing VHS to DVD as many people expect it to be, but with a properly calibrated HDTV, only the most trained professional eye will find a weakness in the picture this player gives you. There are various ways to adjust the progressive scan picture, but I have never had the need to, and the auto mode gets it perfect every time. The picture really is breathtaking when hooked up to a HD-ready TV, and I still am sometimes in shock when a picture looks so lifelike and sharp it could be next to me on the couch.

Weaknesses:
There's only a digital coaxial output, so if you're receiver has only optical inputs, you're out of luck. Personally I prefer digital coaxial to optical, so for me this is no concern, but could be a limitation to some. The mp3 playback is by far the biggest weakness of this player, as it poorly labels files, and can only play them back in analog sound, not digital. Honestly, I am yet to use the machine as an mp3 player, and so this hasn't been a concern yet, but for someone who plans on playing a lot of mp3s, this could be an issue (and one in which the Panasonic RP-56 does excel in over the JVC, and may make that a better player for you)

All in all, I can think of no reason not to give this player a perfect rating. For those who don't know, this is the exact same player as the JVC XV-SA75, the only difference is that the 75 is Gold while the 70 is Black. If you have no need for built in DD/DTS decoders, and don't care about mp3 playability, you should look at the XV-SA60/65 and save $50.00; it's the same exact player in terms of picture quality and deinterlacing. I was a bit nervous about buying a JVC, I have never owned any of their products before, and was a bit skeptical, but I am yet to see any problems, and the unit is covered for 2 years (thanks to the 1 year AMEX Blue warranty extension) and I think that now, with 3 months of solid usage under my belt, this player is a keeper and built to last. Feel free to e-mail me with any questions about this player or any other products in my setup. I spend literally weeks researching before buying a product, and have worked hard to obtain a great home theater for under $4000, and am always happy to share my experiences with anyone interested. Thanks!


My System:
Receiver: Denon 3801
Front Speakers: Ascend Acouctics CBM-170s
Rear/Center Speakers: Ascend Acoustics HTM-200s
Subwoofer: Hsu VTF-2
DVD Player: JVC XV-SA70BK
CD Player: Yamaha CDC-685
TV: Toshiba CN36X81

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic RP-56

???

Progressive output not working!! Right out of the box.

First I purchased this product because of all the features and the great reviews. When I received it and tried playing a movie in progressive mode it had lines all over the screen. (Yes, I do have a HDTV, and it was hooked up correctly). I tried two different types of component cables, different settings on the TV, but to no avail. The unit (even without a DVd inserted) was wavy. This looked like a scrambled picture. The interlaced output was great, but I really bought this for the progressive capibilities and the DVD-Audio. Anyone with the same issue?

Anyway, I sent it back immediatly for an exchange, however I have been told by Onecall.com (authorized JVC internet dealer) that it could take two weeks before they hook it up to a HDTV to validate my claim. So I am without a DVD player for another two+ weeks!

I have a Philips 55in HDTV 16:9 screen, Anyone heard of any incompatibility issues?

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba K700, Sony 300

DVD-Audio, MP3, DD & DTS decoders, price

no digital output of MP3 and DVD-Audio, lack of separate front (LR) analog outputs, the tray is flimsy

I love the DVD-Audio! Have had no problems with DVD-A, from the analog 5.1 inputs it sounds great. I had one listener say the sound was scary. I have not had any problems yet, but have only played two movies (am more of an audio guy). The MP3 playback works well, but have yet to split the front LR analog for DSP from the receiver. Have played an audio CD from digital out, sounds good. My only complaints are the non-output of MP3 and high resol. digital signals, the seemingly fragile disc tray, and the lack of LR analog separate from the 5.1 outs. Overall it is a good player, and I recommend it, especially for the budget audiophile.

Similar Products Used:

none with DVD-Audio