The ultimate machine for the budget-minded shopper
Written: Sep 22 '01
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Pros: Price, overall performance, RF remote, multi-room operation, component video switching
Cons: Poorly written (or translated) manual, no treble or bass controls
The Bottom Line: Fully loaded receiver with all the features normally associated with much more expensive models. For home theater buffs on a budget, this is the one to get.
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| cvs8floz's Full Review: JVC RX-9010V 5.1 Channels Receiver |
I joined the home theater revolution early on, about 10 years ago, if I remember correctly, and have never spent more than $300 on any receiver or other component I have owned. I never felt cheated because of that: after all, the average listener or viewer will be hard pressed to discern any major difference between the performance of a $300 or a $1500 receiver, given that so much depends on source components and speakers anyway. And since in-home, side-by-side comparisons of different receivers are nearly impossible, I have always opted for those lower-end models that offered me enough inputs to accommodate the rest of my gear and featured up-to-date processing capabilities. So far, this strategy has served me well.
With 2 VCR's, a DVD player and a digital cable box to connect, I was quickly running out of inputs on my previous receiver, an early generation Teac digital model. When I started shopping for a replacement about a year ago, the availability of component video switching, DTS decoding and multi-source operation was still limited to very high-end units that cost a small fortune. I did not feel that it was worth upgrading unless I could get these features at a reasonable price. Then, last spring, the 9010 started popping up on Ubid at a price I could not resist, and I got mine in May for $289.
Weighing in at 26 lbs, the JVC will actually fit in your home entertainment center and will not cause it to collapse. Hooking up any new receiver is always a major chore and should preferably not be done late at night on the evening it arrives (but who can resist?). Do not expect much help from the manual, which seems to have been translated by some poor Japanese with about 3 years of high-school English who never progressed past the radio. This really surprised me, coming from a major electronics company like JVC and is something I had never run into with similar manuals before. My advice: stick to the diagrams and use common sense, the set-up isn't really all that difficult. I had a good grasp of the functions of this receiver by noon the next day, and my seven year old daughter was operating it that afternoon (it is amazing how the 'need' to watch Toon Disney motivates).
The array of inputs should satisfy almost everyone. On the audio side, the receiver will accommodate a turntable, CD player, cassette tape deck (in and out) and CD recorder (in and out). For video, you can connect a DVD player, 2 VCRs plus one more video source (such as a cable box). Each video input features both composite and S-Video terminals. In addition, there are 3 optical and 1 coaxial digital inputs, as well as component video terminals (2 in, 1 out). 5 DVD analog jacks are also provided, in case you plan to explore the DVD-audio format. Another set of inputs (including S-Video and USB) is located on the front panel for easy camcorder and computer hook-up. I cannot see running out of inputs any time soon!
The receiver is rated at 120W per channel and will shake both your and your neighbor's house. You can hook up 2 pairs of main speakers (required for the multi-room function), one pair of rear speakers, a center speaker and a powered subwoofer. The RF remote will operate both the receiver and one other component from anywhere inside your house within 50 feet. I have not yet tested the true range of the remote, but merely the fact that you can adjust the volume when you are in the kitchen cooking and the phone rings justifies the cost of this receiver. The remote itself is a 65-button beast that will put any normal TV or VCR remote to shame. If correctly programmed, it will operate the basic functions of your TV, cable box, VCR, DVD and CD players, although you still have to keep the original remotes around to access the programming and menu functions of each component. In other words, don't count on it for remote control 'reduction'. It also features a small LCD display, which, unfortunately, displays little except the source you have selected.
If your home theater set-up includes two pairs of main speakers far enough apart not to interfere with each other, the multi-room, multi-function capabilities of this receiver will both amaze and delight you. You are, in fact, getting two receivers for the price of one. Listen to your favorite CD in your bedroom while someone else watches TV in the living room, with separate volume controls for each location. The only drawback: in multi-room mode, the surround sound function of the receiver is disabled and you end up watching TV in two-channel stereo only, which seems like a small price to pay for this type of functionality and convenience.
If you have ever used a surround sound receiver, you will find all the familiar functions and more on the JVC. For each source selected, the receiver memorizes up to ten settings (line direct, bass boost, surround mode, etc.), so you don't need to readjust all the settings each time you switch from one source to the next. If basic 5-channel surround is not enough for you, there are about 10 DSP modes, ranging from Theater to Dance Club, which can be individually adjusted for effect, room size, liveliness and speaker output. I have never been a big fan of these DSP modes and rarely use them, but you can virtually spend hours playing around with different settings in quest of the 'perfect' sound. There is also a 5 Channel stereo mode which is quite powerful and worked well for Madonna's concert on HBO. I normally stick with 2-channel stereo for music, regular Dolby surround for TV and 5.1 Dolby Digital for movies on DVD. On-screen menus are available to help in programming the different modes.
I have only experienced one particular problem with this receiver: occasionally, when watching a DVD in Dolby Digital, the sound inexplicably switches from 5.1 to 2-channel stereo, something that never happened with my old receiver. Pausing and restarting the DVD immediately restores the 5.1 sound. I have no explanation for this and don't really consider it a defect, but it can be annoying.
I highly recommend this receiver and believe it will give me years of good service, until some new 'must-have' technology comes along that will make me want to upgrade again. At least, I now have component video switching and DVD-Audio covered, all I've got to do is buy a flat screen TV and a DVD-Audio player. The vicious circle never ends.
Gotta run.
A.T.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 289
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Epinions.com ID:
cvs8floz
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Location: Cambridge, MA
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Married, one daughter, homeowner. Always appreciative of products that exceed my expectations.
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