JVC MX-J500 - One Sweet Little System
Written: Jul 07 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent sound and presence, 3-CD capacity, simple, oodles of power
Cons: Somewhat unattractive, bright display
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a quality mini system and you have a small budget, definitely take a look at the JVC MX-J500...
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| headlessparrot's Full Review: JVC MX J500 Stereo Mini System |
First, let me start by saying that I love this thing. I have owned upwards of 5 stereo systems in the past three years, and none have come even remotely close to reaching the sweetness of this thing.
Of course, I originally wanted the J900, the one with 8' subs on each speaker, but unfortunately, I'm not the wealthiest kid alive. So I made a compromise and got the middle of the line model as opposed the the highest model. And let me tell you, where it loses points in looks and the brightness of display, it is easily made up for by the sheer sound of this thing. I'm no hi-fi expert, but I do know more about sound than the average person, being a guitarist for several years (working on amps and such). And I can honestly say, that for this price, there is no way that you are going to beat the sound of this thing. But more on that later.
First, I have to comment on the overall appearance and style of the unit. Although at first look, I absolutely hated the looks of this system, and most other mini systems for that matter, I have to admit that it has really grown on me. You can take off the speaker covers if you want, but I actually think it's more aesthetically pleasing with them on. At first I was headed towards buying a micro system, but after realizing it wouldn't have nearly enough power to handle the size of my room (roughly 13" x16") I decided to go with a regular mini. The flipping panel is a very nice touch, but one has to wonder just how long it might last. It's also pretty noisy, but not in a horribly bad way. Definitely not a necessary part of the unit, but it does add a lot of style to it. Lastly is my only real complaint. The display is extremely bright, not only when the system is on, but even when it is off and only the digital clock appears. I was surprised by the lack of a dimmer, since most of the more lower end models I looked at even had them. But it's not really a big deal to me, just means I have to sleep turned away from the system.
The pantented three tray changer on the unit also impressed me. After going through three different carousel changers (a Koss, a Sony, and an RCA [reviewed]) that ultimately broke on me in less than six months in all three cases. Even though the three separate trays is a lot less speedy, I figure I'm trading speed for what I hope to be durability ( my friend has had a similar model for three years with no problems, so I'm not expecting any). Besides, I think the three tray system gives the unit a more appealing look to it.
And finally is the sound, what I already described as superb. The first thing I did when I got home from the store with this thing was pop in my favourite CD and kick back to listen to the magic. Of course, Black Sabbath's Paranoid album remains unremastered, but the MXJ900 helped to alleviate a lot of the problems. With the exception of a lack of volume and a little bit of fuzz here and there, it sounded far better than it has on any of my other systems. The subwoofers kicked out the low end with no problems whatsoever, and the room shook from the beating of Bill Ward (Sabbath drummer)'s bass drum.
Next I popped a more current CD to see how it sounded. When I slid 'Tantric' into the first tray and hit play, I was amazed by the clarity and acoustic performance of the unit. The acoustic guitars remained completely clear, and the bass wasn't funny or 'loose' sounding at all. The sound held together even at near max volume. I was thoroughly impressed, and proceeded to listen to almost every one of my favourite discs - with more than pleasing results.
Despite a few problems at the Radio Shack where I purchased it (got the wrong remote, no antannae) I remain thoroughly impressed by a unit this small in size.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
headlessparrot
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Member: Bryan Jansen
Location: Ontario, Canada
Reviews written: 171
Trusted by: 175 members
About Me:
Are you gonna bark all day, little doggy, or are you gonna bite?
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