JVC RC-BM5 Boombox. If your buying it for MP3 playback you will be disappointed.
Written: Dec 11 '03
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Pros: Portable, Easy to program, Nice look, Handy remote. Nice package except for (see Cons).
Cons: MP3 playback has digital distortion that is unacceptable. Do an in-store demo before purchase.
The Bottom Line: A MUST TO AVOID
If you're buying this unit for MP3 playback you will be disappointed with the digital distortion.
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| bunky_boy's Full Review: JVC RC-BM5 Cassette/CD Boombox |
On the surface it looks like this unit has it all.
CD/CD-R/W, MP3 playback, Cassette player/recorder, AM & FM tuner, with a remote.
WOW. Most units in this price range are usually missing something. But this JVC product appeared to have it all.
DISPLAY:
The unit has an easy to read led display but the display lacks a backlit feature and the unit has no clock.
RADIO:
I found it very easy to program AM/FM presets.
The radio (both AM & FM) played as expected with no problems.
CD PLAYBACK:
The CD player is top mounted but the opening is rather narrow. I found it a little awkward getting my big hands in for placing and removing discs.
Regular CDs and CDR/Ws played fine The display menus were easy to navigate with or without the remote.
EQ & SOUND:
The units 4 EQ presets were varied and wide ranging though I would have liked some sort of bass and treble user controls (either digital or mechanical) as I found the presets auto-settings left me wanting to "tweak" the EQ.
The HyperBass Sound System worked only slightly and is kind of wasted in a unit this small.
The units overall sound in all modes lacked what I could only call smoothness. It just didn't sound smooth but rather cold and jagged with a small amount of distortion but nothing excessive. The amount of volume applied before it crapped out into total distortion was pretty loud for a unit this size. But again it lack a certain smoothness.
MP3 PLAYBACK:
Now the big problem. I put in my favorite MP3 disc anticipating sweet sounds.
I must say I was extremely disappointed by the MP3 playback.
Lead guitars, saxophones, and singers all had this high chipmunk like digital harmonic shadow following their every note. Making MP3s un-listenable.
The reason I bought the unit was to play MP3s.
So back to the store and I tried another RC-BM5 (in Store this time). Same results with every RC-BM5 in the store. Even the store sampler MP3 disc played faulty. Imagine (if you can) Trisha Yearwood and the chipmunks singing about being a real woman.
This annoying digital sound was only present when playing MP3s regular CDs played fine as did Radio.
Needles to say I got my money back and went on to buy a different product.
C'mon JVC you can do better then this.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 131.63
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bunky_boy
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