Customer Reviews

JVC HX-GD8 Compact Audio/Video System with 5-Disc DVD Changer

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've decided to replace my original review of the product,which spoke about the product's immediate(first day) breakdown.The product spent the next 138 days in repair shops,and then 15 days after my local authorized repair shop went out of business,the unit mysteriously arrived back by UPS from a JVC regional repair center.Now that I've got the unit and it now works,I'll speak about the product.It's bass-heavy,treble & midrange deficient sound makes it ideal for Rap,Dance,Hip-Hop & Disco musics,and the unit does an outstanding job with these musics.It does less well with Rock,Pop,Jazz & Classical musics.Certainly JVC has packed an enormous amount of features into the unit at a low price.The unit has AM/FM radio,Cassette deck and the ablity to play CD's,DVD's and even DVD-Audio albeit only in downmixed stereo(too bad that JVC doesn't supply 5.1 analogue outputs to play the DVD-Audio surround mixes through external equipment).There is a digital optical output to play the CD digital audio & DVD Dolby Digital & DTS audio through an appropriately equiped receiver or preamp.I will note however,that the wait to have the disc tray open on this unit is significantly longer than on other similar systems.The unit has 6 sound enhacement modes which provide various combinations E.Q. and ambience.They are Dance,Hall,Stadium(each with added ambience) and Off,Rock,Pop & Classic,plus you can create your own custom settings on User 1,2 & 3,by modifying the E.Q. on any of the regular modes.Creating user modes will be neccessary if you want to play pop or rock and get reasonable treble & midrange clarity.The subwoofer settings Minimum,Subwoofer 1 & subwoofer 2 will provide all the booming that your dance,rap,hip-hop or disco enthusiast craves.The "Rhythm AX" mode goes beyond that to simply outrageous thumping.Be sure to remove any fragile objects from nearby shelves(No,I'm not joking).Somehow,I doubt that the other people in your household will tolerate "Rhythm AX",so use it only when your loved ones go out for the evening.The remote control is quite versitile.Remember when programming a CD running order,you must program in the tray number and song number for each selection,since this is a 5-disc CD/DVD changer.Maybe in a future model year,JVC could bring us a surround sound version of this system,and also take care when designing the system that in addition to serving the Dance,Rap,Hip-Hop & Disco enthusiasts,that it will be possible to achieve a clear,natural sound with other types of music.A bigger tweeter would help.I would also add,that if you ever need to get the unit repaired,send the unit to one of JVC's regional service centers.This product has too much internal complexity to trust "Authorized" service centers to work on the unit.

Well I've been playing cd's in this thing for well over 4 hours. I don't think JVC would produce a 450 dollar stereo and have it be so faulty no one would be able to use it more then 5 minutes without it coming apart. So I'd recommend this piece of electronic insanity to anyone who would enjoy ear splitting music. Great separation, volume's definitely insane, the subs rock like nothing else...best thing under 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound. No problems with the cd trays, aux works great very satisfied with the product.

I was in the market for a PORTABLE GhettoBlaster or BoomBox. But the one's I remember were back in the '80s with NO CD! So I was on a mission to find a '80s replacement. Took awhile but Boy- did I find one....The JVC HX-GD8 is a not only a Portable GhettoBlaster but it plays DVD's too. Now when I say Portable it doesn't come "stock" portable. It weighs nearly 85lbs. So what I did was: I took the entire speaker system apart. And took two pieces of plywood (1 piece for the bottom of the system and 1 piece for the top of the system), sanded both pieces of plywood, These pieces would run along the top and bottom of the entire system. Carrying with it the receiver. I then sprayed the plywood silver (to match the rest of the system perfectly), drilled holes through the speakerbox housing, mounting the plywood on the top and the bottom in which it carries the center receiver unit. I then mounted 2 handles on the top of the plywood so I could carry it around wherever I go. Very heavy I might add. But it is PORTABLE. When it is time to move my GhettoBlaster out to the garage, or down to the beach. I DON'T have to make 3 trips. 1 for the left speaker, 1 for the right speaker, 1 for the receiver. NOW it is ALL combined into 1 unit. And if you have a Friend to help its a snap. It cost $40 VERY WELL WORTH IT! If you are looking for a BOOMBOX with some serious power this is the ONLY one to buy. Especially if you make it portable. I did this modification without any of my friends knowing and they thought it was actually made this way! With the top and bottom pieces of plywood painted silver you would never know it wasn't factory built. Do yourself a favor and get a '80s replacement that is ahead of its time!