Customer Reviews

JVC RV-NB1 Kaboom Series Boombox

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you need big sound and the ability to play MP3 discs, this is the one to get. I work in a factory and it is a noisy environment. There are also other radios and boomboxes to compete with. I wanted a radio that could be heard above the ambient noise and also had the ability to blow away my coworkers' boxes! I have not been disapointed. The JVC RVNB1 gets very loud. At full volume it is painful to the ears if you are closer than about three feet. The subs pump out very powerful and clean base. You can really feel the

puffs of air being ejected from the ports. It surprises people when they walk by and feel the air coming out. The subs have a seperate volume control so the effect can be modulated. As for the overall quality of the sound, i would rate it as very good. I usually listen to rock/pop music at work and this radio excells at this type of music. The powerfull bass really helps. I haven't really listened to classical or jazz so i can't say how they would sound but it should be good.

One of the main reasons that prompted me to buy this product was it's MP3 capability. I did alot of research and there really aren't alot of options for MP3 boomboxes that put out big sound. maybe this will change as more products come out, but for now i think this is your best bet. i made several discs using my PC and they worked perfectly in the JVC unit. it takes about 30 seconds for the unit to read the disc before it plays. It's really nice to be able to have a CD that can play up to 8 hours of music. this is especially helpful in a work place, as the boss may not like his workers fiddling with boomboxes.

Another cool feature of this beast is it's remote control unit. This fits into a handy pouch on the shoulder strap, so as not to get lost. It is a full size remote that can control all functions of the player, including the volume of the subwoofers. I find it very useful at work as i am often restricted in my movements- ie:

working on an assembly line several feet from the radio. the layout of the controls on the remote are very logical and easy to use. the same can be said of the controls on the radio itself.

In summary, this is a great boombox. If you need a big boomer that can play MP3s it may be the only way to go. It is rather spendy at $250 but i found it to be a good value in it's performance and features. It is heavy at 23 lbs. I usually carry it by the handles on the ends rather than the shoulder strap. Either way, it is not easy to haul around. If you are looking for portability this is not a good choice for you. I don't leave my radio at work as i fear it will grow legs. Hauling it in and out from my car each day is a hassle but i put up with it because of the performance of the radio. I really don't want to be without the great sound it provides. This unit looks to be very tough in construction and i am expecting it to last a long time. I have only had it for about 3 months but so far so good. I like the locking mechanisms on the CD and cassette units. Speaking of cassettes, i have never used mine so i can't comment on that. One thing i don't really like, apart from the bulk and weight, is the

overall appearance. It is grey and light grey in color. I find it rather drab. I was actually considering doing a paint job on it to dress it up. Anyway, these are my oppinions and impressions of this fine product. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for big sound and MP3 capability who is willing to put up with it's weight and bulkiness.

I did not purchase this through Amazon but as a regular Amazon customer I felt obligated to review this product for my fellow "Amazoners." Everything about this product is excellent and worthy of 5 stars except for the radio reception which is ABSOLUTELY horrible. This device is incapable of picking up nearby stations that all the others radios & receivers that I own can easily pick up, and that would be 5 if you include my car radio. Another strange thing is the way it handles some stations. For example, 101.1 and 101.5 are powerful stations where I live. 101.5 is more powerful though. What the radio does for some reason is receive 101.5 on 101.1, 101.2, 101.3, 101.4, 101.5, 101.6, and 101.7, with only 101.5 actually coming in clear. It does the same thing on all frequencies. So, even though it comes with 30 FM presets, you probably will only be able to use about 10 if you are lucky...and I live close by both New York City AND Philadelphia! Again, music CDs and MP3 CDs sound superb, but I also bought this as an FM radio and for that it is horrible. I am very disappointed for a device like this that costs as much as it does. One final warning: Read carefully its dimensions AND weight! This thing is huge and heavy. Don't think you are going to tote this thing around like a "regular" portable radio because that just isn't going to happen. I hope you find this information helpful.

I bought this product after thorough research and sending back another product that was just too large to carry easily.

If you are a magician, clown, or belly dancer, or some other kind of party entertainer this is the perfect portable, all-in-one durable piece of equipment on the market at this time for dragging to gigues. The guitar amp is also for large pin microphone and has a mixing knob (thus it does Karaoke: you can sing with the music). You will not find this in any other description, not even JVCs. I had to buy the product to see what it really can do.

It has no-nonsense buttons, you don't have to read the instructions to operate it and the sound is clear and LOUD.

A great item for the investment, I think I can will it to my kids.

Pros: The unit is truly rugged. This has outlasted all the other stuff I lug around with me, and none of it is treated kindly. This system is more versatile than you would believe. The stereo input serves as an excellent way to run your Ipod or laptop through this sucker. I have 500 hours of music at my fingertips and never have to put in a cd. You can also place it vertically which gives it a TINY fingerprint. It also boasts the "Built-In Guitar Jack" Which is just a 1/4" that you can plug anything you want to into it and use it as an amplifier. Also very nice. I can play my electric kazoo along to the music. Backlight blue LCD is very nice easy read. All the buttons you will need during normal operation are included ON the stereo except for the random mode, the ACS gives a very clear and equal sound processing as well. Good strap and remote included.

Cons: Bad Reception But an Easy Fix; buy a $7 radio and plug it into this sucker you'll get good reception for a great price and even better sound. CD's can skip with high bass, especially if unit is being used vertically. I tend not to use them simply because my laptop has my collection on it and takes up less space and time. To run a CD on random the remote must be used.

Get this, get an external player, get a two-male ended stereo adapter and get yourself some type of radio. This is much better than Apple HiFi system. Looks better, performs better, lasts longer, and cheaper. You also wont look like a slave to society because it is not Ipod White.

Get it, enjoy it.

Over the last couple of years I have become a true audiophile. I will give this stereo a 3.5 rating because it is the best mp3 player boombox you can buy as far as my research has yielded. I only use this stereo for MP3 playback and my mp3's are encoded at 192kbps. The sound from the boombox did not impress me mainly because of the distortion at high levels and lack of Kaboom! type bass I was expecting at any level. It's not a bad stereo and most people will be pleased, I just thought for $250 MSRP I might be getting a bit more, with the size and weight of this thing I know they could pump out more watts and maybe some better woofers and tweeters. Bottom line, all the features are great but the highs, mids, and lows of the music were not great.

I bought mine for $199 from Good Guys, if you have big expectations then I wouldn't spend more than that. Keep in mind, there are not really any other mp3 boomboxes out there that are going to compare to this.

I searched for months looking for a portable radio that didn't look or sound ike a cracker can, and could put out a decent sound that I could "feel"... I'm impressed! It's design looks very appealing and rugged, the base is incredible. The CD player works like a gem, and yeah, don't have anymore problems with mp3 or other formatted/burned discs. The 4 preset equalizer settings works for me just fine! I could favor some added tweeters for more precision clarity, but overall, i'm more than satisfied with the quality of the sound. Especially with the option for switching to the (ACS) Active Clarity Sound feature which comes in handy when I listen to my "Hawaiian" cd's burnt in the mp3 format, (which means alot of base and acoustic strings enhancing the vocals).

Last night was my "oldies but goodies" night, as you know, they digitally remasterd these ancient recordings. I must say, the sound reproduction on this box was pretty darn good! And as I write this review, I am listening to the radio, I have NO PROBLEMS, (as some reviewer's made mention), tuning in to FM stations. Perhaps Hawaii is not as flooded with air frequencies as most other places. I live near metropolitan Honolulu where most of all modern Hawaii is centralized. It's clear, its filling the air with sound in my living room and sounds as panoramic and harmonic as my $2000 plus home theater system! (and only 52watts of power?) I save on my electric bill AND prolong the life of my theater system, not to mention No more tripping of my wires with my A/C running.

I guess the only drawbacks that I may have, (not to be taken as negative) is they could have built in a carry handle for better handling instead of the strap that comes with. And the darn thing IS heavy when the batteries are in!!! But I don't mind it because I knew to get a real boombox, you'd have to compromise wieght and size for quality sound and portability. Other than that, I am very happy with my purchase, even more because of Amazon's FREE Super Saver Shipping to HAWAII!!! and my company gift certificate of a hundred dollar's which allowed me to get this baby for only $132.80. Yeah, I lucked out and treated myself to an upgrade coz I DESERVE IT!

So, if you're out there looking and can't decide on that tiny $80 portable radio with a panoramic sound, or this panoramic sound with the extra boom? or if you're looking for a portable sound that can host a gathering of friends and not a party of one or two?

My Advice is?...... "GET IT", YOU WON'T BE SORRY!

(UPDATE... 10/21/06)

I want to let people know that during the recent quake in Hawaii, we experienced a State-wide power failure and this boombox was a life-line of minute to minute information during the duaration thereof.

A month and a half before the quake, I inserted a brand new pack of 10 D sized batteries into the boombox for a trip to visit my grandmother's (recently passed) gravesite. I've been planting grass and maintaining it as often as I can, to the sounds of Hawaiian music playing, her favorite, (with base at level 4) as is the main reason for the purchase of this radio. I probably played it for an hour or so, went home and probably played another hour or so at home since.

Well, everyone knows that if you turn the base up, more juice from your batteries will be evaporated faster right? Well, I turned down the base to the lowest and my boombox gave me continuous coverage from about 7:30 am till about 9pm that night when our power came back on. Unbeleivable for such a big radio.

My point is, I appreciate this BoomBox more than ever now. The wisest, most practical, most versitile investment i've made for the year!

Hope this helps those of you who are tossed with questions/compromise of battery useage and quantity.

P. Lucas

Hawaii 2006

Pros: Bass (quality + quantity), Volume, plays mp3s, nothing like it on the market

Cons: Big and heavy, not portable, FM reception, battery life

Best For: University students, cottages, boats, RVs, construction, rooftop/backyard parties, people who need music while they work

The Sound: This thing just rocks. It pumps out the bass with authority. The bass goes deep and loud with a quality that is unheard of in ANY (1 piece) boombox on the market. It was the first boombox to deliver subwoofer like bass when it first came out in the mid 90's (then without mp3 capability), and it only had one competitor at the time (the Panasonic). While the Panasonic did sound a bit better than the JVC through he midrange and treble, it could not touch its bass performance. Reintroduced in 2005 with the ability to read mp3s, it has literally no competitors.

If you are an audiophile (audio snob), the sound quality is amazing for a boombox, but it really can't compare to a real stereo with good speakers. If you listen to it up close and personal, you can tell its limitations, but used for parties, at the cottage, rocking out, or background music, it sounds as good as you'd ever want.

Sound controls: You can tailor the sound to your taste in three ways: 1. Super Woofer volume control, 2. Equalizer presets, 3. Active Clear Sound (ACS).

The Super Woofer volume control is a big knob just like the volume control and goes from 1-6. It usually sounds best at 3 or 4. 5 adds extra bass when you need it, but 6 is just excessive.

You can select from 4 EQ presets: flat, beat, pop, and clear, but you cannot create a custom EQ setting if those 4 are not to your liking.

ACS seems to have a love/hate relationship. If you're listening to it up close and personal, you can easily tell that it is artificially manipulating the sound. But if you're using it for parties / background music, you'll never notice and like the effect (makes it sound clearer from a distance amidst the background noise).

Convenience: This thing is basically a big tube. Almost like a small duffle bag or a really long gym bag. It's an unwieldly 25 lbs that you carry over your shoulder with a strap. There is no "handle" on top -- you have to carry it with a handle on either side. So it isn't a typical boombox that one would carry around easily. This thing is portable in the sense that you can take it to or from the cottage or set it up in the backyard or on the rooftop for a party and take it back inside. But you don't want to be carrying this thing around on your shoulder for more than 5 minutes. And when you're using it on battery power (not that I've tried), it's not going to last more than a couple hours.

But on the other hand, for a system with such huge sound, you could easily use this as your main system unlike many other boomboxes. This thing actually has better bass than some mini systems (the ones with separate speakers and built-in subwoofers). I think it would be great for students, for example, who could take it with them for their dorm rooms and back home in the summer much more easily than a full stereo system.

Conclusion: If you need something for college, the cottage, or backyard parties, and you gotta have competition level bass, this is your only choice.

As a person who collects electronics, this is the most expensive and worthwile piece of equipment money can buy. The sound-- PHENOMENAL doesn't even describe it. Yes, it's heavy, 'bout 25 lbs., but let me tell you this equipment I would buy OVER & OVER AGAIN. It is well worth EVERY PENNY of the sale price. Not only does it play MP3 CD's, but it also has 2 built in subwoofers and a full-logic auto-reverse cassette deck along with a 30 preset FM tuner and 10 preset AM tuner. If you are into this stuff like I am, go ahead.....induldge.....you won't be sorry!!

Edward Piasecki

Billerica, Mass.

There are some things that just look the part. Sports cars look fast. Monster Trucks look unstoppable. The JVC RV-NB1 "Kaboom" looks loud. It is. With a bass that thumps you in the chest and a volume control that goes up to FIFTY (you do NOT want to go over THIRTY if you value your eardrums) this "Kaboom" box does exactly what it looks like it does. It also does some things you wouldn't think it might.

The low-volume response is exceptional. It's not a gimmick. This unit sounds just as good at whisper levels as it does risking avalanches. The audio is very well done. It doesn't mess around with any "graphic equalizers", there's no "reverb" controls, all in all if you're looking for nonsense then keep looking because this unit will have none of that. It's straight, simple, to the point and does its job.

No light show LED display. No bar graphs scooting back and forth. No gimmicks. The KABOOM is all business, all the time. It has a job and that is to make sound, which it does very well. It's not a looker, but the looks it has says "yeah, I'm SERIOUS."

It's a pricey portable stereo. At $200+ there are a lot of cheaper options, but then, you get what you pay for.

MP3 works great on CD-R, I've tried several and nary a hiccup on any of them. The Guitar input is okay, functional but I wouldn't use it to replace a really for real guitar amp with full-on controls. The aux input works fine with my iPod and my laptop PC (World's Loudest Laptop, Anybody??) as well as every other audio source I've tried, and sounds smooth doing it.

Complaints would be the weight, if it looks heavy that's because it is, thing weighs 25 pounds with a load of batteries, and there's no way to backlight the display on batteries even if you wanted to so if you're playing it at night or in the dark and on batteries, then you need to operate in the "blind" which isn't as bad as it sounds, as the controls are very intuitive.

Gorgeous package. I'd like it lighter, cuter and cheaper, but I say that about all the girls.

I would love to write a 5 star review for this item, because when playing CDs, this unit is outstanding. I mostly intend to use this unit for playing CDs. Every once in a while, I like to play the FM radio. This unit has perhaps the worst radio I have ever heard, period. I live in a major metro area, and nothing comes in clear, not one station. Because having the option to occasionally play the FM is extremely important to me, I am giving this otherwise superlative unit two stars.