JVC KD-SX740 Car CD Player
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- Player Type: CD
- Controlled Devices: CD Changer
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A great stereo for the price.
Pros
Great display. Very convenient controls. Very good CD playback.
Cons
Overly sensitive AM reception. Not enough bass response in the amplifier. Only one set of pre-amp outputs.
Recommended it?
Yes
Installation was a snap. JVC includes the cabling and mounting components needed for installation in a DIN-type mounting. My car (a 1991 Geo Prizm) has an oversized double-DIN enclosure with a custom bracket, and therefore required something to fill the empty space vacated by the factory radio. The dealer I bought the unit from (Crutchfield) included a CD-pocket to fill this gap, along with an adaptor cable and instructions.
The learning curve in using the SX740 was very small. I had to read the manual to learn how to perform the initial setup (setting the clock and programming the radio presets), but I only had to read it once.
The display is remarkably bright and clear. It's even visible in direct sunlight, which is unusual for a light-on-dark display. At night, the display is a sharp white-on-black when viewed straight-on. When viewed from above (as I see it, since it is mounted near the bottom of my car's center panel) it takes on a purple tint - it's still easy to read, but I'd have preferred to see black and white instead.
It has been able to play every CD in my collection, including some audio CD-Rs that I made on my computer, and some discs that don't play on one of my console CD players.
The AM radio reception is a bit too sensitive for me. It tends to pick up interference from overhead power lines. The factory radio I replaced didn't have this problem. FM radio reception is perfect.
The built-in amplifier is good, but it doesn't have enough power for good bass. If I crank up the bass and turn on the loudness switch, things like kick drums get badly distorted. I find that some albums, therefore, must be played with the loudness switch turned off. This might be a deficiency in my speakers, however - I'm not sure. I therefore recommend testing the bass response on an in-store display, if possible.
If you like loud bass, I'd recommend using it with an external amplifier. Note, however, that the unit has only one pair of preamp outputs. This means the head unit will not be able to adjust front-rear balance if you use an external amplifier.
I noticed that the manufacturer's product page link here is broken. This is probably because this model is now discontinued. JVC does, however. have the supplied documentation on-line.
The installation manual is: http://aviator.jvcservice.com/download/304339712/19907.pdf
The owner's manual is: http://aviator.jvcservice.com/download/304339712/19906.pdf
The learning curve in using the SX740 was very small. I had to read the manual to learn how to perform the initial setup (setting the clock and programming the radio presets), but I only had to read it once.
The display is remarkably bright and clear. It's even visible in direct sunlight, which is unusual for a light-on-dark display. At night, the display is a sharp white-on-black when viewed straight-on. When viewed from above (as I see it, since it is mounted near the bottom of my car's center panel) it takes on a purple tint - it's still easy to read, but I'd have preferred to see black and white instead.
It has been able to play every CD in my collection, including some audio CD-Rs that I made on my computer, and some discs that don't play on one of my console CD players.
The AM radio reception is a bit too sensitive for me. It tends to pick up interference from overhead power lines. The factory radio I replaced didn't have this problem. FM radio reception is perfect.
The built-in amplifier is good, but it doesn't have enough power for good bass. If I crank up the bass and turn on the loudness switch, things like kick drums get badly distorted. I find that some albums, therefore, must be played with the loudness switch turned off. This might be a deficiency in my speakers, however - I'm not sure. I therefore recommend testing the bass response on an in-store display, if possible.
If you like loud bass, I'd recommend using it with an external amplifier. Note, however, that the unit has only one pair of preamp outputs. This means the head unit will not be able to adjust front-rear balance if you use an external amplifier.
I noticed that the manufacturer's product page link here is broken. This is probably because this model is now discontinued. JVC does, however. have the supplied documentation on-line.
The installation manual is: http://aviator.jvcservice.com/download/304339712/19907.pdf
The owner's manual is: http://aviator.jvcservice.com/download/304339712/19906.pdf
