JVC KD-SX990 Car CD / MP3 Player

I bought the KD-SX990 from Crutchfield in 2001 to install in a brand-new Jetta. The factory Monsoon sound system did sound great, but it didn't have AUX in nor did it play MP3 CDs. The 990 had the features I wanted at a very reasonable price, and it didn't look out of place in the dash (who really needs a major light show and those annoying/distracting animations anyway?). It also worked extremely well with the Monsoon system's amp & speakers.

MP3 playback with discs burned on my Mac was flawless. Regular CD playback was equally good, and the sound quality was excellent.

The front-panel AUX in let me connect a portable XM satellite radio receiver. While the sound quality wasn't quite as rich as CDs, that's due to the signal coming from XM, not due to the 990. I also sometimes connected my iPod to the AUX in, and the sound quality was very good. The 990 provides an input level control for the AUX in so you can boost the signal from a device with a low output.

Although I didn't listen to FM that much, the sound quality from local stations was good. I liked that JVC used the simplest method of setting presets: tune to the station, press & hold the desired button until it beeps. I don't know how I would have liked accessing any presets beyond 6 because I didn't set that many.

Those same buttons are used for direct track access on CDs. Press the button for track 1-6; press and hold for tracks 7-12.

For MP3 discs, the 990 will display ID3 (v. 1) tags. If you burn your discs with folders numbered 01-12, you can use the direct access buttons to get to those folders. The channel/track skip button lets you jump through MP3 tracks in multiples of 10 with the +10/-10 button, or singly with the 1 track up/down button (it's a single 4-way rocker; up or down is 10, right or left is 1).

The available EQ settings didn't really suit me, but there is a User setting. Unfortunately, the only controls available are bass, treble, and loudness. If you need more than that, you'll have to add an outboard equalizer. There are 2 sets of preamp outputs, so that is an option.

I liked that the faceplate is detachable. It's a nice security feature if you're in an area where theft is a concern. I was less thrilled with having to flip down the faceplate to insert or eject a CD; I'd prefer a slot in the unit's face.

It's nice that the remote came with, but it's a little small and easily rolls off the console due to it's shape. I'd have preferred that JVC provide (at least) some kind of holder that connects to the steering wheel, or (even better) a method of connecting the 990 to the Jetta's steering wheel audio controls.

I also found the channel/track skip button and volume control arrangement annoying. The C/TS button is larger and in the left-most position. The volume control is smaller and to the right of the C/TS button. My hand automatically reaches for the left-most button when I want to adjust the sound. Because the left-most spot is traditionally where the volume control is located, I can't imagine that I'm the only person who has a little trouble with this.

I do like the fact that there's a mute button, though. It's small, and it's just to the lower left of the C/TS button, but it's there.

When I sold the Jetta in 2004, I pulled the 990 out and put the Monsoon head unit back in. The 990 went onto a shelf in the closet. I drove an XTerra for a year, and then traded it for a 2002 Honda CR-V. I used the CR-V's stock head unit -- in-dash 6-CD changer with AM/FM and cassette -- because I liked having the changer for books on CD and I could use a cassette adapter to connect my new XM receiver or iPod.

Recently (March 2007), the cassette portion of the head unit refused to accept a cassette at all. Because I've had bad luck using FM transmitters for XM/iPod connection and I didn't want to spend as much at the dealer repairing the deck as a replacement would cost, I thought about buying a new double-DIN unit, but then remembered I still had the 990 in the closet. I hauled it out and had a local car audio dealer install it along with JVC's new compact subwoofer (CS-BB2, 6" speaker with 32w RMS x 2 (max 120w) amp in a small enclosure that fits under the seat) and an iPod adapter cable that plugs into the 990's CD changer control.

Because the 990 is a single-DIN unit and it went into a double-DIN slot, I have a small pocket under the 990. It makes a good spot for the iPod cable and the sub's remote control to come through.

The 990 still works fine and sounds great. CDs are very rich, and play right on through a rough railroad crossings. Local FM stations stay locked in and sound very good. My new XM SkyFi 3 receiver sounds fine -- still not at rich as CDs -- through the AUX in.

The BB2 makes a difference in the 990's sound, although you can't select the crossover frequency (preset at 110Hz). It isn't a thumper, but it nicely fills in the low end; much better than bumping up the bass or loudness on the 990. I did bump the 990's treble control up a little.

The only problem I'm having is with the iPod playing through the CD changer control. The 990 'forgets' that the changer input is there and goes right to AUX in. I listen to XM more than the iPod, so I don't remember how to fix it; I have to keep the necessary manual pages in the glovebox to remind the 990 how to 'listen' to the iPod signal coming through the changer input. Yes, I could just connect the iPod directly to the SkyFi 3's AUX in and play through (or pull the AUX in cable from the SkyFi 3 and plug it into the iPod), but using the CD changer adapter lets me power/recharge the iPod while listening to it.

All in all, I'm glad I kept the 990. It looks fine in the dash, it sounds great, and I can get the best signal transfer for my XM receiver. The iPod issue is annoying but I can work around it. It's unfortunate that this unit is no longer manufactured, but you could do worse than pick one up on eBay. I hope that JVC's current units work as well.