JVC XV-N44SL DVD Player

I was tempted to upgrade to progressive scan when JVC offered a $20 rebate. So at the end, this player costs about $70 shipped so it was a very nice deal.

1. Cosmetics.
Nice sleek design. The silver finish is satin like, smooth and will complement your audio video rack. Since DVD players don't generate that much heat, it is slim enough to be slipped on top of a VCR if you have limited cabinet space.
It is also very light.

2. Build quality.
Typical JVC build quality which is excellent. Although the disc tray seems to be a bit more wobbly than the older JVC player I had but it does not affect functionality.

3. Features.
A more complete list of features can be found at JVC.com but I will write about what I like most.
- On most DVDs, it will lead you to the main menu in just mere seconds.
- Resume play function is another excellent feature. You can hit stop then press play again and it will take you where you left off unlike other older players.
- Progressive scan quality is good but not the best since it does not use the top of the line Faroudja or Silicon Image deinterlacer found on upper end Denon models.
- Connectivity is complete, has optical, coax, component as well as standard composite and S video.
- Set up is a snap like most JVC products. The remote is so user friendly, just like JVC televisions.
- The 480i, 480p, auto switch in the back is a real nice feature. You can switch between interlaced and progressive modes without having to access the onscreen menu like other models.
- The front light (red/green) tells you what type of film mode you are watching. I thought this was a nice little feature.

You can't really go wrong with this DVD player. It's quality piece for well under $100 plus the progressive scan feature will make your HDTV ready perform virtually miracles.


Update about the comments.

I am comparing this to a Denon 910 I have in my home theater. Although not the same TV it is connected to, the generic deinterlacer in the JVC gives a not so sharp image compared to the Denon. Another key thing is that with the Denon, the blacks are just as black as it can get while with the JVC, it is not pitch black.
Also, the edges on the JVC DVD player is not as clean cut. I both use Monster 3 component video cables that runs straight to an HDTV monitor.

One important note, I would use coax connections with this instead of optical.
I inspected the optical connection at the back and it is not as "solid" as other models or compared to the optical connection on my Harman Kardon receiver. When a quality optical cable was connected, the connection point was not sturdy. I doubt it will have great effect on performance but if moved, it does cause a sound distortion (I have noticed that the "Dolby Digital" signal gets lost at some point).

Like I wrote, this DVD player is perfect for the non audio/videophile but if you have a more elaborate TV and audio system, this particular JVC model will be your bottleneck.

More features can be found on JVC.com. I never had a chance to play other media with this other than DVD's since I have a dedicated NAD CD player that use often.