JVC RX-1028VBK Dolby Digital/DTS Surround Receiver

JVC RX-1028VBK Dolby Digital/DTS Surround Receiver
Manufacturer: JVC
Product Type: CE

Editorial Review:
Product Description
The JVC RX-1028VBK features premium performance and multi-room, multi source convenience. Enjoy music anywhere in your home from a single main system. Its multi-room, multi-source capability allows two people to enjoy two different audio sources in two different rooms, both at the same time. An RF/IR remote control can be used anywhere in the house to control either the sound in the "main" room, or the sound in the "sub" room. JVC's exclusive digital interface elements the "ripple" and "jitter" found in a digital signal. Ripple and jitter are totally unrelated to the music or soundtrack therefore unwanted distortion caused by such factors as fluctuations in the power supply, and stray capacitance and inductance in the circuits. When ripple and jitter are added to the signal, they produce an effect (distortion), which can be heard by the listener. JVC's K2 Interface offers far better resolution, greatly enhanced ambience, and a sound field that has a depth of realism that was ever possible before. K2 is extremely effective with Dolby Digital because all 6 channels receive the benefits of this revolutionary interface. Dolby Digital/DTS decoders are built-in for theater quality surround from digital sources. Fully Discrete Outputs ensure greater fidelity and longer life. 3D-PHONIC Virtual Surround Sound creates dramatic home theater sound with just two front speakers. Text COMPU LINK will transmit text data carried by media like CD-Text and MD to display on your receiver and a television. AV COMPU LINK provides simple one touch operation between your JVC audio and video components. For example, pop a pre-recorded VHS tape into the VCR and it will automatically power up your receiver and your television and then turn them each to the proper inputs. This receiver features TV Auto on, Center Tone Control and Multi-Color On Screen Display that simplifies control by allowing you to choose options from your television screen to operate your receiver.
Amazon.com Review
JVC's RX-1028VBK offers a striking combination of features and performance. Included are a muscular 100 watts' output for all five channels (130 watts per channel for stereo), Dolby Digital and DTS surround decoding, a future-ready 5.1-channel input, S-video switching, 30 FM and 15 AM tuner presets, and enough connections--including a phono input--to keep even the most crazed home-theater enthusiasts happy for years.

An especially endearing feature of the RX-1028VBK is that its remote control transmits via both IR (infrared) and RF (radio-frequency) signals. Most receivers get their signals via IR transmission. However, the RX-9000VBK also transmits and receives RF remote commands, so you can control the receiver from other rooms. Considering the fact that the RX-9000VBK also sports a dedicated "sub-room" stereo speaker output, this starts sounding pretty darn convenient.

The RX-1028VBK's controls are intuitively arranged, and the two jog-shuttle controls are a godsend. One selects inputs, while the other governs multifunction settings for speaker balance, channel output levels, speaker crossover points (bass management), assigning source names, and customizing the Digital Signal Processor modes. Setup is further simplified by JVC's fine onscreen display menu, which lets you manage settings from your couch instead of from a crouch.

Five audio/video inputs (four of which include S-video) and three audio-only inputs provide plenty of room to grow your system, and JVC wisely elected to use binding posts for all speaker terminals, a boon to those using (or planning to use) banana-terminated speaker cables for all channels. JVC's Text Compu Link shows CD track and title information (with CD Text-encoded discs) on both the receiver's dimmable fluorescent display and the onscreen display.

The RX-1028VBK's four digital inputs correspond to DVD, CD, TV/DSB, and minidisc. You can also rename them to suit your needs.

With stereo music the top-to-bottom balance is remarkable, thanks no doubt to the receiver's fully discrete amplifier outputs and JVC's legendary K-2 digital processing. High frequencies sound open, extended, and silky smooth. The bass has speed (dynamic precision) as well as impact. In the critical midrange area, vocals sound expressive with a good sense of body, while pianos, horns, and stringed instruments exhibit fine texture and presence.

Things get even more exciting with Dolby Digital and DTS music and movies. Depending on the disc, our room became an ever-shifting soundscape--from an intimate recording studio to Carnegie Hall, from a New York street to an outer-space battle zone, with our speakers seeming to vanish into the ether.

Pros: