JVC KD-SX980 CD Receiver w/ Changer Controls

I bought this few days ago and at first it looked ...

Strengths: Looks, Mp3, Remote, Price ($160)

Weaknesses: It sounds like crap.

Summary: I bought this few days ago and at first it looked allright, this is my second JVC. I liked it at first, but when i hooked up my bass to it, it started to sound like crap. I've got 2x12" MTX in the back and it sounds very weak compared to my 3yr old Pioneer tape/cd changer which I bought for about $100. I don't think, I'll ever go with JVC, unless they change the way their steros sound. The bass sounds horrible, i even went out and tried 4 different amps. I'd rather go with Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine or Sony, never again with a JVC stereo. But for that price of $160 it was alright i guess? I don't know, that's just my opinion.

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Terrible

Strengths: Display and front AUX input

Weaknesses: Terrible sound, Face plate is hard to take off and put on.

Summary: I have had several different head units over the years and I would have to say that this one is the worst sounding unit i

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I am delighted by its bright, clear sound and low ...

Strengths: Sounds great. Doesn’t skip. Exuberant display.

Weaknesses: Failed once.

Summary: I am delighted by its bright, clear sound and low price. It plays everything I have fed it: store-bought CDs, CD-R copies of store-bought CDs and VBR MP3 CD-Rs written by MusicMatch Jukebox on my girlfriend's HP CD-R burner.

It has a friendly little personality. It increments numbers on its display with a flourish, it greets you when you turn it on and it says goodbye when you turn it off. It also remembers where it was when you turned it off and resumes playing there when you turn it back on.

I bought two of these and installed them myself: one in my 1986 Porsche 944 and the other in my girlfriend's 1999 VW Passat. The installation instructions were clear and complete. Installation took about 8 hours for each car: 12 wires to solder. VW uses a nonstandard antenna connector. Fortunately, the local Tweeter store had an adapter.

The CD drive in my Porsche failed after about two weeks. The radio still worked, but the CD would neither play nor eject. I UPSed it to JVC service in NJ with the CD still in it. They couldn't find anything wrong with it, so they sent it right back with some pages out of the user manual about how to eject the disk and a problem description of “user education”. I resented the insult because I had read the manual, including the pages they sent me, but it has worked fine ever since.

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If you are looking for an in-dash CD/MP3 player (d ...

Strengths: Great MP3 play and a handsome unit. Looks better in person with its gloss black and silver controls

Weaknesses: None

Summary: If you are looking for an in-dash CD/MP3 player (disk changers are dead with MP3 - ten hours of music can be had on one CD with MP3 encoding), look no farther than this JVC unit.

I'd also strongly recommend that you look at the forums at www.highwaymp3.com where a bunch of fantatics discuss car stereos that play mp3's. I learned alot and of course things are subject to change.

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Until some mook in Indiana stole it out of my car, ...

Strengths: Nice feel, Excellent control layout!

Weaknesses: No clock display when turned off...

Summary: Until some mook in Indiana stole it out of my car, this was the best car stereo I've owned. I like how the faceplate folds out of the way for CD loading _without_ a motor (it's spring- loaded). The display colors are attractive, and the layout works really well. My favorite part, however, is the rotary knob for changing settings and scrolling through radio stations. MUCH preferable to repeatedly jabbing a Seek button.

I didn't have a chance to use the remote, so I don't know whether it's good or not.

I'll have another one just as soon as the next auction ends :)

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I have owned 2 Car MP3 players. My first was the J ...

Strengths: Nice look, great features, nice display!!!

Weaknesses: Cheesy Remote.

Summary: I have owned 2 Car MP3 players. My first was the JVC KD-SH99 and now this one. In my opinion, this one is much better. The SH99 did not have a bass/treble control and the faceplate did not attach straight. Also, even though the SH-99 was a Digifine Reciever, this one looks nice.

The SH99 eventually broke on me when the Spring connecting faceplate to motorized plate broke. I paid $298.00 on EBAY for my SH-99 and I paid only $182 total for this one.

WHAT A DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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