The XV-523GD is a capable addition to any home theater installation, offering superb connectivity with component video, S-Video and composite video outputs, as well as Dolby Digital and DTS Digital outputs. Thanks to the 96kHz P.E.M. D.D. Converter, the XV-523GD delivers high-quality sound with an extra-wide 106dB dynamic range. With an additional 8-times oversampling digital filter at the signal input section, and an improved VANS 4th Order Noise Shaper, the new P.E.M. DAC is designed for present and future format compatibility. The VANS 4th Order Noise Shaper reduces quantization noise to a negligible level. The Fine Pulse Interface insulates the master clock generator from analog stages and power supplies to prevent outside noise encroachment. The Balanced Buffer Circuit ensures low noise and distortion in the next analog state. In the new P.E.M. D.D. Converter, the VANS features a wide noise-shaping range. Separate circuit construction improves both audio and video performance. There's a separate power supply for the internal converters, and the PLL circuit is doubly insulated. Because the power supply, digital circuitry, analog audio and analog video circuits are all physically separated, interference is drastically cut, and degradation minimized, and digital signals are converted into analog with the highest stability and precision. GUI (Graphical User Interface) allows easy operation through on-screen menus. The "Illumi-Guide" feature illuminates correct keys to guide the user through various operations. The "Digest" function displays on-screen a grid of 3 x 3 scenes. The first scene is of a title or chapter for direct access at the touch of a button. Zoom and strobe features are also included, along with variable speed search both forward and backward. For full digital compatibility, there are component outputs (Y, Pr and Pb), as well as coaxial and optical digital outputs. S-video and composite video outputs are also supplied. 3D-PHONIC virtual surround gives a realistic presence from two speakers up front. There is a Multi-Brand remote control, English/French/Spanish OSD, a coordinated home theater "VCR matching" look and AV COMPU LINK for coordinated operation with JVC TVs and receivers.

Worth every penny and then some. I bought an RCA DVD player 18 months ago and had nothing but problems. A friend recommended Sony players but warned me that I would be paying extra for the Sony name. I couldn't be any happier with my choice. If this review helps than please let Amazon know.


Good player, but not GREAT.   December 5, 2000
 23 out of 26 found this review helpful

I bought this DVD player recently and had done my research. I read all of the reviews on amazon, but I have a friend who works in electronics and claims that it is really good and one of their best sellers. When I first hooked it up, it worked great. The exterior look of the player was impressive. At first I thought it looked out of place sitting next to all of my other components which were black, but soon I thought the gold exterior gave the player a nice touch and made it look very fancy and expensive. The remote wasn't a terrible design either. It just takes a little getting used to and before long you will be surfing through your DVD's menus. I even had the player running through my VCR with everything still working perfectly. At this point I thought all the complaints posted up here were foolish and unreliable. I almost even got on line to state how wrong everyone was and how great this DVD player was, but I was the one who was wrong. One evening I decided to watch Happy Gilmore on DVD. It played fine. I was watching it only looking away every now and then to look through a magazine. I then happened to glance up at a point in the movie and noticed a bright flash in the corner of my TV for about a second or two. I backed up the movie to see if it would occur again, and sure enough, there it was. I started getting concerned, thinking that the complaints I read about were in deed true. I tried to think of anything that I could do to test it and make sure it was in deed the DVD player. The first thing I did was test the DVD on another DVD player to see if I got the same results. My parents have an RCA DVD player, so I quickly skipped to the section of the movie where I noticed the flash. Unfortunately, it did not appear. Strike one. So that proves it wasn't the DVD. I then thought that maybe it was because I had the DVD player running through my VCR, so I hooked it up straight to the TV. Unfortunately same results. The flash of light was still there. Strike 2. I then disconnected the DVD player and hooked it up to 2 different TVs and in both cases the flash DID NOT appear. So, I came to the conclusion that it was my TV. I don't know why, but for some reason it didn't like my TV. It worked fine on the 2 other TVs I tested it on. I liked this player a lot because it had all the different outputs and features one could want in a DVD player, but I wasn't in the market to buy a new TV just yet, so I am returning it. This little flash wasn't hugely noticeable, but I knew it would eventually come to bug me and for the amount of money I was spending, I didn't want any regrets. In all honesty, I would have never noticed this little glitch had I not read the reviews on amazon, so definitely do your research. This is a good player. If it works with your TV, consider yourself lucky. It's not great though because it obviously doesn't work with all TVs. I personally would recommend sticking with more of a common brand like Sony or Panasonic. Hope this helps!


Stay Away   October 2, 2000
 11 out of 23 found this review helpful

This DVD player is the worst investment I've ever made. The picture quality is poor and I've had a plethora of other problems with it. The picture goes in and out, sometimes the player doesn't respond to the remote or built in controls, and sometimes it won't turn off without the plug being pulled from the wall. I no longer trust JVC when it comes to DVDs. There are DVD players that are more inexpensive than this, and they perfom better. Trust me, buy a Sony or Pioneer instead.


Poor and Inconsistent DVD Player   April 7, 2001
 11 out of 13 found this review helpful

This was my second DVD Player with the first being a Toshiba SD-2109, which I loved but did not have the ability to play CDR's and CDRW's. After reading the technical readouts on various websites, I purchased this JVC Player for this particular ability. Additionally, the gold finish went well with my Sony WEGA. At first, the DVD player worked fine. However, after three months, this JVC started skipping on DVDs (New and Rented)and as a matter of fact, once, it completely jammed. It made a terrible sound (sort of like my DVD was being completely destroyed) and I was forced to unplug it and replug it back in. There was indeed some damage to my DVD. Now (about 8 months after purchase...I've been lazy about bringing it into a service center), it cannot go completely through one DVD without skipping. I am very disappointed with this product and am considering purchasing a new Sony or Panasonic DVD player.


The worst DVD player I can imagine.   August 20, 2000
 9 out of 21 found this review helpful

Well, this model surely has a nice appearance. Unfortunely, the quality is more than worst. Even for the first day I bought it, I could not finish any DVD at hands without trouble, including some new release rent from Blockbuster. Three words, "GIVE IT UP!"