The Best JVC deck

[Dimitar Georgiev]

Since there are no threads on JVC let me start one - which is the best JVC deck you have experienced ? What impressed you most about it ?
I never had or played with JVC deck so far. On the net I have seen intriguing JVC models - for instance TD-V1010 or TD-V931:

http://k-nisi.hp.infoseek.co.jp/td-v931.htm

or the curious auto-reverse DD-V9

http://k-nisi.hp.infoseek.co.jp/dd-v9.htm

This is the only rotating headset with adjustable azimuth I have seen so far.
this deck has auto-bias, auto-sensitivity and auto-equalization calibration.

D.

[braxus]

I'd say the 1010 is their best deck with the 711 following. Some might say the other way around, but the 1010 has better features then the 711 in my opinion. But that 931 certainly looks like a great deck. Was it ever released in North America?

[Time_Stand_Still]

My list in order of 1 through 5


1: DD-99: Quartz lock direct drive, BEST tuning,Dolby B and C, Super ANRS

2: DD-VR9: Direct Drive, Best tuning, a more than adequate auto reverse. Digital peak meter.

3: DD-V9: Same as DD-VR9 but it did not have the digital peak meter.

4: TD-V1050: Statistically JVC's best performer short of best wow and flutter though it was almost as good as the DD-99 which was JVC's best at wow and flutter. Solid design, bias and level calibration tools.

5: TD-V1010: Similar performance to the TD-V1050 but a few years older.


All of these decks would be coveted by JVC fans (I know because I loved all of them as cassette decks back in the day from JVC)

[Mignun67]

My local stereo store tried to sell me one of these JVC decks back in the day - must have been 1983/4. I had been truly blown away by the lowly Nak BX-1 and was lusting after the the-new RX-202. The guys at the store wanted me to buy a JVC, can't remember whether it was a DD-V9 or DD-VR9, but it was black in colour and had most of the controls on a slide-out drawer. 3 heads and auto-reverse with BEST tuning and direct drive if I recall correctly.

Anyway, I was on very good terms with them and they let me borrow their demonstrator for Saturday afternoon to Tuesday to compare. I have to admit, I was underwhelmed. Loved the looks, the facilities etc.. but sound-wise it wasn't up to even the BX-1 and in the end I plumped for a Nak RX-202. A good example of specs being less than useful in determining how good a unit will sound. Maybe their unit was poorly aligned or faulty but they dropped the line not long after and concentrated on Luxman and Alpine.

JVC had some of the coolest looking meters in the business - a few decks had what looked like a spectrum analyser! All great stuff if you like a light show but pretty useless in the great scheme of things. Having said that, if one came up for sale today, it would be worth saving I'm sure.

[Web Police]

I can't really comment on the best JVC Deck, but I like my TD-V711 and TD-V621 very much. I would like to get my hands on a TD-V1010 or a TD-V1050 someday but they don't show up for sale very often.

[Nakdoc]

I always liked the look and sound of the older KD-D55. Sometimes the whiz-bang stuff just gets in the way. This deck sounded similar to the Onkyo TA 2060 and the Yamaha K850/950 decks, very smooth and honest, with a solid feel to the bass.

[coollpe]

Since there are no threads on JVC let me start one - which is the best JVC deck you have experienced ? What impressed you most about it ?
I never had or played with JVC deck so far. On the net I have seen intriguing JVC models - for instance TD-V1010 or TD-V931:

http://k-nisi.hp.infoseek.co.jp/td-v931.htm

or the curious auto-reverse DD-V9

http://k-nisi.hp.infoseek.co.jp/dd-v9.htm

This is the only rotating headset with adjustable azimuth I have seen so far.
this deck has auto-bias, auto-sensitivity and auto-equalization calibration.

D.

Best JVC deck is TD-V931, next step down is TD-V1 and TD-V721, next is TD-V711, then TD-V731, etc.

The TD-V1010 and TD-V1050 are cost effective models which use cheap components for overseas market.

[coollpe]

My list in order of 1 through 5


1: DD-99: Quartz lock direct drive, BEST tuning,Dolby B and C, Super ANRS

2: DD-VR9: Direct Drive, Best tuning, a more than adequate auto reverse. Digital peak meter.

3: DD-V9: Same as DD-VR9 but it did not have the digital peak meter.

4: TD-V1050: Statistically JVC's best performer short of best wow and flutter though it was almost as good as the DD-99 which was JVC's best at wow and flutter. Solid design, bias and level calibration tools.

5: TD-V1010: Similar performance to the TD-V1050 but a few years older.


All of these decks would be coveted by JVC fans (I know because I loved all of them as cassette decks back in the day from JVC)

The TD-V1050 is similar to Japanese model TD-V707. Overseas models use a lot of cheap and low grade components. If you have a Victor V711 and a JVC V711, you should know this.

[JaeTee]

I'm a Nak guy.... but must admit that I have a new found respect for the recordings that can come from some of JVC's decks.

Not too long ago I picked up a KD-1636 markII portable recorder, vintage 1978 ($400 back then!) and it is extremely well made. Recordings made on that deck are warm, detailed and lively. Results from that deck holds up very well vs. my Naks.

Also, amongst my boombox collection, the cassette deck that I hold in the most esteem is the one built into my JVC RC-M70. It's one of the best ever built into a boombox, also rivaling mid-line components.

Both the portable recorder and the M70 are heavy-push button type mechanical transport decks. I also own the JVC holy-grail flagship boombox, the RC-M90 which has a soft-touch electronic IC type transport. You would think that the M90 and the more modern deck would offer a performance advantage, but IMHO the M70 is capable of better recordings and a cleaner low volume sound reproduction. It is a better deck.

Could it be that the better JVC decks come from before there were huge changes in electronic transport?

[Nakdoc]

Back then JVC was a premium brand, on par with Yamaha. It had limited distribution in stores. The early mechanical decks had big motors and big flywheels, as if the design engineers refused to make anything cheap and flimsy. What set JVC apart was their early adoption of Sendust heads, which crept into their line before metal tape was introduced. The KD-A6 was the last of the old permalloy head models.

[Big Tuna]

I'll vouch for my mom's KD-V400 from 1986. That is by far one of the best Decks I've ever heard. Very smooth operator, quiet transports, and I love those flashing bars and rainbow lights. :D
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii261/CharlieHorse1992/Picture075-1.jpg

[Warped Bezel]

That totally SLAYS!*hypnot**hypnot**hypnot*

[RedGrant]

V711, I was floored how good it sounded. Another reason I no longer covet TOTL Tandbergs. Still it's on the expensive side for me.

[koseltri]

The TD-V66 I own sounds as good as my BX-300, maybe even better. I'm sure the Nak-heads out there will say something's out-of-tune with the BX-300. *flame*

[A.N.T.]

This is probably one of the cheapest decks JVC ever produced but it is one of the prettiest decks ever, I think. The "lightguides" meter needles are quite unique and despite a very simple design it sounds so good on playback that will put to shame many decks 10 times more expensive. I was looking for one for a long time and finally I've got it on the UK eBay. Apparently it is more common in the US - even now there is one for sale (with very nice photos) (http://cgi.ebay.com/JVC-KD-D-10-Single-deck-FREE-Scotch-Zenith-tapes-/320611983697).

The mechanics is very good for such a cheap deck - after a usual service and belt replacement the W&F is 0.05% WRMS, 0.09% DIN wtd. The mech is made of metal and the head is a very nice "MetaPerm" hard permalloy type. Was listening to this deck for a couple of days and for playback it is very nice - I can live with the sound like that in my system - clear and musical. And it looks gorgeous *thumbsup* .

Alex

[Lance Lawson]

I just got a JVC KD-D50J and I've been sorting it out. It's one of the few pieces of JVC equipment I've owned and unfortunately there's nothing out there about the model. My own impression is that it seems to have come from the early 80's and most likely was somewhere in the upper mid range of their cassette deck line then.

If this was the only deck I had I'd consider it an excellent deck but as much as I'd like it to really be an outstanding deck it simply isn't in the league with my Technics of the same era or my SONY from much later. Still its a nice deck and doesn't sound bad at all. It just doesn't sound as good as what I'm used to now. But it's a really nice looking deck and while my Technics is very similar in many ways the JVC is cleaner looking and more tasteful.

BTW if anyone knows anything about this model please PM me.

[Warped Bezel]

Not a lot of help serarching to me either but A.N.T's, yours and THIS deck sure have a lot of similar cues.

http://i.ebayimg.com/15/!BuJzuTQCWk~$(KGrHqYOKj!!BuJzuTQCWk~$(KGrHqYOKj!Ev PqKF8ZdBL+HhFDL-!~~_12.JPG

KD-D10C (OH WAIT, SAME DECK) *headache*

Bedtime 4 Bezel.