JVC XL-V550 CD-player Review

The JVC XL-V550 CD player has all of the usual control features, such as two-speed fast search and track skipping in both directions, as well as special facilities for making tapes of selected programs on a compatible JVC cassette deck. A front-panel numerical keypad provides direct access to any track and can be used to program the player to play up to thirty-two tracks in any order. The XL-V550 also has keys for direct access to any indexed portion of a selected track, though it is not possible to program indexed sections.

Among the other features is a repeat mode for a single track, an entire disc, or any selected portion of a disc. At the press of a button, all the tracks on a disc can be played back in a random order. And the intro feature enables you to hear the first 15 seconds of each track before the player proceeds to the next one; touching the intro button again during that 15 seconds continues normal playback from that point.

The XL-V550 operates with JVC’s Compu-Link control system, which enables a JVC receiver or amplifier to switch the selected signal-source component, such as a CD player or cassette deck, on and off. This feature also allows the XL-V550 itself to control a compatible JVC cassette deck, starting and stopping the tape recording at the beginning and end of its programmed sequence. As a further aid to taping, the player’s edit button can automatically select a sequence of tracks whose total time falls within the recording time available on the tape.

In addition to the normal fixed-level output jacks on its rear apron, the XL-V550 has a pair of variable-level jacks controlled by the same front-panel knob that adjusts the level at the adjacent headphone jack. The furnished wireless remote control duplicates all the front-panel controls except the power button, and it also contains three buttons not found on the player’s panel. Two buttons operate the player’s motorized volume control, and the fade button reduces the volume by about one-third with each touch for temporary quieting or a smooth fade during recording.

The information display of the JVC XL-V550 is exceptionally comprehensive. It shows the status of each of its operating features and even the presence of high-frequency emphasis on the disc. It also shows the current track and index numbers and can be switched between four time displays (elapsed or remaining time for the current track or for the entire disc). Track numbers up to twenty are displayed, and an over indication appears when that number is exceeded. A red bar identifies the number of the current track.

The JVC XL-V550 measures 17-1/4 inches wide, 11-1/2 inches deep, and 4 inches high, and it weighs about 12-1/4 pounds. Price: $450.

Lab Tests

The JVC XL-V550’s output levels for the two channels matched within 0.04 dB. Although the fixed output level, from a 0-dB test signal, was 1.95 volts (close to the nominal CD standard of 2 volts), the maximum obtainable from the variable jacks was only 1.78 volts. The headphone volume, with medium-impedance phones, was good. The frequency response had slight ripples at high frequencies but was flat within +0, —0.3 dB from 20 to 20.000 Hz.

The square-wave output from a test disc showed that the XL-V550 uses digital filtering, and the maximum phase shift of 39 degrees at 20.000 Hz was consistent with the use of double oversampling (at 88.2 kHz) and a single digital-to-analog (d/a) converter multiplexed between the two channels. The low-level linearity of the converter was poor, with amplitude errors of +6 and + 10 dB at — 90- and — 100-dB levels, respectively.

The channel separation was not as high as we have measured from many other CD players, ranging from 85 dB at low and middle frequencies to 64 dB at 20,000 Hz. In practical terms, however, this degree of separation is far better than is needed for high-quality sound.

The player was fairly sensitive to finger tapping on its top cover, especially over the disc mechanism. In most installations that should not present any problems during normal operation.

Comments

The JVC XL-V550, which superficially resembles many other CD players in appearance and basic features, is actually one of the more versatile players we have seen. Its full versatility, however, is realized only when it is used with complementary JVC components.

Very careful study of the multilingual manual, which is rather poorly organized, and some hands-on practice with the player allowed us to use most of its special features. The greatest challenge was presented by the edit feature, the operation of which is explained in considerable detail in at least two places without any statement of its purpose! Our explanation is actually an assumption based on experiments.

Aside from these criticisms of the documentation, we liked the XL-V550, whose basic operations are as simple as they can be. A nice touch is that keying in the number of a track automatically starts the machine playing that track; you don’t have to touch the play button (except in the pause mode). The remote control is also among the most versatile units of its type.

Overall, the JVC XL-V550 is a good CD player that should be given serious consideration by anyone who does a lot of transferring of CD’s to tapes. While it may take some time to become adept at using the controls, the special taping features are a boon, especially for those who like to make their own “greatest hits” compilations.

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