JVC XV-S500BK Progressive-Scan DVD Player , Black

I purchased this specifically for its capability to play VCDs and SVCDs. It wasn't the cheapest player on the store shelf but it was the only one that specifically stated support for the above formats. The case is slim and elegant, almost delicate looking with its streamlined buttons and low key styling. It weighs almost nothing and while in operation doesn't even get slightly warm...a good sign that quality components are inside. The drive is quiet and spools up quickly and the remote is a joy to operate. As i also have a JVC television the small TV/DVD switch allows me to operate both devices. Video quality is outstanding and the onscreen menus are slick, attractive and intuitive. If you have never seen progressive scan output this will be an eye-opener, wow. This is one well-thought out DVD player. MP3 support is excellent with long filenames. It does not have shuffle or playlist features though, and JPEG picture view speed could be better. Picture loading is very slow...Read more

I'd heard a great deal of buzz about JVC's new XV-S60BK DVD player - much of it revolving around the low list price and the anticipation that it would deliver artifact-free progressive-scan images. Buzz aside, the player looked unassuming enough when I removed it from its box. The sleek front panel has only the most essential control buttons, plus an indicator that lights when the player is set to its progressive-scan mode.

The back panel is equally streamlined but has all the usual outputs. The component-video jack is switched to progressive mode by pressing the Progressive Scan button on the remote and holding it for a few seconds. In a new and very welcome trend that saves you quite a few bucks, JVC packages a set of component-video cables with the player.

The JVC's remote control felt substantial, with large buttons I could easily locate by touch in the dark. The controls you'll use most often are on the lower half. Directly above them are buttons for less used functions...Read more

The previous review discusses about the picture quality. Here I adds on the MP3 part.

It is very hard to find (I can't find one) an MP3 player that is designed specifically for a home entertainment system. As a result, I look for a DVD player that can play the MP3 the best. I brought a CD-R MP3 disk to Best Buy and test every compatible DVD player there. I found that this JVC XVS500 is the best, mainly it allows you to play the whole disk or just a directory. You can navigate from directory to directory and also from song to song. However, the display on the DVD shows only the numerical order-no text. All text info are displayed on the TV monitor. The sound is very good.

Two things that make it 4 stars rather than 5:
1) To change from directory to directory, one must use the remote. It would be nice if the player also has bottons for this purpose.

2) The Display on the DVD is too bright and the font is not "pleasant" to the eyes.

Furthermore, if the directory...Read more