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Entered CNET Catalog: 03/20/2003
SKU: 0046838259326
Manufacturer: JVC America
Manufacturer description
High performance and high quality are paramount with JVC's flagship receiver. JVC has teamed up with Texas Instruments to incorporate the world's first 1-chip DSP solution for THX processing. This chip processes 1800 MIPS (million instructions per second) for unprecedented speed and accuracy. The RX-DP20VBK features zero interference technology to ensure high quality. This technology uses separate block construction to eliminate any interference. This includes dual heat sinks and separate transformers for analog, digital, and video circuits. This receiver also takes advantage of the use of a C.C. Converter and a 24 bit/192kHz P.E.M. D.D. D/A converter to reproduce any CD or DVD signal the way it was intended to be heard. The RX-DP20VBK also has multi-room/multi-source capabilities which allow you to watch or listen to a 5.1-channel video or audio source in one room while watching or listening to a 2-channel source in another with the use of its IR/RF remote control. Finally, this THX Ultra II certified receiver has THX Surround EX Decoding built in with 7 independent amplifiers making this exceptional receiver the cream of the crop.User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 3 user reviews
great buy for the price
Pros: terrific sound, great flexibility with audio/video inputs
Cons: not for the amateur
Review: I've owned this receiver for three plus years, now. I'm thinking of giving it up for a receiver that does HDMI switching, but not for awhile. There are no HDMI inputs, so, I have my DirecTV and Toshiba HD DVD HDMI cables going directly into my LG plasma display. I use optical cables for digital sound. The switching capability of this receiver is more than adequate. It has plenty of inputs and LP users will note that it has MC/MM switching capability as well. No need for a separate phono stage unless you really want to go hi-tech. There are three component video inputs. I can see no picture degradation using the receivers video switching. The remote is big and awkward. I use my Harmony remote most of the time and rarely have to pick up the JVC remote. As for audio, the sound is powerful and clean. Surround modes and stereo both sound great. I ususally listen to analogue in stereo. The surround modes offer variation and are as good as I've come across. This receiver has a "darker" sound than most and I've tweaked the audio a little to better match my 7.1 Def Tech system. There are THX modes, but I prefer not to use them. This receiver is not for amateurs. I had to call JVC's 800 number for help a couple of times to get things straightened out. They were fast with the help and very knowledgeable. It's menu is a little quirky to navigate. The manual is extensive and good, but what I needed help with was not in the manual. Thank goodness the expert help was indeed expert. All said and done, this is an excellent sounding receiver and for the moment, still fits my needs. As long as I don't get another HD device, I'll stick with this machine. I'm used to it now and since my Toshiba HD DVD player does such a terrific job of upconverting, I'm very happy.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 3 user reviews
Incredible sound and features
Pros: Plenty of power, many setup features
Cons: No DVI or HDMI switching
Review: I use this as the center of my dedicated 7.1 home theater:
2 Energy Connoisseur 9C LFront RFront
1 Energy Connoisseur C-C3 Center
1 Energy Connoisseur S 12.3 Sub
2 Energy Connoisseur C3 RLS RRS
1 Sanyo PLV-Z3 HD projector matched to a 114" Carada Criterion Series fixed frame screen
1 Benq DV-3250 LCD widescreen HDTV
1 Pioneer DV-59AVi DVD player with HDMI
I love this receiver. It can take anything I throw at it from DEEP bass to extreme highs; from Star Wars to Pride and Predjudice, etc...
It can setup with "easy" settings or you can get into fairly deep into sound settings, delays, shaping, etc.
Overall very nice. I think it was made too early for digital video switching, but that is all I wish it had. Otherwise, it has it all and then some.
2 Energy Connoisseur 9C LFront RFront
1 Energy Connoisseur C-C3 Center
1 Energy Connoisseur S 12.3 Sub
2 Energy Connoisseur C3 RLS RRS
1 Sanyo PLV-Z3 HD projector matched to a 114" Carada Criterion Series fixed frame screen
1 Benq DV-3250 LCD widescreen HDTV
1 Pioneer DV-59AVi DVD player with HDMI
I love this receiver. It can take anything I throw at it from DEEP bass to extreme highs; from Star Wars to Pride and Predjudice, etc...
It can setup with "easy" settings or you can get into fairly deep into sound settings, delays, shaping, etc.
Overall very nice. I think it was made too early for digital video switching, but that is all I wish it had. Otherwise, it has it all and then some.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 3 user reviews
Meets the needs of a high end home entertainment center
Pros: Great sound, price, power and a nice integrated turntable preamp, 4 ohm capability for front pair if the second room outputs are not used, useful JVC Compu-Link capability which networks system
Cons: learning remote is limited in capability, radio crosstalk is found in some some modes (easily worked around)
Review: Sufficient power for my needs. I do miss the USB input that was on the RX9010, but this receiver has much better performance. Firewire, HDMI and DVI connectors are missing. Compu-link works only if the connection to the receiver has the same path to the monitor. This receiver has the capability to convert all inputs to the receiver to one component cable going to the monitor; no compu-link capability if s-video to the receiver is converted to component out to the monitor. This is a bugaboo if you are obsessed with using only one universal remote like me. The remote might be considered too large, but I like the design. Back light, with a bunch of options that are thoughtful. This was my best purchase of the all JVC system that was collected. There have been deals on this receiver that make this a best buy; $840 delivered new in early '04 would be hard to match today refurbished. A great pair of AM & FM antennas have shown that the DP20 has a good to very good tuner section. Though the tuner performance is not up to a 20 year old NAD receiver, but not much is unless you spend a whole lot more on an independent tuner. Even though it has taken over a year of cleaning up different issues (such as a reversed subwoofer cable) this has been the core of a very satisfying AV project. I wish there was an input that accepted fiber optic input and component video that would allow all the available keys on the remote could be learned. The TIVO is using the VCR1 input, but is extremely limited in its functionality because of the limited functions expected for a VCR. The VCR is using VCR2, but it doesn't really matter that much since we are watching so fewer tapes these days. This receiver will function perfectly while NTSC input is all that you are using. HDTV is another issue, and I do not have an idea how the DP20 will work with displaying HD signals through the component inputs and outputs. Maybe that will be a a test in 2006 or 7. I'm hoping that the DP20 will useful for years to come. Excellent sound and switched video for NTSC though. This receiver deserves a 10 because of the cost, but it is a complicated receiver which takes time to get to know and optimize. I'm giving this a 9 for being the best AV receiver I could have purchased for the cost. Most sales are in the $1200 to $1900 range, at those prices, I'd expect fewer bumps that would have to be worked around. Nice fit and finish.
