This undeniably stylish system from JVC comes with a beguiling price tag and a promising feature count,so why do we approach it with caution?

Quite simply, it's because every DVD recorder we've yet seen from the company has failed to offer an RGB Scart input. A quick rummage through the instruction manual and... at last! There is indeed an RGB-capable Scart input, but even now JVC seems a bit confused by the whole thing, offering 'Video/RGB', 'S-video/RGB' and 'SAT/RGB' options.

The SAT option is for continued loopthrough of a set-top signal when the system is shut down, so that will be the best option for many.

Looks & features

With that major issue out of the way it is easier to admire the design of this system. The main deck is svelte, yet it packs a hefty wallop if the spec sheet is anything to go by - 2 x 140W to the front stereo pair, with 130W each for the centre and two surrounds.

The active subwoofer carries its own 140W power supply and is attached to the main unit by an umbilical cord.

The sub houses the colour-coded springclip terminals for the speaker system,while the main unit plays host to all other connections.These include a DV input at the front, component video outputs at the rear and both optical and electrical digital audio outputs.

The speakers are slimline floorstanders, delivered in two pieces but easily fastened together.

The satellite speakers all carry a pair of 55mm cones,with a frequency range quoted at 90Hz- 20kHz. The front and centre boxes are magnetically shielded.

The identical driver complements the coherence of the soundstage, but whether such small speakers will be able to handle the power thrown at them remains to be seen.

The sub carries a side-firing 160mm bass driver and frequency response is quoted at 30Hz-200Hz, which should be enough to impart quite a rumble.

Sound formats include Dolby Digital, DTS,DTS 96/24 and Pro-Logic II. The 6.1-channel versions of these formats are not available in pure form, although a 'virtual' surround back speaker setting is available for use with EX and ES soundtracks.