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Executive System like JVC EX-A1

I was in an audio store recently and heard an executive system that sounded surprisingly good: it was the JVC EX-A1. It has a price to match, I think $550 list. It's the one with wooden speaker enclosures and also wooden diaphram in the speaker, very unusual. While most small systems sound, to my ear, pretty unpleasant, this one sounded very articulate and clean, even a little warm.

I'm wondering if anyone has extensive experience with this unit, or has found a similar sized executive system that they are very impressed with in terms of audio quality?

Thanks,
Art
artmaltman
celtic66
1,648 posts
 
Different category, but I travel with an Onkyo executive system ($250) which I run with Chord Carnival wire and Totem Mite speakers on 24" stands. It sounds very respectable for the money invested.
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,766 posts
 
Art:

Listen again, before purchasing the JVC EX-A1. The EX-A1's claim to fame is that the speakers' cones are made from wood soaked in saki ... that "feature" and the associated "Bose like" marketing accounts for its high price. Checkout the amp's specs and you will see that the amp has a THD of 10% ... that's right ... a boombox quality amp for 5 bills. The sound is extremely lightweight ... listen to something other than the lite jazz CD that JVC uses to promote the system and you will see how just noisy and average sounding this JVC system is. The JVC is aimed at business travellers (like me), who often find themselves reading the in-flight catalogs.

For the money, you are better off going with the TEAC H550 mini system which you can find for about $575. You would still need to add speakers and there are plenty of $200 per pair candidates out there ... NHT SB1; PSB Alpha; Wharfedale Diamond 8.1 (which Buy.Com has for $130 a pair); Axiom; etc. So all in, you are talking about $800.

I just went through auditioning small sized systems with a very good friend (not an audiophile by any stretch) and we were both very disappointed with the JVC, as well as other smaller systems like the Denon M31. She went with the 2 piece TEAC and some NHT SB1's and the sound is very impressive.

Regards, Rich
artmaltman OP
769 posts
 
Well, my curiousity has overwhelmed me. And I'm figuring that no in store demo will replace a home trial. How many pieces of gear have I loved at home but hated in the store, or visa versa...

And some pieces that I love have had the stupidest marketing gimmicks....

I found one at a good price, minimal risk : - )

I'm gonna do my break-in process on the speakers (even the greatest speakers without adequate breakin always sound thin to my ear), and I'll add isolation, proper power strip, etc. And my Rel Strata III sub : - o

If this JVC can sing at all, I'm gonna find out.

Art

ps: What, are you hinting that having a driver made of "sake soaked wood" is not obviously a major technical breakthrough! (Or perhaps it's the listener that needs to be "sake-soaked". Will let you know : - )
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