Product Description

This complete home theater package features the worlds smallest 5 disc Direct Digital Progressive Scan DVD changer, with Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Prologic II decoders built-in. The TH-M55 also has component video output for the best possible video reproduction, as well as 5, 2-way satellite speakers' large mid-bass drivers for improved sound and a 120 watt subwoofer. Finally, the TH-M55 comes with an optical digital in for use with satellite dishes and digital cable system for a complete home theater package.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #178745 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: JVC
• Model: THM55

Features

• 5-disc DVD changer with Direct Digital Progressive Scan technology for crisp, detailed, high-resolution images
• Playback of CD, DVD, DVD-R/CD-R, CD-RW, VCD, SVCD, MP3, and JPEG image CD
• Ultra-high-performance 1-chip audio/video decoder with Adaptive Geometrical Chroma Mapping
• Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro Logic II decoders built-in
• 100 watts x 5; includes 2-way satellite speakers with 4-inch woofers and a 6.3-inch, 120-watt powered subwoofer

Amazon.com Product Description
Sure, it's stylish--but wait 'til you see its picture and hear how it sounds. The TH-M55 DVD home theater from JVC features the world's smallest 5-disc DVD changer to employ JVC's Direct Digital Progressive-Scan technology. The system also features built-in Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro Logic II 5.1-channel surround processing with a multichannel surround speaker setup to envelop you in luscious sound from movies and music. You can even play your recordable CDs filled with MP3 files or JPEG digital photos.

For thunderous sound at loud levels and clear, full-bodied sound at quiet levels, the TH-M55 pumps out 100 watts x 5 (front left/right, center, left/right surrounds), and comes with a stand-alone 120-watt powered subwoofer.

The TH-M55's high-resolution component-video output delivers the best possible video reproduction to compatible high-definition and HD-ready televisions and monitors, while an optical digital-audio input accommodates stereo and multichannel audio feeds from digital satellite systems and DTV set-top boxes.

Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. The Direct Digital Progressive Scan feature is defeatable so you can use the component-video outputs with non-HD-ready compatible TVs. Composite- and S-video jacks facilitate hookup with most other sets in use today.

The system's front, center, and rear satellites use a 2-way design, each incorporating a 4-inch woofer and a tweeter housed in a real-wood cabinet. The powered subwoofer pounds out the low-frequency effects for your 5.1-channel DVDs and Dolby Pro Logic II-processed music using a single 6.3-inch driver and a ported, bass-reflex cabinet.

A 4-mode digital acoustic processor (DAP) simulates different sonic environments, which you can adjust on a program-by-program basis. The onboard digital FM/AM tuner offers 45 station presets (30 FM and 15 AM), and the supplied full-function remote control also operates most brands of TV and VCR. Simplifying your installation and hookup is the system's single-cable data feed and color-coded speaker wires.

What's in the Box
DVD player/integrated surround amplifier, 5 satellite speakers, a powered subwoofer, a remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, and all requisite cabling.

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Customer Reviews

Unbelievable!!
First of all, I ordered this system refurbished from Overstock.com. The price was $219.00 (unfortunately no longer available, although they do have a similar system called the TH-M45 as of December 3, 2004). I honestly cannot believe I got so much power, clarity, and in-depth features for such a low price. Amazon's price is higher than Overstock.com, so that is something to keep in mind.

The system is easy to set up and to use, and best of all, it sounds like you are in a movie theatre! I am watching U-571 right now, and my whole room is vibrating with bass from the powerful subwoofer included.

Pros:

1. Comes with everything you need for an easy setup. (speaker stands not included)
2. 5-disc DVD/CD/MP3 changer is very convenient.
3. Great remote control.
4. Excellent features.
5. Sounds just as good as $1000+ systems (I've heard higher priced systems (such as Bose) before, and the TH-M55 is just as good)
6. Stylish design

Cons:
1. No separate volume control for left and right front speakers. (all other speakers can be individually tuned).
2. Minor problems with DVD player (has reset once and frozen once, but doesn't seem to be a major problem).

If you find this system for a good price (retail is $550 at jvc.com), then don't even think about a Bose. The JVC-TH-M55 is just as good!

UPDATE

I've had this system for about two weeks now, and I think it would be helpful to update my previous review by adding that the DVD player continues to reset during playback and freeze occasionally. It doesn't do it more than twice per DVD, but it is sometimes frustrating. I did a little research and it seems that other people with this same DVD player have had the same problem, so it may be an engineering flaw by JVC.

I consider the problem to be tolerable, but perhaps it is helpful for consumers to know about this problem.