1005WHC38 JVC TH-S66

9/8/05

11:28 AM

Page 70
GROUP TEST >250-350 Home cinema systems

JVC TH-S66 350

An enthusiastic performer that works extremely well with both music and movies, and it looks good too
The JVC TH-66 is the step up model to the TH-S55 home cinema system, reviewed in our August issue. For the additional outlay the TH-66 adds tall-boy floorstanding speakers, otherwise its specification, main unit and subwoofer are all identical to its more affordable sibling. Unlike Panasonics floorstanding speakers, JVCs are a lot less fiddly to assemble and set up is very straightforward with colour-coded speaker cable helping to make all the right connections. Like the Pioneer DCS340, reviewed on page 81, the JVC is equipped with a sophisticated installation procedure called Smart Surround Setup. Simply clap your hands and it optimises its level and delay settings according to your seating position in the room.

RATINGS

####$ EASE OF USE ##### FEATURES ##### PICTURE ##### SOUND ##### VALUE ####$ OVERALL ####$
EFFECTS FLY AROUND THE ROOM WITH EXPERT PRECISION
Connects to the deck via an umbilical cord
Colour-coded cable for easy set up

TEST SCENE

> >Oceans Eleven

Ready steady glow

The units slim dimensions and tapered styling are easy on the eye. The small display shows system info and track timings, and JVCs blue backlighting casts an atmospheric glow across the front panel when the lights are dimmed. Surround sound amplification is hidden inside the subwoofer, which affords the main unit its slender dimensions, and all connections are made at the back of the sub, which is connected to the main unit via an umbilical type cable. The JVC is equipped to deliver superior PAL progressive scan images via its component video sockets to a suitably equipped TV screen. RGB, S-video and composite video signal connections are provided via a single Scart output if your screen doesnt have component video socketry. Picture and sound performance are typically geared for impact and images live up to our expectations. Prog scan images look very impressive indeed, with rich colours that show off the vibrant colour palette in Oceans Eleven, and skin tones look perfectly balanced without being too red. The subwoofer is powerful and will appeal to bass enthusiasts. Surround effects fly around the room with expert precision, and are accurately placed directly behind the listener. Voices through the centre speaker are clean and free from the flaws usually
Voices through the centre speaker have good clarity and George Clooneys dialogue sounds natural with good bass depth

AT A GLANCE

FEATURES Progressive scan Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro-Logic II, DVD-Audio playback (low res only) DiVX, WMA, MP3, JPEG playback Auto system calibration AM/FM receiver CONNECTIONS Component video RGB Scart S-video (via Scart) Composite video (via Scart) Optical digital input Analogue input AM/FM aerial connection www.jvc.com 5000
associated with budget systems, and Clooneys voice has good clarity and a reasonable amount of bass depth.

Added value

DVD-Audio playback is incorporated, adding value for those that own material on the better-than-CD format. Its handling of the music format isnt the best weve heard, but the speakers put in a better performance than the compact satellites with its TH-S55 sibling.

CD performance is also respectable, and music from Coldplays X&Y is carried along by the JVCs enthusiastic subwoofer, which again delivers a solid performance. The floorstanding speakers are a sizeable notch above the small sats supplied with its more affordable TH-S55 sibling. They more than justify the additional cost and the TH-S66 makes a worthwhile home cinema system that works extremely well with movie and music soundtracks I
A relaxing blue glow adds to the ambience
Component video sockets for progressive scan playback
Lesser-used controls are hidden beneath flap

70 WHC OCTOBER 2005