Review: JVC JX-S300 (S-Video switchbox)
B.J. Guillot
Review: JVC AV Selector JX-S300 (S-Video/Composite/Audio switchbox)
People have been getting so many devices now, that there simply aren't
enough inputs on most TV's to handle them. For example, I have a
laserdisc player, C-Band analog satellite receiver, and an Echostar 4000
DBS satellite receiver, etc. Other people might have a second (or third)
VCR, video games (Nintendo, Sega, Playstation), DVD players, etc.
Needless to say, it is hard to hook all these devices up to your TV
if you only have one or two inputs. Some TV's have multiple inputs (my
Sony 20" TV has three), but usually only one of these inputs has S-Video
capability. My Proscan big screen TV has two inputs (both with S-Video),
but that's still not enough.
Doing research using www.dejanews.com, I found an interesting thread
about "S-Video switchers". Some people recommended just buying some
kind of Macintosh computer switchbox for $15. It would work (according
to the people that tried it), but only after some modification, and then,
you still had no easy way to switch audio. The other recommended solution
was a device called the "JVC JX-S300".
I went ahead and bought the JX-S300, despite the $215 price, and it looks
like a very nice piece of equipment. If you are like me, you want to know
every single button, input and output on it before you buy it. I could
not find any review or web site that went into too much detail, so I will
post these details here. It might be boring, but if you are considering
purchasing such a device, it may help you make your decision.
The FRONT of the unit has five buttons and Input 4.
Buttons: POWER, "1", "2", "3", and "4".
Input 4 (S-Video, Composite, L, R)
On the BACK of the unit (from left to right) are:
Input 1 (S-Video, Composite, L, R)
Input 2 (S-Video, Composite, L, R)
Input 3 (Composite, L, R)
Output 1 (S-Video, Composite, L, R)
Output 2 (S-Video, Composite, L, R)
Monitor Out (S-Video, Composite, L, R, and another set of L, R)
"Power Initial" 3-way switch (OFF/1/3)
Two-pronged AC outlet
The remote is very simple, uses two AA batteries (included), and has
only five buttons (the same five that appear on the front of the unit).
I currently have my Laserdisc player connected (via S-Video to Input 1),
and my C-Band analog receiver (via Composite to Input 2). The Monitor
Output (S-Video) is connected to my S-VHS VCR's S-Video line in, and
the output of the VCR is connected to my Sony TV's S-Video line in.
I'll do more experimenting later, but operation appears very simple.
I just punch in the "1", "2", "3", or "4", and that source appears
on the Monitor Output, which goes to my VCR, which then goes to my TV.
Notice I mentioned the Monitor Output. Output 1 and Output 2 of the JVC
unit behave differently. Here is what goes where when selected:
Input 1 --> Monitor Out, Output 2
Input 2 --> Monitor Out, Output 1
Input 3 --> Monitor Out, Output 1, Output 2
Input 4 --> Monitor Out, Output 1, Output 2
As you can see, it's a little strange, and this must be done for some kind
of editing purpose(?). For me, I just use Monitor Out, and leave Output 1
and Output 2 disconnected.
The "Power Initial" switch on the back is described without much fanfare
in the manual, and I haven't messed with it yet. The switch has three
settings. Here is the description from the manual:
* With the POWER INITIAL switch, different input select modes can be
specified when the power is turned on.
OFF: Power OFF, Standby status (Assume this means use the last input used?)
1: Power ON, Source Select-1 mode
3: Power ON, Source Select-3 mode
The only thing annoying about this unit is that Input 3 does not have an
S-Video input, just composite. I do not know what the reasoning was behind
this. (Perhaps it was intended for laserdisc players, or analog C-Band
satellite systems, since both of those are really composite in nature.)
I paid $215 (FedEx 2-day included) for it from One Call (www.onecall.com)
J&R Music had the unit for a higher price, and they said they were willing
to match others, but since I've already ordered from One Call before, I
ordered from them again.
The unit is really simple to use, and I don't really know what else to say
about it, except that it gets the job done. I think the price was a little
high, but it does make things easier for me, since I no longer have to
connect and disconnect cables whenever I want to use a different device
with S-Video.
One last thing to note, since I did not make this clear above. Notice that
my C-Band satellite gear had only a Composite output connected to the unit,
and I had only an S-Video output connected to my VCR. This unit seems to
have no problem in taking the composite input and doing Y/C separation on
it (is that a "comb filter"--the manual makes no reference as to whether it
is 1D, 2D, 3D, analog, digital, etc.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regards, Command line driven fax software http://www.blkbox.com/~bgfax/
B.J. Guillot ... Houston, Texas USA I don't believe in coffee
Bob Manieri
You might also want to consider the JVC JX-S700. It can take up to 7
devices.
That may sound like a lot, but I outgrew the JX-S300 pretty fast. You
know,
couple of VCR's, LD player, DSS and then you think about getting DVD.
Before you know it, no more room. I too purchased both of mine from
J&R Music World.
Just my $.02 worth.
Bob Manieri
B.J. Guillot wrote:
>
> Review: JVC AV Selector JX-S300 (S-Video/Composite/Audio switchbox)
>
> People have been getting so many devices now, that there simply aren't
> enough inputs on most TV's to handle them. For example, I have a
> laserdisc player, C-Band analog satellite receiver, and an Echostar 4000
> DBS satellite receiver, etc. Other people might have a second (or third)
> VCR, video games (Nintendo, Sega, Playstation), DVD players, etc.
>
{
Big SNIP of even more justification of why the JVC JX-S300
is a handy pirce of equipment
Evan Ng
B.J. Guillot (bg...@blkbox.com) wrote:
[snip]
: I went ahead and bought the JX-S300, despite the $215 price, and it looks
: like a very nice piece of equipment. If you are like me, you want to know
: every single button, input and output on it before you buy it. I could
: not find any review or web site that went into too much detail, so I will
: post these details here. It might be boring, but if you are considering
: purchasing such a device, it may help you make your decision.
: I currently have my Laserdisc player connected (via S-Video to Input 1),
: and my C-Band analog receiver (via Composite to Input 2). The Monitor
: Output (S-Video) is connected to my S-VHS VCR's S-Video line in, and
: the output of the VCR is connected to my Sony TV's S-Video line in.
: I'll do more experimenting later, but operation appears very simple.
: I just punch in the "1", "2", "3", or "4", and that source appears
: on the Monitor Output, which goes to my VCR, which then goes to my TV.
: Notice I mentioned the Monitor Output. Output 1 and Output 2 of the JVC
: unit behave differently. Here is what goes where when selected:
: Input 1 --> Monitor Out, Output 2
: Input 2 --> Monitor Out, Output 1
: Input 3 --> Monitor Out, Output 1, Output 2
: Input 4 --> Monitor Out, Output 1, Output 2
: As you can see, it's a little strange, and this must be done for some kind
: of editing purpose(?). For me, I just use Monitor Out, and leave Output 1
: and Output 2 disconnected.
B.J.,
Thank you for you detail report on this switcher. I enjoyed reading it.
Now I feel like I know this unit inside out, even though I haven't even
seen it.
Anyway, after I read its output configuration, I think the unit is very
smart. I think JVC's intend is as follow:
Input 1: From VCR 1
Input 2: From VCR 2
Input 3: From LD or Satelite (non recording video source)
Input 4: From Camcorder (portable unit, that's why the plugs are in front)
Output 1: To VCR 1
Output 2: To VCR 2
Mon Out: To TV
Here's why. No matter which input you select, it will always goes to Mon.
Out, so you can watch it (on TV). Input/Output sets 1&2 are designed from
two recording VCR so you can copy a tape from one to the other. When you
select input 1, output 2 is on, and output 1 is off, so VCR2 can tape what
VCR1 plays, and by cutting off output 1, the switcher won't send VCR1 into
a feedback loop. Similarly, when you select input2, it is VCR1's turn to
record. Input 3 & 4 are designed primary for video sources without the
recording capability. When you select one of these, both output 1 and 2
are on, meaning you could record a LD, a Satelite program, and raw footage
from you camcorder to both VCR1 and VCR2. So I think its output configuration
is CLEVER!
: The "Power Initial" switch on the back is described without much fanfare
: in the manual, and I haven't messed with it yet. The switch has three
: settings. Here is the description from the manual:
: * With the POWER INITIAL switch, different input select modes can be
: specified when the power is turned on.
: OFF: Power OFF, Standby status (Assume this means use the last input used?)
: 1: Power ON, Source Select-1 mode
: 3: Power ON, Source Select-3 mode
With the above explanation in mind, if a user often watch VCR(1) with TV,
he should set the POWER INITIAL switch to 1. If he often watch Sat/LD with
TV, he should set it to 3. If he has no particular viewing pattern, set it
to off.
May I also suggest that you rewire you setup as follow:
Since you have one VCR, one LD, one Sat, I suggest you use the Input/Output
pair 1 with your VCR; connect your LD to input 2, while leaving output 2
unconnected; connect your Sat to input 3; reserve input 4 for camcorder,
or video game; take MON OUT straight to your TV.
This way, you won't need to turn on your VCR to watch LD/Sat, and you
eliminate a middle man (VCR) for signal degradation. Your VCR is still setup
to record your LD/Sat/Camcorder (Input 2/3/4). What do you think??
Evan
--
____/ _/ _/ ___/ _/ _/ Evan Ng
_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ Sr. CAD Engineer, VLSI
___/ _/ _/ _/___/_/ _/ _/ _/ Rockwell Semiconductor Systems WCD-SD
_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ Voice Mail : (619)-638-4757
_____/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ Email : eva...@rss.rockwell.com
JTresidder
If anyone in the group has information on the JVC JX-S700, would you
please post a similar review describing the paths available from input to
output as was given in the original post.
Thanks,
Jim Tresidder