JVC's XU-301BK combination CD/minidisc player-recorder is a recording enthusiast's dream machine. It plays back three CDs or a single minidisc, lets you brew your own custom digital recordings, and even lets you mix CD with line sources (such as the input from another CD player), CD with microphone, or line with microphone sources when recording. While the XU-301BK isn't exactly cheap, its sound quality and features are outstanding, making it an exciting component and a fine value.
The XU-301BK is CD text-compatible, reading and displaying the title and track information encoded in many newer CDs. But even with older CDs, the XU-301BK lets you input (via the front panel, or, as we prefer, via the remote control's mini keyboard) a disc's title, artist, and one of 27 preselected musical genres.
Other features include JVC's Compu Link remote operation capability, a sleep/timer, a full array of inputs and outputs (including optical-digital as well as analog-line and microphone inputs), a CD pitch control, and a sampling-rate converter to allow recording of digital audio from sources whose original sampling rates are either 32, 44.1, or 48 kHz (the standard CD sampling frequency is 44.1 kHz).
At first glance, the XU-301BK's busy front panel and remote control may seem intimidating--after all, this machine does a lot. But once you've used it for a while, the XU-301BK is actually pretty straightforward; record buttons are even highlighted in red.
Playing CDs and minidiscs with the XU-301BK is easy, and you can mix playback between them using one of three program modes or the random mode. We especially like the XU-301BK's unusual jog dial control, which lets you rapidly skip forward or back to the next track with either format--not just with minidisc.
The XU-301BK sounds great with both CD and minidisc: well-balanced, open, detailed, and natural, with excellent separation and imaging. The bottom end exerts good authority and the player sounds quite neutral, with no exaggerated sonic coloration.
Recording is also a breeze. With the press of a single button, we could record to minidisc an entire CD or the first track of each CD loaded into the player. We also enjoyed using the XU-301BK's many editing functions, which let you splice tracks, rearrange tracks, and erase any or all tracks with ease.
The XU-301BK is not CD-R/RW compatible, but chances are that if you're buying this component you've already settled on minidisc as your digital recording format of choice.
JVC has produced one of the most versatile record-playback devices we know in the XU-301BK. All of this flexibility does come at a cost, but the excellent array of features, solid construction, and one-year warranty make it well worth its price tag.
--Wayne Garcia Pros: - Exceptional flexibility
- High-quality sound
- Excellent build quality
Cons: - Not compatible with CD-R/RW
- No coaxial digital output
