Home > Consumer Reviews > JBL ProPack 600 8-Piece DVD/Receiver Home Theater System

As was said in the other reviews here, the sound is amazing on this HTIAB (Home Theater in a Box). I doubt you can get better, even with the higher priced systems from Bose. Throw in a DVD with lots of action (like Band of Brothers!) and you feel like you're right in the battle with the characters :) The DVD player on the other hand could use some work. I've had problems with a few mainstream DVDs, such as Monsters Inc, where you cannot select any options from the menu at all. You are limited to watching only the movie on a dvd with soo many cool extras :( I have tried MP3 cds, which work great - the directory structure is displayed on the screen! SO much better than other DVD players where you have to guess where your songs are on the disc. The remote takes some getting used to, because the buttons are not layed out the same as most remotes, and you have to be well lined up with the reciever to get the remote to actually 'send'. Still, it works well, and you can control everything from the remote.

So overall:

Sound: 5 stars! (or more!)
DVD player: 4 stars (plays almost anything)
Remote: 4 stars (takes some getting used to)

One last note: Make sure you are getting the JBL ProPack II, I have read that the original has some problems with playing MP3 discs and CDRs. The ProPack II also adds a 6-channel input on the reciever. You can tell the difference by the look of the reciever. The original ProPack has three knobs under the huge volume knob while the ProPack II does not. Also, the original only has one button on the left side of the DVD player for power, while the ProPack II has two buttons there.

Dont walk,run to buy this system.Will rival many audiophile high end Stereos. Worth the price for the tuner alone. Dollar for Dollar superior to Bose. Professional design with unique extra features. No audible distortionat high volumes. I beleive this is the most powerful and clean consumer amp. Ive ever heard. JBL supplies half of all recording studios. No better THIB,not by a long shot. Im hearing things on old analog recordings,unheard before. Color coded wiring and inputs make this the easiest system to assemble to date. Quite frankly, JBL didnt "dumbdown" for the home theatre market. The solid, Heavy constructionmakes this a keeper for many years.You can feel confident its equally a stereo and Home Theatre system...But dont tell JBL. Another nice thing is the absence of stupid,glitzy featuresthat never get used,and only distractfrom the real issue. Power. 500 wattsAmazing System.

If you want to jump into home theater in one simple purchase, this is the system for you. The separate components work beautifully together and also allow for future upgrades should you ever choose. But it's unlikely that you'll outgrow this package anytime soon. It packs a whooping 600Watts...5x100W for the satellite speakers and a 100W powered subwoofer that's absolutely potent! It fills a large room very well (16'x16'), with power to spare. (It's all about the speaker placement.) It plays well loudly, but moderate levels sound the best. The DVD/CD player holds five disks and offers component hook ups. (If available on your television.) The box only includes the composite video cable however. Buying a component cable will set you back another 50 dollars, but worth the price. The DVD player produces crisp pictures and includes plenty of bells and whistles. The receiver has twelve preset surround sound modes including DTS/Dolby Digital/Pro Logic/Logic 7/etc. Plays CD/CD-RW/VCD/DVD, but not CD-R/MP3. Delay capabilities and adjustable output levels allow you to adjust for varying speaker placements within the room. Speaking of speakers, these little satellites are virtually invisible...only 4.5 inches in height. But paired with the subwoofer, they produce excellent sound. The drawbacks? The remote can be confusing and uncomfortable for big hands to handle and the separate components are huge. (Roughly 17Wx17Dx12H when stacked.) Word of advice...check out JBL's website for a list of their licensed internet dealers and check out their prices first. A product warranty won't be honored if you purchase any JBL product from an unlicensed distributor.

This is a great system. Sound from the speakers is incredible. Had a Yamaha System before I picked this one up and it totally blows the Yamaha away. Recently watched SwordFish and some scenes actually made my walls shake and the volume wasn't even at half. Setup is simple...Do yourself a favor and get this system, you won't be sorry.

The overall package is good. It lacks some mid-range sound. I also starve for more bass.