Reviews of HDTV DSS IRDs?

[TreyFB]

I can't seem to find any. Here or anywhere online. I guess I should clarify - I can't find any comparative reviews. I want to know what differentiates the Mitsubishi, the Hughes, the RCA, the Philips, etc... Since they are all different prices, why would I choose one over the other? or more specifically, why would I pay more for the Hughes or Mitsubishi vs the cheaper RCA?

Thanks for any help!

[Lager]

The reason the RCA is so cheap is because everyone else is using some of their technology. As a result of this, the others are paying a 'kickback' for lack of a better term to RCA. As for which one to pick....the one you can afford that has the features you are looking for.

Lager

[gadgetfreak]

The Perfect Vision magazine has a good review of the Sony, Mits, Panny and Toshiba STBs in the latest issue.

[polo1]

I personally would buy any Sony over any of the others you mentioned. I have both a rca and a hughes, and they don't even compare to the Sony I just bought. The sound quality comming from the Sony is far mor surperior than both the rca and the hughes. Remember to get the best sound quality all around all of the electronics you have hooked up to the reciever must be the same in quality.

[DiscoMan38]

I weant with the SONY SAT-HD100
it can up scan None HD channels to 1080i or 480i also has a Digatil TV
decoder built in so if you have (over the air) DTV it will decode

can output 5.1 DD and analog audio at the same time..

Directv might be adding more hi-def channels buy the end of the year(8)as i was told by a hi-end audio/video outfit that sales sony and mitsu,,hi-end recivers

[fordruid]

I like my Panasonic TU-HDS20

[HNS]

Are there any of these units that won't work with
emulation?

[lisnup65]

We;; hear is my 2 cents. The video and sound are well OK with the RCA. The RCA has a very user friendly menu and set-up. The channels change quick and flawlessly. You can surf the guide without actaully switching to that channel.
The Sony unit has good audio/video qualities and is housed in a slick compact housing with an awesome LCD display. Beyond that it is a over-priced POS. It changes channels slower than molases in the north during January. It literally can take 6 seconds for the picture to come up. You cannot go through the guide and just look at whats on another channel without it switching to that channel. A big waste of money.
The Toshiba works OK, but it lacks the ability to be a sigle source(Cable, OTA, SAT without switching TV inputs) unit. Thus tossing it out of the comparison as it runs around the same price and offers less.
As far as these three units go the RCA is no doubt the best buy and the most worth while of the bunch. I have had all 3 in the past 2 days and it was entertainment to compare them. My 8 month old RCA unit was destroyed by the datastream update so I picked up the Toshiba unit. After I got home is when I noticed theat it wasnt a 1 source unit so I returned it and got the Sony. That unit goes back tomorrow and I will get another RCA as todays receiver should be quicker than the 1st gen receiver that I have on my garage TV.

Here is a honest OPINION that you can take as you want. Some will agree and some will not, but I have first hand expierence with all and as I said this is my OPINION.

[WildWest]

In addition, Consumer Report Rated the DTC BEST BUY for the buck and no others were noted to truley outperform it. Right out of Septembers issue.

[smack]

Check out avsforum.com and hometheaterspot.com .

There are pages of comments on all of the systems mentioned, as well as general stuff relating to HDTV, DVRs, TVs, antennas, etc.

FWIW

Scott

[TreyFB]

Thanks to everyone. The Perfect Vision article was very helpful. I actually had that issue sitting at home, just hadn't gotten to that article yet :) Thanks to lisnup65 and others. Personal reviews are very helpful. I've tried the home theater and AV sites, but it's hard to find HDTV and DirecTV disucssed in the same context.

My biggest question at this point is: What units do not have the chroma bug?

[Jblue]

Could someone tell me which HD reciever was the winner in Perfect Vision?

I had my eyes on the Toshiba but reading the posts here have made me wonder. I have a Toshiba HDTV (50H81) on order and I wanted a HD reciever.. If I use the RCA reciever I heard I need and adapter of somesort and there is no component output with RCA.

Jblue

[lisnup65]

The Tosh unit is the same as the Mits and Hughes branded units. They should work fine for you, but at a cost of 549 to 799 for one. The DTC-100 on other hands will also work fine, but you do need the convertor. You can get 1 on Ebay for under 70 bucks. Look for Open box DTC-100's as I guess every where is closing them out. New, it is only 399 and I just got a replacment DTC for 225 that was an open box with only a few hours on it. I got no manual or cables, but the manual is available online for you to print and after market cables should almost always be used as the packaged ones are of lower quality. Their are issues with the DTC, but for the clams saved it is truly worth it and I hate RCA. Make sure you get the extended protection plan for 25 bucks. That way if the data-stream updates that DTV sends destroys your receiver like it did mine it will be taken care of with no cost to you. Good luck in your decision.


"[/B] "I had my eyes on the Toshiba but reading the posts here have made me wonder. I have a Toshiba HDTV (50H81) on order and I wanted a HD reciever.. If I use the RCA reciever I heard I need and adapter of somesort and there is no component output with RCA. "[/B]

[Jblue]

lisnup65,

Thanks for the info. Here is a question for you. I am located in Toronto CANADA and I plan on using a "reprogrammed" HU card. Do you think RCA will still honor the warrantee? Correct me if I am wrong, if I get a Toshiba/Mits/Sony.. RCA can not send updates that would affect teh HD receiver.

JBlue

[lisnup65]

Originally posted by Jblue
lisnup65,

Thanks for the info. Here is a question for you. I am located in Toronto CANADA and I plan on using a "reprogrammed" HU card. Do you think RCA will still honor the warrantee? Correct me if I am wrong, if I get a Toshiba/Mits/Sony.. RCA can not send updates that would affect teh HD receiver.

JBlue

RCA does not send the upgrades, but rather DTV does. All manufactures are able to create new codes that they can have DTV send via the Data-stream to your receiver for upgrading reasons.

[techie]

You can get a new in the box Toshiba DST-3000 for less than $450 if you look around a bit. I got one at the local brick-n-morter for $440.

One thing though. It only lasted a week before a major problem arose. I hope the replacement lasts. I'm a bit nervous about the reliability of this unit now. It has a one year manufacturer's warranty though.

I would've preferred a DTC-100, but my TV does not have a VGA input. The price of the *new* DTC-100's I looked at exceeded the price of the DST-3000 when factoring in the additional cost of a *new* converter.

I didn't consider the Sony because so many people have complained about it (fan noise, etc).

-t

[jmbnash]

I have been using my SONY SAT-HD100 forseveral months and it is OUTSTANDING... Runs a bit hot but GREAT picture. Need more TRUE HDTV programming.