Feed: Hdtv Antenna Review - AggScore: 14.1

Sony RDR-VXD655 VHS DVD Recorder Combo with Built In HD Tuner Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)With the conversion from analog to digital TV signals to be completed by 2009, I wanted to extend the life of my 5-year old analog set. I had read that some of the newer digital recorders have tuners in them, enabling them to function as the converter box that will eventually be required when the signal switch is complete. Moreover, the recorder will still be useful when the analog TV is replaced with a HDTV. Since I did not have a digital recorder, that would be another benefit.
The VXD655 turned up during my search. Since my TV is a Sony, I thought it would be a good match. This DVD/VCR recorder combo also would enable me to get rid of my old tape player and save space.
The unit has exceeded my expectations. I had been receiving a very good quality picture with a modest roof-top antenna, but going digital really kicked the quality up a notch or two it terms of more accurate colors and picture sharpness. I am fortunate in that all of the local over-the-air signals come from the same direction, the transmission towers all being clustered on a high spot about 15 miles from my home. I do have an antenna rotator but do not have to touch it. I am receiving all the local stations with great quality plus some secondary channels the stations operate. With the resulting high quality of my TV picture, there is no reason to hurry into getting a high def.
DVD and VCR recording and playback are accomplished easily, and there are several recording quality or duration choices. The unit handles Rewrite DVDs and I am using them much as one would use a hard drive. The recorder also provides for easy dubbing back and forth between tapes and disks. Editing recorded media is a bit slow using the remote to select letters from an on screen keyboard. This is a function that can more easily be done on a computer.
Setup was painless. A quick start guide is included. I do recommend spending a few bucks extra for an s-video hookup cable if your TV provides an input socket. If there is a downside, it is the remote control. The buttons seem to require much more pressure to activate them than the two older Sony remotes that I have. Consequently, I find it frequently necessary to give the remote control a second squeeze.
In sum, the unit works great for my needs.

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A DVD Recorder/VCR Combo that allows you to easily preserve your memories or record favorite terrestrial HD programming.

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Panasonic DMR-EZ47V Up-Converting 1080p DVD-Recorder/VCR Combo with Built In Tuner Review

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(More customer reviews)My setup: HD antenna directly into the Panasonic's coax input, then connected via HDMI, coax and component cables to the back of my LCD panel (a Sharp LC37D62U, a 1080P panel with HDMI inputs).
The tuner in the Panasonic unit, while capable of receiving HD signals, cannot output a full HD signal, but only 480P. If you are looking for a unit to act as a full-on HD tuner, this unit is not for you, but if your TV already has an HD tuner, then this unit offers some cool features. Before I start though, I want to point out that the unit does "pass" a full HD signal - that is, when using my TV's own tuner with the Panasonic set to "TV" (on the "TV/VCR" selection), the TV receives a pass-through of the HD signal coming in over the air to the Panasonic. Other descriptions of this unit had me believing that it would pass-through a 480P signal, but this is fortunately not the case.
Cool Feature #1: Recording HD TV shows over the air. This is one of the first of a new generation of DVD recorders that can record an HD signal onto a DVD disc (although only at the lower 480P resolution). Despite the lower resolution, the picture looks great, obviously not full HD but far better than analog TV. I have recorded "Lost" and "House" and both shows look pretty good. While the unit appears to be able to record on every DVD format known, DVD-RAM format provides some advantages. Using a DVD-RAM disc and the HDMI connection to the TV, the TV switches automatically to a full wide screen picture. Setting the unit on its LP recording mode, I can record 4 hours of HD programs on one disc, and the sound is great.
Cool Feature #2: Chase play. After starting a program recording, you can start watching the recorded program before the entire recording is complete - skipping past commercials and so on until you catch up to the "live" point in the recording. This works only with DVD-RAM discs, but is pretty nifty. By the way, the DVD-RAM discs can (according to the Panasonic manual) be re-recorded up to 100,000 times, so they are ALMOST like having a hard drive in the unit.
Cool Feature #3: Disc navigator. This allows you to see all the programs recorded on a DVD disc on a single screen - you can then use this to select which recorded program you want to watch. Nifty! No more hunting through VCR tapes for the program you recorded you can't remember when...
The VCR output is also fine (although obviously much less impressive that the DVD output). I can't comment on its ability to output upscaled 1080P as compared to other DVD units with a similar feature, but the outlook looks pretty darn good to me, no noticable "jaggies".
Complaints: The auto-channel setup missed one of my local HD stations, instead tuning a secondary station being broadcast on the same signal. Annoying! There appears to be no way to manually select which channels are tuned by the unit. I have been meaning to call Panasonic about this, but haven't gotten around to it. Also, long-ish startup time (like 15 seconds). Sometimes the DVD output seems a little washed out, but this can be taken care of by re-adjusting the TV's color settings. Having to turn the unit off in order to have it launch a scheduled recording.
Overall, quite happy with the performance.
FYI, the first unit I bought (from Amazon) arrived DOA, but they were great about returning it and I had a new unit two days later. They even paid for the shipping to return the first unit. Nice!

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DVD/VCR/SD Card Recorder, With ATSC Digital Tuner,1080P HDMI Upconversaion DV Input

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Diamond ATI TV Wonder 600 PCIEV TV Tuner ATI TVW600PCIEV Review

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(More customer reviews)This review is for the Diamond and VisionTek ATI HD TV Wonder 600 PCIe
1)Install and Setup:
Hardware installation was a snap, just like always, after installing and turning the computer back on, that is when things got weird. Driver installation was not needed as this number 2 HD Turner Card for adding dual recording for Media Center's DVR function, the driver was already installed. Hardware Driver Crash giving me a BSOD: after messing around with it for about an hour, realized what the problem was. The problem was software conflict with video/audio devices, the conflict had to do with Adobe Air and Skype. After uninstalling both of those programs (which I never really used), the driver works great. Since only about 5% of PC user that have Media Center us a TV Turner card, so there are not very many reports of software conflict. For the person that claims that Media Center does not detect the turner in Windows 7, I'm running two of them and both are detected and working. No Software is final as in many cases there are updates that are needed, the software conflict is just one more that needed to be fixed. The fix needs to come on Skype's end. The Window 7 Driver for the turner that you find on ATI's Website has been out of the beta stage since September of last year. Which means it is a fully working one. After dealing with the software conflict the Media Center Setup went great with on problems; both the turner cards were detected. For Window 7 easiest way to setup the turner, is going to the Settings menu of Media Center and go to general settings, and go to the TV use the Setup TV Signal. This takes about 5 to 10 minutes to do, depending on your systems hardware configurations. Also noticed that the more channels you have either over the Air or Cable the less time it takes. This is due because by default Media Center checks each channel for 1 - 5 seconds, depend on the signal strength of the channel. For those that did what I did, or plan on adding a second turner, using the Setup TV Signal was the best way I have found to setup both turners. The reason for this is dual recording will not work unless the TV Signal is the same for both turners. So having Media Center configure the turners assures that this well happen; and you can watch one channel and record another, or record two channels at the same time. Note: If there are channels that you know you will not watch you can use the DVR TV Guide to disable them, you can also use the DVR TV Guide to edit the channels name.
2)Testing Card
When first installed the card, was having problems with the DVR function of Media Center. After the BSOD looked in to what could be causing it, after seeing that some massaging software's caused driver conflict with some PC users; I uninstalled Skype. After removing Skype the turner card worked like was designed to do, but I also uninstalled all the software that I installed over the last month and a half. Plus it turns out that Skype its self was conflicting with Media Center in Windows 7, Vista's Media Center does not have this problem. So after uninstalling Skype problems fixed; with the problems fixed and Media Center detecting the cards like it was supposed to, the dual DVR worked like a charm. While watching a show that I recorded the night before ran a test record, recording two shows that I wanted to watch; both shows recorded without any problems. One of the problems that I had was before I uninstalled the software that was causing problems, when the computer went in sleep mode. One of the cards was disabled and the other was not detecting any TV Signals. So after putting the computer to sleep, and going to bed; woke up the next morning woke the computer up and ran one more test. Both the cards were functioning and working, and the dual record/watch one and record another still worked. Realizing that the software conflict was the problem and that I did not have to return the turner was happen. Although the conflict was a pain in the ***, and wish did not have to deal with it: but laying the blame on ATI alone would be like saying that GWB was/is smart. The software should have been tested and written for multiple hardware configurations, not just for webcams.
3)Pros:
a)DVR function can record in HD.
b)Dual record or watch one show and record another when setup with multiple turners.
c)PCIe
d)S-Video/Component Video Inputs and 3.5mm Audio Input.
e)Clear-QAM support for Digital Cable.*
f)No buggy or clucky third party software needed for either Windows 7 or Windows Vista.*
4)Cons:
a)Hardware Driver has software conflict with some messaging software's (would have given a tree star rating if I actually used the program).
b)No 3D Comb Filter.*
c)Catalyst Media Center software for Windows XP Home and Professional buggy, so extra money must be spent on third parties software to use the turner.
5)Overview:
After having the VisionTek TV Wonder HD 600 PCIe for a year and a half and being really happy with it, decided that I need a second one to dual record. Even though had problems with setting up two of them due to software conflicts I do recommend this card for anyone that would like to watch/record HDTV on their computer, and if you are the type that does not use messaging software like I am. This HD turner would have gotten a 5 star rating if not for the software conflicts with the driver. Using Windows Media Center to configure the turner and to operate it is much better than the software that comes with it. So this HD turner is a must have to complete any Home Theater PC, although after this year AMD/ATI well not manufacture any more as it is a 4 year HDTV Turner.

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The ATI TV Wonder HD 600 PCI Express X 1. High-definition PVR offers a feature–rich set of media abilities, transforming your PC into the ultimate entertainment system. Attach an amplified high definition antenna or your TV cable and you can watch, pause or record analog and digital live HDTV on your PC or convert your recorded TV shows to take with you on your Portable Media Player. This hybrid PCI Express tuner will delight a home theater enthusiast looking for great value in a multimedia PC TV tuner.

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Magnavox 15MF605T 15-Inch LCD Flat Panel TV Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There were several reasons why I decided to go with this model:
1. Previous experience with Magnavox televisions & other electronics.
2. Number & type of hookups on unit - 1 coaxial, 1 set of HD hookups, and 1 set of composite audio/video inputs.
3. Size of unit & base.
Positive points:
Overall, I was very happy with the television once I got it set up. It met all of my expectations, and the picture is pretty good. The sound is actually pretty amazing for such a small tv. I had read other reviews that said it sounded a bit tinny - the only time I experienced this was when I hooked my Dish Network satellite system up. This, however, was easily fixed by playing around with the smart sound settings on the television. The smart sound & smart video settings are great. There are several factory presets & then a personal setting for each so that you can personalize the sound & display. Once you plug in all of your cables to the back of your tv (by the way, it comes with a nice little elbow/extension for your coaxial jack to make it easier to plug in, which was a help)there is a nice panel to cover up the plugs & cables, but still leaves a hole for them. It helped make the back of the tv look a little neater without the jumble of cords.
Not really a negative, but not really positive either:
The only thing that is somewhat irritating about the television is that in order to turn the power on using the remote, you must first turn on the power button located on the front of the television. I don't know if this is something that is standard with lcd tv's, but it seems kind of a hassle. I suppose that the idea is to just turn that power button on & leave it, but if you do, a small orange power indicator light stays lit. It's really not that bright, unless you are in an otherwise completely dark room. Not a huge deal if it's in a living room, but this tv is kept near my bed, and I have difficulty sleeping if it's not really dark. I'm sure not everyone has this problem, but that's really the only thing I was not completely thrilled about with this television.
All in all, I am very happy with this purchase, and if I had it to do over again, I would do the same.

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The 15-inch Magnavox 15MF605T HD-ready flat panel LCD TV is a perfect fit for your home's smaller rooms, such as the kitchen or your bedroom. It features a standard, 181-channel NTSC tuner, but is fully capable of high-definition display when connected to an optional HDTV source. Thisprogressive scan display maximizes the picture quality of progressive-scan DVD players, set-top boxes, and digital video recorders. This ultra-slim set measures less than 6.75 inches deep with its included table stand, and it can also be wall mounted with an optional hardware kit.
The 15MF605T features a 4:3 aspect ratio for viewing standard TV in fullscreen format with selectable 16:9 mode. It has a 1024 x 768-pixel resolution for compatibility with 1080i, 720p, and 480p DTV signals. Other features include a 130-degree horizontal viewing angle, fast 16 ms (millisecond) response time, 450 cd/m2 (candela per square meter) brightness rating, and 400:1 contrast ratio. (The higher the contrast ratio, the greater a TV's ability to display subtle color details and not get washed out by ambient room light.) The 2D comb filter separates chrominance (color) from luminance (brightness) information in the video signal for independent processing to improve picture resolution and minimize distortion. This set also offers the Smart Picture features that automatically adjusts picture settings to optimal levels, 3D motion adaptive de-interlacing, Picture-in-picture and split screen functionality, V-Chip parental controls, and tri-lingual menu displays (English, French, Spanish).
This set has two built-in stereo speakers that produce 3 watts per channel (for 6 watts of total power). It can produce an immersive surround sound field via Dolby virtual surround sound, and the Smart Sound feature keeps volume levels constant while flipping through channels and commercial breaks. It provides the following connections:
Composite AV (RCA) In: 1
S-Video In: 1
Component Video In (Y PB PR): 1
PC VGA In: 1

What's in the Box LCD TV, remote control (with batteries), stand, power cord, printed operating instructions

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Sony ICF-CD555TV 7-Inch Under-Counter LCD TV/CD Clock Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been shopping for several months for an under-cabinet LCD TV to replace our 18-year-old 5" RCA tube-type TV in our kitchen, which has served us well but has developed annoying on/off button problems and now looks old, clunky out-of-date.
Our requirements for a replacement unit were as follows:
1. Small, sleek, unobtrusive, LCD design that would blend in under our white cabinets
2. CD player so my wife could enjoy her books-on-CD in the kitchen (DVD and radio would be a plus but not essential)
3. We wanted to be able to view both local channels as well as satellite channels without needing to also install a DirecTV decoder box (this would take additional space -defeating our compactness goal -- and require more complicated wiring, not to mention monthly charges).
4. Quality (and warranty) that would ensure it would last several years.
5. Price under $500.
6. Given the limited selection and the poor quality reviews on other models, I needed to be able to examine it in person before buying.
I looked at these options:
1. Audiovox VE-1020 (and its older/smaller siblings). It way too pricey at $600-700 and read too many `poor' reviews on audio quality and overall durability.
2. RCA BLC524: Screen too small, and `poor' quality reviews, plus could not find it in a retail store.
3. Motorola/Moxell Tech KA-A13: Sounded good, reliable manufacturer, but could only find its announcement as it is not yet available.
4. Standalone 13" LCD (Gateway, Aquous, Sharp) with a separate swivel mounting bracket. I eliminated this option early because it would be too large, too expensive (~$100 for the bracket alone!), and it most cases would not include a CD player.
I bought the Sony as soon as I found its availability was advertised at a local electronics retail store. Bought it with an inexpensive 5-year extended warranty.
It's been in place for 2 weeks and we *like* it - it is living up to expectations, despite a couple of design flaws -- the absence of which would have earned the unit *five* stars.
First the flaws-all minor:
1. Fit and connections. As an earlier reviewer on this site pointed out, its installation is a tight fit under our cabinets, leaving only about an inch clearance to plug in the coax and a/v connectors. But this was easily remedied by purchasing right-angle adapters (Radio Shack, $4 each) that can be screwed in after installation with the 1" clearance. These redirect the cable and RCA connectors downward, making attaching the cables post-installation easy. Sony would do well to include these right-angle adapters.
2. Installation instructions. The alternative is to connect all your cables *prior* to installing the unit - something the instructions did not point out. In fact, the instructions could be improved in various areas. For instance, while the unit comes with variable-depth spacers so that installation under cabinets with doors that overhang the cabinet bottom, if you have flush-mounted doors (as we do), you *don't* want to use the spacers at all. Well, the instructions don't suggest this option, leaving you to think that the spacers are required in all cases. For me, this meant re-installing without the spacers, a minor hassle.
3. No built-in TV antenna. Unlike our old RCA, this unit does not have a built-in extending-wand antenna. This makes it a *requirement* that you connect TV and/or A/V inputs to another signal source to receive *anything* on the TV. While many people may be planning to do this, it *does* raise the ante on hooking it up. Sony would have a more versatile product for less experienced people if they included an optional "single rabbit ear" antenna that could be plugged into the TV/cable connector.
Now the good features:
1. TV: Sharp, noise-free wide-format picture, with settable options for standard 3x4 picture size and two wide-format variations. Just the right size. When not in used, screen is easily folded into a cavity under the unit and latches mechanically (more securely than magnetically, which may also wear out).
2. Sound: Perfect for TV viewing and CD story listening, and quite decent for FM or CD music, both in volume and fidelity. Two 3" speakers main the sound forward and downward, and the bass extender works as advertised. As long as you don't expect home theatre quality sound from this unit, you should be quite satisfied.
3. CD Player: Quality feel of its slide-out tray. Plays commercial and my home-recorded MP3s flawlessly.
4. Remote: Small, intuitive, well-constructed. Its bottom magnet attaches to our refrigerator nicely.
5. AM/FM presets: 5 of each, easily set, with manual tuning buttons on the unit and the remote.
6. TV/Video switch: Easily switches from the antenna/cable input to the a/v inputs. This is important, as the way we wired the unit, it only takes my technology-challenged wife one button click to switch from local channels to satellite channels coming in from our home theatre system.
7. Clock: Intuitive and easily set.
8. Timer: Doubt we will use - or care about -- this feature.
Bottom line: We like it a lot, both how it looks and how it works. The Sony name (and their 1-year manufacturer's warranty) - coupled with the inexpensive 5-year extended warranty we bought - should give us several good years of service...until it is again technologically out-of-date and needs upgrading again!

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Spice up your kitchen with the multi-talented ICF-CD555TV. It features a 7" wide-screen LCD color panel display, TV cable tuner, CD-R/RW playback, cooking timer and an FM/AM digital tuner. It's the perfect recipe for kitchen entertainment.

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Haier HTR13 13-Inch CRT TV with ATSC Tuner (Silver) Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I never realized how hard it is to find a small TV without it being a Barbie TV or Disney TV. Considering my age and my hobby, nothing else fit the my needs. I was sceptical because I had never heard of the brand. I can honestly say that I am very please with this TV. The picture is great and has everything I want.

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Enjoy your favorite television shows and movies on the HTR13 CRT television by Haier.It features a digital comb filter which cleans up fuzzy images and displays accurate colors and stable images.The V-Chip Parental Control allows you to set your television to deny access to shows rated inappropriate for children based on national ratings that range from TV-Y to TV-MA.With a built-in ATSC/NTSC tuner, you can watch both digital and analog channels relayed over the air.You can enjoy all the capabilities of the HTR13 with the component input and AV input and output.Included with the TV is a full function remote control.

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Sony KP-46WT520 46-Inch Hi-Scan 1080i HD-Ready Projection TV Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Right off the bat I can, with a straight face and calm hands, say this is THE best television I have EVER owned! And probably one of the best I have ever seen! I have been in the A/V industry for a while and pretty much consider myself an A/V guru. I have been through and previewed countless televisions as I am constantly upgrading and none compare to this one. When I was shopping for an HD widescreen, as most do, I factored in price, features and most of all quality. I did NOT want to spend thousands of dollars on something that would not be worth the initial investment. That being said, I looked into the LCD and CRT rear projection market, with a strong lean towards CRT projection.
Now, I expected there to be a signifigant difference in picture between the CRT projectors and the LCD/DLP/LCOS units. I was wrong. Dead wrong. While some of the higher dollar sets apppeared to be a LITTLE sharper, the price to performance ratio was NOT justifiable and this set even bested a couple DLP units! Also the LCD units are basically charging more for a VERY similar picture! The only REAL benefit of the "other" formats is....weight! Honestly!
Bottom line: Super clear picture(ESPECIALLY with an HD source), great on features and the price is perfect. There is NO reason to spend more on a technology that is still getting the kinks out.

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Sony's 46-inch Hi-Scan 1080i KP-46WT520 is equipped to turn your living room or board room into a movie theater. The set uses Sony's HD Microfocus CRT and lens system, featuring smaller phosphor particles, thinner phosphor layers, and other improvements that give the set a beam spot 28-percent smaller than Sony's standard CRTs. And that means sharper focus, higher contrast, and brighter images. The screen features a wide, 16:9 aspect ratio that matches the dimension of most movies and HDTV broadcasts, and the KP-46WT520 is compatible with standard-definition 480i, enhanced-definition 480p, and high-definition 720p and 1080i sources.Auto 16:9 enhanced mode with auto ID1 detection automatically renders anamorphic DVD content in letterboxed widescreen, using all available display lines for the image and wasting none on the black bars that frame the image when a program's widescreen aspect ratio differs slightly from the set's.Digital Reality Creation (DRC) circuitry ensures high picture resolution, while proprietary Direct Digital Circuitry increases a video signal's signal-to-noise ratio before it reaches the DRC circuit, ensuring rich, natural-looking images from any sourceMID-X (Multi-Image Driver X) circuitry performs 2 major functions: it scales all incoming standard- and high-definition signals to the configuration of the panel without degrading signal quality, and it provides scalable, Twin-View 2-tuner picture-and-picture functionality. TwinView lets you view any 2 sources simultaneously--even 2 TV stations. Sony's MID-X (Multi Image Driver) maintains the integrity of a digital signal by minimizing image loss in the scaling process.Sony's CineMotion 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal is a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. Digital video mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.The set offers an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), which permits a direct digital connection with a compatible DTV set-top box. Other connections include 2 component-video inputs, 4 composite-video inputs, 3 S-video inputs (with 1 each composite-/S-video on the front panel for ready connection to a camcorder or gaming console), and 2 RF coaxial inputs and 1 coaxial output for hookup with an older VCR, cable box, or antenna.What's in the Box TV, remote control, remote batteries (2 AA), a user's manual, and warranty information.

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Eyetv 250 Plus Review

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(More customer reviews)The EyeTV 250 Plus is a great little gizmo. It basically turns your Mac into a Tivo, with the ability to record as many TV shows as you can fit on your hard drive(s). The editing feature is easy to use -- it takes only a couple of minutes to remove all the commercials from a one-hour TV show.
Even though it comes with a remote control, I use the computer interface exclusively, as it is faster and provides access to every feature (also, I noticed that the IR input on the EyeTV box was picking up signals from other remotes, so I ended up covering it with a small piece of tape).
Recorded shows can be exported in a variety of formats, or can be left in their native MPEG-2 format for burning to DVD without any intermediate transcoding. The EyeTV comes with Toast Basic, which I have found to be good enough for my needs. With Toast, I can burn multiple recordings to a single DVD, with a main menu similar to what you get on a commercial DVD.

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Digital TV Recorder for the Mac. Combines TV recording software with a digital and analog TV receiver and hardware encoder.

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DirecTV HD DVR DWO2-10020 Satellite TV Receiver Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)On a good HDTV monitor with an HDMI connection, the video from this receiver is just stunning.
There are several things you should know:
1 - '30 hour' refers to HDTV recording capacity. For normal, non-HDTV programming, you'll get much, much more than 30 hours.
2 - For some reason, DirecTV has not upgraded the software to Tivo Series 2. That means no folders grouping together saved programs, no support for the USB ports (no broadband connection, you MUST use a modem), no Home Media Option or video sharing.
3 - There's a bug in the digital audio output which causes digital audio to fail with some amplifiers. Fortunately, my amp was firmware-upgradeable to be more forgiving about the audio format. From what I've read, the receiver fails to send proper headers on the audio and sometimes (when you're changing channels, going forward or backward) this causes audio to cut out completely. I found that I needed to restart my amp to get audio back. DirecTV does not acknowledge this problem.
4 - Over time we've seen more little audio and video glitches than I've ever seen with any other model Tivo or DirecTV receiver. Nothing serious, but kind of annoying.
5 - There is very little HDTV programming available on DirecTV at the moment. Unless you live in LA or NY or you're rural enough to qualify to receive distant stations, you're unlikely to be allowed to get the LA or NY HDTV feeds of local channels. This is a government restriction, not DirecTV's fault. There's one PPV channel in HD format, and there are HD feeds of HBO and Showtime plus a few other things. Definitely check with DirecTV to see what you'll be able to receive before jumping on this.
6 - DirecTV is working on bringing out lot more HDTV programming, including local network stations, but the rumor is that in order to do this they're going to switch to a new compression format that this receiver won't support. It's too early to say whether they'll provide a graceful upgrade path or will stick you with a thousand dollar receiver/recorder that can't receive the bulk of their programming, but consider yourself warned.

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DIRECTV HD DVR (Lease)

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Magnavox 20MF605T/17 20-Inch Flat Panel LCD TV with NTSC Tuner Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)REVIEW UPDATED
New Rating: ****
My first set didn't work as explained below. But, I will have to say that Amazon did a great job in refunding me. They make it very easy to return a faulty product and my credit card was reinbursed in a few weeks.
Round two:
I finally have a working set and I love it. This TV is made for the digital age. I use it with my computer, my XBox 360, I watch movies with it, and I could hook it up to cable if I wanted.
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I was so excited when I found this deal. This TV was exactly what I was looking for. I received it yesterday and it worked halfway through its first movie and hasn't worked right since. It's like it freezes or something. The picture stops and then slowly goes grey. When this happens I can't even access the menu or adjust the volume. I have to just shut it off. If I let it "rest" for a few hours it will work for a few minutes and then go gray again.
I have to assume that my TV is a lemon, and if it worked I would give this item a much higher rating. I was very happy with the picture (while it was working), and set itself looks slick.

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Save space in your entertainment center and enjoy vivid, colorful video with the 20-inch Magnavox 20MF605T flat panel LCD TV that can display both EDTV and HDTV. It has a built-in 181-channel NTSC tuner and it's capable of displaying high definition TV signals with an optional receiver. This EDTV (Enhanced Definition TV) set is capable of displaying not only television signals in 480p (480-pixel progressive) but also from video sources such as progressive-scan DVD players--which offers a far better resolution and picture than playing a DVD through an interlaced video screen. You can also use it as a PC monitor.
The 2D digital comb filter and 3D motion-adaptive deinterlacing enhance picture sharpness for a crisp, natural look. It has a resolution of 640 by 480 pixels, 500-1 contrast ratio, 500 cd/m2 (candela per square meter) brightness rating, 4:3 aspect ratio, 16 ms (millisecond) response time, and 140-degree horizontal viewing angle. It features the following video connections:
Composite AV In (RCA): 1
S-Video In: 1
Component Video In: 1
VGA (HD D-Sub, 15-pin): 1
Headphone: 1

What's in the Box LCD TV, stand, remote control, batteries, printed instructions

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Avertv Combo PCIE(M780) Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This product replaces a Hauppaugge PVR-150 in my HTPC. The quality on analog signals is significantly better, and adds the ability to receive digital signals. You can use both tuners at the same time via picture-in-picture, or watch one tuner while recording on the other.
The analog tuner (NTSC) has input for coax or S-Video. If you use s-video, the audio is received by an adapter that plugs into a mini-jack just below it.
The digital tuner is for receiving ATSC (OTA) or QAM (cable) signals. It only has a coax input. If you go for OTA ATSC of course you are subject to reception issues just like any other antenna. Since it's digital, it really either works or it doesn't. If your signal is strong enough you get a clear, beautiful picture. If it's not strong enough, you get squat, or even worse a freezing stuttering picture. I live in the suburbs and the antenna is in the basement and I get most channels at 70-80% signal, but this is a entirely dependent on your antenna and not this tuner.
This card also supports unencrypted clear QAM. Cable companies are supposed to (and I think most if not all do) send local digital channels on their basic service. So you should be able to watch your local channels, but not premium channels like HBO since those would be encrypted. Vista Media Center (and I think MCE2005 as well) do NOT support QAM directly. The included AverMedia software receives these with no problem, and Avermedia has a beta plugin that enables it in Vista Media Center (google "clear qam in vista media center" and its one of the first few that come up). However, there are other options such as MediaPortal (for windows, this is what I use) or MythTV (for linux, I don't use this but have heard awesome things about it) which are both open source (i.e. free) alternatives and support clear QAM.
If you are set on using Windows Media Center another alternative is the HD HomeRun, an external unit that also supports QAM and does show up in Media Center.
Other notes about this card, it is PCI-e and not PCI. All recent motherboards have more and more PCI-e slots (less and less PCI), but there isn't much to fill them with... Well, here is one. The tuners on this card are physically *tiny*, especially compared to the hauppaugge pvr-150 which has a huge NTSC tuner. All encoding is done by the card, so it puts very little strain on your CPU (watching HD content is another story).

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The AVerTVHD Combo PCDI Express is a combination World Wide Analog and High-Definition TV receiver module.Easily watch analog or over-the-air HDTV or Unencrypted QAM in MPEG-2 video your PC.It can be used to record Tv programs in high quality original MPEG-2 format, straight to the hard disk.Pciture-in-Picture allows users to watch analog TV and HDTV simultaneously.

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DirecTV HR21 HD DVR Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I haven't had any problems with this receiver since I have purchased it. Sounds like some other reviews are focused on other issues with DirecTv and not with the product itself. I really like recording capability with this receiver. There is plenty of room for all of my recordings and much more. It has an on demand feature as well which I use quite often. I have HD-DVRS in all of my rooms and I definitely recommend this receiver to anyone who is looking for great HD and features.

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Standard-definition and high definition (MPEG-4) enabled -Record up to 200 hrs of SD or or up to 50 hours of HD (MPEG-4) programming
2 satellite tuners for access to SD and HD DIRECTV programming - Advanced Program Guide
Pause and rewind live high-definition TV for up to 90 minutes - Series Link
One touch record, auto record, manual record, and bookmarks - Search and record - Interactive TV enabled
480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i picture output and multiple screen formats supported - Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound capable

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Sharp LC-20B6U-S 20" Flat-Panel LCD Television Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I absolutely love this TV. I purchased it and immediately put it up on my wall. I use all of the component video in's and the PC in. I attached my DVD player with the component in using Monster THX 800 cables, some of the best cables on the market. The picture quality shows it. My other component in is attached to my X-Box, let me tell you, the TV makes the difference while playing the games. As of right now I do not have HDTV but I do plan on hooking it up. As for the PC input it is absolutely wonderful. When I got this TV I also got a wireless mouse/keyboard combo so I can use the TV from my bed and or my Lazy-Boy chair.
Pros: Size (fits anywhere on any wall), Picture quality, Video (in's / pc in), Easy useage.
Cons: No HDMI input, DVI in, No HDTV tuner, Replacement parts are expensive (Power adapter= $155)
Overall Rating of TV: 9.7 / 10

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Spruce up your apartment, dorm, kitchen, office, or bedroom with Sharp's space-saving AQUOS LC-20B6U-S LCD television. The set's profile is less than 3 inches, yet it produces a vivid, 20-inch image using Sharp's proprietary Advanced Super View panel. The set boasts 1,024 x 768 native pixel resolution for detailed, high-definition images from sources like progressive-scan DVD players, PCs, and DTV set-top boxes. The set includes a built-in 181-channel cable tuner--feed it a cable-TV signal and you've got a high-resolution video display, PC monitor, and a full-fledged television.LCD screens offer a number of benefits over CRT monitors and televisions, including general ease of use, freedom from eye strain (no screen flickering or radiation emissions), quiet operation (no high-pitch "flyback" noise, an issue with CRT TVs), accurate image geometry (no curvature distortion or susceptibility to magnetic interference from, say, speakers), long screen life (with no risk of image burn-in), space savings, and light weight/easy positioning. They also tend to be cheaper and, to some eyes, slightly more natural looking than their plasma flat-panel counterparts, which usually "spec" higher (higher brightness, higher contrast ratio).The LC-20B6U-S's 4:3 aspect-ratio screen gives you a higher contrast ratio and wider viewing angles than conventional LCD screens--500:1 and a full 170 degrees viewing angle, vertical and horizontal--while its black TFT anti-glare coating makes it bright enough to view its rich colors with ease, even in well-lit rooms.High-definition component-video and standard-definition composite-video inputs accommodate a range of inputs (including VCRs, camcorders, and gaming consoles), and the set's stereo speakers are powered by 2.1 watts per channel. With the LC-20B6U-S's NTSC, PAL, and SECAM compatibility, you can view video sources from the U.S., Western Europe, and Eastern Europe, and all will appear properly formatted, provided you have the proper region decoding for any DVD sources.Weighing in at less than 20 pounds, the LC-20B6U-S is easy to position and reposition. The unit sits comfortably on any flat surface with the included stand, which detaches for wall mounting (with any compatible mounting kit, none included).What's in the Box TV, table stand, remote control, remote batteries, 1 RF coaxial audio/video cable, an AC power cord, an AC power adapter, 2 cable clamps, a user's manual, and warranty/registration information.

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Panasonic SCHT05 Home Theater System Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We settled on this system because:
- We already owned a 5-disc progressive scan DVD player
- The size of the room and seating position eliminated 6.1 systems as a possibility
- Two optical inputs
- Two-way front and rear speakers
This system sounds great with both the Pro Logic II applied to PCM stereo content (like the Band of Brothers reruns on the History Channel) as well as quality 5.1 content. We watched The Last Samurai with this system last night and were very impressed. If having your dogs constantly jumping up thinking someone/thing is outside is a measure of system quality, then this one is a beauty. The rear surrounds got them started every time. As for power, I haven't had any need to crank it past 50% volume yet.
The only other consideration you may want to make is that the power supply and amp are within the subwoofer, and the control and power cord from the sub to the receiver is only ~6ft, which does limit sub placement.
One tip if you decide to purchase this system: go out and get yourself a roll of 16-gauge wire. They supply ~105 ft of pre-cut wire (5 sections) with this system, but it is a bit thin. You'll need connectors if you want to go 14 gauge or thicker based on the speaker connection size.
If you've got a smallish room and already own a DVD player, consider this system.

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The SC-HT05 home theater system from Panasonic makes it easy to bring the cinematic experience into your home. The SC-HT05 packages a home theater receiver with six surround-sound speakers. Connect your TV and a DVD player to the SC-HT05 and you have an instant home theater. You can take advantage of the receiver's versatility by connecting other audio and video components, as well. At the heart of the SC-HT05 is a sophisticated, flexible, easy-to-customize core component for both audio and home theater. The receiver's Dolby Digital and DTS decoders provide crisp, clear sound, and Dolby Pro Logic II Surround yields richness to movies and music. The SC-HT05 has three surround modes: movie, music, and panorama. The adjustable music and panorama settings add surround effects to stereo sources. These settings can be altered to fully customize your audio experience. Panasonic's Sound Field Control gives your sound further definition with six preset modes for music and an additional six settings for movies and television audio. With Sound Field Control, you can make adjustments based on what's important to you. You can enhance the dialogue in dramatic movies, enhance the crowd noises for sporting events, or simulate a live club sound for your favorite music. Dynamic range compression allows you to listen to content recorded with Dolby Digital at low volumes while maintaining audio clarity. It's a perfect option for late-night viewing or listening. The SC-HT05 receiver supports a wide array of audio and video components: CD players, DVD players, DVD recorders, VCRs, and more. An AM/FM tuner is built into the unit with 30 presets for your favorite stations. The unit features a variety of audio and video inputs, including composite audio/video inputs, and a digital audio input connection. The speaker set includes two front speakers, two surround speakers, a center speaker, and a subwoofer. The front-channel speakers put out 30 watts per channel and the subwoofer kicks out 110 watts per channel. The SC-HT05 features a unique set of controls to completely customize your speaker placement and configuration. When you set up your speakers, you can optimize the sound by selecting the appropriate speaker size. The large speaker setting reproduces a full sound range, especially the lower levels of bass. For small speakers, the setting makes automatic adjustments to the bass range reproduction to avoid distortion and speaker damage. The pre-set adjustments can also be manually changed. The receiver's versatility allows you to configure an array of both large and small speakers in a surround-sound setup. You can also focus the sound of your home theater by inputting the distance of your front, center, and surround speakers from your primary seating location. The easy setup can be adjusted quickly if you change the layout of your room, or if you add speakers. The universal remote control included with the receiver allows you to control the other components in your home theater, as well as all six speakers in the multichannel audio array. The SC-HT05 also includes a sleep timer to shut off the unit at the end of the evening. What's in the Box Home theater receiver, 5 satellite speakers, 1 subwoofer, speaker cables, system cable, AM loop antenna, FM indoor antenna, remote control, 2 AA batteries, owner's manual.

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Samsung SyncMaster 192MP 19" LCD Monitor with TV Tuner (Silver) Review

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Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been waiting to upgrade to an LCD monitor. After reading the review on Samsungs smaller *MP monitors, I knew that I wanted a built in tuner, but I also knew I wouldn't be as satisfied with a 17" LCD.
Read the announcement on this model months ago, but Samsung was forever getting it to market. Very happy I waited for it.
Picture is wonderful using the analog 15pin input, has DVI as well, but I probably won't bother with until I upgrade video card. Can't imagine that my picture will improve much.
Response time is faster that most LCD's. DVD's, online games, etc. look great. Every pixel works.
Was really suprised by the sound quality. I had planned to set up external speakers to enhance the sound. After hearing the sound on this, I'm not in any rush. The finest sound I've heard from any multimedia monitor. (and I've owned the incredible Toshiba with the built in subwoofer).
If you don't require or think you might want the built in tuner, Samsung has some similarly spec'd 19" lcd's that are more reasonably priced.
I'm glad I purchased this one.

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The SyncMaster 192MP from Samsung is a large 19-inch LCD monitor that comes loaded with extra features, such as a TV tuner and HDTV compatibility. Perfect for a wide range of personal and professional applications, the 192MP has a high-quality onscreen image and wide 170-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles. The external TV tuner lets you use the monitor as a fully-functional TV, while a picture-in-picture feature lets you watch TV and use the computer at the same time.
With a 1,280 x 1,024 maximum resolution, 25 ms response time, and 0.294 dot pitch, images are crisp and accurate, and a high 700:1 contrast ratio and 260 cd/m2 of brightness result in easy-to-see images and text. The 192MP supports a wide range of inputs through its 15-pin D-sub, DVI-D, S-video, component, and TV (antenna/cable) connections.
With a 17-by-7.8-inch footprint, the 192MP takes up very little space; the wall-mount option lets you free up your valuable desktop completely. The monitor consumes about 62 watts of power during normal operation and meets TCO '99 emission standards. Plug-and-play compatibility makes setup quick and easy. Compatible with both PC and Mac operating platforms, the 192MP also comes backed with by a three-year limited warranty on parts, labor, and backlight.
What's in the Box Monitor, base, 15-pin D-sub cable, power cord, quick setup guide, CD-ROM with user's guide and natural color/driver installation, warranty card, remote control, audio cable, DC adapter, two AAA batteries

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