Hello,

I'm about to buy the new Panasonic 42' HD Plasma screen and tossing up whether or not to buy a SD, HD or SD PVR STB.

I guess that this is the million dollar question right now for everyone.

My old TV has finally died so we need to buy a TV, and the wife is set on nothing smaller than a 42' screen.

I know that HD is not really a big deal right now, but considering the Plasma should last the next 10 years and more, HD be standard in the next few years. I'd rather not buy a SD Plasma and kick my self in 2years time, if you get my drift.

HD STB's are little pricey compared to SD STB, so I am prepared to wait for HD STB's to come down in price, and get a SD STB for now.

Alternatively, I can get the SD Topfield TF5000PVRt for $800 (DJ's), which I think is a good buy, but again, should I shunt this deal and just get a cheap SD STB and wait for a good HD PVR to come out?

Your thoughts welcome.

Hello Squibs,

Try searching through some of the many threads on this subject.

Many will advise that if you do buy an HD display, you should get an HDSTB (especially the HD-pushers of the forum).

SD can look comparitavely shitty on an HD display.

However, the Toppy is a wonderbox - and many would say if its a toss up between HD live versus SD via Toppy, the Toppy wins hands down for lifestyle changing!

There are HD PVRs, but ATM they are a bit flakey I believe...

Try auditioning the cheaper HD STB eg Hotchip and Kaon (less than $300). Better still, get them from places that have a refund, no-questions-asked policy eg JB and DSE. So if you cannot see any diff in PQ between a HD or SD STB, then by all means but the SD STB.

The shops is the worst place one would go to compare the differences. For starters, they'd have be showing the exact same show simultaneously, one on a native HD display with a HD STB, and the other on a SD display with a SD STB (which is near impossible due to the fact they're broadcast at a delay to each other). Secondly, they need to use the highest possible connection for each display. A lot of shops still use Composite leads, or worse - RF. I guess when HD-DVD/Blu-Ray becomes the norm, the former would be easier, as you'll have the HD source ready for playback and comparisons at any time, instead of waiting for it to be broadcast on FTA. During the day, there isn't much HD on, except for Today (6:00am to 9:00am), Kerri-Anne (9:00am to 11:00am), GMA (9:00am to 11:00am, but not for long) and Fresh (11:30am to 12:pm)

Hi Squib,

Generally I argue for SD (cheaper, better value for money, not much real HD anyway, etc.) However the exception I've made is buying a HD TV. A year or two ago HD TVs were way over priced but at the start of this year they have suddenly hit a critical mass and prices are at least reasonable. They will continue to fall but much slower. If (like me) you intend keeping this TV as your main TV for 5+ years then I do recommend 'future proofing' and getting a HD TV.

As to what you plug into it well that gets less certain. Simplest is to get a cheap $140 SD STB. As mentioned HD plasmas/TVs can look a bit ordinary showing SD but that's by no means a given. Only way to know is to check it out with the eyeballs. Given how much you're spending on the TV I'd be surprised if you couldn't wrangle a big discount of a companion HD STB (or even get one thrown in). Regardless at $150 or so extra (instead of a SD STB) its not that much is it? Just do some research here on brands you should avoid.

As Santa mentions a PVR is also an amazing option. As you'll discover recording stuff via the STB can become a real chore. You need to set timers on both the recorder and the STB. While recording you will need to return to analogue to watch something else or have another STB available.

The HD PVR scene is pretty sus at the moment (and expensive at $1200+). Several new models are due out shortly ($1400+) but will stay above $1000 for at least 2006. So the only other option is as you mention to buy a SD PVR. A real simple one will cost $270 while the top of the range (record two things at once while watching something else, skip ads, pause live TV, 7 day EPG (only model in Oz with a true 7 day EPG), etc. is the Toppy 5000 for around $760. Plenty of models in between.

Anyway enjoy the new screen

Peter Gillespie

I should add ... you can, of course, go down the twisting & intersting road of an HTPC, if you're that way inclined... (If you've got a fairly recent PC thats up to the job, it might be worth considering the option, as you get, in effect, the functionality of an HD PVR)

Hi,

the other option is to buy a HD stb when you buy the TV, which should allow you to negotiate a good price for it (say ~$400), and then buy one of the cheap SD PVRs available, eg Wintal/Supernet (~$220). This way you get the benefit of the HD viewing and the ability to record a different show at the same time (albeit in SD). The Toppy probably gives you more flexibility, but does not allow HD viewing and is more expensive.

This is what I have done, and find it works very well.

Thanks for your input,

I'm amazed how quick you all responded!

I like all your feedback and I think I may wait for cheap deals after xmas and try Ray888's idea.

On another note, I really like the PVR features, chase play, record two shows at once etc but it all starts to add up when you include 5 year extended warranty on the TV itself!

I've noticed that some shops have really lowsy Digital Pictures (ie artifacts) and other shops have no artifacts at all comparing the same Plasma.

My impression of DTV is that it doesn't matter if you have good or poor signal reception, so long as you can receive the digital transmission than the picture will be DVD quality (Even for SD).

Compared to analog TV where the picture is dependant on the received signal strength, DTV maybe not be all that flash accept for true wide screen pictures.

More thoughts welcome.

Cheers

When I bought my TEAC SD plasma from JB, I looked at the Kaon HDSTB. It was $300 last week. Since I already have the DGTEC HDSTB (VGA), I didn't buy then. But the other salesman just said, "buy anytime afterwards and the price will be $269 for you" without me even asking for a discount. The reason why I was looking at the KAON was it has a DVI output. I haven't made up my mind yet.

These two statements would appear to be mutually exclusive But as a general rule you really can't tell what PQ is going to be like based on in store performance - frustrating and makes the final purchase a bit of a leap of faith. As long as you have reasonable analogue reception your digital picture will generally be pretty top notch.

Reckon you'll save much more negotiating a STB with the TV than any after Chrissy sales, but your choice. If you do go down the SD PVR route I would definitely recommend saving that extra bit to go a Toppy. But again, if you don't watch much TV then a simpler PVR may be in order (remember that taping 2 things at once also includes the scenario where shows on different channels overlap by a few minutes at the start and end - basically a every day occurance)

pgdownload,

This may be a really dumb PVR question....

If I set my VCR to record a program, say Simpsons at 6pm, but simpsons start at 6:05pm, the VCR records 5 minutes of the leading program, which sucks...

Are PVR's smart enough to know that channel 10 is running behind 5 minutes so delays the recording time to 6:05pm?

BTW, I have really good analog TV reception... for those playing at home.

Cheers

The answer is it should, but no. In the USA, information about what is currently on (and due on) is reliably broadcast. PVR (Tivo) owners can simply request "Tape all new episodes of the Simpsons" and it will be done precisely and without further intervention.

Here you still have to set your PVR to record 6:00 to 6:30 and in actual fact set it to record from 5:45 to 7:00 (or the like) as as you know scheduling can quite often drift after 7:30 or so. Fortunately with a PVR triming a file down is usually a very simple proceedure.

The Toppy is unique in that it allows users to program in new features (TAPs) one of which has been a 7 day EPG which makes setting timers a breeze. Other users have written routines that reliably do what the Tivo can - ie you just select the show names you want taped and from then on the Toppy will automatically tape them for you.

I hope you realise that a VCR can only tape what is actually showing on the TV once you go digital. It can't change the digital channel. So to set timers you'll need to set one on the STB to change the channel and on on the VCR to do the actual recording. If you only have one STB then you will have to switch back to analogue to watch live TV.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

PS If you are vaguely interested in this PVR area I recommend reading some of AQA (PINNED in the PVR branch) - Specially the bit about twin tuners.