Can someone tell me please, If I brought a HD LCD TV & a HD STB, would I be able to view both HD & SD programmes??

What do you think about the Pioneer HD STB SH-DT50


SH-DT510

Thanks

Yes, HD boxes also display SD signals/channels. You can chose to watch SD in 576i, or have the STB upconvert it to a higher res. You can also just watch the relevant channels HD feed, as this is mostly SD upconverted at the station (apart of course from native HD programs which seem to be increasing this season), which will be a better conversion than by the STB. I haven;t heard much about the pioneer... search the forum. There are plenty of HD boxes for good prices now, one of which is the TEAC 820 for about $350. Component, DVI (VGA via DVI), great PQ.

JSmith :ph34r:

It's got to have HDMI

Depends, not necessarily. You can get a DVI to HDMI connector, there is no conversion as such, still a digital signal. It also depends on whether you are planning on using the screen/panel's speakers for the sound, or a surround system/amp. The HDMI carries the sound also, whereas the DVI won't... you can then run the optical out to the amp for sound. You could also wait for a good HD PVR to come out (LG, TEAC, and Topfield all due to release), or buy the Toshi which is out now, but it has issues. You could also get a SD PVR with a single tuner for $200 off the net (wintel or supernet... something) and a HD box so you can record one channel in SD, while watching another in HD/SD. The sony has HDMI but is expensive, the pioneer also may have HDMI I think... can't recall.

JSmith :ph34r:

We are planning on running the sound through the TV (no stereo or surround sound system because we're always renting & don't want cables & crap everywhere). So yep keeping it simple, tv, stb & recorder.

Sol that's why I was after a hd box with HDMI - which the pioneer does have.

I've searched for posts on it, but not many recent ones there.

Any updates from people who have purchased it?