OK Looks like I may be the lucky first to have one at home! The first thing that you will notice is the styling of the product... It really looks a million bucks & the build quality is first class The remote is reasonably small & well laid out. All seems logical here.

The picture quality is stunning..... I have it hooked up via HDMI through a Denon 4306 to a 50" NEC panel & it really is amazing. The menus are the same as the Masterpiece maybe a little bit plain but simple & functional. There is even a timer function to change channels which is nice.

I am told that the unit outputs HDMI & component at the same time which is a plus. Channels can be renamed, deleted added to favourites etc. Simple to customise & install. There is optical & coaxial sound output & all of the outputs that you would expect.

All in all it looks the goods. It is early days but from what I have seen so far it is a winner. If the HD PVR is as functional as the original 5000 & building on from this model then I would safely say that Topfield have another winner on their hands.

Any pic's of the back panel?

Is there a mode in which the Topfield outputs over HDMI exactly what is being broadcasted? That would probably be 1080i for HD and 576i or 480i for SD content.

Can you select whether you want RGB or YCbCr color space output over HDMI?

Thank you!

The TF7000HT has an automatic setting for resolution where by the STB will automatically switch to match the transmission resolution (i.e. 1080i, 576p, 576i), alternatively you can set it to match your display and the STB will up convert accordingly.

http://www.topfield-australia.com.au/news.asp?newsID=29

Any links to an electronic copy of the instructions?

If not, any chance of someone scanning the booklet and posting here?

It is not a PVR....
Don't get so excited about it. Hopefully soon the PVR variant of it will be released, and then we can all post furously about its shortcomings and plusses!
Regards

Can I ask where did you get the box from?

Hi,

Offered Domayne on the GC $450.00 yesterday and they said yes - couldn't resist.

I now have a Topfield HD Twin Turner PVR (sort of)

New 7000 plugged into theTV via HDMI.
RF loop out from 7000 plugged into my 5000PVRt. This in turn is connected via S-Video to my Pioneer H530 DVD-R which is connected to my TV via component.

Select which one I want to watch by selecting the correct AV input on the TV.

I can watch HD or SD TV via the 7000. Watch SD and and record HD via the 5000.
Burn DVD direct from the input in on my DVD-R either to the DVD-R HDD or direct to blank.

I can choose to edit either in the 5000 or DVD-R. I also have the 5000 connected to my HTPC via USB.

Cost for 7000 $450.00
Cost for 5000 $750.00
Total $1200.00

With the multitude of options I have now have who needs to wait for a Toppy HD PVR.

Cheers
David

Does the 7000 support the open structure like the 5000 to allow TAP's? I think I saw something that indicated that Topfield was considering pulling that capability. I am keen on a HD PVR, but won't be as keen on a non-open Toppy.

Simon....

Nope no TAPS.

David

No photo's guys? We are visual beasts you know.... RGBHV or DSub output? Remote output? 12v trigger? Detachable power cord?

I tell you without pics front and back still keep this thing a bit of a mirage to me atleast !

still no pics from anyone ? is this thing for real ?

we want pics please

called harvey norman, power house, myer stores etc today, all of them have them have them on order and have been saying that they should be in by the end of the week (aprox thursday)...lets see how things pan out

Domayne in Canberra had a stack of these on the weekend.

The box is bit on the large size compared to others. It comes in a choice of a black or grey case with a mirrored finish on the front. The box is well ventilated

The back is fairly standard with all versions of connections including hdmi (no dvi). RGB is via d-sub There is a switch for selecting component or rgb. Output resolution is selectable via the remote.

A quick read of the manual indicated that hdmi may pass 576i in auto mode direct to the display. The manual is quite vague in its descriptions, so maybe someone could confirm this for those of us with external processors.

The floor price was $599 but the salesman was quite happy to negotiate.

Topfield have mentioned they will have some decent info (& pics) on the box on their website up by the 'end of the week' - I told them it was pretty poor form given the level of interest in the box.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

May seem to be why a lot of retailers in melbourne are getting them by the end of the week (unless they delay it again) but still for something that is so popular a bit of eye candy would help them even more oh well seems that i am keen to wait for topfield so i will.

FYI I picked up a black one from Bing Lee Rockdale (Southern Sydney) today....had a late one at work so give me some time to set it up and get it ready for State of Origin tomorrow night...I'll get some pics shortly.

I picked up mine from Wicked Digital today, they still have a couple left if anyone is inetrested.

I agree with the above statement - at this point all looks good, very good!

Outputs on the back are:

• HDMI (Which does NOT work with a SHARP LCD DVI input)
• Component
• S-Video
• Composite
• VGA
• A switch to change HD output from RGB to YCR
• Optical and Coaxial digital output
• Analog audio output

All meu's etc are identical to the Topfield Masterpiece, thankfully.

So far all is good!

Lucky guys in other states lol
Anyone found on in Melbourne yet, wouldnt mind finding one before the weekend so i can play around with it

Hmm, that's of concern.
I keep hanging out for the much awaited Topfield HD PVR, with the view to utilising the HDMI output to my Phillips DVI input.

I wonder if there is an absolute requirement for HDCP co-operation, and if this will be so in the PVR.

Well it would have been for me too except I run it through a DVDO VP-30 first which works perfectly well. Wicked Digital had tried to go directly to their Sharp display via HDMI and the result was an image with lines across it. They are now using Component to display the box...

Incidently, I tried my TF7000HT with the output set to AUTO, and apart from the DVDO taking a second or two to change for the altered output it is receiving, it seems to work well and is obviously removing any scaling from the STB itself.

After spending a night with the new Toppy I have to say the picture is very very good - perhaps a tad softer than the output from an AUSID but no obvious signs of banding or pixelisation yet. Image has a real 3D depth to it which is lacking when watching the SD Toppy through the scaler. So far so good.....

StratMan,

As the manual implies.... in auto mode, does the 7000HT pass through 576i via hdmi to the VP30?

Yes it does - that is why there is a small delay when changing from channel to channel as the DVDO accepts the change in received resolution.

Hi all,

Congrats on the purchases.

I'm interested in Picture Quality. Colours, and sharpness.

Any improvement in PQ by the 7000 over the 5000?

How does the picture compare with other HD STB's? eg against LG 5100, Strong 5400 or even against the LG 5402/5403?


Cheers.

I can only compare to the AUDID HD, SHARP HD, FORCE HD, STRONG HD, HUMAX SD and HD, and finally the Topfield SD 5000 Masterpiece.

It is easily better than ANY SD box, no question. As I said earlier it is not quite as sharp as the image from the AUDID, but it is smoother and more film like perhaps. No obvious signs of banding or pixelisation at all at this stage.

It is certainly better than the HUMAX HD, SHARP HD, FORCE HD and FORCE HD and easily on a par with the AUSID in terms of lack of banding etc, and considering I always thorugh the AUSID was a bit too sharp, I think it may well be the new king of HD STB's. It certainly beats them all for use, menu system, etc. And, it is the best looking box out of them all by far!

Bottom line: buy one while you can! With 7000 of them brought in and all sold out to dealers form day one - they will be in short supply for a while I would say.

better get in quick typhoon and do that 50 inch Panny justice...

Hey Zorgy,

You know I'm waiting for the PVR version.

If the STB has great PQ, then I'm sure the PVR will too.

By the way, would Cindy Pan be thinking I'm easy then?

Typhoon

Has anyone got one in Perth yet?

Ron.

I saw a couple today in Sydney at BL @$499, but not on demo so I couldn't assess performance

But there's a lot of vacant space inside the box. I guess it is the size it is to match other DVD players and componebts

I'm also interested in getting one in Perth. GGs have a lead time of about 2 weeks.

I always knew WA was 20 years behind but I didn't think it was 20 years AND 2 weeks....

oh yeah thats what everyones waiting for I reckon...these kind of things are just for beta testign in preparation for the real thing ! *

Well at least we know we can work down from the RRP should be able to easily to get these under $500 without much trouble..

The Good Guys Cannington W.A. were happy to take $450, I was going to pay there and then, but they were so unsure of a delivery date I decided to wait.
Local Toppy rep has told me Hardly Normal will probably get theirs first, Friday or Monday next week. I hope he's right.

Ron.

Even better with that price

OK I'm having a problem with sound breakup...every 7 secs the audio feed to my receiver is cutting out and resetting leaving about a sec of silence - VERY ANNOYING !! No picture break up though - the picture is great!

I know it's early days but if anyone has any ideas before State of Origin starts they would be very welcome

mrmaxwell, I live in Hurstville and am experiencing similar problems with sd. may be a slight transmission issue in our area

Picked mine up today(black case) from a local DSE Powerhouse.It was literally being unloaded off the truck when I asked about it so I got the very first one of thier very first delivery.

My first impressions is that it is an excellent unit and worth the wait.Set up,a piace of cake,menus very good,start up time is about 5 seconds,channel changing is fast,the remote is well laid out.It is a big unit compared to it's replacement,a DSE DTR-8000 which gave me no end of trouble.Sound & PQ quality brilliant.

Overall,very very pleased

Hi Mate,

How much did you pay? Good Guys Chatswood just called me to say that they have stock. Looking to try and get it down to $450 if I can.

DSE Powerhouse in Carnegie & Nunawading have them but extremely limited stock - Nunawading recieved shipment today and I bought one before it even had a chance to be unloaded and registered on thier computer systems.

You will be pleased with it




DSE Powerhouse in a couple of suburbs of Melbourne so far are quoting $599.00 on their website which is how much I paid,and quite willing to in this case.

They are slowly making thier way into all DSE Powerhouse stores.The one I went to did not even know that they had stock until I mentioned another PH had them.A quick phone call was made by them and they were being unloaded at that very instance

Hmmm. You literally bought it out of the back of a truck, and still paid full RRP..

Just picked up the new Toppy from Bing Lee at Rhodes. They have a nice pile sitting there waiting to be snapped up. $599 on the box, I took one for $450 (although part of a larger purchase).

Only problem now is I don't have anything to connect it to until Tuesday!!!!

got one today yay will post up some pics for people that are keen on seeing how it looks...watching the soccer on it now

And still no pics.... throw us a bone fellas... PLEASE.....

hehehe thats exactly how I feel

look heres' even a place to put your pics !
http://www.imageshack.us/

all thats needed is a pic front and back to give us some clues !

My audio problems have been fixed by routing the audio via optical rather than using the HDMI for both video and audio...I think my receiver is having a hard time receiving the audio bitstream via HDMI from the Toppy.

Overall VERY happy with the picture and look of this box - a great buy at $450.

ps monkey digital has posted a heap of pics and first impressions in the review section. thankyou mr monkey !

Here is the link. Topfield TF7000HT HD STB (2006)

At last! I have one! I got it from Dick Smith Powerhouse in Wantirna South (Knox City Shopping Center) today. I paid $489 for a silver one and they had heaps in stock, both colours (Black & Silver) Another guy there at the same time bought two, apparently not many about in Melbourne??? Have set it up this after noon and it is amazing. Have been running three SD toppys for the past 12 months, Have got this connectted to my Pana HD Plasma and it looks amazing. Very simple to operate.

The good thing about Powerhouse is you have 14 days to return it, no questions asked, if you are not happy with it. I will be keeping mine. The guy there seemed to know what he was going on about as well. Good to hear for a change.

For anyone in Adelaide there was a stack of them at HN Marion. Both Silver & Black. It really does make all of the other boxes alongside look pretty average with regards to styling. It also looks like the performance is equally as good as the styling. Saw the new Sony next to it & IMHO it is a real Minger in comparision!