Can anybody out there in 'techo-experienced' land please help?
What's the best, the Topfield TF7000HT or the TF70010HT model?
I understand the 7000 is about 2 years old, and the 7010 is a newby this year.
Yet, some so called 'professional' sales people don't appear to know anything about a new model, and are trying to sell me the 7000. I've had quotes varing from $200 to $400 for the 7000.
From the posts I read they are both good models.
If you had the choice, which would you buy...given that the price is about the same?
My TV is a Hitachi 37PD5000, HD ready, component input(no HDMI)

Thanks in advance.
Mick.

I have seen the 7010 in stores but I havent looked at the difference.
Is Topfield as good as it once was , since strathfield got them and they were dumped by the local distributers I'm not sure if they are as good as they used to be.

Try Retravision, they had the new 7010ht last month for $199 which was a good deal on the new model.

Have a look at new official Topfield web site for Australia. http://www.itopfield.com.au/ for further information.

Not to be confused with the outdated distributers web site that only lists the old models and is no longer the official Topfield web site for Australia http://www.topfield.com.au/

There's no real difference btw the 7000 and 7010. The 7000 was imported by the old Topfield distributors and the 7010 is being imported by the new ones.

I'd buy whichever was a better price, although the 7010 is probably more actively supported being the current model.

Its a bit confused at the moment. Strathfield had a one off opportunity to sell a shipment of Toppy's and are no longer relevant. The STBs haven't had the issues that the HD PVRs have had and are a good solid unit, though the prices seem to range quite a lot from store to store, so its worth shopping around.

Regards

Peter Gillepsie

I don't want to hijack this thread but I can't seem to create a new thread (possibly because im a newbie here?).

But anyway, I have a 26" HD ready sony bravia (without an in-built tuner) and I was using a DGTEC HD set top box, but it recently busted (conveneiently just outside of the warranty period) so i am going to have to get a new set top box. This time round tho I want to make a more informed decision regarding what set top box I should buy. So, what do you guys recommend? I want something that looks 'nice' (not 'poxy'/ugly), isn't goign to just stop working after a year or so and something that doesn't become easily pixelated like my DGTEC seemed to. And something that is relatively fast flicking between channels would be good. I don't have HDMI btw so i'll be using a component cable.
I'm hoping to get one like this for between 150 and 200 bucks. Recommendations?

Through having a quick look thru these forums it looks as if Topfield 7010 is the way to go? am i right?
What about 'Bush'? I wa slookign at the $159 one on DSE.

ANy help would be greatly appreciated

Hey man, I'm in the same boat as you... trying to work out which HD STB at this price point is the best choice.

The other one is the Olin which is on the crazystu website, it's $125 and looks nice, has updated firmware and this could be the one I'll put my money on.
Though the Topfield has a great reputation, I'm confused.

FWIW I have had the Digicrystal HDT-9500 for about 4 months and it has no major problems. I bought it for $149.00 from Strathfield but the price fluctuates quite a bit.
The PQ is good and there is little if any freezing and pixellation. I have mine connected via S-Video and the channel changing is fast however the speed can be affected by your connection method.Some people report that the channel changing when using HDMI is slow depending on what firmware is installed!
Being that this started as a Topfield thread there will be some people who will disagree and say that Digicrystal are no good. That's OK as everyone can express their opinion freely on this forum!

^ cool, thanks for your input.

hmmm, so i really dunno whether i should jump in and spend the $200 bucks on the topfiield, or save a few bucks and get the Bush, Olin or Digicrystal..? what do others rekon? If paying a bit more for the Topfield means I definitely won't regret my decision and it won't just 'pack up' after a while, then I think I will probly go for the Topfield. But, now I'm hearing that there are firmware issues with the latest Topfield?
Also, where is the best place to get HD stb's from? Cos I wanna try and get one by the end of the week.

Thanks for the comments, Peter, as you have been in this scene for some time...longer than I have.
I haven't seen the 7010 as yet, but, from reading, it's my current choice.

At a Challange Hi Fi the other day they trotted out a Winfield STB1HD, which seems to be on a par with the Toppys, but has advantage of a 3 year warrantee...cost $199. Do you know anything about this one??
The same gent was asking $400 for the TF7000...the old model...I'm getting bloody confused...

Mick.

Have you guy considered a PVR? More expensive but provides a much better TV viewing experience (Read a bit about them here). But if you're happy just watching live TV then a STB is fine. The Topfield firmware issues that you're reading about relate to the HD PVR 7000 not the STB which is pretty solid. Unless you're buying the cheapest around most STBs a much of a muchness IMO. As long as they have the connections you want they should all do a reasonable job. Other than the odd brand they all have the potential of failing but all the brands you mentioned should be ok.

STBs are a dime a dozen now, just buy one from whatever store/internet place you feel comfortable with (Good Guys, Dick Smith, etc.)

Yep the pricing is all over the place. Some stores are just running them out, others know that eventually some sucker will come in a pay $400 for it (the concept of creating allure just by sticking a high price tag on something is well used these days - "It must be good" ) Don't know about the Winfield so can't say if its good or bad (read comments above though).

Regards

Peter Gillespie

i have the topfield 7000ht

Never let me down

Great picture

Easy to use

Website has all the updates

Like pqdownload said, its a solid unit

Wouldn't go back...hope this helps

Choony

Oh, one problem with it...when u auto search channels they double and triple up with the same channel, gets annoying when scrolling through, plus i don't think you can make your own menu of favourites *i havent tried but didnt see the option* but if you can bare with that then its a great and not bad looking unit...bit chunky tho

You can probably just hit the OK button while watching TV and delete channels from the list?

Regards

Peter Gillespie

^ thanks for your help pqdownload

SO it looks like as logn as I stay away from DGTEC I should be okay lol. I guess I'll get whaetevr I seen in DSE this week when i go to buy, whetehr it be Topfield, Bush or TEAC. I think I am leanign toward Topfield tho.

I asked about the WINTAL STB1HD in my first post in December last year because the 3 year Warranty sounded good. But I don't think there has been much discussion about this STB here in this forum.
This could be good - IE, no problems
Or bad- IE, Very few have been sold
In any case FWIW here is a link to their website

From the manual, don't think the Wintal has as many features as the TF.
I'm leaning strongly towards the TF 7010
Does anybody know where to get this TF model in Adelaide, haven't seen them advertised.

visit the www.itopield.com.au site for info.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

Yes, I tried the TF site, but, appears they don't want to sell anything.
The 'locate retailers' tab shows 22 town/suburbs in South Australia, but if you click on these to find a shop in an area, only 2 of the 22 have something noted!!
Thought there'd be more than 2 TF distributers SA.
Similar search on the STRONG website yielded dozens of STRONG suppliers.....(wtf?) ....Some of these also sell TF.

Main difference that I can see is that the 7000 has co-ax optical out whereas the 7010 doesn't. there's also the toslink out issue i mentioned in a thread about the 7010. If optical out isn't an issue go for the 7010 - @ Retravison for $199
If i was to buy now I would try for the tf7000ht at hardly normal. I'd print out the retravision cattledog showing them selling the 7010 for $199 and the hardly normal price 110% price refund pricepromise that can be found on their website. Then go in and try and get them to pricematch or better (HN listed price for the tf7000ht $299). If they point out that they have the 7000 not the 7010 I would pointedly mention that the 7000 is not a current model as stated on topfield.au site (u could even print out that page as well). As opposed to the 7010 which is at their competitor's shop which IS. So they should be offering it for even less.
Always fun to bait HN sales droids.

cheers
brockster

Hi,
can anyone tell me please which set top box is the better buy as i have been offered a
Topfield TF7000Ht or a Olin HVBT-2000B
ta
Ken

Without knowing about the Olin directly:

The OLIN looks a bit more like a more recent 'cheapy' (Selling for under $100 online). The 7000 HD STB is well known on the forum and

Both appear to have a mostly similar feature set. The 7000 has pass through on the broadcast signal so that you can watch it as the broadcaster is sending it rather than forcing it to some specific format (eg 1080i) - not sure if the Olin can do this? The other thing that would be good to check is remote channel changing speed (the 7000 is pretty good for this)

All other things being equal (ie price) I would suggest it might come down to looks (both the unit and remote layout). If I had to choose though I'd suggest the 7000 was the better acquisition.

Regards

Peter Gillespie

I have just purhased Topfield TF7010HT it was realesed in April this year and actually replaces the TF7000 it is also cheaper. Good Guys for $190.00 cash which is really good. I originally purchased a HDI Box Pioneer SH-DT510 to compliment my Pioneer Plasma., It cost around $500 at the time and only lasted just on 12 months disappointing at this Box was very slow and now know faulty from start. I was recommended Topfield before I purchased Pioneer, I wish I had of listened! The new Topfield appears to be a lot quicker and the quality of Pic and sound seems better.

I had the same problem, my SH-510 died after 2 years but lucky i had the extended warranty, problem is i was offered a topfield set top box because pioneer don't make them anymore so I picked up the new TF7000HD replacement with no Box mind you at harvey Norman to find the remote doesn't work. The time and petrol is making this an exprensive purchase. Mind you this was the last one they had which was floor stock but never used so they said. I read somewhere a guy returned 2 units with the same issues, not sure which shop, i am guessing i got one of his dud ones bah. I might ask for the cash instead of a replacement and get the newer 7010, would that be a better choice?

palms

Just got a Topfield TF7010HT from the good guys in Campbelltown for $179. If I realized that the cables where so poor i would have asked them to give me a discount on some decent replacements. Also worth noting was that dick smith was selling them for ...... $299! I asked him to check and he confirmed the price ....

I have seen that in DS's website too. Just ridiculous.

That's a VG price...haven't seen that in Adelaide. What's wrong with the cables, are they standard TF issue?

topfield7010 ,tele-tex will not roll over to next page if more than one sub-page is needed.i returned mine today to G.GUYS.
Paid $190
Darby

Ive had my 7010 for a couple of months and it has frozen up quite a few times, the picture still shows ok but it becomes totally unresponsive to the remote. The only button that seems to work is the standby key, push it twice and it goes into standby, push again and it fires up and everything is ok. It is a bit of a nuisance, but being a Topfield I should have expected it.

Hiu Guys,

I bought the Topfield TF7000HT STB couple of days ago for 169 mainly use for my 21inch CRT TV. The Topfield site says it support 576i res also. I could not get the picture in my CRT TV which connect with Composite cables(red, green and blue). I tried connect with my pana plasma it works, howver with composite connection, only res i can change is 1080,760p and 576p only, there is no 576i setting.

I am trying to return it and get my cash back. What i noticed for my 21inch SOny CRT TV it has to be set to 576i which i proved with my LG stb... Is anyone can give me a hand how to set topfield with my CRT before i return it.


Thanks

PS: Nearly 2 1/2years i use my 42inch pana plasma with LG6100 STB, the picture is perfect, however when i connect yesterday with Topfield 7000 HT the HD channels the PQ is not as good as LG

Red, Green Blue =component cables

How did you connect the STB to your plasma...HDMI, Component?
Did try fiddling with your Picture settings on the plasma as each device will be different?

Hi Diesel,

ANyway finally i solve the problem, WIth my 42inch Pana plasma the LG stb connect with component cable and when i tried with my Sony 21 inch CRT tv set with 576i all perfect. However when i use the component cable(red,blue and green)with plasma all good, however with CRT TV nothing happen.

Today i tried connect CRT TV with AV cable(Red, white and yellow)surprise all good, it works even with 1080i res and picture is good(this means it works normal with all res). But i am not sure why component cable didn't work..

I decided to keep the STB and i think i got it for good price 169...

Thanks

Raja

I just suggested trying the composite cables in the other 7000STB thread. This should definitely provide 576i output

Hi Diesel,

Yup, composite cable and AV cable same rite, as per my message above after i use the red, white and yellow cable all good...Going very good...I am not sure this with the latest firmware version...TOpfield change channels faster than my LG..

Thanks