CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

Anybody found a good one for the CRT crowd. I just got the $40 credit card so I might as well use it before I lose it...

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/tvs-services/digital-tv-converter/ratings/dtv-converter-boxes-ratings.htm

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 6:56 am Post subject:

Be aware you CAN NOT use the coupon on a HD model. YOu are restricted to those boxes that have RF CH3/4 and Composite video out. There's one that has S-video too it's the Channel master. I have one on the way. I want to test it and see if it is indded as good as every one says.

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

Gonna use it on my Sony XBR 26 inch CRT. So you can't even get component outputs ? That sucks !

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:17 am Post subject:

You CAN get boxes with Composite, S-video, RGBHV, YPrPb, DVI/HDMI output. You just can't use the coupon on them.

The Best converter box would be the Chanel Master with S-video out for a massive 480i over S-video. Again they are said to be good but I don't have my hands on one yet.

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

Does it have analog pass through ?

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:11 am Post subject:

Doesn't specificaly say so:
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=CM-7000

Nope see this page: http://www.solidsignal.com/cat_display.asp?main_cat=03&CAT=Digital%20Converter%20Boxes

stefuel · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 12:07 pm Post subject:

Tom needs it for his hi-end Barco that only does 480I. Laughing

Buy a real projector that starts with a A not B. Wink

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

I don't want to push the 1209s too hard ! Wink

The best and worst poll at AVS for coupon eligible converters...

Best
Zenith / Insignia – 41
Channel Master – 17 (note this unit was not available until the Zenith already had 15 ‘best’ votes) S-output
Digital Stream - 9
RCA - 4
Apex - 3
Coship – 3
DTVPal - 3
Tivax - 3
Artec – 2
Zinwell -1
Sunkey - 1
Samsonic - 1

Worst
DTVPal - 5
Sunkey -2
Magnavox - 2
GE - 2
Digital Stream - 2
Philco - 1
Zenith / Insignia – 1
Apex - 1
Channel Master -1

Any one of these would be the perfect primary input source for you if you left your AmPro on the curb and no one would pick it up Wink

And yes Chip I have a date with your X avatar tonight... Smile

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:43 am Post subject:

I now have the Chanel Master 7000 here as well as the Zenith DTT901. I'll hook them both up this weekend. We have a 3 day weekend here. The first long weekend of the season Thumbs Up

sh*t I was memarized by the gif above and what a lovely gif to man. I had other things to say in this post......

Gif bounce ................good Thumbs Up

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

How did the test work out ?

akajester · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 934 Location: Wisconsin

I did research on this last year and I can tell you what I found. The boxes that are eligible for coupon aren't worth the $20 price, or free even. I found a unit made by Hisense that used to be a paid subscription box and has been firmware modified to work as an ATSC tuner. It's great and outputs both SD and HD. It does HD over component and looks amazing. Heck, Even the svideo out at 480 is sharp and super clean. You can find them on FleaBAY for under $50 shipped. I bought two of them for about $40 shipped each, if you're not in a hurry.

Here's links to both threads on it on the other forum;
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1055192
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=479882

here's a link to the bay and a few for sale;
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m37.l1313&satitle=hisense+usdtv&category0=

You put the firmware file on a usb thumbdrive, can't remember the keys to press, but it'll start up and flash update itself to the newest version and voila! To get this PQ you'd need to spend at least $150 on a tuner. I use a hauppauge card for my projector, but if it had component inputs I would've used this box in a heartbeat. It also has spdif/coax audio out.

Hope this helps you out!

-akajester

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:36 pm Post subject: