Benefits Of Plasma's With Hd Tuners

[50mxe20]

I'm interested in hearing peoples comments about plasma's with HD Tuners now that the new vintage of plasmas all seem to have them on board.

What does everyone think of the HD tuner quality?

Are they as good as a good quality HD STB (or HD PVR)?

How many of you have an HD tuner in your plasma AND a HD (or other) STB?

Which do you use more and why?

What are the benefits of the tuner vs the stb? Or vice versa.

Are there any benefits in having both? What are they?

The poll is incidental, really I'd like a discusssion of the merits of HD tuners in plasmas.

[madmax]

Well actually I haven't purchased yet.....but I voted for what I definitely will be purchasing - an integrated plasma and a twin tuner HD PVR. You might say why bother with the integrated then, but I know from experience it comes in very useful, especially when using IceTV with padding to record consecutive timeslots (i.e.two tuners in use for some period). It's also easy for anyone to use, and can be easily moved to the spare room in the future. Also makes it easy to compare the picture your getting from your HTPC to the picture from the internal tuner.....

[rant] I for one refuse to support a tv manufacturer who can't be arsed spending a little time to organise a digital tuner for our local models. Basically I feel that they don't deserve my money. I also refused to buy an analogue tuner DVD-R for the same reason. Anyway, that's just me...... [/rant]

[ozdoc]

I've posted this elsewhere before, but the main beauty for me of the inbuilt tuner is what I call the 'babysitter' factor. It's too hard to explain how the PVR works to visitors, so you just hand them the TV remote, and lock the other remotes up. Safe as houses.

I've got a PX pana / SD Toppy, and love the HD tuner. It is very quick to change, and gives an excellent picture. I also like the optical out for true Dolby Digital 5.1, on the rare occassion it is broadcast. (It does have a problem with outputing Channel 7s DD though (eg Heroes) - I have to change it to MPEG for some reason.)

[50mxe20]

I've posted this elsewhere before, but the main beauty for me of the inbuilt tuner is what I call the 'babysitter' factor. It's too hard to explain how the PVR works to visitors, so you just hand them the TV remote, and lock the other remotes up. Safe as houses.

I've got a PX pana / SD Toppy, and love the HD tuner. It is very quick to change, and gives an excellent picture. I also like the optical out for true Dolby Digital 5.1, on the rare occassion it is broadcast. (It does have a problem with outputing Channel 7s DD though (eg Heroes) - I have to change it to MPEG for some reason.)

Yes WAF must be high. Strange about the MPEG problem.

[BribieG]

I It's too hard to explain how the PVR works to visitors, so you just hand them the TV remote, and lock the other remotes up. Safe as houses.

Actually have an LCD with HD STB, but the principle is the same - I've got the TV remote somewhere but haven't used it since about November!! My STB remote (probably the same with most of them) does everything, including aspect ratio change and swapping between tv and dvd.

Have blanked off all the unnecessary channels so don't get multiples of channel 9 and 10, and junked the TV guides which I don't find useful, so my STB remote is as babysitter - enabled as you can get.

I suppose the real crux of the matter is: Is the inbuilt tuner as good / functional as a HD STB ? Either way you've paid twice if you decide later to get a PVR

[50mxe20]

I suppose the real crux of the matter is: Is the inbuilt tuner as good / functional as a HD STB (or HD PVR) ? Either way you've paid twice if you decide later to get a PVR

And what do you think? Is the tuner as good/functional? What about quality?

Also, I thought maybe if you had both, PIP would be more viable?

I tend to agree with you, with a universal remote, using an HD STB is as easy as pie for us.

[fawlty99]

The tuner in my Sony is as least as good as the STB (LCD but same principle). Pros - convenience. Cons - if the tuner plays up the whole TV needs to go to the repair man or revert to STB.

[Anthonyw]

Ive got a Pio 507, Ausid Set top box and Smart PVR. We generally use the internal tuner in the Pio as it gave almost as good a picture as the Ausid without the hassle of different remotes etc. The Ausid was marginally (most wouldnt notice) on panning.

The Smart is generally only used to record, however looks quite good as is better than i'd expected before purchasing.

[diesel]

I've got a Panny 50PX600 and am very happy with the PQ from the in built tuner. Just waiting for some more reviews on the Toppy HD PVR before I think I'll upgrade the VCR.

It does have a problem with outputing Channel 7s DD though (eg Heroes) - I have to change it to MPEG for some reason

Interesting...I've only recently hooked it up to my AVR. I will check it out.

[Grahameh]

I had an NEC plasma screen, HD STB and surround sound system. My wife was actually pleased when the NEC blew up and I got a panasonic with in-built HD tuner. Now she only has to press one button to watch TV! If anyone had been fiddling with the remotes it used to drive her absolutely mad trying to get the old system to work. I have now turned off the STB permanently (until I might need it.) The Panasonic sound is so good I only turn the surround system on for concerts and films.

I do have a Mediastar PVR which is great, and it is hard to see the difference in the picture (although there is a difference) but I am the only one who uses it. My wife and other visitors are happy just using the TV. Even my 89 year old mother can use the Panasonic - she had to call me in to turn the old system on (even with a Home Theatre multi-purpose remote.)