TVs vs set top boxes, and an erratum

Having looked at both Freeview HD TVs and set top boxes for RegHardware, it’s interesting to note that there is a marked difference in the audio capabilities between the two types of product.

When I looked at set top boxes, of the eight products I’d played with and evaluated, only two were able to produce any sort of Dolby Digital output from Freeview HD, which is a pretty poor showing, frankly, for reasons that have been done to death on the blog over the last six weeks.

However, when it comes to TV sets with Freeview HD built in, the situation is almost entirely reversed – of the six sets tested, all but one (the Panasonic) were able to produce a Dolby Digital signal.

In the original review, I said that the LG set that I tested, the 42LE5900, could not produce Dolby Digital from the HE-AAC broadcasts on Freeview. I’d like to correct that, having taken it out and checked again, after noting that it’s in the list that What Hifi have of working equipment. You can indeed get a Dolby Digital signal – but only if you first turn off the built in speakers via the menus. If you leave them turned on, then the optical connection simply outputs a stereo PCM signal. I’ve updated my own list of tested equipment accordingly.

So, that’s two out of eight set top boxes that do provide Dolby Digital output, and five out of six TVs. Clearly, at the moment, the chances are probably a bit better with a TV, but even so, you would still be well advised to do your research carefully before parting with any cash.

Not quite so simple

You may notice that I said “any sort of Dolby Digital” signal above. That’s because things are rarely as simple as they seem, and some of the equipment that is creating a Dolby Digital signal from Freeview may only be creating it with two channels, rather than the full 5.1 channel surround mix.

Right now, my AV processor doesn’t tell me the number of channels it has in its Dolby Digital input, so I can’t comment on each product, unless I happen to have it hooked up when the BBC is broadcasting the test signal. I’m looking for replacement kit, and when I have found something suitable, I’ll be able to provide more information with the test results.

EPG gallery – FreeviewHD

For your delectation and delight, here’s a little gallery of images, showing the EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) on fifteen different Freeview HD products. This is what you’ll be using to find what you want to watch, unless you’re still buying a printed TV guide. Perhaps, with some of these, you probably should…

From the Bush set top box; you'll find the same guide in the Linsar and other boxes made by Vestel - look for 'T8300' in the sticker on the bottom

Digital Stream's twin tuner recorder - which seems to take a little while to fill up the EPG

Goodmans set top box; expect the Grundig to look similar - same box, different brand

Humax HD-FOX T2. Their recorder will probably look very similar

iCan's EasyHD - Editor's choice in my roundup for RegHardware

The Icecrypt T2200 - actually made by Topfield

LG's TVs use this guide - not the best use of screen size, perhaps?

Taken from the FreeviewHD recorder, but the Panasonic TV's also have those adverts in their guide

The Philips set top box is actually designed by Pace, who license the name

Sagem's Freeview HD recorder

This is the guide from Samsung's Freeview HD set - another RegHardware winner

Sharp's FreeviewHD set top box

Sharp's Quattron FreeviewHD set - but it's test firmware; there's no Freeview HD logo

The EPG on Sony's TV set

Toshiba's EPG. You can even change the colour coding