DHMTVBOXEX9 TVBox 9

by AVerMedia

Product Details

Data Sheet [370kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 1 x 5 inches ; 10.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• ASIN: B00017X2KM
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 3, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The AVerMedia TVBox 9 is a top of the line external TV Tuner with the ability to turn your LCD monitor into a TV without the use of a PC! Featuring cutting edge Progressive Scan technology and 3D-Motion Adaptive De-Interlace, the TVBox 9 displays sharper images while you enjoy full-screen SXGA high-resolution display (up to 1280 x 1024).

Features and Benefits

• Turn any LCD Monitor into a TV/Multimedia Center
• Progressive Scan Output
• Multiple Channel Preview
• Full Function Remote Control
• One year linited parts & labor warranty

Product Description

pTransform your LCD or CRT monitor into a multimedia entertainment station! Connect your DVD player, VCR, game console (like Nintendo, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, XBOX) or other devices easily. With integrated parental control, dont worry about your young viewers. An additional component input provides superior video quality from your game console. Watch TV, movies, and play video games in style!/p

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Avermedia TVBox 9 With A Full-Function Remote Control, May 25, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DHMTVBOXEX9 TVBox 9 (Personal Computers)

The Avermedia TVBox 9 does everything as advertised! This unit fits the bill for the 3 indispensable features I had in mind for a TV Tuner:

1) includes a remote control
2) lets you work on your computer while you watch TV in a little window
3) Full screen mode

Additional features that were a welcome bonus for me:

1) PNP - or Picture-in-Picture with See-Through Translucent Mode -- pretty nifty!
At first I thought the PNP feature refers to the ability to view other channels in a little window overlaid on the current channel I'm on. Actually, to my disappointment, this feature refers to the ability to view TV in a little window over the computer desktop, so you can work on your computer while you watch TV. The PNP terminology was a little misleading! What's nice though is the little TV window can be made translucent, so you can see through it to view what's on your computer. There is no way, however, to adjust the level of transparency. I use the translucency feature mostly on news channels, where visuals aren't that important. You can also position the TV window anywhere on the screen with the remote.

2) This unit is pretty much a full-feature TV. It includes your usual TV features such as Closed Caption/Parental Control, Supports Multiple Input Sources (Video, DVD, Game Console, etc.), OSD (On-Sreen Display), Sleep Timer (30 - 150 min, in 30 min increments), Favorite Channel Programming (haven't figured out how to work it yet), Full-Function remote (in other words you can control or set everything with the remote along with the OSD).

3) Multiple Channel Preview.
View 13 channels simultaneously. Well, actually, each channel is set in motion for about half a second and becomes a still. Regardless, you're still able to get an idea of what's on each channel, select what you want to watch, and watch it in full screen. I do find this feature very useful to quickly find the channel I wish to watch.

Pros
----

In addition to the above features, this unit also has the following pros:

- Easy setup. Within minutes, I was up and running. No need to install any software. Just plug in your video and sound cables to the correct in/out outlets and you're ready to go. I didn't even need the manual! The only hitch I ran into was the PNP function. Whenever I was in the PNP mode, the screen would flicker on and off. Adjusting the TV screen resolution didn't help. However, when I messed with the color setting by changing from 32 bits to 16 bits, then back to 32 bits, the glitch stopped -- much to my relief! I suppose resetting of the screen color setting somehow helped the TVBox recognize the video settings on my monitor/computer.

- Watch TV without turning on your computer.

- Good picture quality. Allows you to fine-tune the picture and has Brightness/Contrast/Tint/Color/Sharpness adjustments. I'm using it on a CRT monitor and I'm pleased with the picture quality (I still prefer CRT's over LCD's. Plasma's great, but gosh, they're still so pricey!) If you have it hooked up to a LCD, I reckon the picture quality will rival that on the Sharp Aquos line of LCD TV's.

- Console is really slim, space-saving, and cool-looking.
The silver color will match most computer systems. It can be laid down or set upright.

- Remote control buttons are conveniently laid out and intuitive (A big plus for me.)

Cons
----

- PNP TV picture not resizable. Regardless, the size is big enough to allow me to comfortably watch TV while I work on my computer. On my 17 inch monitor at a 1024 x 768 resolution, the box is roughly 1/9th the size of my screen. Also, when you turn off the unit and turn it back on again, it doesn't remember the last mode you were in (PNP or full screen.)

- HDTV not supported. Not a biggie for me. The picture quality is very good as it is!

- Surround sound not supported -- only stereo sound is supported.

- A little pricier than other comparable units. The TVBox 5, the predecessor to the TVBox 9, is significantly cheaper than the TVBox 9. However, TVBox 9 is an improvement over TVBox 5 with the addition of Closed Caption/Parental Control , Channel Preview, and image enhancement capabilities.

Features Not Supported
----------------------------
- Video capture/recording.
Consider the Avermedia MDVDEZUSB External Video Capture Device that lets you do just that. Other companies such as Hauppauge and Startech also incorporate this feature in their tuners. The Avermedia version even lets you record your TV shows onto your DVD or CD.

Conclusion
----------
The cons and the lack of some additional features have not deterred me from buying this unit. Make no mistake -- I love this unit! I only wish it had a true PNP function. I have looked at Startech, Viewsonic, Hauppauge, Samsung and I find the Avermedia to be the best TV tuner unit for a basic TV tuner. In my opinion, if you're looking for a TV Tuner for your home or office that has a remote control and lets you work on your computer while you watch TV and supports full screen mode, the Avermedia TVBox 9 is THE unit to get!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works perfectly., January 14, 2005

By 

Good Time in LA - See all my reviews

This review is from: DHMTVBOXEX9 TVBox 9 (Personal Computers)

I am using this with a Sony 19" LCD monitor connected to the s-video output from my Directv cable box -- and the TV pictures is as clear as any LCD TV I have ever seen, especially in full screen mode at 1280x1024. All modes work perfectly. With PC on or off the picture is great. Sound is good too. PIP and translucent mode are crystal clear too. Clear as a bell. The first (positive) reviewer here gave tons of info and he is right on all counts so I will not repeat the specs and features.
The only (very small) bad thing is that the cables attach to the same side as the remote control sensor on the unit so you have to point them toward you.
I had previously tried an ATI all in wonder pro but I returned it because window mode was fine but the full screen mode was blurry. This avermedia tvbox9 is always crystal clear, even at full screen mode.
This was a perfect solution for the extra room in my house that we use as the combination computer/guest room.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product that delivers what it promises, December 17, 2004

By 

C. Dolezalek "chris15257" (San Francisco, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DHMTVBOXEX9 TVBox 9 (Personal Computers)

I got this for my 92-year-old dad who, perhaps surprising, still uses his laptop a lot. Last year we got him a great monitor and then followed with the TV Box 9. He's not technically savy in the least, yet there was no problem installing it and he has had no problems whatsoever using this product. I was blown away with the quality of the image it produced.