Customer Reviews

Samsung SIR-T151 HDTV Receiver with Dolby Digital DTV Decoder

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

An elegant solution that works very well. While perfectly suited for HDTV-ready sets, I've been using it with a standard 4:3 non-HDTV Sony. If you have a TV with composite, component, or s-video inputs, this thing will work, assuming you can receive digital signals over the air. For HDTV purposes, it must be amazing.

In fact, I don't know why more people don't buy these things to watch PERFECT digital TV from free over-the-air signals--even on standard TVs. (Of course, not all cities are broadcasting all their channels in digital, but many are ...) Even at 480p (the unit's lowest resolution) the video is DVD-quality. Try switching between ... analog cable and OTA digital--the difference is stunning. Again, even on a standard TV.

Easy, intuitive menus. Many different output options for video AND audio. Overall, an excellent investment: Use it now with a standard TV, use it later with an HDTV-ready set.

I live in Houston suburbs and this thing out of the box on a amped antenna with the amp unplugged got 8 of 10 stations. There is a auto channel scan that works great for setting itself up.

Hook ups all work as you would expect, and the on-screen menus are well designed, although I did notice that the capition turns off the sound - but I just got the unit so maybe that's a user error.

I got a refurb'd unit on a on-line auction...but it is making the humming noise, however mine makes it only when turned on. I'm thinking of trying to see if something is vibrating or if its an electrical noise by messing with it. This unit does produce a lot of heat, about on par with a receiver that is being driven reasonably hard. I could barely hold my hand on top of it as one part was very warm. There are some sizable looking heatsinks on some components inside, so apparently they tried to design to deal with it.

You can get a programmable "learning" style (not "universal") remote here on Amazon and at Rat Shack to minimize your remote glut.

This works great, if I could quell the idling noise.

Slope

I did for a while to get just 3 HDTV channels. One day I visit my neighbor and saw his HDTV was picking up 11 HDTV signals over the air! I was paying extra for to my provider; and only received 3 channels, what a reap off!

So I purchased an earlier model and worked excellent! A month ago I upgraded to the T151 from Samsung and Wow! I did not know how many formats each channel had, and all the options and settings on the receiver make for a perfect movie experience everytime! Highly recommend this set. The newer models have some features removed: dont know why, and cost more too, just check the descriptions.

I think the manufacturer put all options on this receiver because did not know it would sell well, and remove some in the subsequent models. The on-screen menu is simple and extended Just love it!

I am getting a TV built in HDTV tuner so will sell mine soon.

I have a Mitsubishi 42" Widescreen and a powered indoor antenna close to a window. That didn't do the job for me. (The signal would come and go like a digital cell phone indoors) So I mounted an antenna to the roof and the receiver works great now. I think some of my local stations are a little under powered. One of the channels (ABC channel 41) I thought I would get without problems is sometimes difficult to receive. I have read that some channels are slowly ramping up the power of there digital broadcast. I can currently get ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. (PBS will be up in May 2003.) But the broadcasts aren't always right. CBS channel 3-1 has the most problems, give them a little time.

Plus:
1. Perfect Image when watching a HDTV Broadcast.
2. Comes with a 6 foot component cable. (Cool)
3. HDTV Football WOW!

Minus:
1. The remote won't run my TV.
2. Makes a high-pitch whining noise (I put it in a glass cabinet. No problem now.)

I have a Sony KV-32HS500 TV, with a 4/3 screen size. The device only outputs in one format (e.g. 1080i or 720p), which is selectable on the back of the unit. If it would instead output the signal it receives in its native format, then my TV could choose to convert the signal in a way that is optimal for viewing on that TV. For example, if I have 1080i selected on the back of the receiver (which is needed to view 1080i HD broadcasts), and am trying to receive a 480i digital signal, it will convert the 480i signal to 1080i. The picture will get displayed in a small window on my screen because the sony sees a 1080i signal and displays it in widescreen format. If the receiver would output the 480i signal, then the TV would be able to display it on the full screen.

I haven't experienced the humming problem mentioned by previous reviewers. I can hear a slight hum when I put my ear to the box, but it is not noticeable otherwise. The only weakness I have identified is that it doesn't allow you to letterbox HD programming on a 4:3 aspect set--you have to use a "full screen" option that squeezes (and distorts) the picture or a "zoom" option that gives you only part of the picture. It comes with component cables that look flimsy, but perform as well as an expensive set I use for my DVD connection. This is an excellent basic tuner for broadcast HDTV, especially if you have a 16:9 set.

Works well with my TERK TV55 antenna and my Mitsubishi HDTV-ready TV.

A basic unit that delivers what it promisses.

However, if you need or plan to get Cable or Satellite signals as well, you get another units.

Some gripes:
- Makes a high-pitch whining noise even if turned off.
- Cannot switch channels while on menu mode (would be useful when testing reception)

Also if you have more than one HDTV source (e.g. XBox), you need to get a switch if your TV does not support more than 1 HDTV input.

Overall this unit is pretty good. I purchased it from a refurbisher and the first one didn't work at all. I had to return it at my own cost for $30 more than I should've spent. However, the 2nd unit works pretty well. I use it with a Samsung TV and the remote works well for the TV also. My only beef with it is the scanning software, which does not allow you to add specific (sub) channels that you know are there but for some reason cannot catch it at the moment (bad weather say). For example, Channel 3 comes in for me on 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3. If I lose the memorized channel for some reason, I cannot add it in and must re-scan. If I try to add the single channel back the software would crap out at 3-0, since there is nothing on 3-0. It won't scan further to get 3-1, 3-2, 3-3. This would be a problem only if your signals are borderline and re-capturing it is problematic.

Otherwise the picture quality is great.

I recently got a Samsung TXM3096WHF (30" 16:9 HDTV 1080i) TV form Best Buy for $$$ and man does this thing do a job. I had a digital cable box from Comcast and got ABC, NBC, HBO, Showtime, and CBS in 1080i. [Bad.] The signal must have been weak or something because it looked like widescreen 480i. At any rate, I got this little guy, hooked it up to my NON-DIGITAL amplified antenna and immediately got Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, and the WB in perfect HD. (Fox is in 480p, which is just as as a DVD). Only ABC broadcasts in 5.1 surround sound, so that was kind of a dissapointment. Everything else is perfect. I like not having to pay $...a month for less channels that I would get for free.

Worked great for one year. A week after one year it started puting diagonal colored lines across the entire screen causing complete loss of broadcast picture. By one year and three weeks, this problem would happen without fail after having the unit on for ten minutes. Would DEFINITELY not recommend purchasing one of these units.