Samsung SIR-TS160 Multiple Platform DirectTV Receiver

by Samsung

Product Details

Product Manual [15.81mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 16.5 x 13.8 x 2.9 inches ; 8.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 13 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00007FS1O
• Item model number: SIR-TS160
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,794 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Samsung's SIR-TS160 is an all-in-one set-top box for people seeking the best HDTV programming and reception. Based on Samsung's award-winning SIR-T150 ATSC receiver (noted by industry experts as the most sensitive tuner available), this newer model offers unprecedented reception of over-air digital broadcasts (ATSC), analog broadcasts (NTSC), and digital satellite programming from DIRECTV.

The SIR-TS160 is the first consumer set-top box to use industry-standard DVI (digital video interface) jacks with HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) implementation. Combined with a DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide, selectable output formats, and a videophile design, the SIR-TS160 is a great all-in-one choice for HDTV content reception. The SIR-TS160 uses a seven-day Advanced Program Guide that integrates both analog and digital signals for seamless switching between programs broadcast over satellite and over air. Samsung's proprietary speed-enhancement technology offers the fastest guide-surfing experience available in any HDTV satellite receiver to date. A new guide search lets you scan program listings via the names of actors, movies, and other one-step search fields. A picture-in-guide window makes it easy to watch a program while surfing the listings, or Samsung's Quick Guide will display listings, one 30-minute time-slot at a time, in an opaque overlay atop a program.

Consistent with the all-in-one theme, the SIR-TS160 offers selectable outputs, including 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i. This optimizes performance by matching the output to a digital television monitor's native resolution, whether it's a plasma-, LCD-, DLP-, or CRT-based set. Additionally, the SIR-TS160 simultaneously outputs standard 480i composite-video, allowing a dual connection with an analog TV or standard VCR. A full complement of audio-video inputs accommodates current and future devices. These include component-video (Y, Pb, Pr), RGB and HV (15-pin D-sub), two composite-video (one with S-video), and optical and coaxial digital-audio connections.

Product Description

DIRECTV Annual Programming Agreement (Please fill out this form and fax to: 615-346-1405) NOTE: Before we can ship this product, we need a copy of the completed agreement! Provides Access To All DIRECTV Channels In Both Standard & High Definition (HDTV)Simply Add An Antenna To Enjoy Free, Off-Air HDTV Local Broadcasts w/ Digital Sound & Video Easy To Navigate, Fast, Program Guide Integrates Both Analog & Digital Broadcasts Into One Industry First DVI w/ HDCP, Fully Digital Output For Connection To Virtually All Available HDTVs Tunes & Decodes All 18 Approved ATSC Digital TV Broadcast Formats For Total Compatibility Connect To Virtually All Digital TV Sets Via DVI, Component, RGB & Composite/S-Video Outputs Up To 7-Day DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide To Easily See What's Playing At Any Time Convenient On-Screen Caller ID Display w/ 20 Caller History To E

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best choice when you have to record the tradional way, February 27, 2003

By 

NutMac "NutMac" (Mountain View, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Samsung SIR-TS160 Multiple Platform DirectTV Receiver (Electronics)

Note: I've been using SIR-T160 for almost 4 months now. Early in 2003, new firmware was released, which has solved many critical issues with this receiver. My review reflects this firmware. Another firmware is in the works, to be released sometime later this year.

Pros:
- High Definition (HD) video outputs (component, DVI, VGA) and low resolution analog (S-video, composite) are active simultaneously
- Fast processor -- fast channel change, responsive menu system
- Has both optical and coax digital audio output
- Clean, polished, and easy to use user interface with Advanced Program Guide (AGP)
- Includes value-added features, such as Caller ID, games, and calendar
- Wide range of video outputs: DVI, VGA, component, S-video, composite video
- Excellent support policies

Cons:
- Prone to occasional crash/freeze (perhaps once or twice a month)
- Raw Dolby Digital audio stream sometimes not selected automatically (requires re-tuning into the channel... press the channel up, then down)
- Slightly inferior picture quality than Sony/Zenith receiver
- Over-The-Air (OTA) reception signal retention is average
- Problems adding OTA channels (once DirecTV is setup, cannot add an OTA channel manually)
- Always convert the native signals to one of user specified formats (1080i, 720p, 480p, or 480i)

The first thing to know is that there's no such thing as a perfect High Definition (HD) DirecTV receiver. All receivers have one problem or another. It's a matter of finding one that has the feature you must have and problems you can live with. For me, this is that receiver.

The main selling point for me was dual active output capability. That is, both high definition video output (DVI, VGA, component video) and analog low resolution output (S-video, composite video) are active at the same point. In other words, you can hookup the analog VCR or standalone PVR/DVR (e.g., TiVo) to the unit and SIR-T160 will do all the work. When you are watching the program live, turn your HDTV on and watch it in full 1080i or 720p splendor (alas, the receiver does not output "native" signal, should your HDTV support both 1080i and 720p). But when you are not home, or if you want to record the program as you watch, your VCR/PVR/DVR will get the low resolution (480i) signals, too.

With almost all other HD receivers, you must remember to manually set output to 480i and/or toggle S-video/composite video. Otherwise, your VCR/PVR/DVR will record nothing.

Aside from this feature, the Samsung SIR-T160 is about on par with all the latest and greatest receivers. It looks and sounds great (although a notch below Sony and Zenith's latest boxes) and I was able to receive all the key local channels over the indoor antenna -- ABC (720p), CBS (1080i), Fox (480p), NBC (1080i), PBS (1080i), UPN (480p), and WB (1080i). Keep in mind that Samsung does not hold onto signals as strongly as some of the other boxes, so you may have problem receiving signals on bad weather or channels with weak signal strength.

DirecTV channels look and sound good too, although on my 56" HDTV, the compression artifacts were pretty noticeable. HD DirecTV channels look and sound amazing (198 PPV-HD, 199 HDNet, 509 HBO-HD, and 543 SHO-HD -- all in 1080i), however.

So while I do have few complaints, I love this receiver.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy set up, reliable, good value, January 26, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Samsung SIR-TS160 Multiple Platform DirectTV Receiver (Electronics)

Positives:

I'm replacing a RCA DirectTV receiver and samsung's UI is much better and much FASTER. Set up was a snap. It even worked off my old non-HD dish until the installer arrived to install its dish. It found all my local OTA stations on the first try. Having the OTA stations mixed in with the satelite channels is nice. (I had assumed that OTA would be some separate, hard to get to, guide). The DVI connection is amazing! I've suddenly become critical of my progressive scan DVD player. Another excellent feature is that the DVI and S-Video are live at the same time. This works nice for recording through S-Video while watching DVI. Using it with a Hitachi 51" G500 set.

Not so positive:
Actually, the only thing that bugs me about the unit are the stupid games that come built in. What a waste of engineering. Let see, I've bought an HD monitor, I'm a satelite customer, I have a home theater system--that's right samsung I'm going to cheap out on a gaming system if I want to play games--please give me some crappy games.

An actual problem I had was that my older PVR doesn't have a code to control the 160. Replay wasn't much help and it's really a limitation of the PVR. I mention it only as a unforeseen gotcha you might have.

Finally, I've seen a lot of remote complaints, which I too experienced with the samsung remote. It's might be the weakest IR signal ever. My advice, get a good universal remote to replace the samsung. I personally have been using a Home Theater Master MX500 for some time and once I programed it to the samsung the problem disappeared, I can even close the door over the IR sensor. The MX500 actually has 2 IR beams just in case your aim sucks. Go to www.remotecentral.com to get reviews. The MX500 is to remotes what HDTV is to TV. It will solve the samsung's remote problem and any other remote problem you might have.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Receiver, June 6, 2003

By 

LWOhio "lwebay" (Napoleon, OH USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Samsung SIR-TS160 Multiple Platform DirectTV Receiver (Electronics)

I have owned this receiver for a few weeks and it works great. The thing I like is the ability to output numerous display types. I currently am running 1080i to my Mitsubishi TV in my main room and then output via a coaxial cable to my bedroom to get the same signal in analog on my old 27" TV. It works great. Also allows you to record HD content. It obviously won't be true HD....but it is still recordable without shelling out money for Tivo or another unit.

The menu interface is great and the HD signal is crystal clear on both DirecTV and Over the air. I am pulling in digital over the air channels from 40 miles away with an attic antenna.

I just got done watching the NBA Finals on ABC HD and it was incredible. I recommend this receiver highly to anyone shopping for an HD DirecTV and over the air receiver.