Gradually, analog television is becoming a thing of the past, and digital format is replacing it. Unfortunately, not all people have devices that support digital broadcasting. In order to have access to a high-definition picture, full sound and a number of additional features, you will have to purchase a special digital TV set-top box.
In digital stores you can find a large number of such devices, but they can seriously differ from each other in a number of operational characteristics. Choosing the most suitable for specific conditions of use is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. To make this as easy as possible, we decided to devote our present review to the analysis of such equipment. Before we begin to consider the qualitative characteristics of these devices, let's look at the rules for their selection and some theoretical points that also affect the choice of this equipment.
Summary of the rating:
What factors are important when purchasing a set-top box?
At the first stage, let's figure out what such an aggregate consists of. Absolutely all consoles have a housing in their design, a central acceptance and processing board, and are equipped with a remote control. The principle of operation is also general: the set-top box receives an analog signal through an ordinary antenna, which will either be transmitted in its original state or converted to digital. In the first case, the prefix is connected via the RCA or VGA connector, and in the second - via HDMI.
The use of this equipment can significantly improve the quality of the image, and it will not depend on how modern the TV is. If necessary, such a gadget can even be connected to a completely outdated TV, in which the picture is displayed on the picture tube. However, users should be aware that the quality will directly depend on what resolution the screen has.
When choosing a set-top box, you should consider the features of the TV so that the equipment is compatible in terms of connectors. It is desirable that the product is equipped with all the necessary sockets, both obsolete and the most modern. If the product does not have them, then you will either have to purchase additional adapters, or give preference to another model.
In addition, the highest screen resolution will need to be taken into account. Almost all modern products can give an output signal in HD or Full HD resolution, however, on sale you can find products that support standard definition SDTV, but there are not too many similar devices on the market. The most modern consoles have a large number of additional features regarding not only the reception, but also the transcoding of the signal. In addition, more advanced models have the function of deferred viewing and recording television broadcasts to external media via the USB port. At the same time, standard TV set-top boxes do not have Internet access, respectively, they receive a signal either through a separate antenna cable, or through a remote antenna.
Today, more and more providers are offering their users services related to watching television channels through the Internet - IPTV technology, when setting up such a connection, the user gets the opportunity to watch about 50 channels in excellent quality. Using this technology, you can even watch TV through devices running on the Android platform.
When choosing models for inclusion in our rating, we took into account all the above factors, however, we also relied on user reviews. In addition, the ratio of price and quality of devices was not ignored. We tried to collect the maximum information for each gadget so that you could choose the most suitable equipment for yourself. So, let's now move on to analyzing specific devices.
Standard set-top boxes
3. D-COLOR DC1002HD
This equipment is capable of working with traditional DVB-T and DVB-T2 image standards. A fairly powerful MaxLinear MXL608 tuner is installed here to convert an analog signal to digital. Using this receiver, you can record TV programs, there is also a USB connector, designed specifically for connecting flash drives or external hard drives. The software has a player that supports playback of most popular formats - photo, video and audio. The products have a very long warranty period, which is as much as 2 years. The device has a combined processor, so fewer elements are installed on the motherboard.
Thanks to this approach, it is possible to significantly reduce the overall dimensions of this device. The top cover and base are made of high-quality metal, and they are equipped with ventilation holes. At the base there are rubberized legs. The front panel of the product is made of high-quality plastic with a matte finish, which has decorative glossy inserts. On the front of the device is a liquid crystal display, which displays the clock, channel number and other useful information for the user. The panel has mechanical buttons for switching channels, a power button. There is also a USB port. All the main ports for connecting to a TV are located on the rear panel. An HDMI cable must be purchased separately; the device is compatible with any antenna that can receive analog signals.
Benefits:
- There are all the necessary connectors for connecting modern TVs and models of outdated designs;
- All major cables, in addition to HDMI, are supplied with the device;
- Convenient and ergonomic remote control.
Disadvantages:
- Some users say that setting up the model is not very convenient, and the menu is incomprehensible.
2. BBK SMP145HDT2
This design is a high-quality multifunctional product that is capable of receiving television and radio signals in analog format. In this receiver, they are converted to digital formats DVB-T, DVB-T1, MPEG-2 / MPEG-4. This set-top box has an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) function. Due to its use, information on the program guide of all digital channels for a selected period of time is displayed on the TV display. This equipment has a USB connector that allows you to connect various kinds of external devices. If necessary, you can take the opportunity to record a television broadcast on such a medium.
The console has a built-in media player, which is designed to play files of various formats, even the highest definition. There is an HDMI port that allows you to transmit a signal in real time. The model’s power supply unit is remote, its case is made of plastic, the length of the supply wire is one and a half meters, so the receiver can be installed not too close to the outlet. The ventilation grill is located on the bottom panel.The processor, along with the central board, does not heat up too much, so a lot of fresh air is not required. The connectors are located on the rear panel, in front are mechanical function buttons.
Benefits:
- Reasonable cost;
- Insignificant overall dimensions;
- Extended functionality
- Separate power supply;
- It catches about 12-14 channels well.
Disadvantages:
- Small size remote control - inconvenient to hold in your hand;
- The kit does not come with an HDMI cable.
1.Oriel 963 (DVB-T2)
This model is one of the latest among all included in our review, which went on sale only in the middle of October last year. Unfortunately, no cables are supplied with this device; accordingly, they will have to be purchased additionally. The base and top cover of the product are made of perforated metal, which facilitates the cooling process of the board. The front panel is made of high-quality impact-resistant plastic. The power supply is not remote, but is located inside the housing of this design. On the front side in the central part is a fairly bright liquid crystal display. While the unit is in standby mode, it will show the time, and when active, the channel number. To the left of it are physical buttons for turning on the equipment and switching channels, as well as an indicator of the LED type. On the right you can see the USB port.
The rear panel has a large number of different connectors - an input for connecting a television antenna, a through antenna output, audio and video outputs, an analog SCART (TV) connector, as well as a jack for connecting an HDMI cable. Like most similar devices, there is a built-in media player that supports many well-known video and audio playback formats, and you can also view photos with it. The design is equipped with a parental control system. Through the USB port, you can connect an external drive to which the television broadcast will be recorded.
Benefits:
- Excellent quality;
- A large set of various functions;
- Easy to install and configure;
- Good picture and sound;
- It is possible to view 20 channels in digital broadcasting mode.
Disadvantages:
- You will have to purchase all the necessary cables.
The best models for video capture
3. Dune HD Neo 4K T2
This device has everything you need for connection and direct use. The remote power supply unit, the power cable is quite long, which allows you to place the gadget at a considerable distance from the outlet. The remote control is large enough, has an ergonomic shape, fits comfortably in your hand. The buttons are short and soft, all of them are membrane type. The design of the product is classic for the products of this company. The prefix is small in height - less than 2 cm, has a square shape of 10x10 cm, the corners are slightly rounded. The side faces are made of glossy plastic, the upper and lower panels are made of matte. The mass of the device is small - only about 100 grams. On the side there are slots for connecting micro SD memory cards and two slots for USB 2.0, all other interfaces are on the back.
The slot for the HDMI cable works in 2.0a format, which allows the product to support HDR, UHD image quality, while the frame refresh rate can reach up to 60 per second. The motherboard is soldered very high quality. The cooling system here is passive, it is made in the form of a plate of ceramic materials. It works very effectively, so users do not encounter such a problem as overheating of the product. Additional cooling is provided thanks to the ventilation holes located on the lower edge of the player. The basis for this gadget is the Amlogic S905X SoC platform, which is equipped with a quad-core ARM 4-core Cortex A53 processor, 1.5 GHz for each core. There is 1 GB of RAM, built-in much more - 8 GB.
Benefits:
- Compact overall dimensions and small weight;
- Very convenient remote control that fits well in the hand;
- Able to read almost all known formats.
Disadvantages:
- It’s not so easy to figure out the settings, and they are produced quite slowly.
2. AVerMedia Technologies LGP Lite
Appearance is practically no different from a similar model of the previous generation, released by this manufacturer. On the front side is a plate, the texture of which is very similar to metal. Users have no complaints about the build quality - everything is done in good faith, the design looks holistic and almost monolithic. In the center of the front panel there is a large button, when pressed, recording of a television broadcast is activated. There is also an indicator of the operating mode: the LED lights up in blue - the device is connected to the network and is in standby mode, if the light is red - video is being recorded. The bottom panel is equipped with a rubberized surface, due to which the device is securely fixed to the surface. The product has all the necessary connectors for connecting to a TV. There are no slots for connecting a memory card.
All required software can be downloaded from the official website of the model manufacturer. Before connecting to a TV, the product should be connected to a personal computer and make all the necessary settings - indicate where the data will be recorded and so on. It is worth noting that it is possible to fine-tune this equipment, select the sound quality, add another sound track, and so on. Not too many cables are supplied in the kit - only the power and mini-USB, due to which the connection to a personal computer or laptop is made. It is permissible to use this product for recording video from a computer screen, for example, passing various games, training videos, and so on.
Benefits:
- Easy to customize;
- Interesting design;
- It can be used to connect to both a TV and a personal computer;
- It copes well with all the tasks assigned to it.
Disadvantages:
- Some problems may occur when working with DirectShow services on a Windows operating system.
1. AverMedia Technologies Live Gamer Portable
By and large, this is not a television, but a computer set-top box, which allows for high-quality and very convenient streaming of games. This is a fairly compact device that can be connected to various kinds of equipment. The product is capable of capturing the signal going through various cables (both HDMI and ordinary AV), and regardless of what it is connected to - a TV, computer or laptop. Video files are recorded in HD or Full HD, all information will be stored on SD memory cards. Appearance is recognized by all people who have come across products from this manufacturer. The case is made of high quality plastic. The side faces are painted red, the upper side is styled with metal, rubberized materials are located below. On the top panel is a button that activates the recording process.
It has a rather attractive appearance: there is a side transparent border with blue and red lights. On the front side there are two HDMI connectors (one input and one output) and the same number of connectors for connecting audio, there is also a jack for analog connection. On the back of the device is a button that switches modes. You can record video files from any device that supports HDMI or DVI (there is no such connector, you will need to buy a special adapter). On the official website there is the necessary software for the quality setting of the equipment. In order to save all changes to the gadget, it will need to be connected to a computer.
Benefits:
- Perfect value for money;
- Advanced device functionality;
- Attractive appearance;
- The video is hardware-compressed, so it takes up less free space on the memory card.
Disadvantages:
- Some users talk about software limitations.
The best consoles in IPTV format
4. Google Chromecast 2
It has a very original appearance and compact overall dimensions - the device is a small rounded disk, the diameter of which is only about 5 cm at a height of about one and a half centimeters. The upper part of the product is made of glossy plastic, where the logo of the developer is embossed. The lateral and lower sides are made of gray matte plastic, which matches the color of the HDMI cable. A magnet is provided in the connector, which in the stowed state is connected to the bottom of the player. Opposite the HDMI jack, there is a micro-USB connector and a button to reset the product. The power button for this product is not provided.
As the main working element, the latest Marvel Armada 1500 Mini Plus 88DE3006 chip, which operates on the basis of the ARM Cortex-A7 dual-core processor, is used here. This model is characterized by excellent performance. It is worth noting that this product is equipped with a Wi-Fi 802.11ac support module. The model’s RAM is 512 MB with an internal storage capacity of 256 MB. The cooling system here is passive, which ensures absolute noiselessness during operation. Such a set-top box can be synchronized with a smartphone; thanks to this function, it is possible to perform optimal equipment settings.
Benefits:
- It can broadcast any video files via phone, tablet, TV or computer;
- Reasonable cost;
- Good functionality;
- It is convenient to work with this product.
Disadvantages:
- Sometimes the video sequence and the sound sequence are different, but in most cases this is due to the operation of a third-party device, and not this gadget.
3. Apple TV Gen 4 64GB
This is the latest generation of consoles from the well-known American manufacturer of modern digital technology. The main purpose of this device is to provide the ability to broadcast video and audio. If we compare the model and equipment of the previous generation, then in terms of appearance, practically no significant changes have occurred. The key difference is in overall dimensions - in terms of thickness, they have become larger: the product has become about 35 mm high instead of the previous 23 mm. The justification for this fact is quite serious: the memory size of the product was significantly increased. Of course, the mass of the device has also increased, which now amounts to about 450 g. The matte case with a soft touch coating has a square shape.
All the main connectors for connecting additional equipment are located at the back - there are only four of them. The remote control is stylish and convenient to use, it has an ergonomic shape, fits well both in a large male palm and in a graceful female hand. Inside is a dual-core A8 processor and Power VR graphics unit, the amount of RAM compared to the previous version of the product has almost quadrupled and amounts to 2 GB, which positively affected the speed of this equipment. On sale today you can find products with 32 and 64 GB drives. The sound of the device was also quite high-quality, as support for Dolby Digital 7 technology was provided.
Benefits:
- Stylish appearance;
- Extended operational capabilities;
- Stable for a long time;
- You can configure the connection without turning on the TV.
Disadvantages:
- High price.
2. Xiaomi Mi Box International Version
This is one of the best set-top boxes of 2019 in its market segment, which in terms of style and functionality is in no way inferior to Apple products.The height of the product is about 2 cm, all the corners on the case are rounded, it is made entirely of black matte plastic with a soft touch coating, on which neither traces of dust nor fingerprints are visible. There is an infrared receiver on the front side, all the main connectors for connecting additional devices are on the back side. You won’t be able to find a single button on the case, but there are only three sockets - USB, HDMI and minijack. The latter can act as an analog output for audio or as a digital optical output. Various kinds of additional peripheral devices cannot be connected to this model.
You can control such equipment using a special remote control that comes with the console. Outwardly, it looks like a similar device from Apple. There are not very many buttons on it, so setting up and operating the product is quite easy, in addition, the product has very high ergonomic characteristics, the connection to the device is via Bluetooth. The prefix works on the basis of the Android TV 6 operating system, which makes the gadget one of the most unique ones that can be found in today's market. Another important point - the device has access to all functional applications released by Google. There is a voice search system that allows you to search for the necessary content at once in many applications.
Benefits:
- There is support for 4K;
- High speed; 4
- Voice control works great;
- All necessary cables are included;
- The original operating system.
Disadvantages:
- No connector provided
1. Apple TV 4K 32GB
In this section, another Apple model took the lead. In terms of appearance, the product does not differ at all from other similar devices: a rather thick black box made of matte plastic. The corners are rounded, and the bottom is rubberized, in addition, it has special ventilation slots that provide high-quality cooling of all internal elements. On the back of the design there is a connector for connecting an Ethernet cable, which is now capable of transmitting up to 1 gigabit per second. With this feature, the user can stream 4K video, for which the lower Ethernet bandwidth is often not enough. All connectors are on the back side, in front there is only a power indicator.
To take advantage of all the available capabilities of such equipment, it is recommended to connect it to a TV with 4K support, as well as have an HDMI cable on hand, the standard of which should be at least 1.4. In addition to the TV, such a prefix can be synchronized with devices running on the iOS platform. This is quite easy to accomplish: in the settings, select the appropriate item and enter a four-digit code. This product has the largest amount of RAM compared to all devices from our review - it is 3072 MB with a capacity of internal flash memory 32 GB. The model is compatible with most audio and video formats, there is support for Internet radio, Bluetooth channel, voice control from Siri and so on.
Benefits:
- The most advanced stereo sound technology is used, due to which the user has the impression that the sound source moves in space;
- Attractive and stylish appearance;
- Long service life;
- High speed data transfer;
- Support is provided for all existing formats.
Disadvantages:
- In addition to the high cost was not found.
In conclusion, a useful video
Now you have a more detailed idea of what equipment such as a set-top box is. We hope that from the presented models you were able to choose the most suitable device for yourself.If you still have unresolved questions, then you can ask them in the comments to the article. We will try to respond to them as quickly as possible and give you all the necessary information.
(1 ratings, average: 5,00 out of 5)
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