DIRECTV High Definition Receivers

[FLCUSAT]

In your opinion who manufactures the best DIRECTV High Definition Receiver?
Why? Where do you buy them?
:confused:

[durl]

I can't say which is best, but I use the Sony HD-200 and I've been pretty happy with it. I've had DBS for 5-6 years now and Sony is all I've owned. The HD-200 is a little more expensive than some others but that's because it's also an OTA HD tuner which is what I needed since my TV has not built-in HD decoder.

I was a little disappointed with the Program Guides initially because they were so drastic from other Sony guides in the past but I've gotten used to it. What I like best about the HD-200 is that it incorporates my local OTA channels into the program guide along with the satellite channels and places them where they belong in sequence (local channel 5 is at channel "5" on my Guide, not channel "963") and it's perfectly seamless. VERY nice feature.

The only drawback I've noticed is that you can't output Component Video as well as Composite Video at the same time. To record to my VCR, I have to toggle the receiver to output to Composite which makes my picture much worse.

I bought mine online since no retail stores had stock on the unit around Christmas last year. Even that was hard to do...everyone was sold out.

Overall, I love the receiver. Hope this helps.

[american_2000]

I don't have HD myself, but I have installed a couple of brands and I think I like the Hughes E86 the best. Just as durl says, the only drawback with this one as well is the toggle back and forth from component to composite. I ve also have had less problems with the E86. I would say any high end electronics store would have them or go to Hughes's website.

Good luck!

[mattyro]

The Hughes Platinum receiver is shockingly advanced in the menus,and program guides. Besides your Ditrctv channels, any channel in your A or any channel found during a "scan" will be in the program guide exactly where oit belongs.I love it!