tv sound revolutionised!!

well, maybe not totally revolutionised, but changed dramatically!!

i got my Philips DTR1500 freeview digital box today, to replace my old ex-ITV digital Pioneer. As HFC readers will know, I got this as it has a proper coaxial digital output (whereas the others on the market either don't have digi outs or just the dreaded opticals)- i've fed this out to my dac, and the difference in sound quality is amazing. Still not quite up to cd standards, but the imaging is a lot stronger and the timing seems a bit sharper. The fact that is uses a more powerful CPU (166mhz) than my old Pioneer means it displays menus a lot faster (well damn near instant) as well. Bit of a bargain for £100, if you ask me

 

It sounds like an other good excuse to by a DAC rather than a replacement CDP. With my current TV sound source, my toshiba Nicam VCR connected to my amp the sound is good for the TV, but its noticably way of the from CD sounding very soft and lacking in detail.

NICAM is an old standard now, it was introduced in 1988/89 (I think) so it was early days for digital sound (although DAT was introduced around then too). I suppose this why NICAM sounds so bad compared to modern digital boxes.

 

You got the dates right, but I beg to differ on the sound front... In the old place (Reading), using a Panasonic Sky Digital box and standard terrestrial (Sony KVM25F2U NICAM/DPL telly), NICAM sounded much more clean than Sky - slightly smoother and more "flowey" with music (from BBC at least) - so whilst NICAM might be an old standard, the data compression it uses to me seems a LOT less intrusive than the MP2 or whatever it is they use on Sky.

Not played with recent free view since neither Exeter or Beaminster (where my folks live) can receive it reliably - bummer really 'cos freeview apparently sounds better than DAB (not surprising considering how appalling the data rates on BBC DAB are now!).

 

My video probably dosn't have a very good decoder then, I've not heared any NICAM sources in HIFI other than mine (tv speaker don't count!) also maybe the decoders in the TVs sound better than VCRs.

 

I would actually assume that the decoders built into VCRs should theoretically be better than the ones in TVs unless the TV (like my Sony) has line out sockets. The decoder in my Philips VHS is a teensy bit better than the one in the telly, but it's not enough to concern me since it's only TV....

 

They supply a new digital cable box here in Portugal, when you subscribe to any PayTV, it has digital coaxial output + RGB thru SCART, the sound is definetely better then FM, and with some programs almost as good as DVD...

It is amasing with DPLII, you do hear proper surround, like helis panning, etc... :MILD:

 

on the subject of the quality of NICAM decoders, the best ones i've found are the Panasonic video ones- my JVC HRJ580 hasn't the bass extension and a Samsung one isn't anywhere near as lively...

i didn't get the Philips freeview in order to justify a new cd player!!
i just wanted the tv sound to be better!!