Don't be a Directv victim. . . I mean customer.November 21, 2008 Directv has the worst customer service I have ever experienced. They lie to you and cheat you out of credits and discounts. None of their employees will tell you the same thing. They all have a different answer for the same question. And if you do decide to be their victim, I mean customer, don't ever refer anyone else. You'll either never get your $50 referral credit or they'll have your service shut off because the idiot on the other end of the phone gave you too many credits. Also, I agree with other reviews that frequently the sound and picture are not in sync.
13 Reasons Not to Choose DirecTVNovember 16, 2008 *** Reasons to Buy DirecTV ***
1. Terrific picture.
*** Reasons Not to Buy DirecTV ***
1. All too frequently the receiver must be reinitialized using the reset button; this takes 10 to 20 minutes, so if you are intending to watch a program, you're out of luck.
2. They bill for premium channels not ordered and then state since the channels were available reversal of the charges are not possible.
3. Promised credits never materialize on the bill.
4. None of the equipment is guaranteed beyond 30 days; your choice is to either pay for an ongoing monthly service plan or the full cost of the repairs/replacements.
5. They nickel and dime you to death with extra charges (e.g., more than one receiver, HD reception).
6. The buttons on the remote are unlit, very stiff and are difficult to use for anyone with a joint disorder, such as arthritis. It is also poorly designed and white (dirtying easily).
7. Only one channel is available from local stations that broadcast multiple channels. For example, the local PBS station broadcasts one hi-def channel and three standard definition channels, but only the former is available.
8. The audio and video are not always in sync; sometimes resetting the unit helps, sometimes not.
9. Changing channels is not instantaneous, in fact, not even close, taking 4-11 seconds.
10. Sometimes when the DVR requires resetting, previously recorded programs are not available.
11. Although you pay $200 per DVR when initiating service, you don't really own it and must return it to DirecTV or be charged once again for it.
12. Attempting to record only the new episodes of a series does not work if the same episode appears later in the day or the next day (e.g., some news shows, such as Countdown). The DVR will record multiple copies of the same show, unnecessarily using hard disk space.
13. If DirecTV physically damages your audio video equipment on installation, they refuse all responsibility, refusing to pay for repair costs (after initially agreeing to do so and firing the tech). I'm out several hundred dollars in replacement costs.
Caveat emptor!
Piece of JunkOctober 22, 2008 This is the premier, highest-priced Direct TV HD DVR receiver. It is an unmitigated piece of junk. I've had to reset it about once a week, with each reset constituting about 20 minutes of total down time.
Problems:
1) It won't turn on at all, either by remote or by pressing the power button on the unit. It won't turn on even if unplugged from and replugged into the wall.
2) It stops receiving channels when on.
3) It won't program the DVR as instructed.
4) It won't consistently record shows that are already programmed. It will not always record all programs of a series as instructed (even if both repeat and first-run are chosen).
5) It loses shows programmed on the "To Do" list when reset.
6) Recorded programs "stutter," with video and audio breakdown.
7) It takes 5-6 seconds for channels to come on, once selected.
8) The remote is prehistoric, insensitive, and poorly layed out, not at all ergonomic. Numeric buttons at the bottom of the remote are crowded and hard to get to with one hand. Remote has no back light. (One can buy a back-lit RF remote for $25, but I wasn't told of the option when I signed on.)
9) On-Demand downloads take forever, especially if HD.
10) It only has 2 built-in tuners, meaning one can record and watch a maximum of 2 programs simultaneously.
NOTHING BUT TROUBLEOctober 16, 2008 I have had this receiver for about 1 1/2 yr and have had nothing but problems with it. DirecTV has finally admitted that the unit has so many problems that they can't replace all the units so now they "have technicians working on the problem". They need to face it, the product is a piece of junk. The unit freezes up - resets itself - loses satellite signal for no apparent reason (and it is not the satellite, believe me, I have gone through that 30 minute routine to check MANY times), does not record instead just an hour of blackness. In other words, pretty much a pain in the arse. My 2 yr committment runs out next summer and if they don't resolve the issues I will be looking for another satellite provider that can provide me with a reliable HD DVR.
Disappointment in so many waysOctober 7, 2008 It's been officially one year since receiving one of the first HR21 units. After about 6 months it started locking up, getting stuck on FFs or rewinds, and just acting wacky. I called DTV and complained about it and they said they were working on it and a fix was in the works. I called 2 months later - same thing. Then again, 2 months later - same thing. Finally I said this was a piece of crap and I wanted a new HR21 unit sent to me. I had it the very next day.
The new unit is 10 times worse than the previous one! It hard locks up every day at least once, and I am at the point were I just reboot it daily now and keep my fingers crossed. The good news is that (although they pushed and tried) I was able to continue on my contract from where I left off so I still only have one year left.
Good News: I really like DTV and have found there customer service to be excellent in most cases (boy have I heard stories). The picture quality is excellent, and I think the company is excellent. Plus - External Hard drives are simple now to connect to these units.
Awesome News: I just read that DTV was teaming back up with TIVO and should have units available by the end of 2009!
Bad News: The present HR21's are very very bad imitations of TIVOs and do not work at their capacity. This is disappointing because it is all WE DTV costumers have to use - we have no choice. The units have great potential if they can work out the software issues, but for now they are crap, but were stuck with them for now.
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Onkyo HT-SR800 Black Home Theater System $335.96 - $499.00 from 2 stores. User rating:4.0 out of 5.
Neatly Covering All A/V Formats, Precisely Tailored for Your Home
When it comes to all-in-one home theater, the HT-SR800 has made a clean break from the pack. You're looking at packaged home theater that neatly integrates your high-definition entertainment and your HDTV through an HDMI channel that transports video with a resolution all the way up to 1080p. Ably supported by component video switching, the HT-SR800 will handle most of the A/V components or formats currently available, as well as the spectacular quality of high-definition discs. Also, reinforcing the convenience of matched components, this package is the first to use an Audyssey room-correction technology specifically designed for integrated systems. The options - XM Radio (including 5.1 surround sound radio with Neural Surround decoding) and iPod integration-can really extend your reach, making the HT-SR800 one of the more complete home theater packages available.
Special Features-
HDMI Pass Through (2in/1out , 1080P compatible) - A separate audio connection is necessary
"Audyssey 2EQ" Auto room calibration w/Microphone
XM and Sirius satellite radio ready
Sony HT-7100DH Home Theater System $349.95 - $378.08 from 2 stores. User rating:3.0 out of 5. Grab your popcorn and revel in the intense movie-watching experience that is the HT-7100DH home theater system. Take your entertainment to new aural heights as 900 watts of surround sound fill your room while you watch high definition DVD media or listen to XM satellite radio. For fast and easy setup, the HT-7100DH automatically calibrates the included speakers for an optimal sound field and the most dramatic effects. The Digital Media Port (DMP) is also great for when you want to listen to external sources like Bluetooth devices or Walkman music players in powerful 5.1 channel digital surround sound.
Bose 3-2-1 Home Theater System $958.24 - $999.98 from 2 stores. User rating:3.1 out of 5. If you've been looking for a surround sound solution that doesn't require hours of setup and creative ways to hide the wires, the search is over. Introducing the Bose 3-2-1 system, a revolutionary advancement in home entertainment that's much easier to live with. Designed to provide performance and simplicity unmatched by conventional component or all-in-one solutions, this system delights the ears and the eyes.
Five speakers are replaced by two. A stack of electronics is replaced by a single media center that includes an integrated DVD/CD player, AM/FM tuner, amplification and signal processing. A patented Acoustimass module hides easily in a corner or behind your furniture. And everything is easily connected with just three wires and a power cord, making setup a snap. The 3-2-1 system combines an Articulated Array speaker design with proprietary signal processing to give you much of that same performance. Hear the roar of a train from left to right from just two visible speakers positioned in the front of your room. Enjoy a spacious soundstage and lifelike surround effects whether you're watching the game, listening to a favorite CD or enjoying the latest on DVD.
Sony DAV-IS10 Home Theater System $399.97 - $558.99 from 5 stores. User rating:0.0 out of 5.
The 5.1 channel home-theater-in-a-box system features five tiny speakers - each about the size of a golf ball. The system, matched with a compact, single disc DVD/CD player/receiver, includes a unique subwoofer that helps the tiny speakers create sounds typically reserved for full size speakers.
While the system features small speakers, it packs all the power of conventional home theater-in-a-box systems with 450 watts of total system power (satellite speakers 50W x 5, plus 2-way subwoofer 100W x 2). The system is specially tuned to deliver a natural sound field that takes the focus off the subwoofer while supplementing mid range and lower frequencies.
Philips HTS3555 Home Theater System $250.81 from 1 store. User rating:4.9 out of 5. This state-of-the-art digital home entertainment system delivers powerful surround sounds and a theater-like audio/video experience. The ultimate in both style and performance.PRODUCT FEATURES:Dock included for GoGear and iPod;USB Direct plays photos and music from USB flash drives;MP3 Line-in for music playback from Portable Media Players;1080i HDMI with high definition video upconversion;DTS, Dolby Digital and Pro Logic II surround sound;12-bit/108MHz video processing for sharp, natural images;DivX Ultra for enhanced playback of DivX media files;Plays CD, (S)VCD, DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R DL;Plays DivX, MP3, WMA and JPEG digital camera photos.
