Amazon.com Samsung's SIR-T451 is a crucial link to your enjoying free over-air digital television signals on your DTV-ready television or DTV-capable computer monitor. The SIR-T451 easily tunes and decodes all 18 ATSC broadcast formats so you can view HDTV, SDTV (standard-definition programming), and listen to your choice of Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo or Dolby Digital 5.1 surround audio through your sound system. Just plug in your receiver (and possibly an external antenna, not included) and start channel surfing.
You get a selection of output options, including 1080i, 720p, or 480p/i DTV formats, and connections include 1 each component-video, composite-video, and S-video, as well as a DVI (Digital Visual Interface) outfitted with HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). Audio jacks consist of a stereo (left/right) RCA output and a pair of digital-audio connections (1 each optical and coaxial). A programmable remote control simplifies operation of this and other components.
What's in the Box DTV receiver, component-video cables, stereo analog audio cables, a remote control, 2 AA batteries, and a user's manual.
Product Description Samsung SIR-T451 High Definition Terrestrial Tuner - Many large-screen TV models that are HDTV compatible do not usually include a TV tuner capable of receiving free HDTV broadcasts. This is the ATSC tuner that you need to do so. Samsung is the leader in manufacturing these external tuners and the SIR-T451 is their latest, replacing the popular SIR-T351. Award-winning Samsung technology easily tunes and decodes all 18 ATSC Table 3 broadcast formats. With the Samsung SIR-T451, you can view HDTV, SDTV, and listen to Dolby(R) Digital 2.0 stereo or Dolby(R) Digital 5.1 surround audio through your audio system. Samsung solves output worries with a wide selection of output options including 1080i, 720p or 480p/i DTV formats, and connection options including DVI (1), Component (1), Composite (1), Audio-Rt/Lt, Dolby(R) Digital Coaxial and Optical. Attractive styling and affordable pricing make the Samsung SIR-T451 a perfect solution. Unit Dimensions - 14-15/16 (W) x 3 (H) x 12-3/8 (D) inches / Weight - 7.5 lbs Note - Free HDTV broadcasts require this tuner and an extra HDTV antenna. Antenna is not included in the price of this tuner.
Poor excuse for an expensive boxJanuary 1, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought this "HDTV set top box" when there were no other choices of set top boxes. It was very expensive.
Pro: reasonable picture, sound is ok, many choices of out put format.
Con: Menu screen only works in the DVI out put mode, SAP does not work, remote is poorly planned, remote need to be very close to unit to work, no channel "back" button, HDTV picture quality is poor.
HDTV picture quality explained: The HDTV on the surface looks OK, but when you start looking at the 480p, 720p or 1080i digital picture quality, there are many funny looking "halo" around bright objects in the picture. Apparently the fringe filter is not working or not implemented in the design. There is no control for brightening or dimming the picture to try and reduce the "halo" effect.
I do not recommend this expensive receiver to any quality HDTV connosseur.
OutstandingNovember 27, 2007 I have a hard time giving anything 5 stars. This device is fantastic. Yes, reception varies from one city or neighborhood to the next but this tuner has provided me with outstanding service in four metro areas without signing on for cable or satellite HD service. I've probably saved the cost of it in installation fees alone. When I purchased it I didn't realize the on-screen menus were actual program guides built from the over-the-air signal but they are and it makes for a great user experience. If you bought an HD TV without a tuner, I highly recommend this product.
The worstNovember 23, 2007 1 out of 4 found this review helpful
I have a Mitsubishi widescreen HDTV-ready which I purchased 7 years ago. Since it does not have a built in tuner, I bought this product to bring in the HD broadcasts. I did not expect this unit to bring in all the stations by itself, so I bought a Philips HDTV antenna to feed into it, since the Philips was advertised as a signal booster for HDTV broadcasts. The result: using the Philips antenna, the unit was able to decode one HD station at a time. So, if I wanted to watch a different HD broadcast channel, I would have to keep adjusting the Philips antenna. Worse, it did not pick up some stations at all. Much worse, once adjusted, the signal strength went in and out so watching one program for more than a few minutes was impossible. Big disappointment, but I chalked up the bad experience to the fact that I live in a valley, so the HD signals were probably just too hard to receive and/or the Philips HDTV antenna was a piece of junk. That was last year.
Today, I purchased an Olevia HDTV. Even though the tv has a built in HD antenna, I attached the Philips antenna to it. To my surprise, I was able to bring in every HD station, clear as a bell while leaving the Philips in one position. I dug out this unit and attached it to the Olevia and the Philips. Again, only able to pick up one station at a time moving the Philips around.
Conclusion: The Philips is a great antenna. If you need one, it is sold on Amazon as Philips High Performance Amplified Indoor Uhf/Vhf/Fm/HDTV Antenna. This Samsung decoder is garbage. This is particularly surprising given how Samsung has made itself into a respected brand name in electronics in the last ten years. It's too late for me to complain to Samsung since the warranty period is long past, but if I can save one person from making the same mistake I made, I'll feel better.
Too many little problems to be enjoyable.June 4, 2007 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this tuner to compliment my father's HD widescreen rear-projection television. It only had an analog tuner and it was only used to watch old tapes and grainy analog cable channels. I thought that this tuner will work with little to no problem and everyone would enjoy it.
Was I ever wrong.
List of all the little problems I put up with:
* QAM tuner is glitchy all the time. I couldn't get any over-the-air reception due to too many tall trees in the area, so I hooked it up to the cable line. No matter how the cable was hooked up, by itself, through a spliter, or through an amped splitter, the unscrambled channels always had glitches, even with 100% reception.
* Remote occasionally stops working, even with new batteries.
* Saves every channel that you browse, even channels with no content. Very annoying.
* Bright grey bars for stations that don't match the TV size, which is really bad for projection televisions.
* Component output is 480 progressive when the resolution switch is under 480i. So much for using it on 480i televisions with component that can't support progressive scan. I could hook it up by composite or S-video, but what's the point of using a fuzzy video connection for viewing HD channels?
No one was interested in the box since there were no channels any one was interested in. It's now collecting dust in my closet.
I think the newer Samsung HD tuners are much better now. Get one of those, or a TV with ATSC and clear QAM tuners.
not as good as competing hdtv receiversJanuary 21, 2007 5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I bought this box hoping for an improvement in signal reception with an indoor antenna. I currently have to move my antenna to 2 different positions to receive different sets of HD channels (kind of annoying). Right now I use the Terk rotating antenna since I've had the best luck with it.
When I replaced my Zenith with the Samsung receiver, I found that this box does not receive signal as well as my Zenith when using the exact same antenna configuration. In fact, several of the channels I receive with my Zenith I could not receive at all with the Samsung even after fiddling for quite some time with the antenna.
I guess I will use this as an extra box for the guest bedroom. If you are worried about reception I would definately look at getting a Zenith hdv420 instead.
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