DSS aficionados

[ATLien247]

You've probably all seen the DirecTV promotion that Blockbuster is running. Every time I'm there renting DVDs I'm tempted to sign up. It would be a great addition to my home theater system, I think to myself.

The DSS receiver included in the package is from a company called Hughes. I've never heard of this company before, so I thought maybe a few of my fellow OT junkies could offer a little advice.

All of my other components are Sony... so should I get a Sony DSS receiver instead? How does Hughes compare to that of Sony, or RCA, or any other company that offers DSS products?

 

[Electric Amish]

DON'T GET A HUGHES!!!

My parents have one and I think it is the biggest POS out of the old RCA, new RCA, and Toshiba recievers I've seen.

I hate the menus, and, well basically everything. Plus the programming is kina flaky. It's hard to explain.

A friend just got a new RCA and it is really nice!

amish

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Well, Hughes owns many (if not all) of the DSS satalites.

 

[BDawg]

Hughes is the parent company behind most satellites (not just DSS), and GM I think.

I have a Hughes Dolby Digital system, and regardless what EA says, it's a wonderful piece. While you cannot go wrong with RCA or Sony either, the Hughes models are consistantly the highest rated models available.

Unless you're using S-link, there is no advantage to having a Sony, other than the imaginary bragging rights of having a Sony product.

As for RCA, I think it says something that most Home Theater stores sell Hughes and Sony while Radio Shack sells RCA.

 

[ElFenix]

hughes was an industrial/technology company back in the day, started by howard hughes, a great businessman, aviation afficianado, and very charismatic. they were huge in the 30s and 40s as far as i know, but howard went nuts sometime in the 70s and became a recluse. his company got bought by GM and made military and satellite technology.

i've got a really old rca.

 

[Damaged]

I own a Hughes and like it as well. My friend owns and RCA. As far as quality goes same/same. I happen to like the menuing that Hughes offers. Some do, some don't. It's simply opinion.

Sony though...I'd think twice. Definitely some quality issues with their devices versus others if you follow the satellite newsgroups.

Personally though I'm thinking about replacing my current receiver with the combined TiVo/DirecTV unit.

 

[ATLien247]

"...the imaginary bragging rights of having a Sony product."

OMF, that is rich.

I would prefer using S-Link, since that's what all my video components use right now. I would also prefer a unit that had optical DD 5.1 output.

Any recommendations?
(Model numbers would be a great help.)

 

[fdiskboy]

Actually, I'm very happy with my Hughes dualLNB dish and two receivers. Never had a problem.

Got a great deal. Didn't pay for a bunch of stupid features that never get used.

Here's the way I see it.

Brand X receives sat. signal. It costs $800.

Brand Y receives sat. signal. It costs $300. Brand Y owns the satellites themselves.

Hehe. It was a tough choice.

 

[Electric Amish]

Well, maybe my parents got a rev1 or just a bad unit. I really dislike it, tho...

amish

 

[BDawg]

The only big differences in DSS receivers are the menus (personal preference) and MPEG2 decoders (said to be Hughes).

Don't laugh about the Sony comment. There are people who refused to buy DSS until Sony came out with a model...just for the brand name. I bet 99% of Sony owners don't even know what S-link is. Besides, they've removed it from a lot of TVs.

Not that I'm knocking Sony per se. I have a Sony TV, and it's wonderful. They're just not the end all be all of electronics that some people think they are.

 

[klod]

Here's a couple of places to start your research...

Home Theater Forum

Digital Theater