In This Article
Overview
Ratings
Guide to the Ratings
Recommendations and notes
How to choose
Features
View all product digital tv converter

Ratings

DTV converter boxes

Last reviewed: March 2009
For information on these features, click on the column head or see the Guide to the Ratings.


Within groups by picture quality, in order of price.

Boxes with same price are in alphabetical order.

Models highlighted in green reflect the most recent ones tested as of February 2009.
Brand & model Price
Best picture quality Capable of images that come close to DVD quality.
Access HD DTA1080D $43 Basic •   •   •   •  
SPICA AT 2018 45 Better •   •   • • • •
Zinwell ZAT-970A 46 Basic     •   • • •  
Tivax STB-T9 50 Better •   •   •   • •
Alpha Digital AT2016 55 Better •   •   •   • •
Sansonic FT300A 55 Basic     •          
Access HD DTA1010D 60 Better •   •   •   •  
Lasonic LTA-260 60 Basic     •          
Microgem MG2000 65 Basic •   •   •   •  
Tivax STB-T8 65 Better •   •   • • • •
Channel Master CM-7000 80 Better •   •       •  
Better picture quality A small step below the best, but still better than most analog broadcasts.
Artec T3A Pro 40 Better •     • •   •  
Coship N9988T 40 Better •   • • •   • •
Philco TB100HH9 40 Better •       • •    
Dish Network TR-40CRA 45 Best •   •   • •    
Winegard RC-DT09 45 Basic •     • •   •  
Sunkey SK-801ATSC 48 Best •   •   • • • •
Magnavox TB100MG9 50 Better •       • •    
Magnavox TB100MW9 50 Better •       •      
Venturer STB7766G 50 Basic •     • •   •  
Kingbox K8V1 55 Better •     • •   •  
Digital Stream DSP7700T 59 Better • • •   • • •  
Apex DT250 60 Better •   •   •     •
Cadence DTVC-9 60 Better •   • • •   •  
Dish Network DTVPal 60 Best •   •   • •    
GE 23333 60 Best •   •   • • •  
GE 23334 60 Best •   •   • • •  
Insignia NS-DXA1 60 Better • • • • •   • •
Insignia NS-DXA1-APT 60 Better • • • • • • • •
RCA DTA800B1 60 Better • •       • •  
Winegard RC-DT09A 60 Basic •     • • • •  
Zenith DTT900 60 Better • • • • •   • •
Zenith DTT901 60 Better • • • • • • • •
RCA DTA800B 65 Better • •         •  
Dish Network DTVPal Plus 70 Best •   •   • •    
Digital Stream DSP7700P 80 Better • • •   • • •  
Acceptable picture quality Generally comparable to a good analog broadcast, despite some minor flaws.
Zentech DF2000 50 Best •   •   •     •
Digital Stream DSP7500T 60 Better • • •   •   •  
Digital Stream DTX9900 60 Better • • •   •   •  
Digital Stream DTX9950 60 Better • • •   • • •  
GE 22729 60 Best •   •   •   •  
GE 22730 60 Best •   •   •   •  
Goodmind DTA 1000 60 Best •   •   •   •  

Availability: Visit the NTIA Web site (https://www.dtv2009.gov/VendorSearch.aspx) for a list of online, national, and local retailers, then check online or by phone to see which models a specific retailer carries. At press time, a number of models were out of stock and it was unclear when or if supplies would be replenished.
See Recommendations & Notes for more information.
Posted: June 2008
 
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