TOP 12 Best set-top boxes for digital TV (DVB T2)

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Yaroslav Dragun 11/19/2020

The best set-top box for digital TV

Digital television is becoming more and more popular. Almost all countries have already switched to this format. There are very few analogue broadcasts left. But to receive digital channels you need a special set-top box. This is a device that connects to your TV and allows you to receive channels. There are different models of these devices with different characteristics. Some of them have additional functions.

D-COLOR DC1302HD

D-COLOR DC1302HD The most expensive TV set-top box in our rating. Among the key features, it is worth highlighting full support for Dolby Digital 5.1 and a built-in high-sensitivity tuner called Maxlinear 630. The design of the console is also beyond praise.

The tuner easily copes with DVB-T and DVB-T2 standards, fully supports HD content, and has delayed viewing and teletext options . There is an HDMI port, a USB connector and one composite port. There is also an informative display and a remote control.

PROS:

Great design
High build quality
Dolby Digital1 support
There is a high sensitivity tuner
Has an HDMI port
There is full support for HD content
USB port available
There is an informative display
Remote control included

MINUSES:

Not all broadcast standards are supported
High price

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TOP 12 Best set-top boxes for digital TV (DVB T2) | Review of proven models 2021 + Reviews

Which TV set-top box for digital television is best to buy?

Even the highest quality set-top boxes do not have longevity - the average service life is 3-5 years, most fail much earlier. Therefore, you should only buy products that come with a warranty. Usually the warranty card is issued for 1 year, less often for 2 years.

Old analog TVs can only have an input for a SCART connector (oblong, designed for 20 pins). Therefore, you should purchase a SCART-RCA or SCART-HDMI adapter along with the set-top box.

You should also pay attention to functionality.
Features that any user will need: video recording, HD support, the ability to control not only with the remote control, but also with buttons on the device itself (the remote control can get lost, break, or run out of batteries). Enjoy the shopping! Thanks to All.ru in Yandex Zen. Daily updates, subscribe, we have a lot of interesting things

How to choose a good digital set-top box?

A set-top box for a TV decodes the signal incoming via cable into a form accessible to the playback device - it transmits to it the video sequence, audio tracks, and titles. Has a number of additional features. There will be no difficulties in choosing which digital set-top box to choose; we will tell you about all the intricacies of the receivers.

There is a difference between a tuner and a receiver, but only for professionals; for the average person these are synonymous words. The receiver decodes the signal and is capable of converting it into a tuner.

Set-top boxes work with one or more types of television signals:

DVB-T2 – digital (terrestrial) with HD image support, an upgraded version of DVB-T, incompatible with it;
DVB-C – cable signal;
DVB-S – satellite broadcasting;
DVB-S2 – improved DVB-S with support for the H.264 codec and backward compatibility (it is recommended to use the S2 tuner to watch satellite TV);
DVB-S2X – extended S2 standard with optimized throughput, UHD support. Not compatible with previous standards.

Devices with DVB-T are not relevant.

Or maybe it's time to upgrade your TV?! Especially for you, we have prepared the TOP 13 Best Good Inexpensive TVs . Look!

Set-top boxes for digital television differ in the number and variety of interfaces:

RCA , tulip or composite output - consists of two or three plugs, one is responsible for transmitting video, the second is for sound; to work with stereo sound, three contacts are needed;
SCART is a wide double-row plug with 21 contacts, used in old audio and video equipment;
S-Video is an old standard that does not allow broadcasting an HD signal;
VGA – 15-pin 3-row plug, supplanted by digital interfaces;
S/PDIF – broadcasts only an audio signal, rarely found in household appliances;
HDMI is an advanced interface for transmitting high-definition audio and video in Full HD resolution.

Take a TV tuner equipped with the same interface as your TV, preferably HDMI. For most older TVs, RCA (tulip)

What else to pay attention to:

USB interface - allows you to flash the receiver from a flash drive, write to memory and save the channel table, dumps, and write broadcasts to an external drive.
PVR function – recording of broadcast TV shows and films;
Reading content from a flash drive.
Form factor - one device is installed under, above or near the screen, the second has a remote module with an IR receiver and a digital indicator. The latter is brought to the foreground, and all the electronics in the case are hidden behind the TV.

How much does a digital set-top box cost?

The most budget model of a DVB-T2 set-top box will cost about 1,000 rubles, and depending on additional options, the cost can rise to 2,000 rubles. The presence of Wi-Fi increases the price by another thousand.

Smart-TV sticks start at 3,000 rubles, the cheapest TV box will cost 4,000 rubles. Set-top boxes with many additional functions, combining the capabilities of the Internet and television, and having impressive characteristics (RAM, processor) can cost more than 8,000 rubles.

How to choose digital set-top boxes for your TV? Individual needs must be taken into account. Thus, budget models of consoles are well suited for a summer house or garden, where numerous additional functions are not needed. Expensive and functional models are suitable for a home or apartment, provided that all functions will be constantly used. The choice of a suitable tuner should directly depend on the expected result.

The best digital DVB-T2 broadcast tuners

We offer a rating of high-quality and inexpensive TV receivers with T2 support. They differ in the variety of additional functions and price.

LUMAX DV-3215HD

Rating:5.0

DVB-C, DVB-T, DVB-T2
1080p mode support
file playback
HDMI output
remote control

Average price: RUB 1,520

The TV set-top box is unique in its ability to access the content of the MEGOGO online cinema and the LUMAX cinema. The applications have an intuitive interface. The receiver works with digital and cable signals - it will be an excellent choice for an apartment resident. The media player function allows you to read movies, TV series, clips and music from an external USB drive. Recognizes two flash drives or portable HDDs at once. Understands more than a dozen multimedia formats (video, audio, photo). With an external 3G modem you can watch videos from Youtube and online cinemas.

Peculiarities:

reading movies from a flash drive;
3G modem support;
reading videos from Youtube, MEGOGO, LUMAX cinema;
Dolby Digital playback;
broadcast from the screen of a mobile device.

World Vision Foros Combo T2/S2

Rating:4.9

DVB-C, DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-T, DVB-T2
1080p mode support
file playback
HDMI output
remote control

Average price: RUB 1,940

A combined receiver with miniature dimensions and DVB-T2 and C technologies is an ideal choice for a pensioner living in an apartment. Equipped with a simple remote control with large labels for the buttons. The front panel contains a control unit, represented by menu buttons, switching TV channels, and turning the device on/off. It has a “blind” search - due to a long scan, it finds all available TV channels - anyone can figure out the initial setup. Works with an external Wi-Fi module on the Mediatek 7601 chip to watch IPTV and Youtube.

Peculiarities:

support for 3G modem and Wi-Fi module;
firmware update from flash drive;
control the device from a smartphone;
video processing with resolution up to 1080p(i).

HARPER HDT2-5010

Rating:4.8

DVB-T, DVB-T2
1080p mode support
file playback
HDMI output
remote control

Average price: RUB 1,104

Compact digital TV set-top box with a bright display for decoding T2 digital TV channels. Works with external and indoor antennas. The signal is transmitted via composite (to older devices) and HDMI interfaces. The USB port serves as a source of graphics, video and audio, HDT2-5010 understands most popular multimedia formats. The device is flashed from an external drive and reads playlists.

Peculiarities:

Full HD playback;
reading and writing to external drives;
timer for capturing air to a flash drive;
electronic program guide and teletext;
Time Shift.

World Vision T62A

Rating:4.7

DVB-C, DVB-T, DVB-T2
1080p mode support
file playback
HDMI output
remote control

Average price: 1,350 rub.

A universal TV tuner for broadcasting cable and terrestrial channels, built on a powerful processor. Understands the advanced AC3 codec. Works with an external wireless modem using Wi-Fi technology to access the Internet - expands the multimedia capabilities of the receiver. Comes with Weather, RSS applications, allows you to use Gmail, play IPTV and content from MEGOGO. The perforated metal case perfectly removes warm air from the processor. Equipped with buttons for channel switching, volume control and set-top box settings.

Peculiarities:

built-in power supply heats the device;
miniature remote control;
EPG and subtitle support;
reading content and playlists from a flash drive.

LUMAX DV-1111HD

Rating:4.7

DVB-C, DVB-T2
1080p mode support
file playback
HDMI output
remote control

Average price: 990 rub.

A good modern receiver, differing from the DV-3215HD by the presence of a second USB port, a universal remote control and a plastic case. Reads terrestrial and cable television channels, switches with all models of DND receivers. Supports parental controls to protect children from inappropriate content and digital TV viewing. Thanks to USB ports, it writes broadcasts to a flash drive and updates the firmware from it. Dolby Digital compatibility delivers three-dimensional sound. With a 3G modem you can use the network applications Weather, Youtube, Google mail, and get access to the MEGOGO and LUMAX media libraries.

Peculiarities:

export IP playlists from a USB drive;
writing and reading from a flash drive;
MeeCast – broadcasting the contents of the smartphone screen to the TV;
An external power supply reduces the heating of the case.

LUMAX DV-2118HD

Rating:4.6

DVB-T, DVB-T2
1080p mode support
file playback
HDMI output
remote control

Average price: 1,150 rub.

An analogue of the DV-1111HD for home with a stylish Stealth-style case, an enlarged remote control and no control buttons on the front panel. With a 3G modem you will have access to Youtube content, the manufacturer’s cinema and the MEGOGO cinema. With wireless Internet you can read RSS feeds, view the weather and work with the Gmail email service. Compatibility with Dolby Digital provides “surround sound”, and the function of reading from a flash drive will turn the TV into a miniature home theater. The MeeCast option will expand the multimedia functions.

Peculiarities:

working with wireless networks;
lack of buttons on the body;
software update from the Internet;
recording TV programs on digital media.

World Vision T65

Rating:4.5

DVB-T, DVB-T2
1080p mode support
file playback
HDMI output
remote control

Average price: RUB 1,140

TV set-top box for the garden, supporting the T2 standard. Receives signals from outdoor and indoor antennas. Does not support external wireless modules. The case contains a power indicator, a display for visualizing the time or number of the current channel, and an on/off button. You can't control it without a remote control.

Peculiarities:

external power supply;
support for EPG, teletext;
high-quality signal reception;
flash drive recording timer;
parental control function.

For a summer residence in the absence of a satellite dish, it is advisable to take a model with only T2 support, without overpaying for cable channels. Expandability of functionality due to external wireless modules is relevant in any case.