Grundig GUSTBHDMI HDMI Upscaling STB from Tesco

[Raoul_Duke]

Hi,

I bought this set top freeview box today from Tesco as an impulse buy, it cost £49.99 plus £20 for cable.

I am using this on my Sammy LE40F71 LCD TV. Generally, I have not much luck with impulse buys but I seem very happy with this so far (1 hrs use) and the detail to me looks really sharp and clear, signal strength seems decent too. I have not had any jumping and constant picture tearing like I had on my old super-cheap box.

What's the general consensus on this STB from the people in the know, is it well thought of? I know Grundig isn't the most luxurious brand in the world.

The one problem I have so far is the sound, with my old box connected to my TV through the scart and my TV connected to my amplifier (Yamaha AV59) with a pair of stereo cables, I got decent sound, comparable with my other sources volume wise.

However, when I plugged in the Grundig through the HDMI, I was getting no sound at all. I worked out that I had to connect the STB directly to the amp with the stereo cables. I am now getting sound in Dolby Pro Logic, however the sound is very quiet, at -45dB the sound is almost silent. On my other sources and old STB, this would be the normal night time listening volume. With this box I'm turning it all the way up to -25 dB for decent normal TV listening volume.

Does anyone with a knowledge of these things know the reason why this would be or know a workaround for it?
Perhaps a better way for hooking up the sound to my Amplifier?

R.Duke

[tdifr]

Originally Posted by Raoul_Duke

Hi,

I bought this set top freeview box today from Tesco as an impulse buy, it cost £49.99 plus £20 for cable.

I am using this on my Sammy LE40F71 LCD TV. Generally, I have not much luck with impulse buys but I seem very happy with this so far (1 hrs use) and the detail to me looks really sharp and clear, signal strength seems decent too. I have not had any jumping and constant picture tearing like I had on my old super-cheap box.

What's the general consensus on this STB from the people in the know, is it well thought of? I know Grundig isn't the most luxurious brand in the world.

The one problem I have so far is the sound, with my old box connected to my TV through the scart and my TV connected to my amplifier (Yamaha AV59) with a pair of stereo cables, I got decent sound, comparable with my other sources volume wise.

However, when I plugged in the Grundig through the HDMI, I was getting no sound at all. I worked out that I had to connect the STB directly to the amp with the stereo cables. I am now getting sound in Dolby Pro Logic, however the sound is very quiet, at -45dB the sound is almost silent. On my other sources and old STB, this would be the normal night time listening volume. With this box I'm turning it all the way up to -25 dB for decent normal TV listening volume.

Does anyone with a knowledge of these things know the reason why this would be or know a workaround for it?
Perhaps a better way for hooking up the sound to my Amplifier?

R.Duke

the grundig box is a rebadged goodmans which you can get in argos for £30 and £20 for a hdmi cable well i bought mine off ebay for £3

make your own mind up

[Raoul_Duke]

Originally Posted by tdifr

the grundig box is a rebadged goodmans which you can get in argos for £30 and £20 for a hdmi cable well i bought mine off ebay for £3

make your own mind up

well, thanks for cheering me up then. At least I'm true to form.

EDIT: You are right about the HDMI Cable & the rebadged Goodmans but it's still £50 in Argos and everywhere else.

[tomandizzy]

I've noticed that ppl keep saying that the goodmans STB is £30 in argos/£40 amazons, but they both sell it for £50. Must be some promotion thats just run out. Typical, cos I need to buy one now.
BTW RE low sound: very obvious question but you have turned the sound up on the STB right? sorry but just have to check!
T

[Raoul_Duke]

Originally Posted by tomandizzy

I've noticed that ppl keep saying that the goodmans STB is £30 in argos/£40 amazons, but they both sell it for £50. Must be some promotion thats just run out. Typical, cos I need to buy one now.
BTW RE low sound: very obvious question but you have turned the sound up on the STB right? sorry but just have to check!
T

Yeah, I turned it up to it's maximum, this helped a little but not much. A bigger problem I have though, is when I turn the TV off the sound is still playing from the STB ... lol.

I need to turn my amp off or switch sources to turn the sound off. There must be an easier way to do this but I'm a real noob when it comes to the sound system. The old STB connected with the scart all worked automatically, the amplifier would detect the source and I'd get sound, if I switched on my Xbox/360, it automatically switch to them.

Another issue I have is certain channels have huge black borders down the left and right side, even though I have both my TV and STB set to 16:9, it must be channels like TMF and The Hits that are broadcast in 4:3.

[LV426]

Originally Posted by Raoul_Duke

...There must be an easier way to do this....

Yep. Turn the Set Top Box off.

Originally Posted by Raoul_Duke

Another issue I have is certain channels have huge black borders down the left and right side, even though I have both my TV and STB set to 16:9, it must be channels like TMF and The Hits that are broadcast in 4:3.

That would be right. This is the only correct way to watch 4x3 signals - and the two you mention are 4x3. Most other programmes vary depending on the source material. There are other ways to watch 4x3 output but these all involve some distortion or cropping of the image to force it to fit where it doesn't.

[fernandez]

Originally Posted by tomandizzy

I've noticed that ppl keep saying that the goodmans STB is £30 in argos/£40 amazons, but they both sell it for £50.

Argos no longer list the Goodmans on their online catalogue, but they do have a Wharfedale at £34.99
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/5321186.htm
or Bush at the same price
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/5321289.htm

The Goodmans at Amazon (new or used) is £49.99
http://tinyurl.com/22n8ha

[tdifr]

if you buy the bush one they give you the goodmans one anyway
that is why it is £30 although they have put the price up to £35.

i took mine back as it was slow to respond to changing channels and i could not live with the borders.