Imhiding
19-07-2008, 10:17 PM
Got my hands on a MYsky HDi to check out pre-launch.
Firstly a brief description of my display and audio equipment etc.
My Sky HDi connected via a Denon AV receiver with HDMI in out and passthrough + optical for digital audio.
DSE (zinwell 620) DTT connected via Denon with HDMI + coax for digital audio.
Xbox 360 connected via Component to Denon, upconverted to HDMI for output + optical for audio.
HDMI output from Denon to either Sony Bravia 40" V series LCD (720p native) or via a 10 metre HDMI cable to a Panasonic AX200 (720p native projector) displayed on an 83" 16:9 screen.
Setup is pretty much identical to a standard MySky unit, in fact probably a little easier with HDMI and dedicated component RCA outputs and no need for an external splitter etc.
Menu look and layout is similar to MySky but with a noticeable change in the colour scheme, exactly the same remote.
Picture quality of SD is on par if not a tiny bit better than a standard Sky STB probably due to the HDMI output if anything.
Audio quality is better via optical of course.
The 2 HD movie channels look good, I would'nt say i've seen anything stunning but that could be due to not seeing enough content yet or the right movie. Audio comes up as Dolby Digital on the movie and both sports channels but not TV3 unlike TV3 on Freeview HD.
Im not much of a sports fan but the cricket and league looked good and the score overlays are clean and sharp and easily read.
TV3 HD via Sky is nowhere near as good as TV3 HD via DTT, I compared it with CSI Miami the other night and difference was quite noticeable with sky's version being somewhat softer, which lost detail. A recording of Rove also confirmed it being much softer, still a damn good picture but not when compared side by side. As mentioned before audio is also not Dolby Digital.
The Mysky HDi has worked flawlessly so far. Projected onto an 83" screen with a viewing distance of 4-5 meters the HD channels look good, and when you jump to a SD channel it just looks completely out of focus and flat. TV1 2 & 3 are easily watchable the same way via DTT, C4 is ok being SD via DTT but wouldnt be able to watch for long via a sky feed.
MySky HDi on release will allow HD over component as well.
My only gripes as such:
1: no modulator built in.
2: the way the guide works and how you lose the channel audio when using the guide or menu system, same as the MySky so no suprises there.
3: still a 3 digit channel change.
4: HD content makes me even fussier and picky at the poor quality of most SD channels.
5: I have to give it back, hahaha.
Firstly a brief description of my display and audio equipment etc.
My Sky HDi connected via a Denon AV receiver with HDMI in out and passthrough + optical for digital audio.
DSE (zinwell 620) DTT connected via Denon with HDMI + coax for digital audio.
Xbox 360 connected via Component to Denon, upconverted to HDMI for output + optical for audio.
HDMI output from Denon to either Sony Bravia 40" V series LCD (720p native) or via a 10 metre HDMI cable to a Panasonic AX200 (720p native projector) displayed on an 83" 16:9 screen.
Setup is pretty much identical to a standard MySky unit, in fact probably a little easier with HDMI and dedicated component RCA outputs and no need for an external splitter etc.
Menu look and layout is similar to MySky but with a noticeable change in the colour scheme, exactly the same remote.
Picture quality of SD is on par if not a tiny bit better than a standard Sky STB probably due to the HDMI output if anything.
Audio quality is better via optical of course.
The 2 HD movie channels look good, I would'nt say i've seen anything stunning but that could be due to not seeing enough content yet or the right movie. Audio comes up as Dolby Digital on the movie and both sports channels but not TV3 unlike TV3 on Freeview HD.
Im not much of a sports fan but the cricket and league looked good and the score overlays are clean and sharp and easily read.
TV3 HD via Sky is nowhere near as good as TV3 HD via DTT, I compared it with CSI Miami the other night and difference was quite noticeable with sky's version being somewhat softer, which lost detail. A recording of Rove also confirmed it being much softer, still a damn good picture but not when compared side by side. As mentioned before audio is also not Dolby Digital.
The Mysky HDi has worked flawlessly so far. Projected onto an 83" screen with a viewing distance of 4-5 meters the HD channels look good, and when you jump to a SD channel it just looks completely out of focus and flat. TV1 2 & 3 are easily watchable the same way via DTT, C4 is ok being SD via DTT but wouldnt be able to watch for long via a sky feed.
MySky HDi on release will allow HD over component as well.
My only gripes as such:
1: no modulator built in.
2: the way the guide works and how you lose the channel audio when using the guide or menu system, same as the MySky so no suprises there.
3: still a 3 digit channel change.
4: HD content makes me even fussier and picky at the poor quality of most SD channels.
5: I have to give it back, hahaha.