Sony VTXD800U Reviews

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Sony VTXD800U
4.2 stars
Average rating for this product is: 4.2 out of 5

From 6 ratings and 25 reviews

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Average Ratings for Sony VTXD800U

  • Features4.3 stars
  • Ease of Use4.5 stars
  • Value for Money4 stars
  • Reviewer Ratings4.4 stars
  • Overall Rating4.2 stars

25 Reviews For Sony VTXD800U

  • Guest 30th Sep 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    The Sony VTXD800U is a GREAT BOX. Only snag i find is dont know & cannot locate manufacturers code for re setting anything.

  • Guest 5th Aug 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    The Sony VTXD800U was a present from my son when they first came out, found it easy to set up and its performance has been exceptional throughout, even channels 4 & 5 picture and sound quality much superior to my next door neighbour who has a lesser make. I have since bought 2 more of this model for other TVs in the house with no reservations, the best digi box available. Why did Sony stop production ?

  • Guest 6th Mar 2009

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    Sony VTXD800U is easy to set up, easy to use - great value for money as it's still one of the best freeview boxes even though it's no longer in production Who needs satellite TV at extra cost when you can have a great range of digital channels including radio free for life when you have purchased one of these!

  • Guest 16th Sep 2008

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    Where do I start, the Sony VTXD800U is fantastic, reliable, easy to use, fast response off the remote, cracking picture and sound. I hope sony produce a twin tuner version of this box & include a hard drive. I find it much easier & more reliable the the Humax. At least I don't mis the end of programs. I'm using Smartlink to a VCR.

  • Guest 6th Feb 2008

    Reviewer rating: 3 stars


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    I found the Sony freeview box really easy to use. However...
    In my experience the remote control almost unusable after 18 months though.
    Was a good box right up to the point it stopped working.

  • davidgoves Rank: Lance Corporal 8th Sep 2007

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    Had the Sony VTXD800U for 1 year. Excellent, just a bit expensive.

  • riker Rank: Major 24th Aug 2007

    Reviewer rating: 3.5 stars


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    The VTXD800U is no longer manufactured by Sony but this was given to me by my father. I had read reviews saying how good the box is so I hoped it might be good as I have been unsuccessful with Bush and Wharfedale models.

    I was a little disappointed that, even though it was saying the signal strength and quality was good, the picture was breaking up on several channels. We even changed our aerial to a high gain digital aerial but it wasn't much better. At first I could not get ITV or Chann ...

  • martinsheppard43 Rank: Staff Sergeant 18th Dec 2006

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I bought this item after having owned a Goodmans. What a difference. This box is so much easier to set up; plug in, push a couple of buttons, and hey presto it's ready to use. Once you have set it up you can swap the channels around and put them in whichever order you prefer, and block off all those that you cannot watch without paying to view. Any others that you don't watch you can hide, and retrieve them easily if you change your mind. I even bought one for my father, who has the knowledge of ...

  • Steve Cowley 14th Dec 2006

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    Buy with confidence. And no, I don't have shares in the company

  • Gardengirl 22nd Sep 2006

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    I bought this Sony VTXD800U when it first came out, purely on the strength of the brand name. When I needed a second box I had no hesitation in getting another one. I'm now in a position to get a third. Having experienced cheap models at friends' houses, I wouldn't touch any other model than this one. Well worth the higher price.

  • perfecthost 1st Jul 2006

    Reviewer rating: 0.5 stars


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    I bought the Sony VTXD800U freeview box to replace a Goodmans, which kept turning itself off (as found by other reviewers). I bought the Sony solely on the strength of consistent excellent reviews, and it did produce a good picture. However, there were at least three key channels which even the Goodmans could receive, where the Sony was totally unreliable. These included Channel 5. I have now replaced the Sony with a Sagem ITD61G (at almost a third of the price) and this has, so far, been totall ...

  • Ieuanfawr Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel 30th Apr 2006

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    It's hard to find much wrong with the Sony VTXD800U freeview box. It works well with under-strength signal, and perfectly with 100% signal strength and quality.

    Everything seems possible via the menu, though I found re-ordering the programmes to my liking lengthy.

    The biggest disappointment is absence of the TopUpTV slot. I'm reluctant to get rid of the Sony for a model with a TopUpTV slot as the Sony is so good.

  • Tallywadger 15th Feb 2006

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    Our Sony VTXD800U has outperformed every other freeview box I have had by miles! It is pricey at £80 but well worth the extra cash! No freezes EVER! Full signal strength, great picture quality and an epg that might see me getting rid of my Digiguide on the PC.

  • Dave474 Rank: Corporal 11th Feb 2006

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I promised to come back after 3 months!
    Like many others I was frustrated with poor Freeview set-top boxes and did a lot of research. Curry's box @ £29 is remarkably good value, but freezes up and needs to be re-programmed 2-3 times a week. The Hauppage DEC 1000t despite its high price and mini good looks is rubbish - even after a replacement, it froze every day, and didnt get sound on some channels. Others start off well, but have problems after 6 months or so.
    Hurrah for Sony! Had the ...

  • Freeky Rank: Major 31st Jan 2006

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I have tried many STB`s and I think the Sony VTXD800U freeview box is one of the best on the market. It copes very well with poor signals, giving you a perfect picture where others fail.

    Channel change is quick, and text services are also very quick (EPG access is instant), the box provides a full 8 day EPG. You can advance 24 hours in the EPG, but only once you discover the option appears after pressing the cycle button. Another bug is if you move any channels around it deletes the timer lis ...

  • Seany Rank: Lieutenant 11th Aug 2005

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    I bought this after reading all the reviews on this site and it really is a superb piece of equipment, even if it is a little pricey.

    You have full control over what actions it takes, from selecting wide screen or normal , RGB, PAL or Y/C outputs, and using 'Smart Link' or not.

    If your DVD/VCR recorder is 'Smart Link' enabled, then Video Plus codes become obsolete.

    The VTXD800U sends a signal to the recorder when the programme that you select from the Electronic Programme Guide starts, ...

  • d70bv8 Rank: 2nd Lieutenant 16th Jul 2005

    Reviewer rating: 5 stars


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    Sony VTXD800U - Checked out rest of my family's digiboxes and they were all rubbish (a digifusion, a Panasonic and a brand I can't remember). Looked at reviews and the Sony came out on top. The reviews are correct. It worked straight from the box with no setup and no use of the manual. Better quality by far than the analogue and great sound too. Get one in preference to any other box. Can be placed vertical too.

  • Georgian Rank: Corporal 3rd Jul 2005

    Reviewer rating: 4 stars


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    The Sony VTXD800U is the best Freeview box at the moment. Reception is excellant, even off a standard TV aerial. Menus are simple and easy to understand.
    Picture and sound are of a good quality from an old TV. The size of the box is small and easy to set up. I've had the Nokia Mediamaster 221T, it packed in after 13 months use, and not of the quality of the Sony by a long way. Stick with the Sony, which is slowly dropping in price.

  • lukewelly 23rd Apr 2005

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    OK agreed, this is one pricey freeview box. I mean, I only brought it purely on the basis that it was Sony and that I have never had any trouble from any of their consumer electronics. The same goes with the VTXD800U. The software used inside is fantastic. According to Sony too, it has a large cache to hold more EPG (Electronic Programming Guide) information. In essence, this gives a faster downtime when selecting beteen channels and should increase stability on A/V. Personally, I have to agree ...

  • davemb Rank: Sergeant 7th Apr 2005

    Reviewer rating: 4.5 stars


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    Worked straight out of the box and gives excellent reception even on an aerial installed 20 years ago that gives a fairly ropey analogue picture.

    Although it is more expensive than some other set top boxes, I am happy that I paid a little more for an excellent piece of kit.