Sony VTXD800U

I have owned this Freeview STB for over 4 years now and it hasn't let me down once. Excellent quality, very good looking and extremely fast. No delay changing channels and for an older box has features that put most modern Freeview boxes to shame. EPG is fast, never slows down. Digital text works without a hitch, picture quality via RGB scart is fantastic as is the audio quality routed through my AV amplifier. Second scart can be configured for smartlink which means that when you set a timer it will send a signal to a compatible VCR or DVD recorder telling it to switch on and record, then sends another signal when the program finishes telling it to stop and switch off. The remote is probably the weakest part, over time the button icons/text rub off and the remote buttons become weaker. However I use a universal remote anyway so it isn't a problem. It is a real shame this machine is no longer manufactured, if Sony made a PVR of their own using this boxes features, reliability and menu/epg (and not one from Vestel with their own badge on it) it would probably be one of the best machines available. If you spot one for sale on Ebay or in a second hand shop, BUY IT!. Mine has now been relegated to the bedroom as I have a Freeview PVR in the living room, but oh how I miss the Sony sometimes.

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

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 ?

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!

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.

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.

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

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 Channel 4. Eventually I found that moving the co-axial cable away from the power cables seemed to make a marked difference and it tuned into 89 channels whereas before I was getting 51 maximum.

I feel that the Sony box may have been overtaken by newer models such as Sagem and Humix. I have seen it for sale second hand for £80+ but I don't think it is actually worth the extra now. As my TV is also Sony I only need to use the one remote control without needing to put in a code first - this has been the greatest benefit for me as I can switch back to analogue channels if the picture breaks up (usually on ITV or Channel 5).

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 a wood-louse when it comes to electrical devices, and he has set it up and used it all by himself.

Unlike the goodmans, when this box needs an upgrade, it does it automatically, in the background, so you don't even know that it has happened.

This is, by far, the most reliable box that I have used. It is now two years old, and the only maintenance it has needed is the occasional dusting.

I am also told that if you do have problems, then Sony are happy to discuss it with you to try to resolve issues. When I tried that with Goodmans, I was unable to get any useful help at all.

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