VistaView or DualTV?

[Polypro]

Yup, another tuner question. I'm getting ready to build another box based on either the Asus P5WDH or P5B Deluxe. Right now I have analog "from the wall" cable > 2 PVR500's (1 Phillips & 1 Samsung) that are fine. I'm undecided on whether to stick with the 500's, or get new tuners. My Samsung tuners are fine above channel 6 and the HDHR records 2-6 anyway. Does anyone own each of these tuners that could give a "just how much better than a 500" comparison? I've read all the stuff on HTPC news, but would like some more feedback. Right now it looks like both support dual tuner operation with newer/beta drivers, and the DualTV can be calibrated in Sage (Important). I could even go one of each if they are that close in quality.

Thanks,

P

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by Polypro

Yup, another tuner question. I'm getting ready to build another box based on either the Asus P5WDH or P5B Deluxe. Right now I have analog "from the wall" cable > 2 PVR500's (1 Phillips & 1 Samsung) that are fine. I'm undecided on whether to stick with the 500's, or get new tuners. My Samsung tuners are fine above channel 6 and the HDHR records 2-6 anyway. Does anyone own each of these tuners that could give a "just how much better than a 500" comparison? I've read all the stuff on HTPC news, but would like some more feedback. Right now it looks like both support dual tuner operation with newer/beta drivers, and the DualTV can be calibrated in Sage (Important). I could even go one of each if they are that close in quality.

Thanks,

P

I can confirm the nVidia DualTV supports two or more cards with the beta drivers. I had PVR500s and can confirm the picture, sharpness and clarity is much beter than the 500s. I never had to calibrate them for color but would think this can only make the picture better if done right. I have no experience with the VistaView. This is based on cable out of the wall.

Gerry

[Polypro]

Thanks Gerr. I found some more opinions on AVS too...think I'm going nVIDIA

Thanks again,

P

[ke6guj]

1 point to stay with the PVR-500's is that Closed Captioning is now available in Sage with the 500. It just takes some newer prerelease drivers to enable CC.

I don't think that CC is available with the DualTV or the VistaView.

edit: And it seems that Hauppauge has been lately shipping out the older Type-A PVR-500's with the Philips tuners instead of hte crappy Samsungs.

[Polypro]

Good to know. I don't use CC at all though and just want the best SD picture I can get. I really need analyze just how much SD I actualy record/view live. I may just get one DualTV and keep one Type A 500 in there. With encoder merit, I can set it to prefer the Dual TV and just have the 500 record during the odd times that both nVIDIA tuners are in use. It's amazing how much of the stuff I watch is Network HD through the HDHR.

Thanks,

P