HD300 Review

babgvant · #1 08-31-2010, 09:25 AM

Now that the HD300 is official you can see it unboxed and reviewed at MissingRemote.

Fluffdaddy · #2 08-31-2010, 09:29 AM

Thank U much

bsquarewi · #3 08-31-2010, 10:30 AM

Kind of disappointing that the new Sage V7 menu theme isn't now incorporated in this when in Stand Alone mode. Hopefully that will be something that will be possible via a firmware update in the near future.

babgvant · #4 08-31-2010, 10:38 AM

The standalone STV is updatable, and easy to get too when the file server is enabled. Personally, I don't know why they'd spend a bunch of time porting the v7 theme when I'd expect most users to use it in extender mode.

When I had an HD200 it only spent time in standalone mode for firmware updates.

Kirby · #5 08-31-2010, 10:41 AM

Definitely liking the new HD300 from the review. Now if we can only get some sort of formal support for cable card tuners (i'm a lucky one, all channels are CCI=0) life would be grand!

paulbeers · #6 08-31-2010, 11:11 AM

Question: Does the new remote work with the HD200's and vice versa (old remote work with the HD300?). In my basement HD theater, I don't need a programmable remote which is where one of my newly ordered HD300 is going to go, but it certainly would be great to use the HD300 remote (with the tv power and volume buttons) with the HD200 that is about to go in to the bedroom (where a HD100 used to be).

Obviously I could manually link the remotes, but I am hoping they are direct swaps so I don't have to go to that trouble!

Opus4 · #7 08-31-2010, 11:21 AM

The HD200 and HD300 remotes use the same IR codes, except for the programmable TV buttons, of course.

- Andy

paulbeers · #8 08-31-2010, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opus4

The HD200 and HD300 remotes use the same IR codes, except for the programmable TV buttons, of course.

- Andy

That's exactly what I wanted to hear!!!! No more having to keep two remotes in the bedroom (I probably should have picked up a programmable remote a long time ago for the bedroom).

jaminben · #9 08-31-2010, 11:27 AM

One thing about the new HD300 remote is that it seems alot more responsive/powerfull than the HD200 version so I wouldn't swap out the HD200 remote for the HD300......I'm able to point it away from the unit and still have it send commands where as I could never do this with the HD200 version.......maybe I'm imagining it !!!!

Cheers

Ben

autoboy · #10 08-31-2010, 11:45 AM

My HD300 remote will go in the spare bedroom as well. I'm 3 months too late on my master bedroom remote since I spent my Best Buy rewards to buy a Logitech Harmony 700 for the master.

babgvant · #11 08-31-2010, 11:47 AM

I use a Harmony in every room, that way the experience is always the same b/w PCs and other devices so the wife/kids know how to use it.

Naylia · #12 08-31-2010, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulbeers

That's exactly what I wanted to hear!!!! No more having to keep two remotes in the bedroom (I probably should have picked up a programmable remote a long time ago for the bedroom).

We've just left the TV on for the last year

The HD300 should pay for itself in no time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by babgvant

I use a Harmony in every room, that way the experience is always the same b/w PCs and other devices so the wife/kids know how to use it.

Brilliant!

cncb · #13 08-31-2010, 12:04 PM

It's disappointing that multi-channel PCM is still not supported. Is this a limitation of the chips they are using?

Brent · #14 08-31-2010, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cncb

It's disappointing that multi-channel PCM is still not supported. Is this a limitation of the chips they are using?

I'm not understanding why multi-channel PCM is that important do people still have video collections with media needing this?

Isn't it better to bitstream anyway?

LehighBri · #15 08-31-2010, 12:13 PM

Brent/babgvant - Given the HD300 has 1.5x faster CPU, more RAM, etc, did you notice things to be "snappier" or faster in the interface itself?

e.g. I remember moving from the HD100 to HD200 and noticing how much faster navigating around in the UI was.

Curious on what "soft" differences you notice in terms of speed?

babgvant · #16 08-31-2010, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent

I'm not understanding why multi-channel PCM is that important do people still have video collections with media needing this?

1) BD with LPCM audio tracks
2) Existing files converted [and unwilling to change] before bit streaming was common
3) Native multi-channel formats that won't bit stream to most AVR (AAC/WMAPro)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent

Isn't it better to bitstream anyway?

Nope. There are up/downsides to either approach.

Brent · #17 08-31-2010, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LehighBri

Brent/babgvant - Given the HD300 has 1.5x faster CPU, more RAM, etc, did you notice things to be "snappier" or faster in the interface itself?

e.g. I remember moving from the HD100 to HD200 and noticing how much faster navigating around in the UI was.

Curious on what "soft" differences you notice in terms of speed?

I notice a big difference in how fast navigating the UI is going from the HD200 to the HD300 in both extender mode & standalone mode - ESPECIALLY with a lot of cover art and such via the 3rd party plugins.
Those that use the HD300 in standalone mode will really notice a huge difference in how much faster the HD300 is compared to the HD200. This is probably a combination of faster CPU and memory.