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Review by e-town The DRD515RB receiver included with the DS5451RB package includes an optical Dolby Digital output -- no coaxial jack is provided. Another semi-downside is that the DD output comes at the cost of the high-speed-data port found on previous receiver models. That's no biggie for me, since there hasn't been any use yet established for that missing port and I love those 5.1-channel movie tracks. Beware, however, that the DirecTV folks are providing DD 5.1 soundtracks on just a few of DIRECTV's 175 channels -- pay-per-view channels at that. Each day there are one or two listings with DD audio -- happily those offerings always seem to be letterboxed too. "Right on," "sweet," and other pimply hyperbole apply to this cool-sounding, though limited, selection of film fare. In addition to the dish and the receiver box, the package also comes with an IR/RF remote control that can send signals through walls, floors and ceilings -- and can learn how to control other components (TV, VCR, DVD player) as well as two different DIRECTV receivers. The dish has an omnidirectional terrestrial broadcast antenna embedded in it, and two outputs to feed two separate DIRECTV receivers. The receiver is neat and tidy, with just the eight buttons required to operate the system on the right side of the face, and an access card hidden behind a sliding panel on the left. The owner's manual is quite complete, well-illustrated and easy to understand. Like other third-generation DIRECTV units from RCA that I've played with, the DRD515RB receiver included in the 5451 package produces both improved brightness and contrast over my old, first-generation DRD203RW. It also includes the upgraded, full-color menu/program guide system that's driven by the much faster 32-bit processor. Four family members can configure the on-screen program guide to suit their individual preferences. It also can be organized according to their whims -- alphabetical order, by channel logo, by genre, by topics, by movies only, even by sports only. There's also a feature called Scout that you can assign to search through the program guide to find programs you might like to watch. Type in "FUGITIVE" to have it look for "The Fugitive" reruns, or "NFL" to find when the next pro football game will be on, or "western" if you're into cowboy movies. There are eight timers for controlling unsupervised recording of your VCR. I really love DIRECTV. The quality and programming selection has any cable system -- even those with digital cable -- beaten hands down. With the addition of Dolby Digital sound, DIRECTV becomes even harder to beat. Perhaps by next year DirecTV and USSB will expand the use of Dolby Digital 5.1 audio to other DIRECTV channels. This new receiver does everything well. Its picture and sound are as good as the system allows -- though I am beginning to wonder if picture quality has suffered over the last year or so as bandwidth on some channels has been limited by the addition of numerous new programming channels. [Other knowledgeable viewers, such as Larry Ullman of The Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, have voiced the same complaint. -- Ed.]. The IR/RF remote makes complex operations a breeze -- even from rooms away from the receiver's location. Factor in the advanced parental control and Home Control -- which allows remote operation of lights, curtains or other electrically operated devices (with purchase of optional modules) -- and you've got a world-class, family-entertainment device. |