Review:

One of the reasons I went with DIRECTV® was the ability to select hardware in a wide variety of models from several manufacturers. All that is about to change. In January 2004 DIRECTV® announced the following:

“Beginning mid-2004, DIRECTV will assume complete responsibility for the sale and distribution to retail of all DIRECTV set-top boxes used to receive DIRECTV® programming and services. Over the course of the year, authorized manufacturers of DIRECTV hardware will migrate to a new standardized hardware specification, which will ensure that all DIRECTV customers enjoy a consistent user interface and experience. Similarly, the various consumer electronics brands currently associated with DIRECTV equipment will be replaced by the DIRECTV brand.”

So if you still want to shop for the feature set and the look and feel you like the best, don’t hesitate. It’s time to pull the trigger. If you do, you’d be hard pressed to find a better choice than the LG LSS-3200A. (The Sony SAT HD-300 is a nearly identical OEM version and the Hughes HTL-HD is a scaled down OEM version.)

The previous models were also manufactured by LG but were marketed under the Zenith brand name. The 3200A retains many of the characteristics of the original DTV1080 and last year’s SAT520 (also sold by Sony as the OEM version HD-200). However, it’s clear LG listened to their customers and only made the modification in this year’s version that users requested while retaining most of the best things about the SAT520.

The Basics

The 3200A receiver has ATSC (high definition), NTSC (standard definition) and DIRECTV® tuners so it is able to process both over the air (OTA) and satellite signals as well as unscrambled cable (QAM). It integrates all stations into a single programming guide that is flexible and generally quite fast. This is either the only receiver you need or a great supplement to any integrated tuners your TV may have.

The back panel is fairly simple yet surprisingly complete. It has inputs for the DIRECTV® antenna feed, a cable connection, and an OTA antenna connection. It has single video outputs in the following formats – DVI (with HDCP), RGB, component, s-video, composite (two of these) and RF. The RF output can also be used to loop through the OTA or cable signal (but not both) when the unit is in standby mode. There is a 2-position switch for selecting either component or RGB/DVI. The s-video and composite outputs are always active, which is one of the major improvements.

There are two sets of stereo audio outputs and one optical digital audio output. There is no coaxial digital audio. There is an RS-232 data port and the standard phone jack for ordering pay per view programming. There is also an IR blaster output to make it easy to interface the 3200A with a VCR and an input for using the remote control in RF mode.

The front panel is even simpler. Besides the typical power and cursor buttons, there are buttons for the Display Format, Info, Menu, Guide, Select and Exit functions. All of these are duplicated on the remote with the exception of the Display Format function. The display is very easy to read in all lighting conditions from several feet away but is not obtrusive in a dark room. The access card slot is also in the front.

Besides the normal array of included cables, the 3200A also comes with a DVI cable, an IR blaster for VCR control and an RF antenna for the remote.

Setup

Connections and setup are very logical. The jacks are well labeled and a setup wizard leads you through the process the first time the receiver is powered up. Your zip code is all that is needed to integrate your local channels into the program guide. Building the channel list for the first time takes the receiver several minutes but the process should never have to be repeated. As is always the case with DIRECTV® it may take several hours for all of the programming information to populate the 7-day guide. Once you’re done with the setup process, you’ll need to call or go on-line with DIRECTV® to activate your receiver.

Remote Control

I haven’t spent much time with any of the LG remotes because I’m hooked on the Home Theater Master line and immediately program any new gear into my MX-700. The 3200A remote is very similar to the previous Zenith version, a 9” X 2” rectangle with rubber buttons and no back lighting. The layout is okay, but with many similar shaped buttons grouped together and no back lighting it’s difficult to use in the dark. It is a universal remote but has no learning capability, so if your device isn’t in the memory you’re out of luck.

One big change over previous models is the RF capability. The unit comes with a small RF antenna that plugs into the back of the 3200A. In the setup menu the RF feature can be selected so the 3200A can be hidden away or even located in another room. While this is a great feature, it also forces you to use the LG remote. If I was locating the 3200A in another room I would probably use an IR repeater to allow me to continue using my MX-700 for everything or upgrade to the RF-capable MX-800.

Display Formats

I don’t think any other DIRECTV® receiver has the flexibility of the 3200A in display choices. There are nine choices. The first four allow you to lock the output into either 480i, 480p, 720p or 1080i. The fifth choice is Native, which simply passes through the output in whatever format it arrived. The next three are Variable 1, 2, and 3. All three of these settings output non-HD (480i, 480p) signals as 480p. Variable 1 outputs HD (720p, 1080i) in their native formats. Variable 2 outputs them as 1080i and Variable 3 outputs HD in 720p. For the millions of dual scan rate monitors in use, this allows users to match the 3200A output to the native rate of their display. The final choice is EZ DVI, which sets the output format according to the preference indicated by the monitor over the DVI connection.

Display format is selected by a front panel button. This feature is not on the LG remote (but is on the Sony remote). However, there is a Pronto® file available on various web sites that contains the IR code for this feature as well as discrete On/Off codes for the 3200A.

Aspect Ratios

There are various aspect ratios built into the 3200A that can be used instead of those available on your TV. I won’t describe them all since many are similar to those found in other boxes. For 480i/480p material there is a Panorama mode that does a nice job of stretching 4:3 material to fit a 16:9 screen. It keeps the center portion proportional and does a gradual stretch at the edges. People in the center area don’t end up looking too wide but there is some distortion on the sides during panning or scrolling banners.

There is also a CINE-Zoom mode that is quite unique. It works like a Zoom format (stretched horizontally and cropped vertically) but it is adjustable in 15 increments so you can choose the amount of Zoom you’d like. This is very useful for those who can’t seem to get used to the black bars on wide aspect DVD’s or to vary the size of the black bars if you’re paranoid about screen burn.

There is also an Expand aspect ratio for OTA signals from your local digital station. When they are broadcasting in 720p or 1080i and are adding the side pillars to 4:3 material to broadcast a 16:9 picture, most monitors lock into full mode so it’s impossible to get rid of the side pillars. The Expand mode stretches the picture horizontally to get rid of them. It’s an even stretch across the screen so everything is too wide, but it’s the only way I know of to get rid of those pillars without converting the signal to a lower resolution.

Program Guide

The program guide now uses the video inset in the corner instead of blending the program guide over the top of the program material. I imagine LG thinks this is an improvement but I liked the old way better, particularly since this methods creates a moment when the video and sound disappear completely when going in and out of the program guide.

The program guide has a lot of customization features. The one many users like the most is the custom channel list. It allows you to retain the full program guide look with all of the indicators and program info, but with only the channels you choose. You can leave off all the pay per view, premium channels, and home shopping channels you never watch. In the previous Zenith models this custom channel list could be easily lost during a power outage or the once frequent system reboots. It is now in non-volatile memory so it doesn’t get lost.

There is a new problem with the custom channel list. Every time you go into the program guide it defaults to the ALL list which includes every possible channel. You must then go through a three button sequence to access the custom channel list. This is a real pain if you’re in and out of the program guide a lot. LG says they’ve fixed this in a firmware upgrade that’s now in the hands of DIRECTV®, but the firmware upgrade has been promised since January and hasn’t shown up yet.

Performance

The 3200A is as sensitive as any receiver I’ve used. While I haven’t done a scientific comparison of all models I have had five different DIRECTV® HD receivers connected to my setup and it’s as good or better than all of them. I have no problem with reception of satellite or OTA channels and have almost no rain fade. Two inches of wet snow on my dish hardly diminished my signal strength. At any time I can check the signal strength of any satellite or OTA digital channel with a single button that overlays a meter on the bottom of the screen. I was concerned because I had heard the 3200A has some new circuits for rejecting multi-path signals and thought this might reduce my OTA reception. It don’t know if the multi-path rejection is any better but my reception is identical to the SAT520.

With all the display format choices, I still find myself going back to a 1080i fixed format most of the time. The upconversion of the 3200A is so good I prefer to let it do the heavy lifting rather than use the excellent line doubler of my Pioneer Elite. When viewing 480i and 480p output I find the program guide loses a lot of its crispness and since I’m a compulsive channel surfer this is a big deal. However, I do switch to 480p when watching sports that’s not HD so I can use Pioneer’s Natural Wide stretch mode instead of the 3200A’s Panorama mode.

For those choosing to use the RGB or DVI output, the color decoder of the 3200A seems to be relatively accurate but I was only able to check this with an ATSC input on the antenna connection. I fed a decoder pattern through the RF input on channel 2 and output the pattern in RGB format. Color saturation was good but tint was off slightly. Red and green push were minimal.

I keep going back to component for flexibility since my Pioneer Elite doesn’t accept all signal types over RGB and only has one set of service menu settings for RGB. With component I have access to the sharpness control and can tweak for each signal type.

The 3200A does suffer from occasional audio dropouts, particularly on one or two HD channels. This was a particular problem with some of the Zenith units. LG says the fix for this is also in the firmware upgrade DIRECTV® is now testing.

What’s The Bad News ?

Fortunately, not much. As already stated there is a firmware upgrade in the works to fix the custom channel list and audio problems. On one occasion the unit did lock up and reboot for no apparent reason. This was a big problem with some early Zenith units but is now rare. The big problem when this happened in the older units was the loss of the custom channel list each time. This no longer happens.

Of course there are some features that would have been nice to have. I prefer coaxial digital audio outputs because they are more solid. It’s nice to have both coax and optical available because receiver inputs are usually limited. I also would really like to have the on screen caller ID function that’s on the earlier Hughes boxes. A back lit remote would make me more likely to use this remote and the remote is mandatory to utilize the RF feature. Including the Display Format function and discrete on and off buttons on the remote would also have been nice.

Conclusion

The LSS-3200A has a street price of $550-$600, which is comparable to other receivers with a feature set this extensive and cheaper than the SAT520 was for a long time. I would have to say it is the best in its class at this time. I rated it 4 paws because of the problems with the custom channel list and the audio dropouts. If the firmware upgrade does what it’s supposed to, this box will be almost perfect.

Features:

• Advanced HDTV Tuner
• Enhanced Connectivity Receives ATSC/HDTV, NTSC/Analog and HD/DIRECTV® signals and connects to HDTV displays and analog TVs and other devices via component, s-video, DVI and composite jacks 5.1 Channel Dolby® Digital Sound
• Superior Image Clarity Enhanced line doubler and scaler produces crisp images when receiving NTSC and other video signals and formats.
• One Touch VCR Record/IR Blaster
• Signal Strength Indicator
• 7 Day Advanced Program Guide*
• RS-232 Serial Port
• Advanced HDTV Tuner
• 7-Day APG (Advanced Program Guide)
• ATSC/DIRECTV/NTSC
• All Format HDTV Receiver
• Air/Satellite Tuner
• DVI Digital Interface for HD Video with HDCP
• 5.1 Channel Dolby® Digital Sound
• Simultaneous 480i Outputs
• IR/RF Remote Control
• Multi-Room Capability
• RF Loop Out
• One Touch VCR Record
• DVI Cable Included