While streaming has become more popular there are still those who ’d choose a dress - top box and the ability to enter the content the watch . The best set - top boxes offer this functionality and more .
As while you ’ll be able-bodied to record your favorite television receiver show , there ’s increasingly more box that offer cyclosis apps , wheher it ’s the like sof BBC iPlayer or Netflix , yield you the pick of look on film and TV box - bent that are n’t always available on linear video program .
So while there are n’t as many made compared to the heyday of its set - top box , we have options for bothFreeviewandsatelliteusers . Set - top boxes can support4 K UHD , HDRas well as multi - room functionality for those who need to watch their program in more than one way .
When it come to reviewing the best mark - top boxes , we judge the public presentation by measure video and audio timbre , find how easy and responsive the user experience is . distant controls are often the main means to operate box , so we ’ll test whether they are antiphonal and feel in effect to use , while testing out their recode features and approximate their features and connectivity compared to other limit - top boxes .
If you ’re looking for cyclosis intersection , have a flavor at ourbest streaming devicesor ourbest Fire TVdevices .
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How we test set-top boxes
We watch a raft of television receiver on these place - top boxes , paying care to the image and sound character . When possible , we equate that word-painting quality to what is expected from the television system itself , to gauge what , if anything , these set - top boxes are bringing to the picture .
Interface is a big part of how we review countersink - top boxes . Is the distant easy to utilize and responsive to presses . Is the drug user user interface intuitive ? Is it gentle to navigate and what forms of navigation does it support ? All these things will help determine how good the user experience is .
And what about content ? How much substance is available , which apps are supported and is support in terms of features up to the standards we ’d bear . If a set - top corner says it supports apps in 4 K HDR , we ’ll be looking for apps that in reality dribble support for those features .
Other features we look out for are the number of piano tuner supported , connectivity and how do the catch - up features employment . Smarts are to be expect , and we ’ll prove these to judge whether they ’re follow out well and live up to expectations
in the end , every ingredient is adjudicate against the monetary value . If a machine represents good time value in general , we ’ll be a trivial more lenient on a bad remote control . Pricier simple machine , however , had better be great .
Sky Q
Pros
Cons
Humax Aura
Freesat 4K TV Recorder
Trusted Score
Sky Q‘s UI is one of the best in the business , providing a commodious means of finding cognitive content whether it ’s on - demand , recordings and browsing through the TV pathfinder . It ’s clean-living appearance debase with images for a more visual - based means of interaction , as well as commodious textbook description makes it well-off to understand . There are dedicate sub - menus for unlike category or type of programming , which come handy for more specific search .
Sky Q supports a multi - way configuration with additional Mini box . These are small devices that can be connected to other boob tube to well out capacity from the chief box . The main Q box streams in 4 K but the Mini Boxes only support HD . We found that disappointing , especially when the Mini box is connected to a4 K boob tube .
Sky ’s range of a function of capacity is huge with plastic film , US dramas , comedies , thousand of TV box - sets and sports in the form of Premier League and Formula One , however the subscriptions are n’t inexpensive . The UHD content is better than any other service we ’ve reviewed , and there is pay content though the Sky Store with access to inst downloads .
Our reviewer found exposure timbre outstanding , with HD programming presented in sharp detail , and UHD depicted object look fantastic ( though this count on the telly ) . WithHDR support , films and TV serial attend much better with capital demarcation and a spacious grasp of colouration .
On the audio front there’sDolby Atmos , which we found to be a step - up in caliber with extra top and width to audio . Sky Q is easily one of the best set - top boxwood if you may give Sky ’s subscription .
There is the option ofSky Streamwhich include Atmos andDolby Vision HDRfor those who want a streaming - based answer . EE TV also provides some competition in the streaming market , and you canread our first impressions of that serving .
TheAurais Humax ’s most late set - top box , offer 4KHDR funding and plenty of storage . It ’s not perfect but private-enterprise against other Freeview boxes .
The intent of the Aura mimicsSky Qin its look : a black , flowing , and curvier exploit than the older FVP-5000T. We do encounter that the glossy sheen pick up dust and want a rub every so often . We ’re not fond of the remote package with the Aura though . It ’s large , stuffed with button and feedback is wet .
The Android user interface does look date after a few year and we ’re hoping the next generation of set - top boxes evolves to have Google TV . For now though , the home screen can be customise and there are bunch of ledge to scroll through . get across the interface is n’t the speedy experience with a little lag . It ’s the one area where we sense the Aura should be better .
In terms of apps there is plenteousness to choose from withPrime Video , Disney+,Apple TV+ , ITVX , Paramount+ , TikTok , Mubi , Deezer , Roxi , Discovery+ , and more . It ’s not as many as Fire television receiver , Google TV , or Roku , but it ’s a strong enough roster of apps . If you ’re looking to register and fund content for later , there 1 TB and 2 TB reading available .
With its Ab performance , there are prescribed amplification in overall distinctness , clarity , and detail with HD broadcast ; with stochasticity pretty much removed . It ’s with HDR content where the Humax Aura struggles as it only supports HDR10 and notDolby VisionandHDR10 + . Playback of HDR stream has a dimmer appeareance with less dividing line than Dolby Vision streams .
With music the Aura delivers a dynamic and dashing performance streaming from Spotify . It sounds clean and neutral in tone , showing plenty of skill in navigating the differences between quiet and brassy , with a performance that ’s spacious , vindicated , and well defined . This is a solid if expensive Freeview set - top box . Manhattan has found the T4R and T4 transcription / streaming box and we ’ll be look to review those model .
IfSky Qis too expensive , theFreesat 4 K TV Recorderis a more affordable satellite alternative . It is a neat looking box , with almost everything you ’d desire in terminus of link with anHDMIport , Ethernet , a digital audio port for audio , and a pair of satellite inputs .
How these satellite inputs are used depend on the type of LNB ( Low Noise Block ) the satellite dish has . A standard LNB allows for two channels to be watched simultaneously , while wideband offers up to four . There ’s also Wi - Fi for streaming over the Internet .
During examination we institute the user interface responsive and intuitive , with the minimally designed menus that featured commodious access to on - demand apps , live computer programing and write recordings . We also found a good selection of live channels with 180 usable although only 24 are propagate in HD .
On - need content constitutes of BBC iPlayer , My5 , STV Player and UKTV Play , giving approach to most of the independent free - to - air duct . There ’s further convenience with a mobile app that allows for recording show when you ’re outside the menage , although it ’s worth noting it film up to 30 mo for recordings to appear on the box itself .
When it comes to visual timber , we find the Freesat get HD channel in a elaborated and shrill with no artefacts . With SD cognitive content , there is the typical effeminateness around the bound of masses and objects , although the Freesat box does a enough business of contract artefacts where potential .
Unlike Sky Q , 4KUltra HDisn’t available on Freesat platform , and onlyNetflixand YouTube support 4 K HDR . see Netflix in 4 K HDR and our commentator remark more impact in terms of detail and colours with more refinement in pure tone . A self-coloured box at a more low-priced price than Sky , although without as much content .
Test Data
Full Specs
