EmailBest Reviewed
Digital Converter Boxes
- Best digital converter box Channel Master CM-7000 *Est. $60
- Best for use with a VCR Zinwell ZAT-970A *Est. $40
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Best digital converter box
- Top picture quality
- S-video connection
- Good tuner
- No analog bypass
- No smart antenna connection
- Small, cluttered remote control
Experts and users are unanimous in saying the Channel Master CM-7000 delivers one of the best pictures of any digital converter box. It is one of the few converter boxes that offer an S-video output, but that's only useful if your TV is capable of accepting video in that connector. However, video is also excellent over the standard composite video connection. On the downside, neither analog pass-through nor smart-antenna support is provided, though those features will be of interest to relatively few digital converter box users. A small and cluttered remote control is liable to be a bigger concern for most. Although the electronic program guide is far more basic, and picture quality, while good, is not quite as nice, if you need a DTV converter to use with a VCR or DVD recorder, the Zinwell ZAT-970A (*Est. $40) might be a better choice thanks to its eight built-in timers.
ConsumerReports.org includes the Channel Master CM-7000 in its roundup of digital converter boxes, which is the most comprehensive we've found. HDTVExpert.com doesn't review nearly as many DTV converter boxes, but its review is comparative and detailed. Lots of users at AVSForum.com have weighed in with their opinions about this Channel Master DTV converter box as well.
Zinwell ZAT-970A Digital to Analog TV Converter Box
 from Amazon.com New: $49.99 $40.00 In Stock.
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Our Sources
The Channel Master CM-7000 is among the many digital converter boxes covered by ConsumerReports.org. Discussion about individual boxes is brief. Boxes are grouped by picture quality, but the magazine's traditional ratings are missing. This review is available to both subscribers and non-subscribers.
Review: DTV Converter Box Guide, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, March 2009
2. HDTVExpert.com
Peter Putman compares the Channel Master CM-7000 and the RCA DTA800 (now discontinued) digital converter boxes. He prefers the remote control and the user interface on the RCA box, but he says the CM-7000 scores with picture quality via the S-video connection that is notably better, as well as with a better tuner and better build quality.
Review: RCA DTA800 and Channel Master CM-7000 Digital TV Converters, Peter Putman, May 9, 2008
3. Worldwide TV-FM DX Association
The Worldwide TV-FM DX Association is a group for those whose hobby is trying to receive distant signals, including TV signals. He says that the CM-7000's inability to manually enter channels makes it useless for experimenting with distant signals. However, Jim Thomas adds that the CM-7000 is "awesome" for more casual users -- including most families.
Review: Channel Master CM-7000 D2A Digital Analog Converter Box, Jim Thomas, July 31, 2008
4. AVSForum.com
The Channel Master CM-7000 is among the many DTV converter boxes discussed at this busy user forum. It rates highly, coming in second in an informal poll of best converter boxes, and is well ahead of the rest of the field.
Review: Coupon Eligible Converter Box (CECB), Contributors to AVSForum.com
