Topfield TF7000HT
Pros
- Easy to use, good performance.
Cons
- Lacks advanced features.
Bottom Line
The TF7000HT makes up for its lack of advanced features with great picture quality and intuitive operation.
-
Price
$ 599.00 (AUD)
Overall the Topfield TF7000HT is a great set top box. It has all the necessary connections, is easy to use and offers good performance. It may lack the advanced features that would have made it an outstanding product, but the average user will not regret this purchase.
The TF7000HT supports the whole gamut of connection options with composite, component, S-Video, HDMI, digital coaxial and digital optical. There's also an RGB connection for computer monitors so everyone should be happy. Once the set top box is connected it's on to tuning, a pleasingly simple and intuitive process. The TF7000HT displays a percentage graph on-screen as its working. Each time a new channel is encountered it is filtered into either television or radio groups. We found the TF7000HT to take slightly longer than average when scanning frequencies, and it certainly appeared to be more thorough, picking up a greater number of channels than usual. The downside to this was the number of repetitions received, with no less than four versions of Channel ten's EPG for instance. Many of these repetitions were of a very weak signal and unusable, so it was necessary to sort through the list and clear out any duplicates.
Once setup is complete it's then left to pick the desired output mode. The TF7000HT has four video resolution modes: 576p, 720p, 1080i and auto. The first three are self explanatory, and the fourth outputs the broadcast resolution without performing any conversions. Navigating through channels is made easy with several EPG modes and an on-screen list. A "now" and "next" list covering all the channels can also be brought up, which is unusual for Australian set top boxes and a useful feature. It's not as good as it sounds, however, as this only works if you have already navigated to each channel in turn.
The on-screen display is refined and crisp, with the option to set the transparency level which is a nice touch. Navigation is also speedy, with no lag between switching channels. As the unit only includes a single tuner, there are no advanced features such as picture in picture, but for the average user the standard inclusions should suffice. Picture and sound quality are good, with no signs of compression or decoding evident and crisp images throughout.
The design of the TF7000HT is a little bit classier than a regular set top box. Instead of a slab of bland grey plastic, Topfield has opted for a minimalist glossy panel with a subdued, yet clear LCD floating beneath. The unit looks great, with the barest minimum of buttons hidden beneath the front panel. That said, it is slightly larger than the average set top box, certainly in width, so it needs more careful consideration when being placed under the television. The remote control is also well designed, though doesn't quite fit with the svelte aesthetic. Buttons are easy to press, with intuitive labeling. The LCD itself is also well labeled, with not only the channel number but the channel name scrolling across the front.
Brand Post
Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Dell U3223QE review: A winning debut for an IPS Black monitor
- 2 HP Spectre x360 16 review: The right 2-in-1 at the wrong time
- 3 Acer K242HYL review: An affordable monitor for any occasion
- 4 GeForce Now review: You bring the games, Nvidia streams the hardware
- 5 Asus ProArt PA279CV monitor review: The go-to for content creators on a budget
Latest News Articles
- You can now rock out to Apple Music on Roku devices
- Complete guide to the new AirPods Pro 2
- Apple Music adds DJ mixes in spatial audio
- Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ will be free for the first 12 weeks of the season
- Apple TV+ makes history at wild Oscars ceremony
Resources
Macworld
What's new, plus best mac-related tips
and tricks
Business Centre
The latest business news, reviews, features and whitepapers
Videos
Watch our video news and reviews from around the world
Guides
Comprehensive buying guides, features, and step-by-step articles
PCW Evaluation Team
Pedro Peixoto
Aruba Instant On AP11D
Set up is effortless.
Cate Bacon
Aruba Instant On AP11D
The strength of the Aruba Instant On AP11D is that the design and feature set support the modern, flexible, and mobile way of working.
Dr Prabigya Shiwakoti
Aruba Instant On AP11D
Aruba backs the AP11D up with a two-year warranty and 24/7 phone support.
Tom Pope
Dynabook Portégé X30L-G
Ultimately this laptop has achieved everything I would hope for in a laptop for work, while fitting that into a form factor and weight that is remarkable.
Tom Sellers
MSI P65
This smart laptop was enjoyable to use and great to work on – creating content was super simple.
Lolita Wang
MSI GT76
It really doesn’t get more “gaming laptop” than this.
Featured Content
- Which Lenovo Laptop Should I Buy?
- Every TV in Samsung's 2022 line-up: OLED, Neo QLED and more!
- Top 10 best Android and Apple phones for under $600
- Everything you need to know about Smart TVs
- What's the difference between an Intel Core i3, i5 and i7?
- Laser vs. inkjet printers: which is better?