Home > Consumer Reviews > Zenith HDV420 HDTV Digital Video Tuner / Receiver

I just upgraded to this HDTV receiver from a Samsung. Before Samsung I used an RCA receiver. I was going to get another Samsung but I figured for [$] more this one was worth it. This receiver blows both of my old ones away. It was child's play to set up. It scanned for all of the channels and got every channel automatically. The menu is very well laid out. The exterior looks very modern and high tech with the reflective panel and the brushed metal. It also has coaxial and optical digital output so that I can now watch TV in Dolby Digital (when the program is in DD). It has component out for HDTV. It also has 15-pin computer VGA out. I hooked it up to my regular 15-inch computer monitor and the picture was too small. However, it looked even better than my TV! The remote is very simple. I like it that way but that's a matter of choice. The best feature is that you can change the display format just by the push of the button. Next I am going to buy a wireless transmitter to send the HDTV channels to the rest of my TV's in the house through the analog out. I highly recommend this. ...

I bought the HDV420 to go with a new 30", 16x9,HDTV , Toshiba 30HF83. I bought the inexpensive Zenith antenna, the Silver Sensor. The system work VERY GOOD. From my house, the indoor antenna/receiver combo gives me Washington and BAltimore station: ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, WB.

Back to the unit:
1) Previous reviewer correction - the output resolution cannot be controlled by the remote, but directly on the front panel. This is a small (-).
2) Signal strength meter very nice and handy when directing the small indoor antenna.
3) Nice squelch action. DTV signal is either ON or OFF.
4) Remote cannot control my Samsung DVD, but can do the Toshiba TV. Likewise, my Toshiba TV remote cannot control the Zenith STB, but can control the DVD!
5) 10dB attenuator. You use this in series with the antenna (F) input when scanning for channels. I tried the scan with and without the attenuator. With the attenuator, I got 11 channels, 10 without.

I bought my unit "new" on EBAY. However, the supplied A/V cables and component cables were cheap. I bought new ones (not Monster) for the unit.

You can operate this unit without a remote. What you lose is password access to program V-chip menues. Everything else can be done via the front panel. I don't know if a cheap universal remote can change these channels on the HDV420 unit. After set up, all you need the remote for are channels, and maybe aspect changes. To change the output format, you are on your feet and pushing buttons, and can do the aspect there too.

Let me tell you, DTV 480p is like good cable that kicks 480i OTA (booty). DTV 720p and 1081i is HDTV kicking 480p butt. Get an HDTV monitor, and a HDTV receiver. For me, it is now ALL FREE!

I purchased this unit used just in time for the Superbowl and was blown away. The unit picked up 6 of 10 local channels witha cheapie indoor antenna. I upgraded to the Zenith/Gemini Silver Sensor antenna and got 9 of 10 channels, all with good signal quality. Reception with these is highly dependent on location so your antenna requirements may vary. The HDV420 is easy to setup and easy to use. Unlike many other units, you can change the resolution from the remote. Also, the unit has both optical and coaxial digital out which allows for flexibility. The only down side, no DVI out. Most probably won't care but if you absolutely must have DVI, look elsewhere.

I am not impressed with the sensitivity of this receiver.
In comparison to NTSC (analog) the signal needs to be much stronger.
If one were to rate the analog signal strengths:
P5 Perfect Picture, no snow.
P4 Very slight snow.
P3 Somewhat snowy perfect color.
P2 Very snowy, no color or difficult to make out image.
P1 Extreemly snowy, cannot make out picture.

The DTV receiver (HDV420) needs to have at least a P3 signal to even
lock on. Even then, the picture tends to break up.

On the plus side, the picture is great when it is locked in.

Keep in mind, an antenna rotator and good UHF antenna is a must for DTV/HDTV (ATSC)! Even for local signals < 20 miles.

My complaint about the Broadcasters has been the inability to have their transmitters "tell" receivers when they are broadcasting the format of Letterbox, Compressed etc Ratios. Thus the viewer will get "Wide People"
if the format is wrong. This is especially fun when the local car lot guy comes on when it is in letterbox, and he is real wide;) Kinda makes fun of his "format".