Equipment of the highest class - strong buy recommendation!

I am now already for months in search of a good receiver. Ranging from "cheap" equipment to the more expensive, I have most now already tried. As there but was always something more or less disturbing things I have returned all devices. So I came to the iCord. I promised myself initially not much, because I have already over 10 other devices tested. Why then calculated the iCord an exception now? But lo and behold, I was disabused.

It started to unpack the unit. All critics of iCord I want to say at this point: "Seek it out a similar device, in which also has a good supplied HDMI cable is doing". I find the class that Humax not too bad and the proper cable is here shaped frame equal. Finally, with most receivers the cheap AV cable is, so why not equal a HDMI cable?

Unwrapped, connected, started unit, searched channels, finished. It took less than 10 minutes (compared to I need with the Kathrein USF 922 over 20 minutes). The menu is very intuitive. What is all the men are happy because you need instruction in the manual to read :-) Only the icons displayed on the OSD and EPG menu you have to look at what they have to mean. Everything else works as if by magic. I had so far had no other receiver whose operation so easy for me by the hand went as the iCord. That was very surprising to me, because I am a bit fussy. The remote itself is super. Not exactly small, but clear and well thought out. You can tell that the manufacturer has certainly made about thoughts in the classification of the buttons. In addition, the remote control is also learned. I (also a Sony) now programmed the TV (Sony Bravia LCD 46 ") and the Dolby surround system. Everything works fine.

What I can understand not, is the criticism of some people that the receiver takes a long time to boot. I have read many times on the Internet before buying my device. However, the authors appear to have been tested by such items or opinions no comparable devices. I would not have known that there is a receiver that would be great faster. I have tested my devices with a stopwatch. From pressing the power button (Standby) to display the picture pass exactly 20 seconds. I think that's of no way bad. My 46 "Sony takes about the same time to" start ". So this fits for me.

The data of the EPG of the receiver is in standby operation invites apparently automatically by a transmitter down and stores well. Thus, you have to zap all channels after power off first to see in the EPG list something. Super solved. The EPG itself is also very well done. Also since I am usually very sensitive. However, gives me the iCord because no reason for criticism. One little thing I want to mention here: If you switch the EPG by the individual lines (up and down), the cursor always jumps to the leftmost entry of a sender, even if this mission is over already. Here it would be better, the cursor would always jump on the current program. In EPG can both record, and be reminded of a program. Only with ongoing programs, the recordings can not boot directly in the EPG list, this one must separate press the Rec key. But does not bother me much.

Super is the possibility that you can record up to 4 programs simultaneously in any case. This is but a matter on which "band" of the transmitter is. Since two tuners in the receiver are in it, you can only record 2 different. But since some are on a "band" multiple channels, these channels can be recorded with a tuner. Thus, several shipments of a band can be recorded simultaneously from a tuner. This is very handy.

I was very surprised by the response time when switching to a different station. No comparison to Kathrein. Other receivers are not much better here. Estimated pass about 1 or 1, 5 seconds. Here only the twice as expensive devices (Dreambox, Reelbox, ...) can shine with better times. Neither the Topfield nor the Vantage switch were noticeably faster when. Of course it is a bit slower than the analog TV, but that's quite clear. For me, the switching time is more than sufficient. In addition, I would like to mention that during the exchange iCord goes to HD channels through at the same time as such between two normal digital channels. Using the example of the Kathrein receiver I can only say that this is certainly not a foregone conclusion. The Kathi need for HD channels over 3 seconds for normal station about 2. Here is an appreciable difference between HD and non-HD channels. When iCord I notice no difference.

Cool is also that the iCord Premiere is certified and nevertheless the switching times move in the normal course. Although I can not explain why this is so, but once a receiver, the OK of Premiere, you can it is normally abschminken that the receiver has reasonable switching times. So at least my observations so far. However, this does not apply to the iCord. The switches despite certification by quite quickly.

Let's talk about the only drawback that this unit really has. This is the volume. In normal TV mode you can not hear the noise of the fan. That is in itself good. But in any broadcast or film, there are also times short sequences in which no spoken or no music is heard. Here I'd be lying if I said that I would not hear the device then. My wife does not bother the example. Mich does. Because if I spend so much money on a receiver, then it may not be too much to ask but that toured Factory Paps a fan is installed. The would cost only 10 or 20 euros more, but also not hear the. For this I subtract a star. However, there is the internet craft instructions on how to install such a fan himself. I will do it soon also.

The hard disk is not a creeping cat. the status of "very low" does not deserve the. However, the falls safely on just me again, because I have something just take it in such matters. I would but only classify as very low defect and thus deduct no more star.

Why do I still 5 points, nice additional features such as FTP server (for download of movies) and the above-average EPG. I know only one EPG which is better and which is found only in a Windows Media Center. Since this is however a PC solution is and the more than would be twice as expensive, this is not comparable to a iCord. Mir is not a known receiver whose EPG mature and clearer than that of the iCord. The reception performance is super. I had hanging the other receivers I tested on the same cables. The Kathrein and my former Windows Media Center could represent only with fractals (pixelated display) the HD channels permanently. So when I had a bad reception. The transmitter quality (and power) but was always 100-80%. The "Edision Argus HD" took a long time until he eventually indicated the HD picture and in the first two or three seconds he was also only pixels. When iCord's no problem. Neither under normal TV look even if at the same time an HD channel is recorded.

Often receivers also have problems with automatic switching from 16: 9 to 4: 3 (eg if advertising comes). Not so with the iCord. If you've chosen his attitude, everything works. Is time a film in cinema format (I think 21: anything), then you can simply zoom out with a button on the remote control läßtigen schwazen strip. Just great.

Of course, I would like here and there an additional request to the iCord, but these are all just nice "nice to have" requirements. So things like "cut function" and reorder the list of recorded movies, etc. are certainly nice, but for a receiver not vital. As we are then already more towards Media Center, Reelbox or Dreambox. Because we must not forget, however, that these devices cost more than 1000! I, for one represent rather the opinion that a receiver yet time to fulfill its core business to 100% and only then can we talk of nice extra options. Since there are already many other receivers already in the core business not 100% there (eg pixel error in the HD image defies good reception, or the sometimes very long switching times), I am of the opinion that the iCord cuts very well here and he his craft quite dominated.

Bottom line, you simply have to say that the iCord is an awesome device. If the fan is a little quieter, the unit would earn a grade of 1.0. The price spiral could be a little screw on. Thus the iCord comes with me on a score of 1.2.

For me, the search for the optimum device for months has finally been completed. I'll stay with the iCord.

Small Update after nearly 4 years iCord
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My iCord has now been replaced by a VU + DUO 2. I had now fully nose. The remote control has been in recent years, getting worse and worse until it finally only reacts when it finishes at the unit has targeted (despite new batteries). In addition, the EPG TvTv bitchy every now and rum again. Since there is no way, defective EPG to delete data on the receiver, a nothing other remains as the TvTv EPG completely switch off and wait about two weeks until the data is outdated. Then you can TvTv EPG on again and the receiver deletes itself the old data. After downloading the current TvTv data everything is ok again. In the long run I will no longer do this to me. That is why I would now come from my original 5 star again a preview (but apparently is not, because the Amazon subsequently no longer allowed). I would buy the no longer me. Who is just a little versed technically and like playing around on such devices, which should buy a VU + Receiver is essential. Not for laymen who just want to unpack and watch TV, but everyone else can only advise you to take a VU +. Genial what to do with the supply and change everything one may (for the VU + I've written a review; check it out).