Sky + HD 1TB Box (Russ Andrews upgrade) review

Improves on the standard Sky box's picture performance, adding real refinement – but the price jump might be a bit too much Tested at £611

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Cutting-edge performance for those with a Sky subscription – but it comes at a hefty price

Pros

  • +

    Improves on the standard Sky+ box in almost every way

Cons

  • -

    There’s no getting around that price

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Those who want the best from their Sky subscription service should take note of
the modified Amstrad DRX895 from Russ Andrews.

Pay the princely sum of £611 and you get an Olympic athlete of an Amstrad box – with upgraded components in the power supply, optical digital output section, tuner and HDMI circuitry.

The 1TB HD box and upgrades are guaranteed for two years.

Obvious improvements – at a price
The modified box’s picture is cleaner, crisper and far more vividly coloured than standard.

The improvements are as obvious with the News on BBC HD as they are with Top Gear reruns on lower resolution channels such as Dave. The box’s sound quality takes a significant jump too.

It gains refinement, subtlety and dynamic expression making listening to music stations far more enjoyable.

The only thing standing in the way of a whole-hearted recommendation is that massive price tag.

Charging £611 seems mighty steep when Sky asks just £250 for the standard version. If you’ve got that sort of money to spend, though, you won’t get a better picture from your satellite dish.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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