Price Paid:  $250.00 from Sears

Summary:
I've been a DISH Network subscriber for over 4 years with an original General Insturments receiver that was DISH's model 3000. The 3000 got flakey and would turn on and off by itself and eventually just filed to achive signal lock. DISH offered a refurbished receiver of the same model but could not give me a credit towards a replacement upgrade receiver new or refurbed with digital audio output so that I could get Dolby Digital 5.1 sound for the PPV movies that I like to watch and future channels that will offer DD 5.1.

So I looked around for a compatable receiver and found that Philips makes the DISH 4000 series receivers and that the DISH 4720 is the Philips DSK 4261D receiver. Found it at Sears on sale and used a $25.00 off coupon I had received in the mail, pretax price was $250.00. This is MUCH less than the Sony SAS A50 system which lacks the dual dual LNBs. This is an excellent receiver and antenna setup, the dish has 2 dual LNBs that will allow me to use a second receiver and still get on the DISH 500 satelites at the same time.

Initally I used the exsiting DISH and single dual LNB to setup and get the receiver authorized. It was a slam dunk, 5 minutes on the phone with a DISH rep. and it was on.

Good UHF remote allows control without pointing at the receiver. Digital output with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound really works well though I'm not certain it sounds exactly like a DVD with DD would it does sound very good. Dolby Pro Logic sounds better with my Sony TA-E9000ES pre/pro with noticbly better center channel clarity with dialog and better rear channel FX to boot. Hopfully this will last me for a while until I get an HDTV display, then on to a DISH Network HDTV DBS receiver!

Strengths:
Compatability with DISH Network, DISH 500 compatible, dual dual LNBs, S-video output, digital audio output, standard PCM and Dolby
Digital sound capability, UHF remote, programable and one button record option, transparent guide display, event reminders

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
DISH Network's model 3000 system, Sony DSS SAS A50 receiver

Summary:
Is anyone using the Dish Network digital satellite dolby ac3 feature to listen to music. I have just purchased one set and will be running the cable inside the house to my Ht setting this weekend. I mostly interested in the music, even thou I will also be watching some movies.