Legend Digital LSD2

The Legend Digital LSD2 is a digital set-top box designed to receive standard definition digital terrestrial television broadcasts (DVB-T). All the major restraint networks are currently broadcasting in standard definition digital, with a number of broadcasters offering more than one channel.

The silver device measures 30 x 20 x 5cm and would fit neatly into a home entertainment configuration. The front panel sports Exit, Menu and OK buttons, along with a navigation pad and the standby key. The rear panel of the machine is sparse, featuring simply a composite video connector, RCA audio outputs, antenna connectors and a serial port for updates and maintenance (by dealers, not end users), and the machine ships with a basic yet functional remote. The master power button is located on the rear of the machine, just below the power cable. Though a standby button can be found on the front, the positioning of the master power switch is inconvenient.

Channel scanning is relatively quick, and the channel list editor makes it easy enough to arrange the list as you prefer. DVB-T broadcasts are fully supported, but we found a glitch when tuning SBS. Thankfully, there's a troubleshooting guide on the Legend Digital Web site that helped solve the problem.

The machine is able to decode both widescreen and 4:3 aspect ratio broadcasts, and showed no problems with image quality during the test process. Teletext worked without fault, as did the on-screen TV guide.

Strangely, there's a fold-down door on the front face that looks as if it conceals some important functions. It doesn't. In fact, opening it up reveals a couple of blank plastic drive covers and the original beige shade of the plastic casing before Legend sprayed it silver. It doesn't in any way affect the operation of the machine, but it's a little tacky.

If you have been looking to make the move to digital television, but can't yet summon the cash for a full-blown digital TV, you would find the Legend device a capable (if a little unpolished) standard definition set-top box. It comes with a one-year warranty.