A sensible improve to the TiVo field, the V6 is smaller, quicker and higher all-round – however an improved interface would have been good.
Execs
- Vastly improved efficiency
- Intelligent multiroom possibility
- HDR and 4K help
Cons
- Interface appears dated
- Not a lot 4K content material for the time being
Availability
- UKRRP: £99.95
- USAunavailable
- Europeunavailable
- Canadaunavailable
- Australiaunavailable
Key Options
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4K and HDR compatibility
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1TB storage 500 hours (SD), 100 hours (HD) capability
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Multiroom streaming
Introduction
When it comes to {hardware}, Virgin and Sky have been just about level-pegging till Sky Q was launched. At that time, Sky took an enormous lead, with a brand-new interface, 4K content material and a powerful multiroom system that made the Virgin TiVo field look positively old school.
With the V6, Virgin is combating again with a brand-new field that may ship 4K content material with HDR, plus a wise multiroom system that places your previous {hardware} to make use of. It’s sport on.
Design
The previous TiVo field was quite chunky, and starting to indicate its age. The V6 is a field for as we speak: it’s compact (230 x 153 x 55mm), and takes up a fraction of the house of the TiVo. Pictures don’t all the time do the V6 justice, because it appears a little bit stocky in some photos, notably with out another context. Have a look at my comparability shot under, and you’ll see simply how small the brand new field is; roughly half the scale of the previous TiVo.
Across the rear you’ll discover all the ports you’d anticipate. There’s an HDMI 2.0a output, which helps resolutions as much as 4K and HDR (or no less than, HDR can be supported with a future firmware replace). In case your TV is historical then you definitely’ll be happy to study that there’s a Scart output, which requires an adapter to make use of; our recommendation is to replace your TV earlier than you improve to the V6 field, otherwise you gained’t get probably the most out of it. A 3.5mm analogue audio output and optical S/PDIF offers choices for connecting the field to an exterior amp or soundbar.
Options
For the V6, Virgin has added a 4K output, full with HDR. HDR is one thing that Sky can’t add with out releasing new {hardware}, so this fingers Virgin a slight benefit. Virgin additionally presents help for Netflix in 4K, which Sky Q is lacking.
Nevertheless, there finish the benefits. Sky Q has better broadcast content material in 4K (primarily soccer and F1), and a variety of on-demand Extremely HD motion pictures. For now, then, if you would like the most effective in Extremely HD content material, Sky Q stays the platform of alternative.
Within the face of Sky Q and its 12 tuners, Virgin has needed to up its sport, and the V6 field options eight – though two are reserved for future growth. Presently, you’ll be able to file as much as six exhibits on the similar time, which is another than Sky Q; nonetheless, Sky is launching an replace quickly that can allow you to file the identical quantity.
Administration of tuners between the 2 manufacturers can also be totally different – and I’ve to say that I want Sky’s technique, the place it has devoted tuners for stay TV, picture-in-picture mode and different gadgets (two for mini-boxes and two for tablets). Virgin doesn’t have this setup and so can’t present fairly the identical expertise – for instance, there’s no stay shifting picture within the pop-up mini-guide. It’s these little issues that make the Sky Q really feel just like the slicker system.
Virgin negates among the downsides on the subject of multiroom configuration, the place you need to use an previous TiVo field or a second V6 in a unique room. These bins must be linked to the Virgin community and your house community, but it surely means you can additionally file to them, successfully supplying you with both 9 or 12 tuners, relying on the mixture of set-top bins. Plus, all recordings are shared over the community between all bins. This offers you one thing a little bit totally different to Sky Q, the place the Mini bins are dumb and linked over a devoted wi-fi community to the Sky Q Silver field.
There’s the Virgin TV Wherever app for watching content material on tablets and telephones, which was beforehand obtainable for TiVo. This helps as much as two registered gadgets, letting you stream TV and recorded exhibits out of your V6 field if you’re on the identical community.
Having to register a tool is a little bit limiting: Sky Q doesn’t require registration for same-network streaming; just for watching out of the home. Virgin TV Wherever additionally permits you to watch on-demand and stay channels if you’re away from house, streaming by way of the web. Plus, as with Sky Q, you’ll be able to obtain recorded exhibits earlier than you go for offline viewing. The app is usually a bit clunky; certainly, I needed to reboot all of my community equipment to get the app to attach.
Virgin retains the acquainted interface of the previous TiVo field. It’s clear and easy to make use of, with the black background and white textual content making every thing straightforward to learn. A preview window exhibits the final channel used, and the TV information is fast to browse, with a preview thumbnail window that permits you to proceed watching whilst you’re shopping or managing your recordings. If something, the Virgin interface is a little bit primary and lacks the shine and polish of Sky Q. Definitely, there are some elements that would do with an replace.
For instance, hitting the My Exhibits button on the distant jumps you on to your recordings. A primary textual content record exhibits you what’s recorded; it’s a disgrace that Virgin hasn’t supplied a graphical, thumbnail-based interface, resembling that used on Sky Q.
Virgin’s important profit is that the TiVo suggestion system may also help counsel exhibits so that you can watch. It takes some time to construct up the total record, and it’s good to use the Thumb Up and Thumb Down buttons to assist it study. As soon as it does, it’s a neat method to uncover new exhibits to look at.
You get full management over Collection Hyperlink+ recordings, with the V6 providing an unlimited variety of recording choices. You possibly can select if you wish to file simply new episodes, or new and reruns; choose the channel to file on; choose if you would like broadcast TV or broadcast and streaming; and choose the utmost variety of recordings. Though it’s good to have these choices, it will also be quite overwhelming, plus the Collection Hyperlink+ choices take just a few clicks to get to. Sky Q is way extra simplistic and, realistically, fits most individuals’s wants higher.
Virgin has saved the same distant management from the TiVo days, too. It’s comfy to carry and places the commonest controls inside straightforward attain of your thumb. It’s an RF distant this time round, so that you don’t want line-of-sight to make it work. The distant management will be programmed to function your TV, following the on-screen directions. It’s a disgrace that the V6 doesn’t help HDMI CEC, since this might bypass the necessity to undergo any of this setup.
Channels and Content material
Virgin has a variety of content material that’s second solely to Sky. You may get all the Sky Cinema channels, each Sky Sports activities channel, BT Sport and ESPN, all of which can be found in HD. However there’s no Sky Atlantic, which exhibits Sport of Thrones and different massive US exhibits, and Sky’s Extremely HD sports activities and movie content material. These stay Sky exclusives.
Virgin has plenty of catch-up TV, obtainable via a devoted part. All content material is live-streamed from the web, which differs from the Sky Q strategy the place content material is downloaded to the field. I want Sky’s technique for 2 causes: first, downloaded exhibits seem in your planner with every thing else; second, you get the total broadcast high quality. With streamed exhibits on the V6, you get a lower-quality web stream, which isn’t fairly nearly as good.
Virgin has an apps and video games part in-built, the place you may get your fingers on additional content material. There’s loads of dross in there, but it surely’s good to see YouTube and Netflix obtainable, with each supporting 4K and, when the firmware replace is launched, HDR. Virgin has promised to launch additional 4K content material sooner or later.
Lastly, you should purchase, hire or watch free of charge (relies on your precise TV bundle) loads of on-demand motion pictures and TV exhibits. The vary is nearly as good as you may get elsewhere.
Efficiency
Not like with Sky Q, the V6 doesn’t reserve a channel for stay TV. So, for those who’re recording six exhibits without delay, it’s important to cancel one recording earlier than you’ll be able to watch one other present. With Sky Q’s devoted tuner for stay TV, that is by no means a difficulty.
Nevertheless, Virgin does have a neat characteristic that Sky lacks. While you file a stay broadcast, you get the choice to tack some additional time onto the top of the recording, so that you don’t miss something if the programme overruns. For anybody that’s missed the top of a vital tennis match, or comparable, this characteristic is superb.
I’ve at hand it to Virgin: the V6 is mild years forward of the previous TiVo field. Gradual and clunky efficiency has been changed with easy interactions and instantaneous response. Make no mistake, the V6 actually is a superb performer and is a worthy improve on this foundation alone.
The interface might do with a little bit of a polish, even perhaps designing it for HD or 4K shows. For now, although, I’ll take elevated efficiency over a shiny new interface.
It’s a little bit disappointing that the V6 has a 1TB arduous disk solely, when Sky Q has a 2TB drive. However, the best way that Virgin’s multiroom system works no less than implies that including a second V6 or reusing a TiVo provides to your whole storage capability and to the variety of tuners. Plus, the bins discuss intelligently to one another, sharing assets effectively, dramatically rising the quantity of content material you’ll be able to file.
As with Sky Q, every field (or cell gadget) can watch the identical recording on the similar time, at totally different factors. Including multiroom prices £7.50 a month, relying in your present contract, which is an effective deal if you would like TV in multiple room.
Ultimate Ideas
For now, new prospects figuring out the place to spend their cash want to determine what they need. In case you don’t care about lacking out on Sky Atlantic or a lot 4K content material, the V6 is superb worth, notably for those who take it as a bundle with Virgin’s high-speed fibre web.
Must you purchase it?
In case you’re an present Virgin buyer For present, completely satisfied, Virgin prospects, the V6 is a worthy improve to the TiVo, notably for those who use your previous field for the sensible multiroom system. The V6 is on the market for a one-off value, too, though it’s solely obtainable for folks on the upper broadband and TV packages. Sooner or later, as extra Extremely HD content material is on the market, Virgin’s HDR help might show to be necessary.
If you would like the most effective multiroom expertise Virgin has managed to launch a system that competes however is totally different to Sky Q. Which one you take into account greatest will rely in your particular person wants. In the meanwhile, for the most effective multiroom expertise, slickest interface and widest vary of content material (notably in 4K), Sky Q is the hands-down winner.
Verdict
A sensible improve to the TiVo field, the V6 is smaller, quicker and higher all-round – however an improved interface would have been good.
Trusted Rating
