ahh,that's a nice comparison here.
i run both of these.
icon s550=made in Korea
standard def stb.
supported by 3rd party D1 group
very fast scanning and high pic quality.
no channel master support.
200 mhz/32 mbs ram/8 mbs flash (faster than cnx mini,also can hold a bin file twice that of the mini)
cnx mini=made in China
standard def/partial,basic dvr.
supported by 3rd party CNX Construct.
decent sat scans speeds lower pic quality imho.(tho some people swear by it,my results are less than anything spectacular)
has channel master support.
150 mhz virgo/32 mbs of ram/4 mb flash (decent in todays standards,but more comparable to a captiveworks 600s premium)
the icon is for sure a higher end unit,with the cnx being a lower end unit com,parable to the captiveworks brand.(which everyone loves for their buck as well).
the overall software is better/worse on diff levels.
the channel master support and better epg gives the cnx the better edge however.
the icon is overall easier to setup and use imho,with the mini requiring updates both in factory files and base 3rd party hardware,but from that point just patches,im not crazy over it,i like the way other units just release files and you keep the latest one updated,simple.
tho loading patches once setup is very fast and easy.
the cnx line have very small writing in the info description.these ones are for sure not for those who have a hard time reading.
the epg is so good it surpasses anything iv tested.
reasons:
you can set the epg load duration
you can force the epg load or you can update with channel on eepg tp.(wgn or score for example,like most units do on the market today)
overall hardware winner:
icon s550
due to faster and higher end quality.
overall software winner:
cnx mini
due to channel master support and much better epg.tho it does fall short in aspects to the icon,for example the search by event feature is much better on the icon than the weak mini's.
overall comparisons:
icon s550 is faster and higher end.comparable to the sv 4k/vs ultra/captain 7100 for examples.
the cnx mini is very comparable to the cw 700/cw 800 lower based units.tho both are well liked and supported iv always liked the cw stbs over cnx myself,but there are others who swear cnx is better.truth is,they are very close.tho favorites work with cnx and favorites feature is weak with cw's.
neither of these can touch your sonicview Elite.but either way you go for a secondary stb you will be happy most likely.tho don't rule out the captain 7100 either,i like this one over both the icon and mini.
