Home Theater & Entertainment TV & Displays 190 190 people found this article helpful Should You Get a DTV Converter Box or an HDTV? Will I Need a DTV Converter Box If I Buy a High Definition Television? by Matthew Torres Writer Former Lifewire writer Matthew Torres is a journalist who writes about television technology, consumer support articles, and TV-related news. our editorial process Matthew Torres Updated on November 14, 2019 TV & Displays Samsung Projectors Antennas HDMI & Connections Remote Controls Tweet Share Email A converter box is a tuner that converts a signal from digital to analog so that a digital television (DTV) transmission can be used with an analog TV set. However, instead of buying such a device, you might consider getting an HDTV to cut out the middleman. If your TV has a built-in ATSC (digital) tuner, which it probably does, then you can get your local broadcast stations in HD by using an antenna. DTV converters are called such because it's a digital television converter. However, they also go by the name DTA for digital television adapter, as well as a just converter box. Pros and Cons of a DTV Converter Box Matthias Tunger / Getty Images If you have an older TV that only accepts analog signals, then yes, get yourself a DTV converter. That's really your only option since all analog TV transmissions ended in the US mid-2009. However, you don't want this technology attached to your HDTV because it will decrease your picture quality. HDTVs are just that: high-def; making the signal analog is a waste of the TV's main purpose of serving high-def content. On the other hand, if you do have an HDTV, you'll only need a DTA if you use a VCR. If you buy a converter box, be sure it has analog pass-through just in case you have a Class A, low power or translator station in your area.