I've avoided the noise problem by putting the VDR under the stairs where it can make as much noise as it likes. There it plugs in to a X-VGA splitter/broadcaster which sends duplicate signals over CAT-5 to each TV, where another small STB converts the signal back in to VGA. I've also put Infrared extenders everywhere. Result - a TV with no other hardware visible: no cables, no equipment, nothing. Just a TV on a wall bracket. Wife happy!
Does that work with HD without much quality compromise?
The VGA adapter I bought supports my TV which does 1366x768 just fine. It will also do 1920 resolution (I think) but my TV won't do that anyway.
Picture is perfect - no complaints. Only thing my setup won't do is different front ends - but I have no need to watch different things in different rooms.