A pricey option, this is a product that should appeal to users who are only looking for a unit with twin high definition tuners and a hard drive.

The DVRW250X is marred by a confusing and irritating interface.

A couple of minor issues hold the Lite-On LVW-5045 back from stardom, but for the techno-savvy it's still an appealing alternative to the bigger brands.

A reasonable purchase for those venturing into the world of home theatre.

Philips' DVDR560H is the best DVD/Hard Drive recorder we have reviewed to date. It outperforms the competition in nearly every way, delivering unprecedented levels of flexibility and functionality.

LG’s HT903WA system will suit larger lounge rooms where unsightly cables aren’t wanted. You’ll need a fair few power outlets – you can’t escape the need for electricity just yet – and the system is somewhat large and ungainly, but it does provide decent quality sound.

The LG-RH1999G has a lot of great features, including wide support for DVD recordable formats and SD/HDTV upscaling, but is let down by poor signal reception.

An excellent CD/DVD player and speaker package whose virtual surround sound is the clear standout feature, although it is not equipped with a component video output.

Panasonic's DMP-BD30 entry-level Blu-ray player offers fantastic video quality, but isn't able to decode high-resolution audio without a dedicated AV receiver.