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.

If you want a tiny amplifier, have some efficient speakers and don't mind a different interpretation of your music, give the T20 a try.

The XL-UH2080H is a mouthful of a name for such a small hi-fi system. It performs its tasks admirably, as long as you don't expect it to blow you away with booming bass.

As a surround system the HTIS100 works well — positional audio sounds great. Treble is an equally strong point, but the system is let down by bloated, muddy sounding mid-range and bass from the subwoofer.

Teac's PCDV125L stereo is a portable model that maintains the functionality found in a more traditional mini hi-fi system. If you're moving around constantly but want the ability to listen to music and watch movies, it's a good choice.

B&W’s VM6 speakers are surprisingly capable speakers for music and movies, but their thin size impacts upon their performance.