The X3000 is a powerful media streamer, but ultimately a frustrating one at the same time. Performance is excellent, but offset by a difficult interface.

A player clearly designed with audiophiles in mind, the Pioneer PD-D6 delivers exceptional audio quality, but at a price that will make most users baulk.

A great entry-level home theatre, Pioneer's HTZ151DVD is an excellent option for newcomers, delivering everything you need to get into home theatre at a very affordable price

The Acer Aspire iDea 510 makes a set-top box out of a computer, without losing many of the perks of a PC. It's reasonably easy to set up and it worked with a number of test displays. It performed well enough in our performance tests for a media centre, and it did it quietly, too.

Pioneer's A6 analogue audio amplifier delivers exceptional audio quality, but its high price and limited range of functions may restrict its appeal to many users.

If you're looking for an analogue, two-channel amplifier, it's hard to go past the Pioneer A9. However, the high price and the lack of versatility of this product may discourage some users.

An absolutely fantastic device, with only a few slight problems and omissions. If the firmware updates go as planned, it has the power to become a truly revolutionary product.

A powerful recording unit, the Topfield TF7000HDPVRt is let down by the omission of a few features and options that we would've liked to have seen, but overall, it's a top-notch PVR.

For a heavily bass-driven system, the CS680 speakers perform very well across the range, but they do struggle to reproduce fast and punch bass.

Harman/Kardon's DVD-47 is a great device for watching DVDs on a high definition TV.

An excellent unit with a quirky design, JBL's CS460 speakers are a fantastic option for any discerning listener.

While it's a good entry-level home theatre system, the Samsung HT-XQ100 isn't ideal for bass-hungry users.