At $769, the Samsung BD-P1400 remains among the least expensive Blu-ray disc players available. But other models can offer better value.

If you have the spare time to set it up, Pioneer’s HTiB817S is a competent home theatre system.

If you’re a home theatre enthusiast or have the time to read a manual, the VSX817S should be easy enough to use. It offers a large range of inputs and plenty of functionality, and is only slightly hindered by its inability to decode HD formats and lack of HDMI inputs.

If you can afford it, the Panasonic DMR-BW500 is a wonderful addition to any high definition home entertainment setup. It offers dual HD tuners, a 500GB hard disk and Blu-ray writing capabilities making it a perfect all purpose device.

Philips' Prestigo SRU8015 is a competent universal remote, but it is difficult to set up.