The Mediastar DT-720 was surprisingly easy both setup and use. Although the package includes some useful features, it is almost the double the price of rival standard definition tuners

The DEC2000T is a handy two-in-one purchase, giving you both a PC-based tuner and a standalone digital set-top box in one hit. It would have been great if you were able to access the PC-based capabilities of the box (such as recording and time-shifting) from your TV set.

The Humax PVR-8000T is unspectacular, but does a decent job as both PVR and digital set-top box.

While the device offers clean, clear images for anybody looking to make the switch to digital television, a few slight glitches make it unsuitable for the mainstream.

It may have uninspiring looks but the LHD3 performs to a good standard.

If you want to record pay TV and have a real electronic program guide, then the Foxtel iQ is the only choice. It's a fantastic product, if you're willing to pay the subscription fee for it.

If you're after a relatively inexpensive way to receive high-definition digital TV at home, the Legend Digital LHD2 is a good choice, provided you can live with a couple of small design issues.