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.

Highly recommended, the HX1010 adds HDMI and a bigger hard drive to an already thoroughly impressive model.

An exceptional recorder, inhibited only by a lackluster remote, the NEC NDH-160 is the perfect option for those looking for all the efficiency and functionality of LG's RH7926W, but minus the high price tag.

This recorder is a beast. High-budget users will find the RH7926W to be an outstanding unit, delivering top-end performance with a sleek and user-friendly design.

The DMR-XW300 is a highly functional digital video recorder, with few downsides apart from imperfect DVD playback and a high price tag. If you’re looking for incredible flexibility in a single unit, you can’t go wrong here.

The Pioneer 530H is an excellent recorder, bringing both ease of use and professionalism to the user. Some minor omissions prevent this recorder from realising its truly epic potential.

Its image quality is stellar, and its dubbing superfast. Aside from a cramped remote, there's little to complain about with this Pioneer.

A wide range of supported formats, combined with stylish industrial design, makes the KiSS DP-558 a great hard disk recorder for the power user who doesn't mind recording in MPEG-2 and archiving footage regularly.

It's initially tricky to operate, but the RD-XS34 offers plenty of powerful features and is a gem once you've mastered it.

A basic HDD/DVD recorder that will appeal to those seeking a simplistic system

LG's LST-5403P is a top of the range hard disk recorder with plenty of storage space and an interface grandma could use. A great, albeit pricey, contender.

More manufacturers should be following Panasonic's example with the DMR-EX85. A truly outstanding product, the omission of a time shift buffer is the only feature preventing this unit from being a near-perfect purchase.