DVD & PVR

Panasonic SC-BTX70

The 2.1-channel Panasonic SC-BTX70 home-cinema system with built-in Blu-ray player is a curious-looking specimen, and its virtual 7.1-channel surround-sound processing isn't entirely convincing. But its picture quality is fantastic and its super-slim main component will suit those who like to mount their equipment on the wall

Editor's rating 7.9

Sony BDP-S760

At last, Sony has delivered the awesome stand-alone Blu-ray player that we always knew it was capable of making. Aesthetically, the BDP-S760 is about as original as cake, and a few other recent players may have more features, but it delivers the best Blu-ray pictures we've seen this side of £500

Editor's rating 9.0

LG BD390

LG has done a sterling job of creating an affordable Blu-ray player that packs in the features, including Wi-Fi connectivity, without compromising on performance. Those who love movies and want to break down the barrier between their PC and TV should check it out

Editor's rating 8.8

Sony HTP-BD3IS

We chortled as we prised the HTP-BD3IS from its box, titillated by the ridiculously tiny speakers of this 5.1-channel, Blu-ray home-cinema system. But the smirks were soon wiped off our faces by its physics-defying audio and outstanding picture quality. The HTP-BD3IS succeeds in offering both style and substance

Editor's rating 8.0

Panasonic DMP-B15

Watching Blu-ray movies on an 8.9-inch screen is a seemingly ridiculous proposition, but the DMP-B15 won us over in the end. As well as delivering the best pictures we've ever seen on a portable device, it also functions as an excellent living-room player when connected to a TV via its HDMI port

Editor's rating 8.0

Pioneer BDP-LX91

The BDP-LX91 Blu-ray player is an eye-wateringly expensive piece of kit, no matter which way you look at it. But, for the AV cognoscenti seeking the very best Blu-ray performance that money can buy, it's certain to appeal. Made out of solid aluminium, its build quality is phenomenal too

Editor's rating 9.0

Samsung HT-BD1250R

The 5.1-channel HT-BD1250R is an excellent option for those seeking a low-cost home-cinema system with a built-in Blu-ray player. Its audio performance is admirable for the price, and its picture quality is even better, while a number of appealing extras, such as an iPod dock, only sweeten the deal

Editor's rating 8.0

Toshiba SD-490

For those who aren't yet ready to invest in a Blu-ray player, but want to eke as much detail as possible out of their current DVD collection, the Toshiba SD-490 is a good choice. It's cheap, it's stylish, its upscaling capability is good, and its overall picture quality is impressive

Editor's rating 8.6

LG HB954PB

The top-of-the-line HB954PB home-cinema kit with Blu-ray player, 5.1-channel speaker set, iPod dock and FM radio offers loads of features in a convenient package for a competitive price. We're not fans of its styling but its video and audio quality will truly do your movie collection justice

Editor's rating 8.9

Samsung HT-BD8200

One of the most compact Blu-ray player and speaker systems we've encountered, the HT-BD8200 is an excellent choice for those beginning to dip their toes into the home-cinema water. Although it could do with more inputs for other equipment, its sound and picture quality are great

Editor's rating 8.5

Pioneer BDP-LX52

Considering how pricy the flagship BDP-LX52 Blu-ray player is, it has a fair amount of flaws, such as its relatively slow disc-loading times and inability to play back media via its USB port. But such problems are all outweighed by its absolutely fantastic sound and video quality

Editor's rating 8.7

Philips BDP3000/05

Occasionally, the BDP3000/05 Blu-ray player's budget nature reveals itself -- you need to supply a 1GB memory stick before you can access BD-Live content, for example -- but, for the most part, it's a great machine. Its picture and audio quality are impressive, and it's clearly been built to last

Editor's rating 8.0

Panasonic DMR-EX89

The DMR-EX89 Freeview personal video recorder is pricey, although, if you can afford it, we doubt you'll be disappointed. We'd like to see a second Freeview tuner included, but this machine looks good and offers plenty of flexibility, letting you record to both DVDs and its 400GB hard drive

Editor's rating 8.0

Panasonic DMR-EX79

The DMR-EX79 is one of the better Freeview personal video recorders out there. We wish it were cheaper and sported a second Freeview tuner, but it's a sturdy machine that offers plenty of recording flexibility thanks to its 250GB hard drive and DVD writing capability

User rating 8.0

Editor's rating 8.0

Philips PET744

If you want to shut your kids the hell up during a long car journey, or are planning to take a lengthy trip yourself, you may well want to invest in the PET744 portable DVD player. It looks smart, the build quality is good and the 7-inch screen delivers truly impressive picture quality

Editor's rating 8.0

Sagem DTR 67500T

Although the DTR 67500T Freeview personal video recorder doesn't have the best design or most attractive menu system we've seen, we can't fault its actual performance. Easy to use, it offers plenty of storage space and excellent picture quality, while the ability to transfer your recordings to a USB stick is very welcome

Editor's rating 7.8

Digital Vision GiGo

The GiGo Freeview personal video recorder doesn't have the best build quality you'll ever encounter and it's a fairly ugly piece of kit. But it does what it does -- recording programmes to USB storage -- very well, and will appeal to those who want to take their TV out and about

Editor's rating 7.7

Panasonic SC-PT870

It doesn't look like anyone at Panasonic HQ had much fun designing the SC-PT870 but it's a good 5.1-channel home-cinema system nevertheless. Music played via the USB socket isn't much cop, but the system performs admirably otherwise, delivering particularly impressive sound with movies

Editor's rating 7.5

LG HT33S

The HT33S is a very likeable 2.1-channel home-cinema system. It's rather scratch- and fingerprint-prone, and music isn't its forte, but it handles DVDs with considerable skill, making film soundtracks a pleasure to listen to and offering impressive picture quality

Editor's rating 7.0

Panasonic DMR-BS750

We have no idea how Panasonic has managed it, but a box this size has surely never done so many things before. The BS750 lets you watch free high-definition broadcasts, record them to Blu-ray disc and play Blu-ray movies and all their cool online features. You can even watch YouTube. The only problem: the price

Editor's rating 9.0