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Philips' Cinema 21:9 LCD TV was certainly unique. As it was the only telly with a 21:9 aspect ratio, for (rich) people wanting a true in-home cinema experience from a TV it has been the obvious choice.

However, it wasn't perfect. It used old-school CCFL backlighting, which meant contrast levels and the handling of motion did not match up to Panasonic's plasmas or even Philips' own 'LED Pro' Direct LED TVs.

And of course, it wasn't 3D capable.

This has all changed though, with the launch of the 58-inch Philips Cinema 21:9 Platinum Series TV. It's a couple of inches bigger than last year's 56-inch model, although due to the bezel being slimmer, the actual size of the TV has not changed.

It also incorporates full-blown 'LED Pro' Direct LED backlighting, 400Hz and Perfect Pixel HD Engine picture processing as well as top-and-sides Ambilight.

Over 1,500 LED's are used as a backlight behind the LCD panel, meaning it's much brighter than the first 21:9 model, while also massively improving the contrast ratio.

Behind the scenes it's also packing Philips' new 'Bright Pro' tech which helps to boost light output in the bright sections of the screen, while the dark areas remain dark. Combined with localised dimming, it has to be seen to be believed.

Away from the eyes of the public, Philips was showing the new 21:9 screen next to the older model and it made it look fairly ordinary in terms of motion smoothing, brightness, contrast, colour reproduction and sharpness.

We're always slightly amused by the way TV manufacturers like to talk about their new TVs being the best available, and then a year later when they have new products they start talking about the flaws in the older products and why the new ones are much better.

3D comes to Philips TVs

The Philips Cinema 21:9 Platinum Series is actually Philips' first 3D TV, and it uses the same active-shutter 3D tech as the likes of Panasonic and Sony.

The other forthcoming Philips 3D TVs will require external emitters for synchonisation with 3D glasses, but the 21:9 set, being the luxury item that it is, has four of these emitters built into its frame.

The 3D performance of the Platinum Series was excellent. Watching in the 21:9 aspect ratio seems a lot more comfortable on the eyes than traditional 16:9 sets – the added screen space really did add to the sense of depth.

However, while Philips says it has gone to great length to eliminate 3D's biggest weakness – cross-talk (where the two images bleed into each other) – we found this side of things to be a bit hit and miss.

The cross-talk seemed more pronounced than on the latest Panasonic VT20's for example. Is this down to the longer response time of LCD panels in comparison to plasma? Possibly.

All in all though, the Philips Cinema 21:9 Platinum Series is a breathtaking 2D and 3D TV. We really were impressed by it and are excited at the prospect of getting hold of a sample when we're back in the UK.

Now, if only we had a living room big enough to incorporate it and the money to buy one.

Expect a full TechRadar review to come your way in due course.

The Sony Bravia HX903 is now available for pre-order in the UK, with both Harrods and Currys proclaiming they are the first retailers in the country to stock the 3D television.

Harrods is stocking it in the Sony Centre section of its store, with Sam Zaku, Business Manager for Sound & Vision at Harrods saying about the TV: "We're really excited to be able to offer our customers the opportunity to see 3D TV first hand as seeing the technology in action is out of this world.

"3D is continuing to dominate the headlines and once more, our Sound & Vision department is at the forefront of cutting edge technology. We are delighted to offer our customers the chance to demo the first 3D TV in store today."

Currys, on the other hand, is also excited that it too can offer pre-orders for the telly – in store as of now and online after 4pm today – with the HX903 flagship megastore in New Malden, South London.

Pre-order price

Huw Crwys Williams, Category Director at Currys, has this to say about the TV: "To launch the UK's first 3D TV at Currys is fantastic.

"Customers already understand 3D technology so we expect interest levels to be high and as the 3D TVs are more affordable than might be expected for a new ground-breaking technology, it won't be long before 3D glasses are considered de rigueur.''

Currently it is only the HX903 which is available for pre-order for the princely sum of £2,500. 46-inch up to 60-inch versions will also be available at a later date.

Annoyingly, although the TV is primed to receive 3D content, in its current form it is not actually 3D enabled. To do this, you need to buy a separate transmitter, which will cost around £50.

The Sony Bravia HX903 should be ready to take home sometime in June.

The Apple TV is beautiful. It's a small square box, a little over an inch thick. It has a few sockets for connecting to a TV, and can deliver pictures in high definition.

It's very minimalist – too minimalist, some would say, the accusation being that the Apple TV is an expensive (+£200), under-featured way to put whatever you have in iPhoto or iTunes on your TV, especially when there are more powerful alternatives out there.

Looked at it objectively, the Apple TV has a few issues that have most people scratching their heads. For starters, you'll need a TV that has an HDMI, DVI or component video input. For content, it syncs with a Mac or PC and can stream it with up to five others. If the content is in iTunes, iPhoto or a Windows equivalent, you can play it on your TV. Usually.

Unfortunately, that's a big 'usually', since the Apple TV needs your media to be in very specific formats and very specific resolutions. Try syncing an AVI movie or an OGG audio file to an Apple TV and you'll get the digital equivalent of a blank look from it.

But it has to be said, the Apple TV is a great way to take advantage of your large, high-def, widescreen TV. The old Front Row-style interface has been phased out in favour of a far more appealing look in the free version 3.0, which is available through a software update from the Apple TV menu.

Now all the menu options are more intuitive and run across the screen rather than downwards. TV shows, movies and photos look great in high def, and your TV or connected audio system make better audio players than your Mac – you can also show iTunes LP content on the Apple TV, something your stereo would be pushed to do.

The Apple TV's internet connection means it can also access Flickr, MobileMe galleries, YouTube and, with version 3.0, internet radio stations for additional content. Indeed, with the Apple TV able to purchase content from the iTunes Store directly, not only can you bypass your computer to get content, you don't have to go out to the local rental store any more.

If you have a reasonable broadband connection, in just a few minutes, you can sit back and watch anything from a huge range of Blu-ray quality movies to popular TV shows, usually including whatever's on Sky Box Office at the moment – but without the need for a Sky+ HD box or subscription.

Unlike Sky Box Office, version 3.0 of the Apple TV software offers playback of movies with iTunes Extras, giving you a DVD-style menu full of additional content, such as deleted scenes. But is that really enough?

There's no way to record content directly to it and it's not expandable with plug-ins for additional content sources or video formats – not even Flash – so the likes of the iPlayer, 4oD, Sky Player and ITV Player are strictly off limits.

The 160GB hard drive is still a little pokey for the average film buff and there's no DVD or Blu-ray drive. There's no web browser to speak of either. In short, it's limited.

The Mac mini alternative

So why not just get a Mac mini, pimp that up and use Front Row as the front end? The mini lacks none of these limitations.

You can add as many Elgato and Miglia video devices to it as you have USB ports. iPlayer et al work fine with a Mac mini and it has a DVD drive that can play as well as record. It also has a much bigger hard drive that you can expand with an external disk. Not to mention, its display output is genuine 1080p. Surely that's perfect?

Well, it is – almost. If you're renting or buying content on the Apple TV, it can start playing the file when only a few per cent of it has been downloaded; with iTunes, you have to wait. This makes the Apple TV far more useful for someone who really wants to watch a movie once they've clicked the Buy button.

The mini is also much more expensive (£499) and designed to be a computer. While you can use a remote control with it, when you want to change passwords, update software, and so on, realistically you're going to have to use a keyboard and mouse. The Apple TV needs only a simple remote control that can click and select.

Of course, you can probably deal with the hassles involved with that. The question is: can everyone else who uses your media centre? What happens if there's a problem? Can they work through all the menus to set up a TV recording? The Mac mini might be more powerful, but will it disempower fellow TV watchers?

Media streaming with the Wii

There are other alternatives, too. It's possible you already have a set-top box that can double as a media player: a games console. The Wii just got its own iPlayer channel, and there have been efforts to get the Wii to play media streamed from Macs, such as the open-source Wii Media Center X and the superior Wii Transfer (£12).

However, since videos have to be in FLV format and music in MP3 format (Wii Transfer will do the conversions for you, but Wii Media Center X won't), this is quite limited. The Wii's maximum output resolution is 480p, too, so this is more of a nice-to-have device rather than a real threat to the Apple TV.

Blu-ray movies

The Playstation 3 has a built in Blu-ray player and web browser with Flash 9, so it can play some streamed web video, including the iPlayer but not 4oD.

It also supports the Universal Plug and Play AV standard (UPnP AV). This enables media streaming from any UPnP AV server on your network, provided it's in a format that the PlayStation can understand. The Mac doesn't support UPnP AV, but with the addition of either MediaLink (£12) or EyeConnect (£30), you'll be able to sync or stream content to the PS3.

MediaLink is better for the PS3 specifically and it offers iLife integration: photos in your iPhoto Library show up in the PS3's photo menu, and iTunes music appears in the PS3's music menu. For videos, you can designate any Mac folders as being accessible on the PS3.

The PlayStation is an appealing media centre, but it's expensive and isn't as fully featured as the Apple TV or even a Mac mini. Although it finally has a very good video store, which includes 2,000 movies to rent or buy, there are no TV shows and you can't play anything you've bought from the Apple Store on it.

If you have a PlayStation already, of course, then the addition of MediaLink is a whole lot cheaper than buying an Apple TV and is probably 'good enough'. But unless you're into games and want to get a Blu-ray player as well, the PS3 isn't worth buying specifically as a media centre.

Surprisingly, the Xbox 360 is the poorest of the consoles as a media centre. It has an online store (http:// social.zune.net/movies) that streams 1080p movies, but there's not much in it.

Out of the box, it doesn't work with a Mac, but with Connect360 (£12), you can stream and sync the majority of your media. However, unlike the Wii and the PS3, there's no web browser.

Best of the rest

The Apple TV has set-top box competitors, of course. However, they almost always have a fatal flaw.

Netgear's Digital Entertainer Elite (£242) is probably the pick of the bunch. It works with Macs, has USB ports for connecting sources of media, has all the TV outputs you could want, and works with more video and audio formats. It can even access online stores, and can upscale to 1080p. It boasts a 500GB drive that you can upgrade, too.

On paper, it's almost perfect, but some of the features advertised, such as playback of protected iTunes files, require a PC. It's also got a horrible, unintuitive interface and is far from easy to configure.

The Apple TV, like the Mac, is designed for everyone to be able to use, easily, and works equally well with Windows and Macs. The new Apple TV 3.0 software is far easier to use, and integrates content from linked computers far more simply. The ability to rent and buy from the iTunes Store directly from the Apple TV is the main draw, as is its ability to play content already on your Mac.

If a powerful media centre is what you want, the Apple TV isn't it. But if you want a very good media centre that everyone can use and which matches the Apple aesthetic, the Apple TV is the one for you.

Top 10 best Freesat boxes for UK TVs

Monthly subscription charges, who needs 'em? Especially when you can get over 140 TV and radio channels as well as HD content free.

That's the promise of Freesat - the BBC-backed alternative to Sky's Pay TV service, which can give you all this right, right now - you don't have to wait for Freeview digital TV to come to your TV region.

The only thing you really have to think about is what kind of satellite receiver (plus dish, naturally) that you're going to choose to get your TV programmes on.

Which is why we've lined up our favourites below - from affordable receiver-only boxes to Sky+-style PVRs.

Arm yourself with a motorised dish, a couple of LNBs, and and some of the more exotic offerings here and you could well find yourself straying well beyond your regular Freesat/Sky comfort zone. Austrian Eurotic TV anyone?

Manhattan Plaza XT-CM

The Manhattan Plaza offers excellent blind search functionality

It's a budget option, but the single-tuner XT-CM's blind search functionality puts that of some more expensive receivers to shame.

You get a single common interface, two card readers, DiSEqC 1.0/1.2/USALS and SCR support, TV/VCR Scarts, and a DVB-compliant, seven-day ready EPG (but no ability to schedule the timer) and teletext.

Audio and video quality are both great.

Read: full Manhattan Plaza XT-CM review

Price check: get cheapest Manhattan Plaza XT-CM price

Sagem DSI86 HD

Sagem finally produces its first Freesat zapper

Sagem was originally tipped to be one of the first manufacturers of Freesat receivers, but we've had to wait more than a year for its first effort - the DSI86 HD.

Although we suspect that anyone buying an HD box will probably be relying exclusively on the HDMI output, standard-definition Freesat pictures are rather soft looking viewed via TV Scart, even with RGB enabled.

The HDMI output gives better results with standard definition sources and effective upscaling to 720p and 1080i makes good-quality SD broadcasts look appreciably sharper as a result.

True high-definition broadcasts from BBC HD are also crisply presented. Audio performance is decent and on a par with Sagem's Freeview boxes.

Read: full Sagem DSI86 HD review

Price check: get cheapest Sagem DSI86 HD price

Humax Foxsat HD

The first hi-def Freesat receiver is still a must-have

The £125 Humax was the first HD receiver available and it's wonderfully specified. Its back panel crams in two Scarts, one HDMI, an Ethernet port, USB, component video, AV phonos, an optical audio output and a standard F-connector.

Pretty much everything you need for either a simple box and TV combination, or high-end home theatre hook-up. Image quality is channel-dependant.

At launch, the only HD service came from the BBC, although ITV has since launched its own HD offerings.

Thankfully, images from the Beeb are simply gorgeous, with ravishing levels of detail. Overall, this little Humax is impressive. It's well-built, looks smart and is generously specified.

Read: full Humax Foxsat HD review

Price check: get cheapest Humax Foxsat HD price

Metronic Freesat Kit

Metronic bundles its Freesat HD receiver with a dish kit for DIY Freesat installation

The receiver is well-made, roughly the same size as a box of Black Magic, and is powered by an external 12V DC power supply.

Yet it has all - or most - of the features of other Freesat HD units.

The front panel lacks a display - all you get is a red LED to indicate standby - but there are tiny buttons for standby plus channel and volume up/down.

Picture and sound quality are excellent, the HD 100 proving more than a match for more expensive Freesat hardware. Detail levels are impressive, and the upscaling of standard-def to hi-def is handled well.

Read: full Metronic Freesat Kit review

Price check: get the cheapest Metronic Freesat Kit price

Humax HDCI-5000

Humax's affordable FTA HD receiver is a great performer

In 2006, before Humax's HDCI-5000 was born, the HDCI-2000 was one of an elite breed.

It wasn't the first FTA HD satellite receiver, but the 2000 could accommodate the cutting-edge H.264 and DVB-S2 standards.

You could use it to watch the BBC HD channel and also tune into the emerging European HD channels. The HDCI-5000 sells for about £100 less than its predecessor and is, alas, nowhere near as svelte in appearance.

However, both picture and sound quality are first-rate, hi-def channels standing out with a rich visual texture and vivid, natural colour. If you're after a reasonably priced HD receiver and aren't bothered about the bells or whistles, the HDCI- 5000 is worth considering.

Read: full Humax HDCI-5000 review

Price check: get cheapest Humax HDCI-5000 price

Golden Interstar GI-S900CI

Yet another affordable PVR-upgradable HD receiver catches our eye

German brand Golden Interstar is new to us. Here, we look at its GI-S900CI - a single-tuner receiver with support for DVB-S2 and hi-def, in addition to regular standard-def DVB-S.

Features include HDMI and component hi-def outputs (with upscaling of standard-def), CAM emulation and a pair of CIs.

Picture and sound quality from HD channels like Arte and BBC HD produce intricate detail and vibrancy.

A noticeable drop in quality can be seen after changing to SD channels. Changing channels and menu access are both fast, but the scanning speeds beat those of many more expensive units we've tested.

Read: full Golden Interstar GI-S900CI review

Price check: get cheapest Golden Interstar GI-S900CI price

Echolink EL-7020 HD IR 2CI

Hi-def, PVR upgradability, multimedia playback and blind search for £200

We've seen a fair few hi-def/DVB-S2 receivers with PVR support recently.

Thing is, they tend to be rather expensive. The midi-sized Echolink EL-7020 HD IR 2CI bucks the trend by providing this functionality for a mere £179.

Sure, it doesn't include the USB hard drive you'll need for PVR operation, but these are cheap enough nowadays. Bonuses include HDMI and component hi-def outputs, blind search, 2-slot CAM emulation and a pair of CIs.

BBC HD demonstrates the extent of the picture quality that the 7020 can muster. A direct comparison between the 7020 and a Sky+ HD box reveals little discernible difference, displaying radiantly pure colour, stupendous depth and crisp detail.

Read: full Echolink EL-7020 HD IR 2CI review

Price check: get cheapest Echolink EL-7020 HD IR 2CI price

Technisat HDFS

Technisat launches its first Freesat HD receiver with multimedia and streaming thrown in

The HDFS is its first Freesat receiver offering standard and hi-def reception. It has two operating modes - Freesat and Technisat mode.

In Freesat mode the receiver scans for Freesat channels only, prompting you to enter your postcode beforehand to set regional channels.

You can only access the Freesat EPG while in this mode. The Technisat mode is for multi-satellite users and has many features offered by a conventional satellite receiver. Genre searches can be slow but the software is pretty slick on the whole.

Standard-def pictures can look a tad soft, but are still acceptable. HD looks sharp all round, whether you're watching BBC HD or FTA HD channel Luxe HD.

Read: full Technisat HDFS review

Price check: get cheapest Technisat HDFS price

Goodmans GFSAT200HD

True colours shining through

Don't let the brightly-coloured flashing lights around its edges distract you from some eye-catching tech inside this LED backlit telly.

As is often the case with Philips 2009 sets, there's some disadvantages; you have to be careful with the 42PFL9903H's bountiful Perfect Pixel HD settings to achieve picture greatness, but it's worth the commitment.

And unlike most flat tellies, the 42PFL9903H's sound quality is excellent. Two subwoofers tucked away on the TV's rear give a reasonably dynamic, wide-ranging and clear soundstage that goes well beyond the flat TV norm.

Read: full Goodmans GFSAT200HD review

Price check: get cheapest Goodmans GFSAT200HD price

Humax Foxsat HDR

The first Freesat+ HD PVR, and the only serious satellite rival to Sky+

With the arrival of the Humax Foxsat-HDR there is finally a subscription-free rival to Sky+, the de facto satellite TV PVR in the UK.

Previously, recording a Freesat broadcast meant resorting to antediluvian methods such as using a separate DVD recorder or VCR in conjunction with a Freesat receiver.

The system works almost flawlessly and can deliver top-quality broadcast images and sound. Directly comparing simultaneous broadcasts on Freesat, Freeview and Sky (using my third LNB) show that this system is on a par or sometimes better than its rivals.

Standard definition BBC broadcasts and most other channels look as good on the Humax as they do on Freeview and Sky.

Read: full Humax Foxsat HDR

Price check: get cheapest Humax Foxsat HDR price

Top 10 best digital Freeview boxes for UK TVs

With more channels, more choice and all of it free, there's never been a better time to switch from crumbly analogue to digital TV.

The Government, for its part, is doing much to bring about the change, with the digital switchover not so much being a case of if as when.

So if you want to avoid seeing a blank screen staring back at you over the next few years, it pays to take the plunge now - and enjoy all the riches that digital TV in general - and Freeview, in particular - have to offer.

What we've lined up here is a wide selection of Freeview receivers and recorders that can help make the change: from pocket-money boxes that are great for reviving old bedroom TVs to digital, to fully-fledged Freeview+ PVRs and DVD recorders that can match anything Pay TV stations have to offer.

And with over 70 free digital TV and radio channels to choose from - including BBC1, BBC 2, ITV and Channel 4 - you'll soon come to wish that you'd made the transition sooner.

Icecrypt T5000

Icecrypt applies its digital receiver know-how to Freeview

Icecrypt is a brand hitherto known for its satellite output but, with the switchover gathering pace, it has turned its attention to the Freeview market with the T5000 mid-priced Freeview adaptor.

The TF5000's tuner appears to be very sensitive and we had no trouble pulling in all Freeview channels available in our test location.

However, picture performance is decidedly average, especially on large-screen (above 32-inch) TVs where even images outputted in RGB can be a tad soft and pale looking.

That said, audio is crisp via Scart and the digital audio output.

Read: full Icecrypt T5000 review

Price check: get cheapest Icecrypt T5000 price

Philips DTR220

A slim receiver that provides some superb Freeview pictures

This neat set-top box looks confident enough to take you to digital switchover.

The Philips DTR-220 is remarkably slim and compact with minimal decoration and a design that is strangely fetching, even if its lightweight feel doesn't promise durability.

Colours are warm, radiant and kept strictly within the edges, and although there's a touch of ?dgety block noise around some moving objects, it doesn't impact at all on your viewing enjoyment.

The graphics-heavy presentation on the Sky News channel also looks superb. Stereo sound is forcefully delivered through TV speakers

Philips has delivered a very impressive box in the DTR-220, that offers robust pictures and a slick user interface.

Read: full Philips DTR220 Freeview box review

Price check: get cheapest Philips DTR-220 price

TVonics MDR-240

TVonics' adapter is the first to meet government standards for Freeview receivers

The TVonics MDR-240 has been developed to bring it in line with the government's recently issued required standards for Freeview boxes.

Chief among these is automatic retuning when required. There's a nine-event timer for scheduling external recordings with once, daily and weekly repeat options, which can be set up manually or by selecting shows in the EPG.

Other notable features include audio description and a screen saver mode for plasma displays. The tuner delivers decent-looking pictures overall, with little blockiness in evidence.

It's a shame there's no digital connection for home cinema systems but if your TV's speakers aren't the greatest, then the hi-fi line out proves a crisp enough alternative.

Read: full TVonics MDR-240 review

Price check: get cheapest TVonics MDR-240 price

TVonics MDR-250

A great beginner Freeview tuner with some handy features

If digital switchover is to go smoothly, we'll need boxes that are the very definition of user-friendly, requiring little or no technical knowledge to use - like this Freeview adapter from TVonics.

Yes, it costs more than your average supermarket cheapie, but it's obvious that a good deal of thought has gone into its construction.

Picture quality suffers with weak signals where pixellation creeps but, fed with a decent signal the box generates relatively crisp results.

Audio is also clean and punchy from both the hi-fi and optical options. It's not perfect but the MDR-250 has enough quality features to make it worth a place in the living room as well as a second room.

Read: full TVonics MDR-250 review

Price check: get cheapest TVonics MDR-250 price

TVonics MFR-300

A nice and simple Freeview receiver

The TVonics MFR-300 allows users to convert an ageing analogue TV to digital without the need for a Scart.

Instead, there are two RF connections, one of which accepts your aerial feed and the other outputs a modulated digital signal to the coaxial input on your TV.

As for picture quality, the lack of a Scart with RGB output means Freeview channels don't look as bold or crisp as we've grown used to, but it's much improved via the front AV output. Colours look impressive and fast movement is reproduced without much evidence of pixel noise or break up.

The TVonics MFR-300 is a Freeview receiver aimed at those with simple needs and is quite expensive for what it is. But it offers a surprisingly fulfilling experience.

Read: full TVonics MFR-300 review

Price check: get cheapest TVonics MFR-300 price

Humax PVR9300T

Is this the best Freeview PVR on the market?

Freeview+ should be considered a must-have for those without Sky TV, as it offers all the recording flexibility that the satellite broadcaster has been boasting of.

The Humax PVR9300T isn't the cheapest machine around, but it's currently the best, with a generous 320GB HDD for up to 200 hours of recording; a CI slot; basic editing of recordings; and an upscaling HDMI port.

There are separate VCR and TV Scarts - both support composite or S-video, while the TV one also offers RGB. Pictures through the latter are superb; they're crisp, clean and capable of beautifully-vivid yet accurate colour.

Read: full Humax PVR9300T review

Price check: get cheapest Humax PVR9300T price

Toshiba RD-98DT

A solid recorder let down by a lack of key features

The Toshiba RD-98DT can store up to 424 hours of programmes onto its 250GB hard disk and is compatible with a range of recordable DVD formats ensuring that most archiving and editing needs are met.

One important addition to Toshiba's latest recorder range is Freeview+, which makes recording TV far easier.

Recordings made in XP mode from the built-in Freeview tuner are imbued with fulsome colours, sharp edges and accurate detail, and in a taste test between recorded and live pictures it's nigh-on impossible to tell the difference between them.

The Toshiba RD-98DT is a smart, functional hard-disk combi that offers excellent picture quality and does most of the recording and editing basics well.

Read: full Toshiba RD-98DT review

Price check: get cheapest Toshiba RD-98DT price

Topfield TF-5810PVR

A compact, attractive machine that captures excellent recordings

Topfield's TF5800PVR was well received and it is still available, so why would you opt to cash out an extra £150 or so on this new model?

The simple answer is that the new TF5810PVR offers several enhancements and looks far better. The feature count of this deck goes much deeper than a pretty fascia, of course.

You get a 500GB hard disk, which will hold around 250 hours of programming. We couldn't find anything to criticise the TF-5810 on when it came to picture quality. With a good strong signal, broadcast images are crystal clear and the image is detailed and very enjoyable.

A simple RGB Scart output delivers a beautiful image so don't worry if you don't have an HDMI-equipped set.

Read: full Topfield TF-5810PVR review

Price check: Get cheapest Topfield TF-5810PVR price

Panasonic DMR-EX79

There's much to like in the feature-laden menus of Panasonic's latest HDD/DVD recorder

Panasonic's DMR-EX79 is a one-box recording studio, bristling with cool DIY dubbing tech: Freeview+ tuner, 250GB of hard drive storage, multiformat DVD recording, a GuidePlus EPG, USB multimedia playback and 1080p upscaling.

More than enough to warrant a system upgrade. It strikes a sensible balance between conventional PVRs and DVD recording, and high audiovisual standards are maintained.

Read: full Panasonic DMR-EX79 review

Price check: get cheapest Panasonic DMR-EX79 price

Sony RDR-HXD995

Superb upscaling combi with 250GB multiformat recording

Sony continues its decent run of hard-disk/DVD combi recorders.

The deck is bulky compared to most, but that reflects the amount of technology inside its sturdy casing. The uniform black front houses a smattering of buttons, but the fold-down flap reveals more interesting assets including USB for transferring digital photos and MP3 files to the 250GB hard disk;

AV inputs for camcorders and a conditional access module (CAM) slot for Pay TV channels via Freeview. There are recorders for about the same price as the RDR-HXD995 that contain a larger hard disk, however, the impressive AV quality, generous connectivity and huge line-up of adaptable features make it an outstanding product.

Read: full Sony RDR-HXD995 review

Price check: get cheapest Sony RDR-HXD995 price

Of course, buying a digibox is not the only way to receive Freeview in the UK. Another option is to buy a new TV with Freeview tuner built-in.

And with current prices dipping lower than they've ever been, there's never been a better time to make that televisual investment.

Read on for some buying advice...

Top 10 best 32-inch LCD TVs in the world today

Most living rooms can't physically take a TV much bigger than 32-inch, making this size by far the most popular in the UK.

But within the 32-inch division, there's plenty of choice. A basic HD-ready set can be found for less than £300 if you search hard, though it's just as easy to spend over £2,000.

Full HD, media streaming and even built-in Freesat HD – it's all possible on these small TVs. Your living room is about to get bigger. Here are the 10 best 32-inch LCD TVs - arranged according the price.

Read: 10 best 32-inch LCD TVs in the world today

Top 10 best 37-inch LCD TVs in the world today

Making the decision to upgrade from a bulky old 28-inch CRT TV is almost too easy, but heading straight for a 42-inch plasma can seem a little daunting.

The 37-inch size bracket, however, is home to some wonderful innovations. Here you'll find some sets properly exploiting a Full HD resolution, and TVs with built-in Freesat tuners, others with online dimensions, 100Hz scanning and even – in the case of Loewe's Connect – a luxury wireless TV that can stream music and video from a PC or Mac, before pumping out incredible sound.

Read: 10 best 37-inch LCD TVs in the world today

Top 10 best 40-42-inch LCD TVs in the world today

Once known simply as 'plasma screens' in the collective consciousness, the 42-inch size is where the flatscreen dream started in the late 1990s – and where it's still at its best.

Now a lot more varied, with plasmas rubbing shoulders with (and quickly being outnumbered by) LCD TVs and their ultra-modern LED TV spin-offs, 42 inches is still the sweetspot for anyone not overly concerned with ruining the interior design of their living room.

Read: 10 best 40-42-inch LCD TVs in the world today

Top 10 best 32-inch LCD TVs in the world today

Most living rooms can't physically take a TV much bigger than 32-inch, making this size by far the most popular in the UK.

But within the 32-inch division, there's plenty of choice. A basic HD-ready set can be found for less than £300 if you search hard, though it's just as easy to spend over £2,000.

There's only one certainty at this size, though – your new telly will be an LCD TV.

If you're lucky it could have LED backlighting, but it won't be a plasma; LG used to make plasmas at this size, but there's not one on sale currently.

A typical circa £500 purchase will sport a Full HD screen, have at least three HDMI inputs, and some kind of 100Hz scanning, though the latter feature varies so much in effectiveness that you've simply got to see it in action in the shop before you shell out any extra cash.

Full HD, media streaming and even built-in Freesat HD – it's all possible on these small TVs. Your living room is about to get bigger. Here are the 10 best 32-inch LCD TVs - arranged according the price.

LG 32LF7700 - £405

No 100Hz, but an integrated Freesat HD satellite tuner is decent return for less than £400.

Although Sony has started putting Freesat TV tuners in its Bravia TVs, this low-cost 32-inch LG really puts the heat on Panasonic, which has had this niche all to itself until now.

Keenly priced, the 32LF7700 doesn't do anything to undermine LG's reputation for competitiveness in the flatscreen market. There's no TruMotion 100Hz mode, which features on larger screens in the LF7700 range, but its absence won't be missed on a 32in screen and helps keep the price down.

Even without a Freesat tuner and Full HD panel this would be considered a good 32in deal, but considering it packs some higher-level processing and overall does a superb job, it should be considered a bargain.

Read: full LG 32LF7700 32-inch LCD TV review

Price check: get cheapest LG 32LF7700 price

Panasonic TX-32X15B

One of the few HD-ready screens available that's been souped-up with 100Hz tech

At one time 100Hz technology used to be reserved for high-end LCD TVs, but increasingly it's being filtered into affordable mid-rangers such as the 32-inch Panasonic TX-L32X15B.

Watch anything on this screen, and its built-in Intelligent Frame Creation processing can double the frame rate in an attempt at eliminating motion judder.

It works well too, whether you're watching HD movies or regular standard-definition fare. Whether the source was a Blu-ray player, Sky HD box or Xbox 360, we found detail to be sharp, motion smooth and noise levels so low as to be practically non-existent.

Delivering solid, all-round performance with the added touch of 100Hz scanning, the TX-32X15B is well worth a look if you're in the market for a dependable second TV.

Read: full Panasonic TX-32X15B 32-inch LCD TV review

Price check: get cheapest Panasonic TX-32X15B price

Sharp LC-32LE600

Sharp believes that most TV buyers are after two things: a flat screen and a good price – but this LED set goes way beyond the call of duty

Sharp has eschewed fancy features on its latest Full HD LCD TV and continues to concentrate on keeping the price as low as possible. It's also got something very special up its sleeve: an LED backlight. And here that new technology is going for a song.

Jet blacks and exceptional contrast in the bag, it's a decent 100Hz engine that the 32-inch LC-32LE600E could benefit from most, but videophiles after a good value slice of the latest screen tech should investigate its luscious HD pictures.

Read: full Sharp LC-32LE600E 32-inch LCD TV review

Price check: get cheapest Sharp LC-32LE600E price

Samsung LE32B650

Samsung is usually pretty good at pushing the boundaries of value, so this Full HD set's price tag initially looks surprisingly high.

But once you see what the set can do, it's really not bad at all.

Its prodigious connections that include four HDMIs, along with two USBs and even an Ethernet port, with which you can access files stored on a networked, DLNA-certified PC.

The latter port also enables you to access Samsung's specially designed and rather good 'Media 2.0' internet portal, with its YouTube, Flickr, news and Yahoo Widgets service options (among others). You can even access Media 2.0 wirelessly via an optional (£50) Wi-Fi USB dongle.

With remarkably inky black levels, bright whites and rich colour saturations, the LE32B650 is a great value 32-inch LCD TV.

Read: full Samsung LE32B650 32-inch LCD TV review

Price check: get cheapest Samsung LE32B650 price

Sony KDL-32W5500

AppliCast, MotionFlow and deep blacks star on this Full HD set

Sony's KDL-32W5500 32-inch LCD TV is effectively the 'plain' sibling of the fancy-looking KDL-32E5500. With that in mind, this model is not nearly as dramatically designed as its twice-as-expensive sibling.

The KDL-32W5500 has four HDMIs, a USB port, and an Ethernet jack; the USB can handle video and audio files as well as JPEG stills, while the latter enables access to Sony's new online service as well as to files stored on DLNA-certified PCs.

Dubbed AppliCast, the Sony online system we mentioned chiefly comprises access to RSS News Feeds, an onscreen calculator, a world clock, Sony-related news, and a small selection of photos you can download to use as screensavers.

There are signs of motion blur even with its MotionFlow system activated, but colours of exceptional intensity and subtly, impressive black level response and pin-sharp hi-def wins us over.

Read: full Sony KDL-32W5500 review

Price check: get cheapest Sony KDL-32W5500 price

Philips 32PFL7404

You wouldn't know it, but this Full HD set is an entry-level effort

Philips' rise up the TV charts this year has been meteoric, and this pared down set – with plenty of quality where it counts – is a tempting package.

No Ambilight, but there is software capable of playing MP3 music, JPEG photos and MP4/AVI video files from a USB stick.

Packed with Perfect Pixel HD's top tech, 100Hz (to reduce blur) and HD Natural Motion (to get rid of judder from Blu-ray), the screen sports impressive black levels, immense fluidity and incredible depth in what are always super-clean and highly detailed pictures.

This is one of Philips' most basic TVs, but no matter – the 32-inch 32PFL7404 is arguably more proficient, more polished in terms of usability, and more solidly made than other brands at this price. Will impress for years.

Read: full Philips 32PFL7404 review

Price check: get cheapest Philips 32PFL7404 price

Panasonic TX-L32G10B

Already reigning supreme in plasma, Panasonic wants to make the quality 32-inch LCD market its own.

If elegantly turned out, well-featured and highly capable sets such as this Full HD 32-inch TX-L32G10B are anything to go by, that ambition might be closer to being realised than its competitors will like.

The socket count includes an SD/SDHC card slot for playing back multimedia files from your PC or camera/camcorder, while the integrated tuners are able to receive digital and analogue terrestrial, as well as satellite broadcasts (including the Freesat HD service).

With mesmerising colours, decent contrast and above average sound, this flexible and competent set that should guarantee years of solid service.

Read: full Panasonic TX-L32G10B review

Price check: get cheapest Panasonic TX-L32G10B price

LG 32SL8000

We've seen the 'one pane' design before from LG, but on this 32-incher it's particularly effective

A single sheet of glass stretches right across the front of the TV and, with no need for a dedicated border, the illusion is of a 'borderless' TV.

While it's slight lack of sharpness and contrast means it stops short of greatness, a smooth and highly watchable treatment of any source – including digital video files – makes this unusually versatile set highly recommended.

A jack of all trades and slim to boot, the Full HD 32-inch 32SL8000 is a good value and hard-working LCD TV that would grace any living room after a catch-all digital and hi-def solution.

Read: full LG 32SL8000 review

Price check: Get cheapest LG 32SL8000 price

Philips 32PFL9604

Net TV, WiFi and 100Hz star on this delectable – and peerless – Full HD LCD TV

Having produced some of the best TVs at this size in the past year or so, Philips is looking to capitalise on its new reputation with this feature-packed – and unusually, aluminium-clad – 32-incher.

The 32PFL9604 can access the Net TV portal using WiFi and even browse the internet at large. Further digital niceties come in the form of DLNA networking (wired or wirelessly) from a PC, a USB port that plays video files and a stunning five HDMI inputs.

But it's this LCD TV's advanced 100Hz picture processing that makes for outstanding Blu-ray pictures, with the added bonus of Ambilight – it's a fabulous HD picture and unbeatable at this size. Our personal favourite.

Read: full Philips 32PFL9604 review

Price check: get cheapest Philips 32PFL9604 price

Loewe Connect 32 Media

The Loewe Connect 32 Media is not only the most advanced TV we've ever reviewed, but it's also one of the easiest to use.

Its stream videos, music and photos wirelessly from a PC or Mac, but in a far more impressive way than more mainstream brands; this Full HD resolution 32-inch LCD TV is neither aimed at the mass market nor at gamers.

Image+ processing removes most noise and generally lifts the picture, with colour high on realism and lots of detail on show.

Although peak whites are strong, contrast can seem forced, but it's the sound quality that really blows us away – in short, the Connect has some of the most powerful (at a stunning 40W) TV speakers we've ever heard.

Read: full Loewe Connect 32 Media full review