Latest
New Test Reports
21 December 2009
We’ve just published 25 new test reports on set top boxes, digital TV recorders and iDTVs and as a result 4 of these new products have been recommended. For full details of other products we are recommending go to test reports.
Recommended set top boxes
Digital Vision AD-BEAV, £40. The easiest to use set top box tested to date.
Recommended satellite digital TV recorder
Goodmans GFSDTR320HD, £300. Delivers and records freesat satellite service from BBC and ITV (non-subscription service).
Recommended 19" iDTV
Panasonic TX-L19X10, £254.
Recommended 42" iDTV
Panasonic TX-L42S10B, £655.
Full list of new test reports
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Set Top Boxes
- Alba CDVB4
- Digital Vision AD-BEAV
- Dion VSTBAW09
- Goodmans GDR10
- Grundig GUD1600TSIG
- Icecrypt T5000
- Labgear FV400
- Manhattan Plaza DT-100+
- Sagem DS 186HD
- Digital TV Recorders - hard drive
- iDTVs 19" iDTVs
- iDTVs 32" iDTVs
- iDTVs 37" and above iDTVs
New Test Reports
2 October 2009
We’ve just published 25 new test reports on set top boxes, digital TV recorders and iDTVs and as a result 6 of these new products have been recommended. For full details of other products we are recommending go to test reports.
Recommended set top boxes
Tvonics MDR-240 , £44.99
Sainsbury's Basics , £18.99. As a 'bargain' range box
Recommended digital TV recorders - DVD / Hard drive
Panasonic DMR-XS350EBK, £550 which has twin freesat HD tuners.
Panasonic DMR-BS750EBK, £799, has twin freesat HD tuners and Blu-Ray.
Recommended 32" iDTVs
Panasonic TX-L32S10B, £479
Recommended 37" iDTVs
Panasonic TX-L37G15B, £858 which delivers both terrestrial and freesat channels and HD programmes.
Full list of new test reports
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Set Top Boxes
Argos Value Range STB101
TechniSat HDFS
Grundig GUFSAT02SD
Sainsbury's Basics
Tvonics MDR-240
- Digital TV Recorders - hard drive
BT Vision
FetchTV SmartBox 8000
Linsar LPVR250
Sharp TU-TV322H
Philips DTR7510/05
Virgin Media V+ HD
- Digital TV recorders - combined DVD/hard drive
Panasonic DMR-XS350EBK
Panasonic DMR-BS750EBK
- iDTVs 32" iDTVs
Bush S632F
Hitachi 32LD30U
LG 32LH4000-ZA
Panasonic TX-L32S10B
Samsung UE32B6000VWXXU
- iDTVs 37" iDTVs
Alba LCD37880F 1080P
LG 37LF7700-ZC
Panasonic TX-L37G15B
Philips 37PFL5604H/12
Samsung LE37B650T2WXXU
Toshiba 37XV635DB
Sony KDL-37W5500
New Test Reports
8 July 2009
We’ve just published 17 new test reports on iDTVs and as a result 2 new products have been recommended
Recommended 32" iDTVs
Panasonic TX-L32G10B, £900 which delivers both terrestrial and freesat channels and HD programmes.
Recommended 26" iDTVs
Panasonic TX-L26X10B, £499
For the full list of recommended iDTVs see Recommendations.
Full list of new test reports
- Beko 32WLU530HID
- Hitachi 26LD4550U
- JVC LT-32DE1BJ
- LG 26LH2000-ZA
- LG 32LF7700-ZC
- Panasonic TX-L26X10B
- Panasonic TX-L32G10B
- Philips 32PFL5604H/12
- Samsung LE19B450C4WXXU
- Samsung LE26B450C4WXXU
- Samsung LE32B550A5WXXU
- Sharp LC-19D1E-BK
- Sharp LC-32DH77E
- Sony KDL-32V5500
- Toshiba 19AV615DB
- Toshiba 26AV615DB
- Toshiba 32RV635DB
New test reports
22 June 2009
We’ve just published 7 new test reports on DVD digital TV recorders and set top boxes:
Recommended DVD digital TV recorders
The tests have resulted in three new recommended products - Panasonic DMR-EX79EB-K £349, LG RHT397H £200 and Samsung DVD-SH897MXEU £270.
They all have the Freeview+ feature that includes accurate recording times and 'series link'. On the downside like all the DVD digital TV recorders currently on the market they only one digital tuner. This means that if you don’t have a digital TV or set top box, you will not be able to watch one digital channel while recording another. See Easiest to use DVD digital TV recorders.
Full list of new test reports
DVD digital TV recorders
Set top boxes
- Marks & Spencer Digital Terrestrial Receiver T04/9585/2250
- Metronic Eco zapbox
- Proline DFV17U
- Sagem ITD72GB
Tests on remotes and other TV accessories
30 April 2009
We’ve just tested a range of TV accessories. For our report on each see:
We tell you what to go for and what to avoid and report on our test methods and findings. We recommend the following products:
Simple remotes – for basic TV operation
- One For All URC6210, £8.95
- Philips SRU1018,£14.99
- Doro HandleEasy 321rc,£19.56
Full functionality remote – for operating a number of AV products
Video sender
- AEI DigiSender Plug ‘n’ Go MK11, £48.89
New site design and latest test reports
6 April 2009
We’ve redesigned the website to improve usability. There are some new features including a fast search facility in the top right of the screen and links to manufacturers' contact details from each test report.
We’ve also just published our latest 8 test reports on some larger iDTVs.
Recommended 37” and above iDTVs.
One product stood out as easiest to use - the Panasonic TX-P37X10B, costing £615.95 and reasonably priced for this size screen. See Easiest to use 37" and above iDTVs.
Full list of new test reports
Hitachi L37VP01
JVC LT-42DS9BJ
Panasonic TX-P37X10
Philips 42PFL7603
Samsung LE40A856S1W
Sanyo CE42FD33
Sony KDL-40W4500
Toshiba 42ZV555DB
Latest test reports on cheap set top boxes
12 March 2009
We have just tested 5 of the cheapest digital TV set top boxes.
- Asda Pacific PSTB0802
- Currys Matsui MSTB 926
- Alba STB8
- Sainsbury's Red 585 148
- Tesco Technika ECO 2STBA08
The tests have resulted in four new products recommended as 'Bargain boxes'. But note the comments about their drawbacks.
Latest test reports on indoor aerials
5 February 2009
We have just published 7 new test reports on indoor aerials.
The new tests have resulted in two new recommended products - the One For All SV-9215 29.99 and the Telecam TCE2101 29.99.
For the full list of our recommended products see Best indoor aerials
Latest test reports
22 January 2009
We have just published our latest 14 test reports on digital TV products.
The new tests have resulted in new recommendations for products as follows
- Recommended digital TV recorders
Two new products are recommended as easy to use - the Humax FOXSAT HDR/GB, 299 and the Hitachi HDR 163, 127. For the full ist of recommended products see Easiest to use digital TV recorders.
- Recommended iDTVs
Two new products are recommended as easy to use - the 19" Panasonic TX-19LXD8, 280 and the 32" Panasonic TX-32LXD80, 400. To see the full list of recommended iDTVs see Easiest to use 20" and under iDTVs, Easiest to use 26" iDTVs and Easiest to use 32" iDTVs.
Latest test reports
22 December 2008
We have just published our latest 12 test reports on digital TV products.
The new tests have resulted in new recommendations for products as follows
- Recommended digital TV recorders
Two new products are recommended as easy to use - the Sharp TUR162H 199 and TVonics DTR-Z500 199. For the full ist of recommended products see Easiest to use digital TV recorders - Recommended set top boxes
One new product is recommended as easy to use - TVonics-MDR 250 46. To see the full list of recommended set top boxes see Easiest to use set top boxes.
- Recommended 26"and 32"iDTVs
Two new products are recommended as easy to use - Panasonic TX-26LXD80 388.33 and Panasonic TX-32LZD81, 899. The Panasonic TX-32LZD81 delivers both terrestrial and freesat channels. To see the full list of recommended iDTVs see Easiest to use 26" iDTVs and Easiest to use 32" iDTVs.
First test reports on DVD Digital TV Recorders
7 November 2008
DVD digital TV recorders combine a Freeview tuner and hard disc recorder with a DVD recorder and player.
Are they a good idea? It depends on what you want to do. Our tests on 6 combined DVD digital TV recorders showed that they are more complex to use than a stand alone digital TV recorder.
Of the six tested the easiest to use were the Sony RDR-HXD890 194.99 , Panasonic DMR-EX768EB-K 207.40 and the LG RHT397H 189.99. They all have the Freeview+ feature that includes accurate recording times, so you don't miss the beginning of programmes, and 'series link' that captures every episode of a series.
New test reports published
21 October 2008
- Test results on new digital TV recorders. Best is the Humax PVR-9300T/GB, 199. Scoring top at 81% for ease of use this recorder has plenty of features - like recording a whole series of programmes and a slot that can take a card reader for Pay TV channels. See also Easiest to use digital TV recorders.
- Test reports on the kit that gets you the new no subscription Freesat from BBC and ITV. Products tested include two high definition boxes the Humax FOXSAT HD/GB, at 149 and Bush BFSAT01HD at 119.99 this is currently the only way of getting high definition TV without subscription. We also tested the standard definition version, the Bush BFSAT01SD at 49.99. See also Easiest to use set top boxes.
- Reports on smaller 19 digital TVs. Although these are not as easy to use as the larger 26 and 32 TVs tested, they can be useful for a bedroom or kitchen. See Easiest to use 20" and under iDTVs
New Connection wizard and report on SCART leads
10 September 2008
We've now added two new areas of information to the Digital TV Consumer Test Reports website.
The Connection wizard provides information and diagrams to help you connect up your kit - including digital TV products and older VCRs and DVD players.
If you need to buy a SCART lead what's the difference between those costing less than 10 and the 50 ones? Read recommendations to find out the results of our tests.