Set Top Boxes and Digital TV Recorders

If you want to go digital without replacing your TV, you’ll need to buy either a set top box or a digital TV recorder – often called a PVR or personal video recorder. A set top box is the cheapest solution, but a digital TV recorder will give you good recording options. We've tested a wide range of both to find the models that are easy to use. They include ones for digital TV through an aerial, by satelite, cable and telephone-based.

Use this guide to help you decide between box or recorder, and then find the right product for you.

To see an individual summary test report select a model above. If you want even more detail, use the see detailed test report link at the top of each summary. Here we also give information on:

• help choosing– see set top box or digital TV recorder?
• easiest to use set top boxes and TV recorders- see recommendations
• what our tests involved - see test methods

For the pros and cons of set top boxes and digital TV recorders (PVRs) compared to other digital TV kit and features to look out for - see choosing your kit. For information on setting up a set top box or digital recorder and recording options - see setting up. For contact details for all the product manufacturers – see product manufacturers - contacts.

What are all these different names?

Freeview receiver, digital terrestrial receiver, digital TV receiver – all a bit techy. Like a lot of people instead of these we use set top box or digital box for the box that receives digital TV services.

Then there are the boxes that can also record – digital terrestrial TV recorder, digital video recorder, twin receiver with hard disk and the more popular PVR, that’s a personal video recorder. Freeview market research suggests people prefer digital TV recorder, so we are now using that.

Set top box or digital TV recorder?

Basic set top boxes are cheaper than digital TV recorders and, since they do less, can be simpler to use. Whatever you choose, you will need to adapt to a different way of viewing – more channels to choose from, for one thing.

A set top box will give you digital TV and digital radio, and normally all the services that go with them. You can always buy an integrated digital TV (iDTV) or digital TV recorder later and use the set top box on another TV around the house. These boxes are certainly worth considering to convert second and third TVs.

For your TVs that get a lot of use, a digital TV recorder may be a better buy in the long run. These recorders not only convert your TV to digital, but you can also record programmes on them at the press of a button. Digital TV recorders come with one or two tuners. With two – or twin – tuners, you can record one digital channel while watching another.

We suggest you seriously consider a digital TV recorder. Certainly, the experts we spoke to really rate digital TV recorders (or PVRs as they are often called) as an excellent option – and tell us that people who have gone with them now wouldn’t be without.

Integrated digital TV?

If you are thinking of replacing your old TV, consider an integrated digital TV (iDTV), even if you are in an area that does not yet get digital terrestrial broadcasts. You can still watch your usual programmes on them until the analogue TV broadcasts are switched off at switchover, then you can continue to watch them on the same TV as digital broadcasts. They provide the easiest, though not the cheapest, way of going digital.

For the iDTVs that did best in our tests, see recommended iDTVs.

Do I need an ‘HD Ready’ TV for digital?

No you don’t. Most new flat panel TVs are marked ‘HD Ready’ – or high definition ready – but this does not mean they have a digital tuner and will get you through digital switchover. The HD-Ready logo means that the TV screen is good enough for displaying pictures from high definition services. These are currently available only on a few channels on satellite and the Virgin cable service, and most of the channels require an extra subscription. So, if you are buying a new TV, think if you will want some high definition channels. But you certainly don’t need them for regular terrestrial, satellite or cable digital TV.

Back to top