Recommendations

For the set top boxes and digital TV recorders that did best in our tests, see easiest to use set top boxes and easiest to use hard drive digital TV recorders and easiest to use DVD digital TV recorders.

Getting a set top box can be the cheapest way to go digital. If you have a number of TVs to convert, are not fussed about recording and want to continue watching television through your aerial, you will want a basic set top box for each TV. All those on test gave a decent picture and sound. Sadly, however, few were easy to use.

Digital TV recorders cost more than set top boxes but do more. Even with their extra features, hard disk recorders were generally easier to use than set top boxes. The combined DVD and hard drive digital TV recorders are more complex to use but add the facility of copying to and playing DVDs.

We have compared set top boxes and digital TV recorders with digital boxes that are supplied with satellite, cable and telephone-based services.

For the pros and cons of these different ways of going digital, see choosing your channels.

For a summary of our general findings on set top boxes and digital TV recorders, see pros and cons of digital TV recorders and pros and cons of set top boxes.