Not everyone who wants to enhance the sound of their home cinema has the space to accommodate six speakers. Others simply don't want to disturb their interior decoration with an assortment of boxes. This has led to the introduction of compact single systems like Philips' HTS6600, available for around £370.

A bargain price tag usually means you have to compromise on features. Not so with the Samsung HT-X30. It's a 5.1 DVD home cinema system with HDMI, a USB port as well as DVD-Audio and DivX playback. It's available online for around a mere £190. Seems like a bargain, but is this system too good to be true?

The BDP-S500 is Sony's current flagship Blu-ray player, although there is an S550 model due in the autumn that will offer lots more functionality for a similar price.With Sony's very own PlayStation 3 and other companies' Blu-ray players boasting better specs and costing less than the S500's £500 price tag, the S500 is going to have its work cut out for it. Does it meet the challenge head-on or cower in a high-definition corner?

It's been three years since freesat -- the satellite equivalent of Freeview -- was first announced and the first freesat-compatible receiver has finally arrived. The Humax Foxsat-HD costs £150 and gives those who don't want to be tied into a subscription a way to watch high-definition broadcasts. Is it a day for glorious celebration or just more waiting?

If you're currently one of the 27 per cent of the population who can't get a Freeview signal, this box will save you from the horrors of a blank screen when the digital switch-over comes. It's one of the first batch of freesat boxes to hit the market, offering digital TV via your satellite dish. It's available now for £50 online.

We're all for reducing the number of boxes under our TVs, so products such as the Philips DVDR5520 are perfect because they offer DVD, Freeview PVR and even some limited support for video you download from the Internet.So will this £240 box offer what we need in an all-in-one machine, or is it going to be a case of promising the world but failing to deliver?

We've reviewed a few of these so-called virtual surround-sound systems, which eschew extra speakers for a more compact design and provide stylish solutions if space is at a premium in your living room.While the performance of these 2.1 systems has improved and useful features and connectivity have been enhanced, you'll need to accept some sonic compromises compared to traditional 5.1 setups.

Home cinema systems are usually sought after by those who want a flexible all-in-one solution that's less demanding and more affordable than assembling expensive separates. They're even prepared to accept the odd compromise when it comes to performance.