Ten... Freeview HD recorders

Icecrypt T2400

The reassuringly sturdy T2400 – made by Turbosat – has a speedy, coherent on-screen display and well-arranged handset, although both could do with less clutter. The programme guide also provides keyword searching.

Its Ethernet port can be used to transfer files onto its hard drive by FTP, however, setting this up is relatively tricky. A wireless dongle upgrade is in the works.

The hard disk comes in generous 1TB or 2TB sizes, while the media player – using the internal disk or attached USB drives – handles MP3, DivX and H264/MKV, it is sometimes inconsistent. Overall AV quality is excellent but the claimed 5.1 audio output for Freeview HD didn’t work on my test model.

LG HR600

A combination of Blu-ray player and 250GB Freeview recorder, the HR600 is a contradictory machine. The picture quality from HD channels and Blu-ray is admirable, while upscaling looks extremely impressive too. The media streamer is almost as comprehensive as it is from USB and there’s built-in Wi-Fi.

Problems arise with 24fps playback, which if enabled, causes jerkiness with its iPlayer picture. If you disable it then Blu-ray movies aren’t so great. It’s also crash-prone and my sample couldn’t handle HE-AAC 5.1 audio, causing distortion regardless of settings and making Freeview HD unviable. It scores highly for its price and numerous appealing features; just beware of its flaws and potential pitfalls.