Just £75 gets you a system with CD player, FM/DAB tuner, plus a pair of more than adequate speakers, and a glass stand on which to park it all. The sound is a bit lightweight, but, for the price, who’s complaining?

Verdict:Ideal second system for kitchen or bedroom
Price: £75

10/10

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A compact CD/radio/amplifier system, complete with DAB tuner and hook-ups for personal music players. It doesn’t include speakers, which will add about £100-£150 to the price. It’s not the most powerful system around, but it sounds pretty good, and it’s a doddle to operate, thanks to its clear display.

Verdict: Best for small rooms
Price: £650

9/10

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The latest Sony TVs are just the job if you want the home cinema experience. It can be wall mounted and you can also hook up an iPod or computer to it. Powerful enough to fill quite large rooms with sound.

Verdict:Perfect for film buffs who like the sound up
Price: £350

9/10

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Techno guru Martin Brennan designed this: a little box able to store up to 1,600 CDs, complete with a built-in amplifier. Play a CD and the music gets stored on the hard disk. The speakers are nothing special, but they are optional. Huge fun to use.

Verdict: A great talking poin
Price:£299

9/10

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The beetle-wing lid opens to reveal the CD player. You can opt for versions with a DAB tuner, or a DVD drive to turn it into a surround system. It sounds amazing, but you have to spend more to get it working: you’ll need a pair of the company’s speakers with their built-in amplifiers, which start at £1,400 for a pair.

Verdict: A super-chic piece of styling
Price:£2,800

8/10

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If this was all about style and sound, the Meridian would get a straight 10 - designed and made in association with Ferrari, it plays CDs and DVDs, and has a built-in FM/DAB tuner. It has a clean sound and all the hi-fi cred you’d expect from one of Britain’s most advanced audio companies. The only problem is the price.

Verdict:The ultimate boombox
Price: £1,450

8/10

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The Onkyo CS-525 carries a UKD label, indicating that it’s been tuned in the UK, and combines CD player, DAB/FM tuner/amp and speakers, along with a socket for Onkyo’s own iPod dock and a USB port for connecting to amss storage devices, such as MP3 players.

Verdict: Fine detail, good clarity, and great sound make this a good buy
Price: £320

8/10

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A total oddity, this one. Made in China, with valve amplification, prized by enthusiasts for its rich sound, this system has a CD player, an FM/AM tuner and and iPod socket. It sounds lovely, but the power output is about one-tenth of that of most of the others here, so take care choosing speakers. Not for rockers.

Verdict:Old-fashioned quality
Price: £600

7/10

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This may look like an overgrown clock radio from the early 1970s, but the specification is bang up-to-date: stereo speakers, a CD player, FM/DAB tuner, and iPod dock, which all produce a sweet and smooth sound. An interesting second or smaller room choice.

Verdict: A good performer, but pricey
Price: £500

7/10

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This includes CD, DAB/FM tuners, amplifier and speakers, all with a punchy bass, but there are no sockets for other equipment, such as you TV sound. Very affordable, but a bit on the basic side.

Verdict: Lots of street cred
Price:£100

7/10

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