Sky is continually extending its entertainment reach, and has recently launched a line-up of home cinema products. Components are sold through the satellite TV broadcaster's SkyBuy internet shop, offering mostly Sky-branded TV screens (with a range of different types and sizes to choose from) partnered with the newly improved Sky one-box home cinema system.

The package under the WHC microscope here combines a 27in LCD TV with a DVD player and surround sound speaker package. Both components are equipped with the technology to make the most of DVD and Sky digital satellite broadcasts (when linked to a Sky set-top box).

Sky's designers have been busy, and both components have the look and feel of sophisticated pieces of kit. The SLCD2702 LCD screen provides the biggest 'wow' factor. Perched atop of its elegant stand, its black frame surround and silver speakers make it impossible to dislike.

With the stand removed the screen has a depth of just 10cm, making it suitable for wall-mounting via a bracket (£80), and it's hard to believe that it incorporates stereo sound in the thin strips either side of the screen. There's also a built-in tuner for terrestrial TV broadcasts, and channels are tuned and stored in their correct presets.

Connections at the back of the SLCD2702 are impressive - it is fitted with two Scarts and top-notch component video inputs as well as lesser-quality S-video and composite video. There's even a DVI input for all-digital connection to suitably-equipped components, and a D-Sub PC connection.

The SDVD0002 system that completes the package is an attractive mix of silver, chrome effect buttons and blue back-lit controls, while the five silver-grilled satellite speakers and subwoofer look the business. Despite the main unit's compact dimensions it contains all surround sound amplification, while disc-spinning capabilities include picture CDs, for displaying digital camera images from CD-R/RW discs.

Custom Install

There's no provision for SACD or DVD-Audio playback however. Still, there are Dolby Digital and DTS decoders to take care of 5.1 DVD soundtracks and some Sky movie broadcasts, along with Dolby Pro-Logic II to provide convincing surround sound from stereo CDs and TV programmes.