It is really easy to get digital television in your home. You can receive it through either a TV with integrated digital tuner or by a separate digital set top box.
IDTVs (Integrated Digital Television) are televisions with built in digital receivers. They have their advantages as they save space, do not require extra cables to connect to set top boxes and use an all-in-one television interface. Most TVs today come with either Freeview or Freesat digital tuners built in, which as a result means that you rarely need to buy the additional set top box.
Set top boxes give you access to digital TV. No matter how old your TV a digital set top box will allow you to receive digital television as long as your TV has the right connections. Digital set top boxes are also available with hard disc built in allowing you to record a programme while watching another channel.
There is little or no difference between the quality of a set box and its inbuilt counterpart as both use the same technology; therefore it's largely down to whether you have purchased an integrated television set or not and if you'll be getting an additional subscription service via satellite or cable television.