A member of Toshiba's new REGZA line, the 42HL196 is an attractive and very affordable entry into the rapidly growing field of 1,080p LCD HDTVs. This 42-inch set can display every pixel of 1,080i HD broadcasts, and it's a great match for the new crop of HD DVD and Blu-ray high-definition disc players.

The 42HL196 uses Toshiba's Cinespeed XHD LCD panel for a native resolution of 1,920X1,080, and it has a response time of 8 milliseconds to prevent ghosting and other on-screen motion artifacts. Twelve-bit digital video processing and a 64-color management system also assist in image and color representation, resulting in a detailed and realistic picture. The 176-degree viewing angle is another big plus, as is the 3:2 pulldown that eliminates the uneven motion introduced during the film-to-video conversion process.

With its ATSC tuner, the 42HL196 doesn't need any extra set-top boxes to display over-the-air and cable HD content. In addition, a CableCARD slot and QAM tuner mean this LCD TV is digital cable-ready. There is a full complement of PIP and multiwindow viewing options, and the 42HL196 provides access to TV Guide On Screen's eight-day programming guide.

Connectivity is another strong point for the 42HL196. In addition to a pair of HDMI inputs, a 15-pin D-sub PC input and an I/R passthrough, this set has an Ethernet (RJ-45) connection that allows you to view JPEG and listen to MP3 files via a home network. The 42HL196 also has a pair of RF inputs, an S-video input, two HD component video inputs and an optical digital audio output.

Stereo speakers are located below the screen, and they produce an unimpressive 10 watts of output per channel. Audio options include the usual simulated surround sound and automatic volume leveling, as well as a much-needed bass boost. Other convenience features on the 42HL196 are a full-screen freeze, a favorite channel memory, a game mode and a game timer to keep the kids from playing for days at a time. The handy universal remote control has a surf function that automatically returns to the original channel after you are done flipping.

For an affordable, high-performance 1,080p experience that will fit in with just about any home theater, the Toshiba 42HL196 is an excellent option.


Pros:  Realistic 1,080p picture, great connectivity, PIP and split-screen functions, digital cable-ready
Cons:  Mediocre audio system

Warranty
1 year parts and labor