Just because you can't afford an ultra-thin plasma TV doesn't mean you can't view high-definition content. A couple years ago, your only option would have been a CRT rear projection display. Now you can get the benefits of DLP at a price that is almost too good to be true.

At just under $1,200, the Toshiba 50HM67 is a very fine set. It features numerous inputs, several video display modes and has a very decent picture. So what's the catch? First, this set is only 720p rather than the sexier 1080p. But what does this really mean? Over-the-air and cable TV is still 1080i or 720p, so unless you're all set to only watch HD-DVD (the next generation high-definition optical disc format from Toshiba) or rival Blu-ray, you're probably not going to missing much.

The other drawback of this set is that, although it isn't massively heavy, for a 50-inch display it is fairly deep. At just a tad under 17-inches, this isn't a horrible drawback, but many larger sets are getting closer to 10-inches, so it is worth mentioning. If you can also live with the slightly larger size, than this set is a real bargain.

We were impressed with the connectivity options with the Toshiba 50HM67 as it seems to be able connect to just about anything you care to hook up too. It offers a total of three HDMI inputs, as well as two ColorStream HD component video inputs, side S-video and A/V composite inputs; rear A/V composite, fixed stereo audio output and digital audio optical output, as well as an RF input for cable TV.

The 50HM67 is powered by the TALEN (Toshiba Advanced Light Engine), which makes for a clear and bright picture. PixelPure 3G 14-bit Internal Digital Video Processing clears up any issues of "jaggies" or other digital artifacts. The set utilizes four dynamic contrast modes so you can make quick adjustments depending on the content you're watching, and there is a dedicated game mode to help reduce motion blur and increase the response time during fast-moving action sequences. This can make the difference if you take your gaming as serious as your TV watching.

The casing, as mentioned, is a bit on the large size but features a nice clean black design. While it is hard to call this set sleek, the 50HM67 is still much slender than rear projection sets from only a couple years ago. Below the screen are mounted the twin satellite speakers, which support Dolby Digital (AC3) Surround as well as SRS WOW to simulate the full room experience. While the set can't compare to a home theater multi-channel surround sound system, it is fully adequate for TV shows and other programming.

The 50HM67 isn't the top of the line, but it isn't meant to be; nor is it an under-performing bargain basement off-brand HDTV either. It features a quality light engine, displays HD content up to 720p resolution and does so at a price that is very competitive.


Pros: Three HDMI inputs, great price
Cons: Only 720p resolution, fairly deep for screen size

Warranty
1-year limited, parts and labor