Toshiba's 56HM195 is a 56-inch DLP HDTV that combines a highly detailed 1,080p picture with a variety of attractive features. This set also has a number of image-enhancement functions and a multiformat memory card reader, and it can be found for significantly less than its $3,200 MSRP.

The 56HM195 is one of a growing number of televisions offering 1,080p display, which is the highest resolution currently available in consumer televisions. This capability is put to good use, producing a rich and crisp image that is enhanced by Toshiba's PixelPure AT digital video processing. The projection lamp is bright enough to stand up to virtually all ambient lighting conditions, and the screen has an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare. A 3-D Y/C digital comb filter cleans up interference, and a black level expander ensures dark areas don't suffer from DLP's characteristically less-than-spectacular black levels.

To customize the picture to your liking, the 56HM195 offers multiple color temperature settings, and there are preset picture modes for movies and sports. Movies are adapted to the video screen with automatic 3:2 pulldown conversion, and the 56HM195 offers several PIP options, including split-screen and multiple-window modes.

The 40-watt stereo system consists of a pair of speakers with separate woofer and tweeters, producing an adequate sound despite a lack of low-level punch. Audio options include Toshiba's StableSound automatic volume leveling and simulated surround sound. Additional convenience features include multiple timers, channel and video input labeling and memory for the audio and video settings for each input. The front-panel OmniViewer memory card slot can accommodate SD, SM, MMC, CompactFlash, and Memory Stick formats, and the built-in JPEG viewer displays digital photos on the big screen.

The 56HM195's rear-panel input and output selection is appropriate for a large HDTV, and it includes two RF inputs, two HDMI inputs, two HD component video inputs, two IEEE 1394 ports, a composite video output and an optical digital audio output. The universal remote control and its crowded layout are disappointing, but on the plus side, the remote includes a channel return button that traces its way back through a string of previously viewed channels.

With its 1,080p picture and useful features, the Toshiba 56HM195 proves to be a smart big-screen HDTV purchase.

Pros:  1,080p display, five-format OmniViewer memory card reader
Cons:  No dedicated PC input, poorly designed remote control

Warranty
1 year parts and labor