Toshiba's Regza line of flat panel LCD sets offer big screens for a reasonable amount of money, and as of last year, the prices have fallen below the $3,000 mark. A few years ago it would have been unthinkable to get a wall-mountable flat panel set for this money, but the dream has become a reality--and thanks to Toshiba it is here today.

The 46-inch 46LX177 offers a very sharp picture with lifelike colors. While LCD as a format has some issues outstanding with black levels, this year's set has improved from last year's models. There is still a bit of a way to go, but viewers should be reasonably satisfied with the colors and contrast ratio on the Regza line. What we really found impressive however, was that this set delivers a very bright picture regardless of the time of the day. The DynaLight Dynamic Back Light Controls can deal with a lot of ambient light, so if you have large windows that can't easily be blocked out and you like watching TV as much at noon as midnight, then the Regza line is certainly one to consider.

While we're still dwelling on the black levels, we can't complain about "jaggies" or other digital artifacts--the PixelPure 3G 14-bit Internal Digital Video Processing clears up any of these annoying issues. The set utilizes four dynamic contrast modes so you can make quick adjustments depending on the content you're watching, while ClearFrame 120Hz Anti-Blur Technology is included to help reduce motion blur and increase the response time during fast-moving action sequences.

The black and silver casing of the Toshiba 46LX177 is sleek, but it is far from the thinnest bezel design we have seen. It won't detract from the overall experience you'll get with the set, but there is a bit more TV to notice. On the plus side, the bottom-mounted sound strip speakers help the look of the design. These twin speakers support Dolby Digital (AC3) surround sound, and along with SRS WOW do a decent job of simulating the multi-channel experience. While this doesn't compare to a home theater system, it is adequate for TV shows and other programming. We especially liked the two levels of mute--you can drop the volume by half when necessary, so you can instantly lower the sound without fully turning it off.

We were quite impressed with the connection options with the Toshiba 46LX177. One complaint about last year's model was that it only had two HDMI inputs, but the company wisely added a third this year, which complement the 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. While a side HDMI input would have been more than welcome, we can't complain too much. Additionally, we liked that this model features a Theaterlink IR Pass Through, so that you can take control of other devices even if they're hidden away from view.

There aren't many complaints about the Regza line, and with a price below $3,000 for a 46-inch display it is truly a dream come true . . . at least if your dream was about having a big flat panel set on the wall.

Pros: Three HDMI inputs, two level mute
Cons: No side component or HDMI input, black levels not perfect

Warranty
1 year, parts and labor (limited)