Toshiba 62HM196 RPTV By Shane Buettner   •   September, 2006

• $2,999
• 62" single-chip DLP (wobulator)
• 1920x1080
• Key Connections: Dual HDMI and component inputs, G-LINK (for TV Guide On Screen), Ethernet THINC port connection

Features We Like: Xtreme BLAC for deeper blacks, CableCARD and Over-The-Air HD tuners

Features We Miss: No IEE 1394 input, doesn't accept 1080p signals, three-chip designs with native 1080p pixel counts coming to market soon in same price range

At A Glance: Although consumers are all over flat panel technologies, enthusiasts who want big screen impact are still buying RPTVs. Toshiba has moved to DLP for its RPTVs, and this 62" set makes a compelling statement. The feature set is excellent, with the lack of an IEEE 1394 being the only notable omission, and Toshiba has also cooked up some features to get deeper blacks and better contrast. And hey it works- this set doesn't go for eye-searing light output and as a result has blacks that are outstanding for a microdisplay RPTV. And through the HDMI inputs the detail is good enough that the different gradations of HD program quality are easily discernible. Even a compact RPTV like this one isn't as sexy as a flat panel, but with screen size, big is beautiful!