What Hi-Fi? Verdict
Toshiba comes up with the goods again – a fine-value screen if you’re on a tight budget
Pros
- +
Full HD specification
- +
clean, bright, crisp picture
- +
decent detail
- +
fine TV tuner
Cons
- -
Blacks lack insight
- -
colour balance is a little rosy
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We've already seen this Toshiba in both 32 and 42in versions, so we're pretty confident about what to expect: a well-specified, stylish, fine-performing budget TV. And what a budget – £600 for a Full HD, 1080p/24fps-capable set.
As tends to be the norm nowadays, this TV is ultra-thin, with a gloss black finish and neat pedestal stand. The familiar Toshiba remote is also here, along with the recognisable on-screen menus.
There are three HDMI inputs as well as a digital tuner and the usual video connections. Arguably more interesting features include a digital optical audio output, ‘exact scan' resolution option, and a PC input.
Clean pictures with little noise
We kick off with some Blu-ray playback, enjoying one of the lighter scenes in Batman Begins. The Toshiba delivers a clean picture with little sign of background noise, alongside bright, crisp whites and a decent level of insight – if not quite as good as the best.
Skin tones aren't the most natural, erring on the ruddy side, and they struggle to deliver the necessary level of subtlety. This overall lack of contrast leads to underwhelming black levels that lack detail and solidity.
Fast motion could be a little smoother, but by and large it remains comparatively steady.
Competent images – but not flawless
Watching DVDs and allowing the 37XV505 to do the necessary scaling, the set makes a decent stab.
There remains relatively little noise, while detail is good, motion steady and colours are given much life. Again it's not faultless and the issues with HD are as noticeable, but it's a largely competent display.
Switch to Freeview and again it's good, but not faultless – there's a theme developing here, is there not?
The colour balance seems a little skewed at times, there's some noise on display and the thick sound from the speakers isn't ideal, but we're far from put off our daily dose of Jeremy Kyle's unfailingly harrowing hour of programming.
This is another fantastic-value Toshiba set. Solid all-round performance coupled with an enticing price means this TV is well-worth your consideration.
