Toshiba HD-E1 review

Toshiba HD-E1 Review

Reviewed by: Rob Gillman

Reviewed on: 8 January 2007

There's no 1080p mode, but as none of the existing hi-def disc players on the market manages to make 1080p look any better than 1080i, we don't see this as a big deal -- 1080p as it stands makes no difference unless you have a very large television or a projector, and even then your display device's internal processing may well do a better job of upscaling than the player.

On the audio front, the big deal about this player is that it can internally decode Dolby True HD and DTS-HD, two new surround formats offering better, more lifelike sound. Unfortunately, you'll need a receiver with HDMI to get these working, and even then True HD is limited to 5.1 channels (the format is capable of 7.1) and DTS-HD will merely be the non-lossless 'core only' version.

There isn't much to the HD-E1 besides its HD DVD, DVD and CD-playing abilities. While most DVD players will happily play MP3s, WMAs, digital photos and the like, this won't. Perhaps those USB ports at the front will remedy this eventually?

The included remote control is compact, with small buttons. Obviously this has its advantages, but we did find the buttons a little too undersized and unresponsive for our liking.

Our chief gripe to do with using the HD-E1 is its sluggishness. Switch it on and you'll be twiddling your thumbs for around 40 seconds before it's ready to do anything. Stick in a disc and it's another 30 seconds before the movie begins to play. When the cheaper Xbox 360 HD DVD drive can start up in a matter of moments, we're left wondering what Toshiba's excuse is.

Performance
Once the thing gets going, though, it really shows how great high-definition pictures can be. Detail levels blow anything DVD can do out of the water, making everything look sharper and bringing out tiny things -- strands of hair, pores in skin, individual bricks in buildings -- that you'd never see with standard definition.

Just as impressive is the total lack of picture noise, MPEG blocking and the rest of the annoying artefacts that we've come to expect from DVD and even Sky's HD service. Colours seem clearer and more vibrant. Along with Blu-ray, HD DVD really is a generational leap from DVD.

Admittedly, we've only got a few products to compare the HD-E1 to at present, but it provides a better picture than Sky HD and one that's on the same level as the Xbox 360 drive and the two Blu-ray players. Standard DVD upscaling is also good here, on the level of a decent DVD player like Toshiba's own SD-360E deck.

Sound quality is also excellent, although again we have very little to compare it to. Effects are livelier than with regular Dolby Digital, so we look forward to hearing more of Dolby Digital Plus and True HD in the future.

Edited by Mary Lojkine
Additional editing by Kate Macefield