Typical price: £389
What is it: HD DVD player with high-definition picture and next-gen sound
What we think: One or two flaws are outweighed by excellent picture quality and realistic pricing
What you need to know
Reviewed on: 8 January 2007
Tags: toshiba, ports, high definition, compare
We like:
Superb HD pictures; good DVD upscaling; much more affordable than a Blu-ray player; slim design
We don't like:
Lethargic operating times; no 1080p; no analogue surround sound output
You might also need:
Home cinema receiver with HDMI socket; HD Ready television or projector
CNET.co.uk judgement:
While it lacks advanced features and is very slow to respond, the HD-E1 is the first standalone high-definition movie player that feels like it's worth the money. With excellent picture quality, a large selection of movies already available and affordability that puts the current Blu-ray players to shame, HD DVD is looking very tempting
Toshiba HD-E1 History
19 Feb 2008 in Crave
HD DVD is dead. Really, they've checked its pulse this time
As the final bell tolls for HD DVD, we're left wondering what the success of Blu-ray will mean to us in the next ten years -- so join us as we mull over the future and what the death of HD DVD means
9 Nov 2007 in Crave
Toshiba HD-EP30 and E1 compared: Hot HD DVD player action
Yesterday the new Toshiba HD-EP30 landed on our doorstep, so we thought we'd welcome it by taking some gratuitous photos of it alongside the outgoing and much loved HD-E1
10 Sep 2007 in Crave
Matrix fans queue all night to take the red HD DVD pill
We popped along to Oxford Street this morning to see who had got up early to queue for their free HD DVD player -- we were amazed to find people had been there all night
24 Aug 2007 in Crave
The week of HD DVD: Toshiba cuts prices on players
If the news that Paramount and Dreamworks are exclusively supporting HD DVD wasn't enough to persuade you to pick up a next-gen player, Toshiba is hoping that some hefty hardware price cuts will do the trick
6 Jul 2007 in Crave
Toshiba HD DVD players: A couple of tasty updates
With many people writing the format off as dead, Toshiba has waved two fingers and announced two updates to its HD DVD players that add Web interactivity and 24p support
Latest user reviews
Do you own this product? What do you think of it?
Tell us what you think
Can't find the product you're looking for? Want to suggest a product for review?
Special Offers from our Sponsors
Latest DVD or PVR Reviews
Oppo DV-980H
This is a truly great DVD player because it ignores DVD region coding -- and does just about everything else, too
Toshiba XD-E500
Great if you can't be bothered to go down the Blu-ray route -- but not without its share of problems
Sony RDR-HXD995
Well designed, easy to use and fully featured, it's just a shame its Freeview receiver is such a slouch
on DVD & PVR
Philips HTS6515: Apparently, the sound will embrace you
Philips believes its new 2.1-channel home-cinema system is capable of embracing you in sound, so if the idea of movie soundtracks giving you a hug appeals, look no further
More:
Do More with your Technology
- Gear Envy: iRiver Lplayer
- Gear Envy: Panasonic Viera TH-46PZ81 (freesat)
- Gear Envy: Apple iPhone 3G
- Gear Envy: Canon EOS 1000D
- Gear Envy: Samsung Tocco
- Gear Envy: MSI Wind
Special Feature
Test your broadband speed
Thinking about changing your broadband provider? Run our quick and simple test to find out how your connection measures up
