Toshiba Regza 32RV635DB review

Blu-ray movies look pretty good on this set. The small screen means you won't get the full impact of the 1080p picture, but there's nothing here that would upset a movie lover either. We did notice that motion wasn't being artificially smoothed by the picture-processing technology. Because this set isn't a 100Hz model, you might find that it doesn't perform as well with movies as larger, more expensive models. But we think it does a very respectable job with HD movies, especially considering this TV isn't really aimed at the HD-movie-buff market.

The sound produced by this TV is also fairly impressive. It won't blow you away on movie night, but watching normal TV shows on Freeview is a perfectly pleasant experience. Dialogue, in particular, is easy to understand, and that's good news, because all too often we struggle to hear what people are talking about.

The physical stuff
The 32RV635DB looks pretty cool. It's a basic-enough TV, but it's also sufficiently smart and we think it will look great in any room. It's certainly not one of those TVs that shouts for your attention, unlike some we could mention.

The remote control is worthy of a mention too. It's smaller than most TV controllers we see these days, which makes it look rather cheap at first glance, but it's actually very sensibly laid out. The buttons you need most often, like the channel numbers and the rocker switches for volume and changing programmes, are all pleasing and large. Even the smaller buttons are big enough for an adult male to handle.

Significant progress has been made by Toshiba in moving many functions away from a button on the controller and into a menu. Although this might make things harder to find, it's generally the case that, once the TV is set-up how you like it, you'll never use the settings again. So removing them from the remote is no bad plan.

Considering that this is a 32-inch TV, Toshiba certainly manages to provide a decent amount of inputs. You get four HDMI sockets -- three on the back, and one on the side. A pair of Scart inputs, component and VGA connections are also present. At the side, you'll find USB, composite and S-Video inputs.

To save space in the box, Toshiba ships the 32RV635DB with a stand that you'll need to build yourself. This isn't a complicated process and, because the TV is reasonably light, it can be done by one person. It took us about 5 minutes to complete, and involves eight sturdy Allen socket bolts. A simple Allen key is also provided, if you don't have a set of your own.

Overall opinion
We like the Toshiba Regza 32RV635DB. For about £500 or so, you get a well-designed, simple-to-use TV with plenty of user-configurable options. It's ideal for people who want a gaming TV for their PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360. We also think features like the new menus and improved remote control make this TV a good choice for people who aren't technically inclined.

The picture quality is likeable, and the sound from the built-in speakers is pretty good too. In fact, there's not much about this TV that we don't like. Sure, it's not going to blow your socks off like a large-screen plasma or LED-backlit LCD might, but it's a sturdy, appealing performer with a recession-friendly price tag.

Edited by Charles Kloet