Toshiba Regza 42X3030D review

There's an extensive range of picture adjustments, which have your typical custom settings along with advanced controls for a variety of systems. These include noise reduction, black level enhancement and elaborate colour management options that even allow you to adjust the intensity of individual base colours. Not everyone is going to explore these in great detail and the differences to image quality are usually only subtle, but serious enthusiasts can fine tune to their heart's content.

Sound adjustments are equally impressive with extra curricular features such as a bass enhancer and a series of SRS WOW sound modes, including a virtual surround system, a dialogue enhancer and another bass mode -- all of which have a noticeable affect on sound performance.

Performance
Watching digital TV broadcasts may make you wonder what all the fuss is about -- this screen's standard-definition performance is distinctly average. The large screen exposes several flaws: unnatural colours, soft definition, speckled backgrounds and stuttered movement. None of these constraints are completely debilitating but we expected better.

Fortunately, high-definition performance is outstanding with both upscaled images and true HD content producing exceptional performance for the affordable price. Upgrading to 720p or 1080i upscaled images produces noticeably more detail and depth while colours appear more balanced and realistic. Challenging outdoor scenes, such as the complex landscapes featured in Lord of the Rings, are accurately defined and stable with less background noise -- although slow-moving camera pans still struggle to stay smooth.

Playing true high-definition pictures from Sky's HD service improves image quality even further. Watching Sky Sports HD programmes exposes the slightest (and often unattractive) intricacies in the studio pundits' faces with what seems like surreal detail. Slow movement shots -- such as in a football match when a long ball is launched across the screen -- are also impressively smooth and smear free.

The pinnacle of the screen's performance is reserved for playing 1080p high-definition images from next-generation players like Toshiba's own HD-XE1 HD DVD player. Precise detail and near-3D levels are accompanied by exceptionally cohesive movement and the complete absence of digital artefacts. Fast-moving scenes during Batman Returns, such as the Batmobile car chase, are wonderfully fluid and absorbing, and there's no loss of detail even during the gloomier moments.

Sound quality also deserves a mention for its commendable depth and authority, especially if you crank up the bass levels. Small integrated speakers usually struggle for the sort of impact that blockbusting films deserve but even at high volumes the sound is consistently dense and undaunted.

Conclusion
Toshiba's 42X3030D is really reserved for anyone that has their heart set on exploring high-definition, especially the latest 1080p format used by devices like Blu-ray and HD DVD players, and the PS3 games console.

Its affordable price means the design is slighted by average build quality, connectivity and underlying technology, but high-definition picture performance is really impressive and the sound is surprisingly good, too. If, however, high-definition isn't a priority, you can get better conventional performance elsewhere.

If you're looking for an alternative then Samsung's LE40F71 offers a similar specification for around the same money, while Sharp's LC42XD1E is a little more expensive but offers better all-round performance.

Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Kate Macefield