Toshiba 52HM94 52-Inch DLP Integrated HDTV with Cable Card Slot

What is DLP? DLP, or Digital Light Processing, is a technology that bounces a colored light beam across an array of hundreds of thousands of hinge-mounted microscopic mirrors attached to a single chip, called a "micro mirror device" (below, pictured with the head of a pin). Each of the mirrors can be pointed toward or away from the light source thousands of times per second, providing not only minute color detail but also sharper resolution than even LCD displays.

In addition, a CableCARD slot gives you the option to connect to cable TV withou t a set-top box, giving you access to analog, digital cable, HDTV, and premium c able channels like HBO and Cinemax (if supported by your cable company). Two Fir eWire ports with industry standard DTVLink capability enable digital networking and recording. TV Guide On Screen, an interactive program guide, offers simple, user-friendly channel surfing. The TheaterNet IR/1394 control system enables eff ortless analog and digital external device control, and an OmniViewer Memory Car d Slot (compatible with Secure Digital, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, CompactFlash, and MultiMediaCard) with a JPEG viewer allows quick, easy viewing of digital pho tos.

The TV's excellent picture clarity is due to DFine Hi-Speed VSM (velocity scan m odulation), which improves contrast, while the CableClear DNR+ digital noise red uction optimizes poor NTSC signals from antenna or cable, minimizing video noise ("snow") for a clean, crisp image. Cinema Mode circuitry (3:2 pulldown) identif ies original film-based content from DVDs, then reassembles the frame sequence t o more accurately reproduce the original 24-frame-per-second material.

A 3D Y/C (4 MB, 10-bit) digital comb filter with Vertical Contour Correction hel ps eliminate dot crawl and color bleed and significantly reduces detail noise, s een as shimmering or flicker, in complex or intricately detailed scenes. Color t emperature controls allow you to adjust white balance. The "Warm" setting reduce s the color temperature to an NTSC-standard 6,500 degrees Kelvin and delivers a redder image that is ideal for display in a dimly lit room. "Medium" and "Cool" provide a progressively bluer image for the best picture as light levels are inc reased.

The 52HM94 has plenty of inputs for connecting all your audio and video componen ts. In back you'll find two RF, two composite, two S-video, and two HD ColorStre am components, as well as an HDMI digital input. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedi a Interface) is an uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface that supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus 8-channel digital audio--all on a single cable. A set of front composite and S-video inputs make hooking up a game console or camcorder a snap.

Other features include HD Window dual-tuner POP (picture-on-picture) with PIP so und for listening to two programs simultaneously, the new Radiance DC lamp with high brightness and lower power modes for extended life, individual audio/video settings by input type, sleep and wake timers, Real Speed progressive scanning t o create smoother diagonal lines, Color Transient Improver for sharp transitions on color changes without bleeding, and Color Detail Enhancer to maintain fine i mage detail in color saturated areas.

Aside from the 20-watts-per-channel stereo speaker system, the 62HM94 uses MTS f or programming with stereo sound and SAP for receiving a second audio track in a nother language. Meanwhile, SRS WOW combines 3D Sound (simulated surround sound from any stereo audio) with TruBass (yet another low-frequency enhancement) and Focus (which clarifies voices). The StableSound volume leveler eliminates drasti c volume spikes while changing channels or when channels go to a commercial brea k.

What's in the Box
52-inch 52HM94 rear-projection DLP integrated HDTV, 4-item illuminated universal remote with DVD control, warranty, and user's manual.