Toshiba rounded-off 2011 year with some of its best TVs in years, and the company has started 2012 in the same vein, with the 46YL863. Staggeringly price considering that it still has features that befit a top-of-the-line set, it seems a steal on the face of it. We see no reason why a TV shouldn't look the part, too; a 46in TV, no matter how slender, is still going to take up a chunk of space. Thankfulle the Toshiba delivers on that front, too-it's just 3cm deep and great for wall-mounting.

Interface and Setup
There are four HDMI connections, two USB inputs, integrated wi-fi plus an ethernet connection, digital audio and headphone outputs and many of the other usual suspects besides. It's DLNA certified for multimedia streaming, too, and you can even turn an external HDD in to a PVR simply by connecting it to one of the USB connections.

The interface uses an intuitive new layout that makes it easy to navigate the huge amount of content and features at your disposal. You'll even find a built-in test pattern fo tweaking the finer details of your picture. Resolution+ aims to improve the sharpness and detail of standard def-content, while Active Vision M800, Toshiba's motion proccessing tech, proves a little unnatural for us in smooth' mode but' standard does make things a little more stable.

The standart selection of analogue and Freeview HD tuners is present and correct, the latter delivering a quality performance. Edges are't quite as robust as the very best, but vivid colours and decent detail ensure were happy what we see on screen. The HD channels ratchet up the quality a notch too, making for a solid off-air introduction.

Did you know?
The Toshiba's CEVO processor is a descendent of the company's older CELL chips, which are used in the PS3 console - so plenty powerful.

CEVO Engine picture proccessor fires up. It works with the new PRO-LED “hybrid” local-dimming LED backlight, which combines both edge-lit and ‘direct’ backlighting to optimise contrast levels. This shows in scenes where the light delivers shadow, the Toshiba doing a good job of applying contrast. And it certainly makes for a punchy image, too with birht colours set against deep black levels. Colours are painted in border strokes here than on other sets, meaning you don't quite get the same level of subtlety, but it's a picture that commands attention with its bold hues.

It's worth noting its adeptness with standard-def DVD pictures, too the picture processing doing a decent job of tidying up edge and presenting clean detailed images. While fast action is largely confidently dealt with, there is on occasion the odd slip this set's grip isn't quite as fast as some. But it's a minor point that's almost moot, like any little gripes with the 46YL863.

The 3D glasses - active-shutter and rechargeable via USB - seem last-gen in style and size, the quality of the 3D TV performance has move forward, in line with rivals, to something that's perfectly watchable.

Toshiba Places is the company's Smart TV offering and very clever. There's a place for video, one or music for social, and this order makes it easy to see what's on offer. The selection is much smaller than its rivals here and doesn't include Skype, Netflix or much catch-up TV, but there's Acetrax for films, BBC iPlayer, Aupeo and iConcerts for music, Facebook and DLNA media streaming.

Toshiba 46YL863 Specification:

Diagonal (cm / inch): 117/46
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Brightness (cd/m2): 450
Dynamic contrast: 7.000.000:1
Response Time (G to G) ms): 4
Viewing Angle (°): 178
LED-TV: Yes
Pro LED 32: Yes
Full HD - High Definition 1080p: Yes
3D Full HD: YES
3D-Active Aperture: Yes
Active 800Hz Motion Rate: Yes
CEVO ENGINE: Yes
Digital edition of the noise: Yes
Number of inputs USB: Yes
HDMI: 4
3D glasses (the active aperture): Yes
601/709 Colour Selection Decoding: Yes
Energy class: B
Swivel Stand: Yes
Camera (facial recognition): Yes

The 46YL863 includes a huge range of picture adjustment, plus a built-in test pattern to help you manualy adjust things to your taste. You can connect the company's TPA-1 KIT, a USB-based calibrator that works in conjunction with the automated test pattern process built into the set, to configure your picture for you. Set it in the action and results prove decent enough - but you will have to spend thae necessary £200 for the privilege.

The 46YL863 is Toshiba's flagship TV and does the position justice, yet it weights in the best part of 1000 cheaper than rivals' top dogs. It might lack the odd frill, and gives away little here and there in performance, but its's still a massive bargain.