Toshiba TLP-S30U

CNET Editors' Rating

3.5 stars
    Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)

Very good

Average User Rating

2.0 stars

1 review

As shown: $1,199.00

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Toshiba TLP-S30U - front Toshiba TLP-S30U - back Toshiba TLP-S30U - front angle Toshiba TLP-S30U - top
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  • Toshiba TLP-S30U - front
  • Toshiba TLP-S30U - back
  • Toshiba TLP-S30U - front angle
  • Toshiba TLP-S30U - top

CNET Editors' Review

CNET Editors' Rating

3.5 stars Very good
    Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
  • Design: 7.0
  • Features: 7.0
  • Performance: 8.0
  • Service and support: 7.0
  • Reviewed by: Rich Malloy
  • Reviewed on:

The good: Very bright; excellent automatic keystone correction; good color accuracy; two-year warranty.

The bad: Low contrast ratio; noisy; runs hot; long warm-up and shutdown times; remote lacks mouse emulator and laser pointer.

The bottom line: Toshiba's budget LCD projector is bright and reasonably priced, but it pales compared to newer models, such as the Dell 2100MP.

Review: When Toshiba first introduced the TLP-S30U LCD projector nearly a year ago, it was not only very bright--the company claimed 1,400 ANSI lumens--it also had an extremely aggressive price of just $1,299. Since then, however, a handful of competitors have dropped their prices to the same level. And although the TLP-S30U still ranks among the brightest entry-level, SVGA projectors we've seen, newer models--especially smaller, lighter DLP projectors, such as the Dell 2100MP--have largely surpassed it in both features and performance.

The Toshiba TLP-S30U has a simple, box-style design. For a budget LCD projector, its dimensions--10.8 by ... Expand full review

When Toshiba first introduced the TLP-S30U LCD projector nearly a year ago, it was not only very bright--the company claimed 1,400 ANSI lumens--it also had an extremely aggressive price of just $1,299. Since then, however, a handful of competitors have dropped their prices to the same level. And although the TLP-S30U still ranks among the brightest entry-level, SVGA projectors we've seen, newer models--especially smaller, lighter DLP projectors, such as the Dell 2100MP--have largely surpassed it in both features and performance.

The Toshiba TLP-S30U has a simple, box-style design. For a budget LCD projector, its dimensions--10.8 by 8.1 by 3.1 inches (W, D, H)--and weight (4.9 pounds) are about average, but compared to like-priced DLP projectors, the TLP-S30U is on the big-and-heavy side. Its travel weight, including accessories, comes in at 6 pounds, while its black nylon carrying case has a moderate amount of cushioning, despite being surprisingly compact.

User Reviews

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Average User Rating

2.0 stars out of 1 user review

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star: 0
  • 4 star: 0
  • 3 star: 0
  • 2 star: 1
  • 1 star: 0

My Rating

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Most recent user reviews

Showing 1 of 1 review

2.0 stars

"Inferior bulb life" By

Pros: Moderate features. Not an extremely bright image, but better than some. Works fine for a home theater setup. I consider the long throw distance a plus for my application as a television. It displays a large, but not too large, image even though it's m

Cons: The biggest negative is that my bulb lasted 800 hours and costs $380 to replace. That's expensive and about the worst bulb life I've seen of the projectors I've used. I'd not recommend a Toshiba because of this.

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Where to Buy

MSRP: $1,199.00
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Specifications

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Quick Specs

  • Projector type: LCD projector
  • Resolution: 800 x 600
  • Image brightness: 1400 ANSI lumens

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Where to Buy

MSRP: $1,199.00
See manufacturer site for availability
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