Toshiba HD-XE1 bags Best Hi-Def Player award

Granted, there’s not exactly a lot of product in competition, but Toshiba must be pleased to have picked up the Best Hi-Def Player award for the HD-XE1 HD DVD player at the 2007 Home Cinema Choice Awards in London.

Most importantly for Toshiba, it beat rival Blu-ray format players such as the Samsung BDP-1000 and the Panasonic DMP-BD10. The HD-XE1 offers 1080p output, Dolby TrueHD and DTS audio formats and HDMI connectivity. You can get a full breakdown of the specification here.

Steve May, Editor of Home Cinema Choice, said: “The format battle between HD DVD and Blu-ray is the biggest conflict in consumer electronics since VHS took on Betamax. The stakes for some of the biggest names in technology and Hollywood’s largest studios are sky-high, so for the HD DVD format to win our expert’s backing at this time is simply immense. The HD DVD format wins out because it is simply the genuine article – Blu-ray hardware and software is trailing behind HD DVD, which offers genuine user benefits.”

Toshiba HD DVD