The Toshiba 50L2400U ($679) is an entry-level LED TV that's all about value, not bells and whistles. From bezel to bezel, stand to ports, the L2400U is an exceedingly simple, minimal option. If you're looking for a larger HDTV for a little less, this product is proof that Toshiba's tradition of competitive pricing lives on in 2014.
Unfortunately, testing revealed some notable performance drawbacks like sub-par color accuracy and poor uniformity. The L2400U might be worth investigating if you just want decent performance without the frills, but it definitely doesn't offer the best value on the market—that title remains firmly in the grip of Vizio's E-Series.
Picture-quality enthusiasts will be glad to know that the L2400U retains many of the advanced settings from previous years. Toshiba's "ColorMaster" serves as a built-in color tuner, for example, and there's also a two-point white balance control within the Color Temperature menu. Additional features include an energy-saving mode and a dynamic contrast enhancement mode.
The 50L2400U would be a great example of "you get what you pay for," except that we've come to expect slightly better from entry-level models this year. This 1080p TV has definite pros and cons; the combined result is simply mediocre.
From a contrast perspective, this Toshiba is a stellar performer. I measured awesome black levels for an edge-lit LED set, rivaling some of last year's entry-level plasma televisions. Users can expect shadowy content to look satisfyingly dark while brighter elements still pop off the screen, creating excellent contrast. Unfortunately, subtler details within shadows and duller colors are poorly preserved.
This much is clear: The 50L2400U definitely isn't a good choice for enthusiasts. Steer clear if color errors like dull reds and heavily skewed magentas give you pause. The L2400U looks best in medium or bright lighting, and servers well for video gaming, thanks to low input lag.
The TV's ClearScan processing makes for solid motion performance, too; so while this panel is a long shot from a serious display, sports lovers and daytime talk show enthusiasts will find less to complain about than cinema lovers.
One issue that will bother viewers of all types is backlight uniformity. LED TVs with lights around the perimeter of their screens sometimes suffer from an uneven appearance, causing visible light to bleed into black or dark-gray areas of the screen. Our sample unit had a few visible LEDs at the upper edge and in the corners of the screen, which can be especially distracting if you're watching in the dark.
On the upside, I'd be doing a disservice to this product if I didn't mention its terrific speaker performance. The L2400U outputs plenty of clear, crisp sound compared to the competition, and offers various sound modes, surround sound imitation, and bass/treble adjustment sliders.
The Toshiba 50L2400U ($679) is truly stuck between a rock and better choices. While the price is competitive when compared to similarly sized models from Samsung and Panasonic, this TV isn't nearly as fancy or flexible as those models. You won't find any smart features or 3D here, and the materials and interface exude a low-quality air.
While certain viewers (especially gamers) will likely be satisfied by this TV's performance as a basic display, there's really no reason to buy it as long as Vizio's 48-inch E-Series is readily available.
