TV Reviews

A decent starter tv at a good price. Speaker is below par and picture isn't as good as the RCA Colortrac which it replaced. Still, I bought mine on line at Sears during a one day sale for 69.99 so I can't complain too much as the RCA cost twice as much.

Great picture and features, but the one drawback is the owner's manual. It's good that there is a 800 help phone number, because the manual is about useless.

We gave this particular TV as a gift. The recipient thoroughly enjoys it and all the features. Hope... gets more in stock. We want to give another one as a gift. Can't beat the price and we checked all over online and in the stores.

this TV has a good picture,its easy to set-up and the price is not bad.But i also bought a sony at the same time for apx the same price. If i was to shop again i would buy 2 sonys next time.

People who write that their VCR-through-old-analog-TV picture is better than progressive scan DVD though this gem of a HDTV are really only telling you that they don't know how to set up their new TV!!

This TV has good sound and a great DVD picture through the component jacks. Also, according to Consumer Reports, Toshiba has superior HD picture and excellent reliability, usually for significantly less than the other all-around high quality brand-Sony.

Got the TV about 2-3 weeks ago, could not decide to spend the extra on HD vs. non HD. In the store the difference is obvious....Toshiba and Sony are head and shoulders better, and we cound not tell the difference between the 2. Heavy to lift, but great value. Now just need to get the HD reciever for the Direct TV.

I purchased the 36 inch Toshiba HDTV. However, the picture set up is not good. The pictures bows from the center to the edges. A straight line towards the top or bottom of the screen noticebly bends to the corners. It becomes even more noticable in the HDTV 16x9 mode. I have had it serviced by one Toshiba authorized repair shop. The service technician told me there was nothing he could do after bringing it into their shop. I will try other repair shops, for $1400 the picture should be perfect. If I had purchased locally I would return the TV, but Amazon does not allow returns on large TVs.
The final word from Amazon customer service and Toshiba: I have spoken with the Toshiba technical support and they have informed me that this is a normal occurance and that the bow affect you are experiancing is a common in this type of TV and that it is within their specifications.

Therefore, the Toshiba 36HF73 36" Flat-Screen HD TV is not defective and we will not be able to offer further assistance or allow the TV to be returned for a refund.

"Therefore, the Toshiba 36HF73 36" Flat-Screen HD TV is not defective and we will not be able to offer further assistance or allow the TV to be returned for a refund. "

a) This is NOT the 36 inch, it is the 32.
b) ALL 4x3 tubes will have some bowtie effect on widescreen films, and before buying I looked at all in the class and the Toshiba 32 had the LEAST!
c) you are reviewing the 36 and placing the review in the 32. 3" in a tube set is at the very limits of consumer engineering for tubes. when looking at a widescreen film on a 36' tube, even the best in its class like the toshiba, you are the most likely to get a bowtie. read any information on the variety of choices, ie: largest tube (36") plus widescreen film = bowtie.

This is my first HDTV. I have very good regular TVs (with a recently retired Proton that had a picture that was truly exceptional). I would love to spring for the 16:9 format, and the real impact and fun are at the 40 inch or larger realm. So this 32" version (32HF73) was the choice at $999 over Christmas. We have HDTV signal through cable (have not tried over the air HDTV). Only a few options for us at this point: networks, 2 HBOs, 2 Showtimes, and INHD channels. Since this is a 4:3 screen, movies are viewed through letterbox on the premium channels. Showtime is reduced slightly from the full screen (cable installer said that was Showtime).

The picture is really great, even when a network isn't broadcasting in HD (which is often the case for the regular networks). I am told that is changing. I have had digital cable for some time and Cinemax has a spectacular picture. Showtime has never been as sharp as Cinemax. So the analog to HDTV was never a shocker via digital as an intermediate. But this tv delivers all channels in a more pleasing form and appearance. There was a tremendous change to HDTV in both picture quality and apparently in sound as well. At this time, I use the tv speakers, but the Toshiba has some good processing to deliver increased audio dimensionalty.

High points of the conversion, besides picture quality: multiple component video inputs (so a dvd player can be added), easy changing from a normal 4:3 to a letterbox shape (networks often display better without distortion as a 4:3 rather than letterbox), easy connection to cable and set-up, and improvement in all ordinary signals (analog or digital). The last could just be the construction of the tube and masking qualities.

Low points: slowness in transitioning from the analog signal to an HDTV signal of the same program content (I was trying to do an A-B comparison but my memory fades during the wait), fundamentally 32" is too small when in the letterbox format (not that I have any better choice at home, but my expectations were raised), bad for me was the $100 price drop to $899 I just noticed (good for you), and, if I inadvertently turn the set off, I need several steps to get back to the proper HD feed input. It would be nice to set defaults to go there automatically (perhaps there is, but I haven't found it as yet).

My entire family really likes the picture. It falls short of the large screen blast (not Toshiba's fault). If you want HDTV now, it is a great $900 option. If you want a more overwhelming hit: get a larger screen. Cable HDTV costs extra (a new cable box and service). The 57 page manual is very good, but it doesn't elaborate all the time on choices and why you'd choose one setting over another. More technical information is available at the Toshiba website.

As a postscript: delivery from Amazon was problematic. It comes by freight and the freight company was in no hurry to deliver it. Not an Amazon fault. So it was in town for awhile before I could arrange delivery. Arggh when you can hardly wait for delivery.

I placed an order for a Toshiba 40H80 on July 8th and my television arrived just a few days later on July 12th. There was no physical damage to the box, but after opening it and plugging it in the TV would not turn on. Although the television never worked Toshiba said they do not have a policy of replacing products. They will only repair a defective item. I called every authorized service center in my area (one was on vacation) and the other two were both working on another Toshiba widescreen HDTV doing the same thing as mine (power light comes on solid for a few seconds and then blinks - no sound, no picture)and could not figure out what the problem was. My television could not be picked up by a service center until July 23rd at which point the technician told me that based on his experiences dealing with Toshiba it would be optimistic of me to hope my TV would be back in my home, working, in two weeks. Still, regardless of the fact that my TV never worked and should not be expected to work a month after it was delivered, Toshiba refuses to send a replacement. Eventually the TV will be repaired and brought back to my house. I will have a broken machine that has been hauled out of my apartment, down a flight of stairs, strapped to a trailer with no packing materials, driven across town, REFURBISHED, and then made the same trip back into my apartment. I paid for a new machine and will have a beat-up, refurbished machine. Toshiba is not interested. I would like to include impressions on picture and sound quality, etc....maybe in a couple of months, eh?

Ok, I know that the title is harsh and I don't intend to be mean, but if these people have problems with the picture they must be lame. I have had my 40H80 for over 2 years and it has been absolutely flawless.
The most critical thing with any RP set is to converge the colors and set up the tv properly. After the initial convergence was done the set held a perfect picture. Only after I had to move the set did the picture need to be re-adjusted. My buddies Mitsubishi needs converging every couple of weeks. The Toshiba filters and mirror assemblies are the highest quality available for a set under $6k.
I have a High Def DirecTV set up and when tuned to HDNet or the PBS HiDef feeds every single person who has seen it is blown away. Even my buddy who has the top of the line Mitsubishi projection admits that the true color and viewing angle are better with the Toshiba.
I cannot recommend this set enough.
There are no weaknesses with the Toshiba. If you do not like the stretched image of an NTSC feed, then you can just keep it on 4:3 format. But when there is a quality DVD in widescreen with 5.1 sound or a true Hi Def feed, you will be blown away. The only downside is that you will never be able to enjoy a lesser picture again, like at bars, neighbors, etc.
Hope this helps. Research knowledgable resources before you buy any electronic item! Never rely on a salesperson or their opinion!

I love this television. The picture quality is incredible, the sound is great. The size is perfect for me - I live in an apartment with a smallish sized living room, so there isn't this monstrosity taking up every inch available. It is easy to operate, and the instruction manual couldn't be easier. The different picture modes really make it adaptable to my preference. great buy.

I wouldn't buy another JVC product if they were the only company on Earth. I purchased my TV in Nov of 2002. It had to have a part replaced in Feb 2003! Of course, it had to go in the shop for two weeks until the part they ordered was received.

In all, there have been about 5 service calls, with 2 trips to the shop.

First, the TV would shut itself off. No, I didn't have the AutoOff function turned on. Then we noticed the clock was way off all the time (it would lose several minutes a day). Then, sometimes when we turned the TV on, there would be sound with no picture. We had to unplug the TV for several minutes, then try again.

Finally, after all that, the TV appeared to be fine, until recently when we noticed the menu would go all pink. The picture was fine, just the menu was off. I was afraid this was a symptom of a larger problem, so I made yet another service call. Once again, the TV is in the shop, and has been since Dec 1st.

Now my initial warranty period is over. I expressed concern to JVC but, in typical fashion, they spouted the company line.

Question: how many times does the TV have to break before JVC realizes that they sold me a lemon and should replace it?

Warning: never buy from JVC. They are crap.

A beautiful machine, we spent days doing our research and decided on this model. The size is perfect, the picture is outstanding. The only drawback is the gaurd does give off some glare. We stood back and watched the customers go by it, to see what the reaction to this model would be, they stopped everytime to watch this model in action!
Watching DVD's is a whole new experience and an exciting one!

I've recently purchased this rear projection television and I'm very impressed to say the least. I've owned a Samsung 40 rear projection prior to this, which was also a very good TV, but nothing compared to this JVC bad boy. Some nice features include a DVI jack for future (some present) digital connections, a center channel input (although I've tried it and the sound is less than acceptable, perhaps its my receiver), numerous multiscreen displays including dual tuning for split screen, and most importantly exceptional picture quality. I believe it's the internal line doubler that creates such sharp pictures, or so they say. The clarity is really astounding for a projection TV, and what's more, the clarity is not limited to HDTV broadcasts, but the picture on regular cable is amazing as well. Let's face it, most of us do not spend most of our TV viewing time having access to HDTV broadcasts and receivers. Albeit a fortunate handful, but for the rest of us this television has excellent picture quality across the board. I highly suggest watching the Monsters Inc. dvd with a player using component connections. The clarity is breathtaking, many picutres truly appear to be 3 dimensional. But instead of relying solely on reviews, go out to your local electronics store, and take a look for yourself at this television against other manufacturers. And don't listen to large chain store electronics sales employees, they don't know what they're talking about. Happy shopping!

... I have this TV/VCR combo and it is horrible. The pictureis great, and the size is great but it does not work. In the timethat I have had it, it has completely stopped working three times and Philips Magnavox will not take responsibility for defective merchandise! Save your money and buy a better product! END

If you're like me, still hopelessly attatched to the VHS format, this TV/VCR combo is a great value. It's priced more cheaply than most of it's 13 inch rivals, but it's proven to be dependable, and has a nice clear picture. If you're tired of too many remotes and cords (or even hate having to switch to channel 3 or 4 to view your film) this set is perfect. Set-up was a breeze and it's user-friendly all the way. The VCR recording options are a little limited--you can't watch one program while recording another, but if you just want a simple set with a clear television picture and a great VCR, this Phillips is hard to beat.

From the varity of TV/VCR combos out there, this one by far has the greatest picture.