Color, overall picture, price.

May be outdated before I''m ready

This is for the 61a61--which is not listed as a review option. To 4:3 or not to 4:3…. I won’t belabor the argument of which format is better. It is a personal choice. I went back and forth, many, many times. Finally two issues prevailed: price ($1600 vrs $4-5K) and time. Someday, widescreen HDTV will be an easy choice. I’m betting it’s 5 years away at best and likely not until the end of the decade. So why buy an HDTV-ready set that will be 5 years old by the time it can be optimized…. This set. I really didn’t know what to expect. Saw one a Fry’s that looked horrible. But all the good reviews of Toshiba in general persuaded me. The set is better than I expected. How good it is, is hard to say, as I don’t have a Sony or Pioneer or Mit sitting here for comparisons. However it is hard to imagine any of those being appreciably better. The color saturation is superb. Detail was better than I expected and so very (actually better than the 32” Sharp it replaced) close to tubes. I find it a bit contrasty but this may be indicative of RP sets. As such, I backed of the factory contrast setting of 100 to 40 (backed off color and sharpness from 50 to 40 and increased brightness from 50 to 55). Do I regret the format of 4:3? It’s funny but, now, when I watch, I wonder what the picture would be in widescreen format. I think this just goes to the human nature “grass is always greener” phenomenon. I watched Austin Powers which is in both formats and well…..both have something different to offer. It’s like the choice of taking a picture with a 35mm lens vrs a 105mm…… It is truly a five outta five? HMMMM. It certainly is a four plus and based on reviews and the liberal nature of scoring in this forum, I give it a five. I didn’t let all the HDTV zealots persuade me to go against my instincts. Will I regret it? Maybe in five years. We’ll just have to see.

Similar Products Used:

Novabeam 60" FP

You would think a non hi definition 61" would have an average picture. But my Toshiba's picture blows everyone away. When watching DVD through colourstream cables, the picture on the Toshiba is amazing! even when watching Satellite through S-Video cable the picture is still great. Originally I was going to buy a 36" Sony Vega, but when I compared the prices the the Sony was more money. You do the math: 32" Sony $1900 or 61" Toshiba $1700. It was easy!!!

The Toshiba theatre view 61AR is a great TV.
For the money spent I am very pleased. Similar picture quality would be the Panasonic and the Hitachi. The Sony is way too overpriced and does not even compare with the above mentioned. if you are looking for a big TV with a fair price tag and an amazing picture, then I highly recomend the television I have purchased.

Corey.
Toronto,ON.