Widescreen. Picture. Viewing modes. POP.

Needs stand for optimal viewing. Remote could be better.
Slow channel switching.Calibration needed for best picture.

I've owned this HDTV for almost 6 months now and the more I use it, the more I enjoy it. I primarily bought the set so as to be able to view DVDs in widescreen format. Even with the S-Video only output of my current DVD player, the picture is phenomenal.

The set does require some work for optimal viewing and picture. First, the set needs to be raised about 4"-6" above floor level so as to get the center of the set a eye level in typical sitting position. I built a stand using MDF and castors.
Until the set 'breaks in', frequent calibration, especially with convergence, is required. Once the set 'breaks in', a comprehensive calibration of the linearity, overscan, 64-pt convergence, etc. should be performed from the service menu using a reference DVD (like Avia or Video Essentials). I would estimate in the first 2 months of using the set, I had to recalibrate about once a week. In the last 3 months, I've only recalibrated once.
The remote is satifactory when used to only control the TV. However, as a multifunction remote, it leaves a lot to be desired. Although, it is a learning remote, only certain buttons can be 'learned'. The function of most of the primary buttons cannot be changed. Especially, annoying is the inability to 'relearn' the volume control. You would think that Toshiba would have realized that most consumers who would purchase this set would already have home surround systems and would not be using the set's internal speakers. And thus would like to be able to control the volume of their surround system using the remote. This remote doesn't allow you to do this. And then, of course, there is the infamous reset button.
As others have observed, channel switching with this set is slow. I have noticed that I can switch POP channels faster than full screen. So, whenever I'm channel surfing, I POP the picture; surf the POP; then swap and switch to full screen when I find a channel I'm interested in.

I've yet to utilize this set's hi-def capabilities (other than its internal upconvert of 480i to 480p). I'm looking forward to seeing what a HDTV broadcast picture looks like when the area local stations start broadcasting in HDTV during the next few months. And I have a progressive scan DVD player on order. Once I have these inputs, I expect the viewing experience to be so good, I should be able to charge admission.

Highly recommended.

Similar Products Used:

None

16:9 picture, size, picture quality, ease to setup

This TV took the place of a 10 year old 52 inch Zenith which I enjoyed until now. Very pleased with the picture quality thus far. Today I am getting digital cable, will be interesting to see the difference in the picture quality. Would highly recommend this television to anyone in the market

The best strength a TV can have - INCREDIBLE PICTURE

ummmmm, none that I can think of

With cable, this unit is at least as good as any direct view TV, but with DVD, especially anamorphic, this model is the best I have seen this side of high-priced Vidikrons and Runcos (albeit with a smaller screen).

Using the progressive outputs on my Toshiba 9100 DVD player and a good DVD, the picture is stunningly film-like. Even when I was using my non-progressive Toshiba 2109, the internal line-doubler did a great job that made this set look better than any othe rear-projection set I've ever seen.

If you don't have the money for a high-end projector and a decent line doubler, this is without a doubt the TV for you. Set it up with Video Essentials, or better yet, let an ISF tech set it up for you, and there is no way you'll be disappointed.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 36XBR200 and Sony 43 inch RP (both were terrible disappointments)

Great Picture, Value, HDTV Ready

OneCall's Policies?

Great Set. Five stars is my review anyway, but I was motivated to post it by the reviewer below. He/She was unhappy that OneCall did exactly what their policy states.

I bet his/her double post was an accident, I've noticed that happen from time to time on this site.

Good luck to him. Hopefully he can end up getting in-house service. That set is on the verge of being too large to take in.

As for the set, being ready for HDTV is great, far superior to actually having it. When they settle on a standard, and it becomes available in my area, I'll get a receiver. Until then, it works beautifully with a progressive DVD input.

The picture is great. I am still looking around a little before making the final purchase, but expect to either get this, or the TN55x81 ( 4x3 aspect ratio in hte cinema series). For about the same price, the 4x3 image would be much larger on the TN55X81. I'm going to look into the TN55X81 to see if the vertical lines can be compressed in the service menu, in case I start wanting 16x9. If so, the resulting 16x9 picture would be larger than the TW40X81's...

The pursuit goes on.

BTW, returned the Sony due to dark Spots in the corners. Glad I purchased from a place with that policy.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 36XBR200

Awesome Picture

A few inches small on the diagonal

Love this TV. I only have basic cable (not even a DVD yet - next toy!), but the image quality is awesome. Hooking it up was straight-forward I've got the audio through a different box (Technics). The different theater wide modes are great. We're watching standard 4/3 in 16/9 window and are not suffering from fat people syndrome or cropping too much information. The channel changing is hair slow, but no big deal. I can't wait until I buy a higher quality source. I went with the better quality of the Toshiba vs. the few extra inches of the Mitsubishi 46". I'll never regret it. The Toshiba is a perfect fit for our family room and is significantly bigger than by old 29" tube. The quality/price on this TV is great.

Similar Products Used:

considered Mitsubishi 46"

16:9, full screen mode, many inputs, great colors, DVD's look incredible

Reset button on remote is too easy to hit

I'm not going to repeat what everyone has said before. All I can say is that this TV is incredible. I was a little apprehensive getting a RPTV, but this TV put all my fears to rest. The picture is sharp and the colors are fantastic. I think the cable looks better than my Toshiba 27". DVD's are unbelievable when paired with a progressive scan player (5109). Definitely get this one over the TN50X81 if you watch anamorphic DVD's. Disable the SVM, set the convergence, tweak it with VE or Avia and you have one hell of a TV!

Similar Products Used:

Looked at TN50X81 and Hitachi 43" HDTV

Picture and Sound was great.

Only last for two days.Customer Service is poor.

Great picture for two days.On the third day after brief
warm-up black horizontal lines,loss of red color and
overall brightness.Buyer beware if you live in florida and
order tv from out of state you may not get an extended
warranty.Going on third week tv is still in the shop.Even
with my problem I still like this tv.

One of the few affordable HDTV ready widescreen televisons available; very good picture on NTSC material; very bright image, especially for a projection set; lots of different display modes.

Fitting 4:3 aspect ratio material onto the wide screen

Just got this set, and after turning the brightness and contrast way down, resetting the color temperature from "cool" to "warm", and doing a quick 9-point alignment, I am very pleased with the picture. I would also say that this unit has a very good line doubler -- when watching the DVD of "Deep Impact" last night, I was impressed by the detailed & film-like quality of most of the scenes (the exception being principally scenes where thin diagonal lines are in the image). I was also impressed that the image remains quite viewable even when dealing with less than ideal image sources (such as a snowy off-air image).

I am also amazed at how bright of an image this set produces, even after readjusting the brightness and contrast settings -- I'd say it has significantly more light output than the CRT set that it replaced.

What I haven't been able to check out is the "color stream" component video inputs -- unfortunately, the component output of my DVD player appears to be defective. Also, of course, I didn't get an DTV tuner, so I haven't checked out the HDTV performance.

The only real weakness that I've observed is the predictable one -- choosing to live with a cut-off or slightly distorted image when viewing 4:3 aspect ratio material. The nice thing is that Toshiba provides more modes for displaying these images when compared to many of its competitors.

I give this set a high rating for picture quality, and rate is as pretty good on value -- very reasonable for a widescreen HDTV ready set, but that is still makes this a fairly pricey set for its screen size. But I willingly paid a couple hundred bucks extra to get this set over the 46" Mitsubishi.

Similar Products Used:

None -- but selected this unit over 46" Mitsubishi.

Good picture, 18" depth

Quality, reputation

I ordered this TV in January from Buyitnow.com. I never got it. It was still backordered at the end of March, so I canceled the order and bought the Mitsubishi.

Coincidentally, I have 1 friend with the TW40x81 and a different friend with the 46" Mitsubishi. We all live in the same townhouse complex, so we are constitantly at each other's places. Since I work at night and they work in the day, I became the "designated house-sitter" when they each had their TV's tweaked by service tecnicians within 6 weeks after they were purchased.

I had been leaning toward the Toshiba because of the more shallow depth and the good reviews on audioreview.com. After speaking the the technicians (from 2 different companies), I canceled my order and went with the Mitsubishi. I feel fortunate that the Toshiba had been been backordered for so long. Both of service guys said essentially the same thing: "the Toshiba is an OK TV, but the Mitsubishi is much better". Cited by both were the fact that they need to fix and/or adjust the Toshibas more frequently. Also, they said it was a common knowledge that the best rear-projection TVs are Mithsubishi and Sony (I never considered any Sonys), and Toshiba and Hitachi are still a ways behind. One mentioned that there are several other high-end brands, but in this price range, the Mitsubishi is the way to go.

I went with the Mitsubishi and am very pleased with the purchase. Obviously, the visual impact is far greater with a 46" vs. a 40". The features are great and it can be bought for about the same price (both about $2100-2400). We all run progressive scan DVD players and DirecTV. We've compared the two sets in-depth and all three of us came to the same conclusion: the Mitsubishi is a much better value. Our friend with the Toshiba is trying to sell his, so he too can get a Mitsubishi (and he is usually the last one in the WORLD to admit he made an incorrect purchase!).

If you have a smallish living room, the 40" Toshiba will be a good TV, but if you can use a few more inches, I strongly recommend the Mitsubishi.

Similar Products Used:

Mitsubishi WT-46805 (46" 16:9, HD-Ready)

Looks great with SOME DVD's (eg. "Bug's Life") Small size, 16:9 aspect ratio, Progressive inputs.

Looks AWFUL with most TV signals, POOR BUILD QUALITY, flimsy cabinet, Guns won't hold convergence, HORRIBLE REMOTE

Ohhh yes, yes, yes, according to the glowing reviews here, one just can not go wrong with this set. I bought the hype, then I bought the set from BestBuy in Marin County. Got it home, hooked up the progressive Toshiba DVD player, and was stunned by the quality of "A Bug's Life". "Armageddon" looked very good too, and this set can throw a nice red. HOWEVER... The downside is that, although the other TV's in my home (Pioneer Elite, Sony Wega --which is also junk, compared with my older Sonys, but that's another review) look great with my direct TV, this set looked awful. Poor color saturation, terrible lack of sharp detail, and an overall crummy look on any 4:3 signal. I decided I needed a new, HD converter, and so I ordered the RCA system. I then hooked up the new 2-tuner HD DTV dish and converter to the Toshiba. I was ready for HD! Guess what? It looked like crap. By this point, having sunk about $5000 into the set, progressive DVD player, and HD DTV tuner/dish, I was fed up. I took the set back to Best Buy after 6 weeks of use and got a refund. The Mitsubishi, at 46", was a consideration, but of course they have that giant Blue gun which makes their sets look skewed accordingly. I have no idea where to go now... I tried the 36" Wega XBR, and found it very lacking in comparison to my 6 year old 32" XBR. Only my Pioneer Elite has satisfied in terms of everyday use, quality, and overall picture. Too bad they don't make a nice small 40" for the bedroom (This system had been intended for my bedroom. I would never put a Tosh in my home theater. They're a second tier manufacturer, and this proves it.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer Elite, Sony Wega (XBR), others