HAPPY JULY 4th!!! I have been researching TVs for literally 2 years! so, trust me i understand what a grueling experience choosing the right entertainment system can be. I personally have a fascination with film and have always loved movies. That is why a phenominal television was a must for me. Yet, as a college student, to say that i am considerably broke for now is an understatement. !! But, i say, if you are not going to buy an outstanding television, DO NOT BUY ONE AT ALL. if you're not willing to pay more for an HDTV and experience what real television can be with your friends in the privacy of your own home, then just go to the movies with them and deal with other people's b.s. :) oh yeah, and Please don't buy tvs to impress people. (like someone mentioned before on this review page) That's a stupid reason to buy or do anything. Buy it for yourself.

So now that i am finished with my intro, here's my review. Despite all the previous reviews of this product, i am determined to make my own judgement. Skepticism and time to think are usually what aid me in making the right decisions. I decided to buy this tv about 6 months ago after months of research and thinking about it. This TV is THE BEST i have seen. The capability of 1200 lines of resolution on this tv blows away all 40 inch and higher tvs. i have rarely seen 800 lines on tvs its size and larger. I have no doubt and know for a fact that this television gives the most intricately detailed outstanding image available technologically today. and having it in my room only reinforced this fact. I just recieved mine yesterday and am amazed with its capability. I played all my dvd movies and used each of the three widescreen options all these people were talking about. They are outstanding to say the least. I am using an s video connection with my DVD player at the moment, and still the picture blows everything away. Hopefully, soon i will use component video when i buy a monster cable. IF you r confused with all this digital terminology go to www.howthingswork.com. I say this is the best way to arm yourself with knowledge before purchasing anything. Know about what you are buying and understand how this stuff works technologically, and it will help u to make a good decision.

This tv does have some downfalls, as everything does. the cabinet is kind of flimsy like they say. i am planning on purchasing a bose center channel. It's about 5 inches in depth, so it hopefully will be perfect for this television. I have no use for a huge center channel that's bulky anyway. i prefer the bose for its sleakness. The television needs to be raised a little, it does need the stand. And why does every picture i see of this television show it with the stand, but u don't recieve it with the television HELLO. That's is annoying. don't be fooled. I found it on yahoo shopping for $129. I will post more flaws if i notice any.

I did recieve the tv with the guns (rptv) calibrated already, and it looks amazing, so i didn't have to deal with that issue. i am planning though to buy video essentials so i can tweak the television to my preferences. And let me straighten something out.... all those people below who mentioned the "slow remote", give me a break people. you want your channel and u want it now... grow up!!!

It's TRUE. The picture is as if you are looking through a window. It is mindblowing and dvds look outstanding. I have seen sony xbr, the wegas, and the mitsu. Nothing looks like this on the movies i have seen on it (matrix, stigmata, fight club, xfiles, saving private ryan, green mile etc.) they all look amazing.

This tv is compact, its screen is much larger then i anticipated (it's huge), great value. I just pray nothing in it goes bad. I will write another review as soon as i hook up with component video and let u know what differences i have noticed. A few of the previous reviews have mentioned parts in it failing (power supply). These may be isolated incidents, i hope. But the majority of people who have bought this tv are extremely pleased. That's what i look for. Good luck to you!

Similar Products Used:

sony xbr 53"

Size, excellent images, versatility.

Inability to scroll backwards when selecting video mode. Granted this is a nit

After researching the various online newsgroups last Fall and seeing the TW40X81 at a Manchester NH Tweeter's I was all but hooked. The availability issue dampered my excitement(not to be had throughout the winter) til I went back this past April to either put down a deposit or walk away..
I received my set just a little over two weeks ago. The boxing was good with no apparent damage anywhere. Since this was out of Tweeter's range for self-delivery, it came via freight hauler. Plugged it in and started to go through the manual.
As noted before, some of the setting are "factory" excessive. I turned those down and just proceeded to let the system warmup for a few hours. During this time I put together the optional stand. To the stand I added some casters. Why they don't just have these standard, I don't know. I then did the 9 point convergence calibration. Simple enough. I use componet input from my DVD player. With an AVIA disk, I calibrated as best I could and then set down to view my first DVD. Wow! I am pleased! The image was spectacular! For all the DVD's I have seen so far I simply use the FULL video mode. I had wondered and feared from all that I read in the various newgroups that cable would be terrible. I have digital cable here in northern Vermont and so far, the viewing has been OK by me on both the analog and digital channels I receive(180+). This was always one of my gripes about seeing a TV in various stores. The picture, if it wasn't "inhouse", was off a satelite feed. Yes I know that's what we are all aiming for, but cable is a reality for most of us. Anyway, I watch "regular" TV in TW-mode 1. This according to the book keeps the center of the image in normal prespective with some stretching of the outside corners to fill the screen. The stretching is not as much as I have read... TW-mode 2, while keeping the total image in the correct perspective does cut to much from the top and bottom of the image for me. You can adjust this but its still a tradeoff. See more of the top, or bottom... I'll stay with TW-Mode 1. The remote is a remote... Lots of things it has to do as with any electronic toy these days. I have most of my controls trained into a Sony RM-AV2000 touchpad. I have checked my calibrations(after warming up) several times , and they have been right on. One of the reason's I chose this set was for its size. I didn't want a big giant screen(heresy for this group I fear..) I did want a 16:9 set. I did want to be able to sit off to the side from time to time and watch giving the "console commander's" seat to another. This set satisfy's all my requirements.

My setup is:

Yamaha RX-V995
Paradigm MiniMonitorsCC350 CenterPDR-10Sub

TW40X81:
ANT1 cable through SA-2000 digital converter box
ANT2 cable no converter
Video1 S-Video from SA-2000 via 995
Video2 composite from VCR via 995

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First RP set owned. Alternate choice would of been a Mit. 46805.

magnificent picture; surprisingly small form factor; component video; hdtv capability

reset button on remote too easy to hit by mistake

I went into a store to buy the Sony xbr400 after reading the rave reviews. I also read the raves on this Toshiba but figured a projection tv was too big for my apartment. I ended up buying the Toshiba instead after physically seeing: a) the massive size of the sony+stand; b) the tiny picture size of the high-res rectangular window on the square sony screen; c) the magnificent picture on the Toshiba, in full 16:9 size; d) the MUCH SMALLER form factor compared to the sony; and e) the competitive price. This is the tv Stereophile Guide to Home Theater said is the best available under $5,000 and at a size that can actually fit into a normal-sized room. As with any good tv set, I had my calibrated by an ISF-trained technician. Contrary to a previous poster, the tech told me once it's correctly calibrated there's no need to have it done again for the next several years (if ever). Using the component video in from my Denon DVM3700, this tv set is just plain magnificent. I give this piece my very highest recommendation.

Similar Products Used:

Sony xbr400

Great picture , 16:9 ratio, great sound , perfect size & weight.

none so far

I'm not afaid to say that this tv blows away any other tv
out there at this price level and above.I'm using a Toshiba
2109 dvd player with the cheapest vampire component video
cables and the image is absolutely stunning . I can't imagine how this tv is going to look through a progressive
dvd player such as the Toshiba 5109 or the 9100 model.The
line doubler on this tv is very good considerling the price
tag on this tv , now if you you want to get a better line doubbler , go for the dvdo iscan and there you'll have a
tv you can compare with the more high end tv's which sell
for over $10,000 grand.
another great thing is that this tv is ready for the near
future with hdtv ready.You've got 1200 lines of resolution
plus plenty of input and output jacks for your needs.
I just have cable tv and still it looks better then most
crt tv's. It all depends on your reception or what signal
you use . If the signal is bad your going to notice it more
as all high resolution products including the audio reception.I'll admit that a few cable channels don't look
all that good but that's not the tv's fault. I can't figure
how some people can knock this tv by saying the tv's out of focus or it can't be calibrated to look right unless you
pay for a qualified tech.If you can get Avia or Video essentials and go by the book Ï'm sure you'll get a great picture. All it took me was about an half hour to go through
the 9 points calibration and the Avia dvd to get it tune up right.
I would give this product a 6 if I could so I'm gonna give it a straight 5 for price and performance. Great job Toshiba.

Similar Products Used:

none

Price, Color, Picture Clarity, Footprint, Weight, Style, Inputs

No discreet IR codes for on/off or picture size.

I bought this TV through a friend who got the Best Buy employee discount on it. I must say that it is one of the best purchases I have ever made. The 9 point calibration is extremely easy and is far more accurate than many here would have you believe. In addition, with sharpness down and other settings adjusted accordingly (with Video Essentials) the picture becomes incredibly life-like! Colors are brilliant (especially from DVD component outputs). TV is also very small and light weight, perfect for an apartment or even a dorm. My only complaint is that there are no discreet IR codes for on/off or picture size which means I have to play games to switch to the right picture mode with my Pronto. I'd suggest this TV to anyone!

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Auditioned most comparable models.

Exceptional picture and film quality on DVD movies.

reset button, needs to be raised, otherwise great

I've had this model a few months and I've never been happier. I would only replace it with a bigger model from Toshiba! It does need to be set properly since the factory setting are cranked up and the picture looked bad, but once you set it up properly it is fantastic. i did read in one review that you should have it set up professionally otherwise look elsewhere. i do not agree with this. The grey level may not be set perfectly but the picture is outstanding. I recently bought Titan A.E. it had a 3 dimensional look to it. I'm only using S-video with a sony DVP-S3000 DVD player. I have the toshiba SD5109 on order and can hardly wait to see the picture. I can't beleive it could actually be better with this DVD player. If your looking for a unit for DVD and HDTV ready. I recommned it, plus if you live in an apartment like I do. Please note; I did raise the unit using the styrofoam it came with and covered it with a nice fabric. It looks good.

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other toshiba and sony