Price
Settings can be saved for each input
No aspect ratio lock on progressive signal
Backlit remote
Big flat surface to put crap on
Sweet progressive DVD and digital cable picture

Remote
Absolutely HORRID picture with WEAK cable signal

This is actually for the 2000 model 56H80.

Check out

http://www.keohi.com/keohihdtv/usefulinfo/toshiba/65h80_review.html

For a blow-by-blow evaluation of the larger 65" model (more or less the same for reviewing purposes)

Note about price: Thats Canadian funds. ughh..

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Garbage Sansui 27 toob

Multiple widescreen modes
Great picture/lost of imput flexibility
56" size seems to be "just right" for most home theaters

Factory setting reset button on remote, easy to hit by mistake.
Protective screen cover reflects any light sources badly, so either set it up in a room where you can control the light or take the chance removing it

First, i can't begin to explain the excitement when the delivery truck finally arrived. I honestly believe that I'm one of the first 100 people in the US to get of the 56x81s. I got mine thru UnclesStereo. The price was fair but I must this about my impression of working with Uncles: They can find those "hard to find" items and they'll give you a fair price but my customer service experience was simply horrible. I was told i'd have the tv in 2 weeks, it took 4. I was told the delivery crew would help bring it in the house, they wouldn't. Each time I called, i had to talk to someone else and reexplain my situation again. And if all that wasn't bad enough, my tv arrived with outside carton damage. Anyways, enough about Uncles, take it for what it's worth>
Thank goodness that after unpacking the tv, it wasn't damaged. This tv has wheels but the hardest thing about unpacking is is getting it lifted off of the styrafoam/cardboard base it is shipped in. Once you get the thing flat on the floor, it rolled rather nicely across my basement carpet to it's final resting place in the corner of my newly created home theater.
I hooked it up to my DSS, my Pioneer elite 27TX, with infinity speakers all around and turned it on.
My first impression of the picture, a payperview movie, was wonderful, very filmlike, even "right out of the box." After making the usual user adjustments, it got even better, however i felt the dss feed looks a little harsh, even over digitized if that makes sense. After doing a little more online research, i turned the contrast and sharpness way down and improvement was significant. this was my first experience with the 16x9 ratio, actually never looked at one b4 i ordered this tv but only after 2 days i couldn't imagine ever going back to 4/3. It really makes us feel like we're in a theater. I was uneasy how i'd like sports on it but they look great too. anyways you have multiple stretch modes and a 4/3 if you need it. You can take letterbox formats and move the image all the way up the the top of the screen, dim the lights and again it really feels like you're in a theater. Also the split screen full image POP is a joy for sports nuts like myself on nfl sunday.
I havn't even tried a dvd or highdef source. but even uncalibrated and with the overcompressed dss feed, i've got this picture looking great and it can only improve with better sources.
As you know these new 16/9 x81 series televisions have received a lot of prerelease hype and are going to be hard to get thru the year 2000. Like i said, i'm no video guru but i know what i see. These theaterwide HD tv's are everything they were hyped up to be, i feel like i did my homework and it payed off. If you can get your hands on one, BUY IT!!!

Great picture. Awesome color from component DVD. Picture clarity on close to equal with Pioneer Elite ($2000.00 more)

minimal convergence points (9) compaired to Mitsubishi (64) and others (more than 64)

I compaired the Toshoba TW56X81, Mitsubushi and the Pioneer Elite. All others I saw were not in the same class (Panasonic - poor picture quality, Sony - price etc.) so I purchased one. After the dealer installed it, I let it set for a few hours (possibility of condensation) then fired it up. Awesom - but a little out on convergence (hey - it had been riding on a truck for miles from New Jersey). I adjusted the convergence then sat down to watch a DVD. The DVD played for about 25 minutes then the Toshiba lost horizontal hold and still hasn't gotten it back. Doesn't hold horizontal on TV (cable) or DVD (Component). The dealer is delivering another one next week. I hope this one lasts longer. Hey, what do you want, I got 30 minutes for $4500.00 dollars! What ever happened to the good old days with those little knobs marked "Horiz Hold" and "Vert Hold"?

DVD playback is really nice

video input switching

I looked around at Mitsubishi, Pioneer, and others and found that, especially for the price, this was the best set in it's class. The Pioneer was as good, but cost $700 more, the Elite was really good, but it was even more expensive. I'm happy with the picture, but am also anxious to get it calibrated, as the factory settings seem way out of wack. I'm also considering a DVDO iScan v2... so if anyone out there has experience with this line doubler with this TV, please e-mail me with any impressions.

The fact that there is no way to switch to a particular input without having to toggle thru all of them is a pain... seems like an easy to fix oversight on Toshiba's part. The set also seems a little "cheap" in construction... especially the inputs on the back. Seems like you could push the whole panel in the back with hardly any effort. Hopefully the electronics and optics are where they put the effort.

I have noticed that this Toshiba seems very "powerful." The images can be almost blindingly bright at times... that is one reason I'm looking forward to a full ISF calibration... to bring this monster under control and set things as they should be.

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Pioneer 5185

The superior film like picture.

Haven't found one yet.

Like Dark Cobra, I too just got the newest model 56H80. I looked for a long time and almost bought the old model TW56X81. I'm I glad I waited! The exterior of this model looks the same and the dimensions are the same. But as soon as you turn this baby on you can see the difference. I am very happy with it so far. DVD's look even more filmlike and my old cable system seems to have come back to life. No more edgyness to the grain structure. The new remote corrects all the serious flaws and this alone was worth the wait. I can tune different settings for my tv than for my DVD.

I posted here only beceasue I didn't know how to start a new review of a product not yet listed.

Just a word about the exchange between Cobra and Doug. Doug you need to lighten up. Cobra is correct in that this site is for the exchange of viewpoints and those positions may conflict and bump heads. You can say all day long that he didn't offend you but your posts say otherwise loud and clear. Be happy with what you have. Cobra thanks for the fine heads up on letting us know about this newer version. You really helped me make the superior decision.

PS You know doug is going to flame back at you, but take the high road and ignore him, we all are.

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Other toshibia products and Lowe.

Picture quality and improved scan velocity modulation

None

Well I guess I should add my review here also for the 56H80 that I also just got. All I can say is wow! I had my choice downn to the Pioneer or the TW56X81. I have to admit that I was leaning towards the Pioneer at first because the picture seemed a bit better. This may be due to a superior line doubler in the Pioneer. I went back to purchase the Pioneer and the dealer had just finish setting up the 56H80. No comparisson. I don't know exactly what Toshiba did but I hope they make these changes to their entire line.

Thanks to Frank and Cobra for your posts. It's a pleasure to learn from individuals who know what their talking about. Frank the last line of your post couldn't have been said better.

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Hitachi, Mitsubishi and Sony products

Theater Wide Format, Picture

Remote Control, Tuner Slowness & Cabinet

I have really enjoyed the VCR tapes in Theater Wide format. Wish the remote would control a Proscan VCR. Interested in a DVD player and have heard good things about Toshiba 3109, does anyone have idea on whether a progressive scan Toshiba would be better that the 3109 through the ColorStream input.

Awesome picture, features and price

Remote is poorly designed. Tuner is slow.

After much debate, I finally chose the Toshiba over several competing models, including the Panasonic and Mitsubishi. So far, I've been very impressed with the picture quality of the Toshiba. After running the Video Essentials DVD, cable TV is very watchable. The two weaknesses I listed were easily overcome, as I have a Philips Pronto remote and I use my JVC VCR as my tuner. I haven't yet seen any HDTV material on this TV yet, but based on the progressive image I saw, I expect it to be spectacular.

This TV represents an excellent value for the features and size. Easily a 5.

Overall value is still sort of up in the air, as I haven't seen HDTV on it yet and I haven't really owned it long enough, but right now.. a 5.

Awesome picture. Aspect control adjustable when receiving a 480p (progressive scan signal). Anamorphic DVDs look fantastic.

Very slow tuner

Toshiba has produced the best value in HD-Ready 16x9 televisions on the market, in my opinion (TW56X81 and TW40X81). This set produces such beautiful video from anamorphic DVDs you will think you are watching HDTV (almost). The tuner is slow, but I'm willing to overlook that feature because of the great video image I am getting with DVDs. I can't wait to get a HDTV-DSS receiver for this set. Highly recommended!

Picture quality, reliability,

Cabinet construction/detail,

Took the plunge into DTV last fall. Wanted a Pioneer ProElite ... price made me choose Toshiba. Great deal from DTVcity ($ 3,700.00). Heaved it off the truck (carefully) set it up, tweaked the convergence a little ... Instant beauty! Fired-up a DVD: UNBELIEVEABLE! I can't imagine another system performing as well (especially for the $). My next step is Digital Satellite ... can't wait. Even though the picture is great as-is, Ivé read several reviews that indicate even greater performance after a good calibration by professional Tech. I'll try that next.

Recommended buy, without hesitation. A higher quality cabinet would be nice ... Pioneer's got that nice black shiny cabinet thats a lot cleaner design. A more conveniently removable screen shield would be nice too ... under most conditions it reflects every little footcandle. of glare.

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No others