Toshiba 32HF73 32" HDTV-Ready TV with FST PURE Flat Tube

by Toshiba

Product Details

Product Manual [4.06mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 34.5 x 26.5 inches ; 151 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 171 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B000093URH
• Item model number: 32HF73
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #373,537 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Toshiba's high-definition-ready 32HF73 TV is poised to render vivid, detailed images from DVD players, digital TV set-top boxes, digital satellite systems, cable television boxes--you name it. It boasts not only two high-definition component-video inputs, but also a digital video interface (DVI) for a direct digital connection with an HD set-top box or receiver.

The 32-inch set's FST PURE fine-pitch flat picture tube not only looks great, it minimizes unwanted reflections from room light and increases viewing angles while enhancing picture linearity. A special 16:9 mode displays a 16:9 high-definition source (full 1080i) with black bars at the top and bottom of the screen to maintain aspect ratio while wasting no screen lines on the bars themselves.

Improving upon standard interlaced signals (like those from DVD player, cable box, and VCR composite-video outputs), CrystalScan HDSC upconverts all signals to 1080i resolution. A 3D Y/C (4 MB, 10-bit) digital comb filter with Vertical Contour Correction ensures sharp, clean pictures from RF (older VCR, laserdisc) and composite-video signals. Meanwhile, Dynamic Quadruple Focus improves edge and corner focus so you can enjoy legible text and graphics even at the outside of the screen.

DFine high-speed VSM (velocity-scan modulation) also improves definition at picture edges by slowing the CRT (cathode-ray tube) beam's horizontal scanning during demanding work and speeding it up when scanning easily rendered sections, like broad dark areas. Cinema Mode (3:2 pulldown switch) circuitry identifies original film-based content from DVDs, then reassembles the frame sequence to more accurately reproduce the original 24-frame-per-second material.

Dual ColorStream HD component-video inputs (Y, Pr, Pb) provide the ultimate picture quality from high-resolution component-video signals (as from compatible DVD players or satellite receivers). And, with direct video input selection, you can directly select inputs from the remote's numbered keypad instead of having to scroll through all of them.

The 10-watts-per-channel 32HF73 offers two sets of rear AV inputs and a set of front AV inputs (all including S-video) for easy connection with a camcorder or gaming console. A rear AV output lets you hook the set up with a surround receiver. SRS WOW combines 3D Sound (simulated surround sound from any stereo audio) with TruBass (which boosts one's perception of bass frequencies for dramatic effects) and Focus (which clarifies voices), while Toshiba's Sub-Bass System (SBS) further heightens the impact of low-frequency audio.

Starting to sound complicated? Don't sweat it. Toshiba's QuickConnect guide walks you through the connection of an antenna or cable box, the initial channel scan, and other setup functions. What's in the Box
Television, remote control, batteries, user's manual, warranty information.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great TV, February 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Toshiba 32HF73 32" HDTV-Ready TV with FST PURE Flat Tube (Electronics)

It was frustrating when I was planning on buying this TV because I could only find one review on it. So I decided to write my first review in order to help anyone interested in this TV. I used a few in store side by side comparisons (discussed later) before the final decision. I also went by the fact that Toshiba TVs have long been competitive with Sony in performance, reliability and features, but are usually a bit cheaper.

This TV has all of the inputs you could ever need (DVI, 2 HD components, S videos, etc.) So far I have used both the DVI and the Color Stream component inputs. I first bought a Samsung HD931 DVD player (w/ DVI) but that product turned out to be unreliable (reading DVDs; the picture itself from the DVI looked great on this TV) and a week later I grabbed a Toshiba SD4900 (for $220 less) which looks great when paired with this TV. The picture is crisp, clean, clear and vivid. My son's movies like Finding Nemo, Ice Age, Shrek etc. look incredible and can truly show you how impressive HD can look. I have also checked out a number of my own DVDs such as The Fifth Element, The Matrix, Heat and Gangs of New York. Each one looked great but some movies need manual fine tuning to look their absolute best. DVDs are often filmed differently and the 1080i or 720p selectable option along with the film or video (3:2 pulldown) selectable option can really make a differnce in getting the best possible picture for DVDs. The picture straight from standard cable is not as good as my regular non-hd Sharp TV on some channels. You have to remember this is not the TV's fault. It is being given a weak signal and is attempting to improve upon it. Sometimes it will blur a bit on standard cable channels when the contrast is set too high, but many channels look very good on the set. It all depends on the signal that station is using. In addition to movies I am also a sports junkie and the far away quick action of basketball and hockey are not very clear at all on standard cable channels. However, I know ESPN HD and CSN HD will remedy that situation. I am getting Digital/HD cable this weekend from comcast and plan to use the DVI hookup for that.

I absolutely love the remote which glows in the dark and has conveniently placed buttons. I didn't even try to operate my Harman Kardon receiver with it, but it logically works my Toshiba DVD player (which strangely has a horrifyingly bad remote) and it also works my Panasonic VCR.

I shopped around and did as much research as possible before I bought this TV. This TV absolutely blew away the new Zenith model(C32V36)in a side by side and to me looked better than the Panasonic 32" HD model as well. I have to admit the Sony 32(32HS510) inch HDTV looked a very small fraction better when compared next to this model in the store, but it was too deep for my entertainment center. That being said, I am definitely not disappointed.

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice for price, but with some annoying flaws., December 29, 2003

By 

Douglas Bowman (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toshiba 32HF73 32" HDTV-Ready TV with FST PURE Flat Tube (Electronics)

Decided on 4:3 HDTV due to oblong vertical shape of entertainment center. 32" 4:3 beat the equally wide 30" 16:9 because 30" 16:9 will essentially become a 26" with vertical bars when watching non HD signals - while the in the worst case, using the 32" 4:3 in widescreen mode produces at least 29" diag. Picture and sound quality is top of the line. would be 5 stars but: "quick connect" still takes some guessing if using RGB cables from HDTV box, "universal remote" will not control ANY VCR/TV/DVD in my house, in particular my Panasonic SC-HT700 home theater system and the Pioneer Voyager box that Time Warner Cable issues with digital cable upgrade - so I have three remotes (serves me right for buying several brands). Toshiba told me "tough luck" and said "we do not guarantee that it will control all devices" - tell that to my wife. last thing to outline importance of remote is that its volume and channel up/downs are positioned opposite of the Pioneer HDTV remote (vol on left, channel on right and vice versa) so I routinely hit the wrong buttons. not so bad on volume, but unexpected channel changes are annoying - just ask my wife :). tv's auto aspect seems to format signals in hit-or-miss fashion. PIP has been difficult to set up and is not really PIP - its a 12" picture-next-to-a 12" picture.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HDTV in decent size and price, July 3, 2004

By 

David M "professordavid" (Zionsville, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toshiba 32HF73 32" HDTV-Ready TV with FST PURE Flat Tube (Electronics)

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.