Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I originally wanted the 36 inch version since it was on clearance at best buy. They were all sold out the very next morning. So after spending about an hour debating which TV I wanted (I needed one that day, I was moving into my apartment)I decided against the Sony WEGA 36 since I've had nothing but problems with Sony products and chose the this one and saved some cash (the sony and the one I wanted were about $1400). In all I like it. The TV takes some time to set up properly (my friend has a DVD that helps calibrate the image). It has a black screen that helps make the contrast better (black is now truly black and not just a dark grey) but makes the image a little dark unless set up right. But It now looks Awesome! I just got HD Digital cable and It looks sweet.

BTW the main reason I chose a tube over the many nice projections they had is becasue I play a LOT of video games. I know for a fact the projections burn-in easily and I was told by the salesman that plasmas and LCDs burn in even easier (That has to be true becasue he basically advised me to buy a cheaper TV instead, he wouldn't do that if it weren't true). I have an Xbox with component cables, PS2 with S video (hopefully soon component, I ran out of component hook-ups and now need a switcher), Progressive scan DVD player, and HD digital cable. All of them look great.

Few things, there are only 2 HD component hook-ups (Hello, Toshiba we bought an HDTV and we want EVRYTHING that can possibly plug-into it in HD now). The sound is okay but not great (I blew all my money on video and now have to use the TV speakers, I'm glad it's a small apartment). Oh yeah, It's heavier than crap!

Well, I just buy this TV after looking different models and brands. Finally after a good analysis of features, technology, connections, brands and price, I took the decision to buy the Toshiba 32HF73 model and I can tell you in just one word that this TV is an excellent choice: FANTASTIC. This Model has anything you need to connect your DVD, Video, video game, camcorder, etc. Just look the specs for all the connections available and you will be sure that you won't miss any device to connect to it. The picture quality is amazing and when it is connected to a HD signal is much better (any way the video quality is great from normal cable signal). I plugged my DVD progressive (480P signal) to the TV and the image is fantastic. I am not disappointed to choice this brand/mode (well, the search was worth, right!). Another good way to look the specs and features of this Model/brand is to download the owner's manual from the Toshiba web page. I hope this briefly summary of my experience could provide you a guideline to choice your next TV.

"Therefore, the Toshiba 36HF73 36" Flat-Screen HD TV is not defective and we will not be able to offer further assistance or allow the TV to be returned for a refund. "

a) This is NOT the 36 inch, it is the 32.
b) ALL 4x3 tubes will have some bowtie effect on widescreen films, and before buying I looked at all in the class and the Toshiba 32 had the LEAST!
c) you are reviewing the 36 and placing the review in the 32. 3" in a tube set is at the very limits of consumer engineering for tubes. when looking at a widescreen film on a 36' tube, even the best in its class like the toshiba, you are the most likely to get a bowtie. read any information on the variety of choices, ie: largest tube (36") plus widescreen film = bowtie.

I purchased a Toshiba HDTV and had it fail just after the 2 year warranty expired. Toshiba explained there was nothing they would do back up their product. No TV should fail after 2 years. I recommend selecting another brand, you can get the same performance and price, and end up with a more reliable product.

I purchased this TV last week. I am very impressed with it and have absolutely no complaints. It is the best deal out there right now.