Toshiba 34HF85 34" TheaterWide HD-Ready Flat-Screen Direct View TV

by Toshiba

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 40.4 x 30 x 30.4 inches ; 128 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: B000816XI4
• Item model number: 34HF85
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,407 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Big-screen TVs don't have to have huge cabinets. Toshiba's surprisingly compact 34-inch TheaterWide TV just happens to offer unusually rich and sophisticated image enhancements, too. The two-tone silver/gray 34HF85 is fully high-definition-ready, accepting the full range of NTSC inputs: 480i (standard-definition, interlaced), 480p (EDTV, enhanced-definition progressive), and high-definition 720p and 1080i video signals.

The set boasts not merely 2 high-definition-ready ColorStream HD component-video inputs, but a pair of HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) jacks for direct-digital connections with a DTV set-top box and one other high-def source (such as a satellite receiver). What's more, its FST PURE fine-pitch flat picture tube not only looks great, it also minimizes unwanted reflections from room light and increases viewing angles while enhancing picture linearity.

Improving standard interlaced signals (like composite-video outputs from a DVD player, cable box, or VCR), Toshiba's CrystalScan HDSC upconverts all signals to high-definition 1080i resolution or user-selectable 540p (progressive). 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.

A shadow mask is a thin sheet of perforated metal behind the screen that restricts electron flow, each hole in the sheet corresponding to a single pixel. An Invar mask uses an alloy that's especially resistant to the high temperatures generated by the electron beam, allowing in a brighter, clearer picture.

DFine high-speed VSM (velocity-scan modulation) 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. Finally, Cinema Mode (3:2 pulldown reversal) circuitry identifies original film-based content from DVDs, then reassembles the frame sequence to more accurately reproduce the original 24-frame-per-second material.

As standard video amplifiers increase the gain of the video signal, video bandwidth tends to decrease. This eliminates the higher frequencies, reducing resolution. The 34HF85's wideband video amplifier maintains the higher frequencies, enabling higher resolution and greater sharpness and detail.

The set's array of great features includes 2-tuner PIP (picture-in-picture), by which you can view one TV channel and one input side-by-side or even two separate TV programs simultaneously. The set also includes auto channel setup, channel labeling, input labeling, channel lock, favorite channel, last-channel recall, and auto mute when you stumble upon a channel with no signal.

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.

Two sets of rear AV inputs and a set of front AV inputs (all including S-video) foster easy connection with a camcorder or gaming console, and a rear AV output lets you hook the set up with a surround receiver.

The set's stereo speakers are powered by 5 watts per channel, and SRS WOW processing combines 3D Sound (simulated surround sound from any stereo audio) with TruBass low-frequency enhancement, and Focus (which clarifies voices).

HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver) with your television. HDMI supports standard-definition (SD), enhanced definition (ED), or high-definition (HD) video, plus multi-channel digital audio--all using a single cable. It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports up to 8-channel digital audio, with bandwidth to spare to accommodate future enhancements and requirements.

What's in the Box
Television, remote control, batteries, a user's manual, warranty information.

Product Description

Toshiba 34HF85 TV features 16:9 FST CRT for TheaterWide widescreen imaging, Dynamic Quadruple Focus, Wide Band Video Amplifier, and DFine High-Speed Velocity Scan modulation. Additional features include CrystalScan HDSC for all time 1080i resolution, CableClear DNR+ that optimizes video connections by eliminating noise and automatically adjusting sharpness, and HDMI Digital Video Inputs. It also boasts SRS WOW for unparalleled sound quality. With the proven integrity of CRT technology, this TV delivers about the brightest and sharpest images around. From TV to HDTV - this opens the door to home-theater in your home. Selectable SRS WOW for more spacious sound from the TV's built-in speakers Direct video input selection with video input labeling of inputs including 3 composite video (2 rear, 1 front), 3 S-video (2 rear, 1 front), 2 rear-panel HD-compatible component video (accepts 1080i/720p/480p/480i signals), 1 rear-panel HDMI digital audio/video input with HDCP copy protection, 2 RF inputs for antenna/cable signals Unit Size - 33-1/2W x 24-1/2H x 23-1/2D / Toshiba USA warranty - 1 year parts & labor (2 years parts on the picture tube)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Quality Picture at a bargain price..., February 19, 2006

By 

RJAj (New England) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Toshiba 34HF85 34" TheaterWide HD-Ready Flat-Screen Direct View TV (Electronics)

Overall, I am very pleased with the quality of the picture on this TV set. I have it hooked up with an HDMI cable connected to Comcast's (Motorola) DVR box. Comcast has several "HD" broadcast stations, although true HD programming is still very limited. I would suggest you program your own preferences (called MEMORY) rather than use one of the preset Toshiba setups which are either too bright (Sports & Movie) or too dark (Normal) I have my preferences set to levels between the Movie and Normal settings and find that I do not have to change them too often. I also have set resolution to 1080i, but will sometimes switch it to 540p on some analog stations or older programs as the interlace scan lines are sometimes very obvious and progressive scan works better. Amazon claims in the product description that this set includes 2-tuner PIP, but I do not believe it does as there is nothing in the documentation that references this, nor do I see any PIP button on the remote or in the menu setup.

**** UPDATE***** I checked with Toshiba customer service and was informed that 2 Tuner PIP IS NOT A FEATURE on this TV set!!! There are not 2 Tuners, nor is there any PIP!!! They also informed me the set is manufactured by TOSHIBA in the USA and not Orion as some reviewers have suggested!*******

While overall, I have a positive view of this set, there are some drawbacks:

The 4 different theater-modes for the picture on analog/normal stations really distort the picture and/or cut off the top and bottom. Full screen mode keeps all of the data at the top and bottom but people tend to have fat squishy faces.
The TV does NOT have a Menu button on the set...so if you lose or break the remote control, you are stuck...there is no other way to choose source, picture size/quality, or other settings! This is a major drawback!
The Remote Control that comes with the set is supposed to be a universal remote, but it has no code for the Motorola box comcast uses, nor does it have any buttons for DVR controls, so it is necessary to keep 2 remotes around.

I would also STRONGLY recommend you try to get this at a local store with their own delivery company. The company Amazon used for my delivery was horrible. I was NEVER directly contacted by the company when my set arrived in their warehouse. I had to make a toll call 4 different times to finally get delivery over a week after the warehouse received it from Amazon, and 13 days After I ordered it from Amazon.com. Amazon claims that the "premium delivery service" they use, for which you add $100 to the price, "use protective equipment such as floor mats and doorjamb padding to prevent damage" There was no evidence of this when they made my delivery, and one of the two people sent was an older gentleman who had a great deal of trouble lifting the merchandise, almost dropping it a couple of times on the way up the stairs. They also DO NOT set up the TV for you. They will plug it in and hand you the remote, and that's it. If you do not know anything about hooking up, make sure you get it from a dealer who provides a set up service. Amazon also does not do any follow-up on how the delivery service was which is very surprising to me.
So to sum up, I'd give the TV about 3 and a half-stars
The price 4 stars
and Amazon delivery service 0 stars.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best buy for the buck, December 9, 2005

By 

Paul in San Rafael - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toshiba 34HF85 34" TheaterWide HD-Ready Flat-Screen Direct View TV (Electronics)

I purchased this TV a month ago and am thrilled with it. I got it at Best Buy for $899 and its picture is comparable to the Sony 32" but is bigger at 34" and about $200 cheaper and 60lbs lighter. The colors are spectacular in HDTV especially sports and movies with progressive scan DVD. The reception you get really depends on the channel, some analog channel reception is better than others. I have digital cable from Comcast. The HDTV channels are awesome, I just wish there were more of them but I know in time there will be. I don't know why some of the other reviewers were knocking this TV, they must have bought a defective set. My previous Toshiba 30" lasted 17 years and I did a ton of research on this TV. I compared it to Sony, Phillips, Panasonic, Magnavox, Samsung and the picture on this TV was among the best out of all of them. The thing I liked about this set was the 34" size,picture quality and all of the state of the art features which are too many to list. I am very satisfied with my purchase and look forward to many happy years viewing this TV.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Happy, but not thrilled..., November 28, 2005

By 

Jeff H. (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Toshiba 34HF85 34" TheaterWide HD-Ready Flat-Screen Direct View TV (Electronics)

I purchased my 34HF85 about 2.5 months ago. When I first received the TV the picture was warped. I called Toshiba to have it looked at (Toshiba support was freindly and helpful). The local repair guy said it was a bad picture tube and that he needed to take it back with him to the shop for repairs. 6 weeks later I finally got the TV back and it still wasn't quite right, so I called the repair folks to come back out to my house. Apparently they needed to recalibrate the TV 'for my environment.'

That was the bad part of the story. The good part of the story is that I am now happy with the TV and have been enjoying it for several weeks. I am using component video for all input signals. The picture looks fantastic when playing DVD's. I wish I could say that the picture also looks fantastic for HD TV (coming from Comcast) but it doesn't. It does look really, really good - but not fantastic. Non-HD TV is acceptible. For a comparison, I looked at a Sharp Aquos belonging to a friend of mine. The Aquos has a much nicer picture quality than my TV. However, my friend paid twice as much as I did and only has a 32" screen.

All in all, I have to say that I am happy with my purchase. It was my first foray into HD and price was a major consideration. I would consider this TV to be a very good TV 'for the money'. Anyone who is limited to a sub-$1000 budget should definitely consider it. However, if you aren't bound by a small budget or don't mind a smaller screen size I would look into something else.