Customer Reviews

Toshiba 50HP66 50-Inch Plasma HDTV

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

we looked long and hard to find the best "value" and not price, meaning we were not interested in the lowest cost solution. In fact our focus was on the top 42" &43" Panasonics and Pioneers (based on Consumer Reports and Plasma TV Buyers.com) until comparing the Toshiba 50HP66 side by side with Panasonic at Video Only in Bellevue. (Toshiba was superior in every category!) The sales rep included "free delivery" so we are now into a 50" Plasma HD which has tranformed our tv experience where we can watch an excellent picture, sound and are more engaged. You should include Toshiba in your search also they are the first on the market with HD DVD recorder.

This TV has brilliant depth to its colors, and watching sports in HD is amazing. The detail that the TV gives is truly great. The TV has 2 HMDI plugs for your cable box and DVD player, which even if you don't want to spend 1,000 on a HD player, you can get an upconverter DVD player with HDMI out for only 100 bucks. Its like watching movies in a theater.

We purchased this TV in July of 2006 when it just hit the market. Overall we are quite pleased with the TV. We compared it with the Panasonics, Pioneers, Philips, LG, Samsung, Vizio and Maxent TVs on the market. Overall it compares favorably with the top tier brands (e.g., Panasonic, Pioneer) in picture quality, but the price is midway between the second tier brands (e.g., Maxent) and the top tier brands.

Pros:

1. 2 HDMI inputs - High Definition Media Interface (HDMI) is the wave of the future. One cable carries both audio and video feeds and is the standard for the next generation of HD DVD players, cable boxes and satellite boxes. Having 2 HDMI interfaces allows you to connect a DVD player and a cable or satellite box. I have my TV hooked up to a Toshiba upconverting DVD player using the HDMI input. The cable is connected via analog input to the TV.

2. HD Picture Clarity - Toshiba is using a Philips / LG panel, which is ubiquitous in the industry (e.g., Maxent, Vizio, LG, Philips and others all use the panels from this joint venture). However, Toshiba sets the panel resolution at a native 720 progressive (i.e., it paints the picture line by line), rather than a 1080 interlace (i.e., it paints alternate lines). Whatever signal it is fed, it will be converted to a 720P. I believe that this results in a smoother image. The HD picture quality is sharp and vibrant. Standard picture quality (e.g., from cable) is pretty good - the picture is definitely softer than HD, but definitely watchable. Our cable provider is Time Warner and their cable box does a great job of stretching a standard picture for the screen. When this TV was side by side with Panasonic, Philips and Pioneer and Maxent - the Panasonic seemed to have the best image, it was slightly sharper and colors were more natural. I was not impressed the Pioneer (colors looked off) picture or the Philips (a little soft) picture. The Maxent picture was surprisingly good, but not quite as sharp or natural as the Toshiba or Panasonic.

3. Price - When we purchased this TV, it was $400 below the Panasonic and and $300 above the Maxent and Vizio TVs. It was priced about the Philips. Considering Toshiba's reputation as a top tier brand, the price was more than competitive.

4. Predicted Reliability - According to Consumer Reports, the Toshiba TVs have relatively low rate of repair compared to other brands (particularly the second tier brands).

Cons:

1. Picture Color - The Toshiba tends to have a "red push" (i.e., skin tones and reds seem to be redder). One can help reduce the red push by setting the temperature settings to "cool" and "film". Still it is a warmer picture than Panasonic. Also, like most plasma TVs, it has a harder time with blacks. On HD signals, blacks are nice and dark and inky. On standard definition or DVD, the blacks can sometimes seem blotchy and pixelated.

2. Input Selection - The TV has a number of inputs. On the remote, one selects the input key and all of the inputs are identified. One then selects the input desired (e.g., cable, DVD, etc.) If you hit enter, it then calls up the menu. If you leave it alone, the TV will wait a few seconds before switching signals. Also, when switching between HD and regular signals, the TV takes a couple of seconds to switch signals.

Neither one of us are tremendously technical, but we wanted a nice tv to mount over our fireplace. We researched online as well as visited a couple stores and decided on this one. We've only had it a few days, but I'm very pleased. It is very user friendly - meaning I don't have to get the manual out every time I want to make an adjustment! I did have to hire somebody to mount it and run the wiring, but I would have to do that with any of them. It's a great buy!

I bought this 50" TV, a 42 " panasonic and a 50" vizio plasma TVs around the same time (2006 holiday season, all new from either bestbuy or circuitcity). I also have a sony 65" HDTV projection TV. I would not recommend anyone to buy this Toshiba. The unit works OK but have several disadvantages
a) change a channel takes five to seven seconds for the new channel program to show up - which is not tolerable when you want to just go through channels to see what's on. (my feeling is that the technology/chip used is way to old than that in the competing models).
b) digital channel and analog channels are not separated and it is impossible to to use "previous channel" function to go between digital channels.
c) the picture quality (color and pixels) is the worst among all of the models mentioned above, espeacilly for the night sceans (for example, sony will show very smooth pictures of a DVD movie while the toshiba shows a lot of wavering small pixels when you get a little closer to the screen - say five feet).

I actually had bestbuy exchange for a new unit as I first thought these issues might be related to the unit I had.

I keep this new 50" plamsa in basement and only occasionally watch it (may be once in a month) so it is not a big deal for me. But I am surprise to see those good reviews from cnet/amazon. I'd recommend people to stay away from this model.

Jian

I purchased this TV in Sept. '06. On April 8th, 2007 while watching the last holes of the Masters, I heard a loud whine and then POOF, the TV was off. Then it tried to start itself over and over again. TV was gone. I called customer service next morning(9th). They referred me to a repair company that didn't get to my house until the 13th. He could not fix it. He had to order a part.several weeks went by and no one was giving me an answer other than, " the part is on backorder". Well needless to say, yesterday (29 may 07) 51 days after my TV went down, Toshiba called and said that I can continue to hold on the backorder or get my money back. I choose the money, but, it will take 4 to 6 weeks to get it. They said they will send someone in 5 to 7 Business days to pick the unit up! 5 to 7 days to get thier broke tv but 4 to 6 wks for the consumer who spent good money in the first place to get his money back. Way to go Toshiba. I will never buy a Toshiba product again. Horrible and I mean horrible customer service.

The Tv was not all that either. My friends 50" Panasonic is far superior.

I just received this TV today and am super happy with it. The only features I would have liked are PIP and faster channel flipping. All in all, I have no regrets (so far at least).

This Toshiba plasma TV is simply a Lemon. Mine worked for only 3 years and had major component failure's. Once upon a time Toshiba made high quality electronics. Another turkey I bought recently from Toshiba was the HD DVD player which they discontinued making . My advise to you is make yourself happy buy a different brand.

After 21 months the picture went out. No help from Toshiba and an estimate of 495 to fix. I'll never buy Toshiba again!

We bought this TV about 3 years ago from Sears. The pic was fabulous and we were fairly happy with it even though we thought the price was excessive. Last year (just after the warranty expired) we had to have a tube (?) replaced to the tune of almost $500. We really debated over spending the money or buying a new TV. Since we had such a significant investment, we decided to repair it. Imagine our chagrin when the same thing happened again this year. So needless to say, we bought a Vizio last night and hope that we have much better luck with it.