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| Date Reviewed: 12/10/2006 |
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Strengths: Superior picture quality.
Weaknesses: Favorite Channels Menu(minor)
Channel Browser(minor)
Favorite channel up/down operation from remote(minor)
Summary: 2006-12-23 14:16:18 First, I do not have a set-top box. I use the QAM tuner (ANT 1 input) in the 56HM66 to tune the ("free and clear") digital channels from my cable provider. These channels include all the major networks (ABC, CBS, FOX, etc) in high-def. If you are like the 90% of users that have a (cable/satellite) set-top, then you probably won't ever experience the "bad stuff" listed below.
First the good stuff:
If you're shopping for a DLP TV, this is your TV. The picture is second to no other DLP. I got it for a great price at Best Buy's Black Friday sale.
Video scaling is great. 720p channels look awesome, 1080i channels look just as good. As a result, I'm impressed with the sets 1080-> 720 down conversion capabilities. DVDs look great too with my progressive scan dvd player (using component inputs) so the up conversion is good too. Update 12/23/06 - I had a chance to play with my progressive scan DVD player and the TV and now I am convinced you do not need to buy a progressive scan DVD player. I enabled progressive scan on my DVD player and the picture looked no different then when the TV was doing the up conversion from a non progressive signal. This makes sense since the DVD play converts the signal from 480i to 480p and then the TV does a 480p to 720p conversion. Don't use a progressive scan DVD player and just let the TV do the 480i to 720p conversion. The less conversions, the better.
I use the "low lamp" setting so the bulb will last longer and the picture still looks great.
Now the minor bad stuff:
During setup, when using the ANT 1 input, the TV scans for all available channels. Every channel that the TV finds, it stores in a channel list, even the encrypted channels that cannot be viewed are stored. This makes channel surfing impossible because I'll hit a block of 20 channels that I can't view. I cannot configure the "channel browser" not show the channels that I don't want to see. My mother's Sony allows you to do this.
The TV only allows you to store 9 favorite channels. I need about twice this many.
Finally, when I hit the favorite channel up or down button on the remote, 50% of the time, a channel is skipped (like I'm holding down the button too long). No matter how quick I press and release the button, two channel up/down events will still get issued.
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| Date Reviewed: 02/20/2008 |
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 Stay Away Strengths: Cheap
Weaknesses: Everything Else
Summary: This is the worst TV I have ever owned. I bought this unit a year ago, and I am on my second light engine and third light bulb. The Toshiba customer support has been pathetic. I was a loyal customer, I have three other Toshiba TV's and a Toshiba laptop, but after this experience i will never by from them again.
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| Date Reviewed: 09/21/2007 |
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56HM66 is a dissapointment
Strengths: Nice picture, good price
Weaknesses: I have gone through 4 lamps in 9 months. Now looking at 2 weeks to get a repair tech in
Summary: I thought this was a great deal when I first investigated it. Having gone through 4 lamps in such a short period is scary. Toshiba says they will make it "right" and replace the bulb again. A lot of good that does me as the warranty period is just about up too. They say my experience is unusual and the set needs an adjustment. Having read other reviews with similar experiences lends me to the conclusion I'm being fed a bunch of BS and the set is lousy. I feel they should give me my money back.
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| Date Reviewed: 02/22/2007 |
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Strengths: This TV has incredible picture quality, intense color, a low/slim profile, superior sound quality and tons of theater options so even when you don't have the right media, you can format to fit!
Weaknesses: Color and picture are not good from a lower or higher angle, you have to positioned just right in front of the TV to really enjoy the quality.
Summary: Again, my favorite feature on this TV is that no matter what the media type you have (full screen, wide screen, or other...DVD) you can use the theater settings from the menu to customzie the view! Well worth the price. Also has enough ports for my techy husband to plug all his "toys" into without having to plug or unplug a certain unit to get another to work properly. I really enjoy watching movies more simply because of the picture quality!
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| Date Reviewed: 01/18/2007 |
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Strengths: 720p, HDMI input, lamp save mode, clear picture
Weaknesses: not 1080p, No DVI connection nor multiple HDMI inputs
Summary: This television looks great. The picture quality is very clear at 720p. The HDMI input allows for great quality of blue ray discs and PS3. The picture modes are user friendly, easily adjusting to your viewing desires. DLP looks great and even seems brighter than my 62in LCD. Overall great investment.
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| Date Reviewed: 12/03/2006 |
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Strengths: Great Picture
Weaknesses: None
Summary: I took the TV out of the box and hooked it up. Just that simple. Great picture. DVDs are crystal clear.I bought this on sale at Best Buy on Black Friday so I haven't used it very long. I will try to come back later with more.
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| Date Reviewed: 10/13/2006 |
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Strengths: Awesome 720 & 1080! Picture you will not be disappointed, Muti Jacks HDMI and Component Make it easy to set up,
Light weight About 75lb's
Matching Stand makes it look like one peice unit
Weaknesses: None: Best Money Ever Spent! have set for over 6 months now with a ton of hours between My wife myself and 4 kid's
NO Problems!
Summary: 2007-02-18 11:38:20 You Cant go wrong with a Toshiba in my book This set replaced a 10 year old 48" Toshiba Projection screen, In the ten years only had it serviced 3 times for very minor problems, was time for a new set,
In our house this TV will see above average Use,
got the PC Richards 2 year extended warrantee, Which will cover Bulb replacement's
Also compared with a JVC, Panasonic, and Sony lower end wega sets, Toshiba 56HM66 beats them hands down!
Compare for yourselves! Had set a little over a month with plenty of hours on set NO PROBLEMS
Happy Hunting
PART 2:
10/27/06
Set is still going strong with plenty of use no problem as of yet!
PART 3:
2/18/07
I know there a lot of new set's popping up in the 1080p now but I still think you can't go wrong with this set!
Also boughta Toshiba DVD with HD conversion (about $99.)HDMI hook ups , LOVE IT!!
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| Date Reviewed: 12/14/2006 |
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56HM66
Strengths: nice picture on dvd when it works
Weaknesses: not 1080
Summary: I have a BIG problem with my tv, when i use a sony $128.00 upscaler dvd player from Best Buy and a HDMI cable the picture looks great at 1080i but when i turn it off my dvd and tv my wife the next day comes in and turns it on and we have sound with no picture on cable.i have ot do a reset on the tv to get cable again. i eihter get a screen with green or black. so i really dont know if its a tv problem or a dvd upscaler or a hdmi cable. when i look at my box it says it modle 56HM66 the back of the TV says same, but when i get in the menu mode it says 50HM66.... ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT!!!
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| Date Reviewed: 01/28/2007 |
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Strengths: Great picture quality. Almost no lag for video games.
Weaknesses: Noisy fan. You can't customize input names past generic options.
Summary: This television has been a great purchase for me. I use it primarily for watching DVD's and playing video games. I looked at many other HDTV's on display at my local shops and this one looked the best. I was worried about finding a DLP projection TV that could play video games with no lag. A relative had a Samsung 52 inch HDTV, and from personal experience I noticed it had a very bad lag when playing guitar hero on my PS2. This Toshiba 56HM66 is WAY better than the Samsung when it comes to lag. I have hooked up my PS2 and Wii using component cables and notice a very very small amount of lag. I am pretty picky about lag in my games and I find this TV to be good at making it almost non-existent. The TV lets you switch between inputs easily, but one option I wish was available is to custom edit the names of the inputs. It gives you a list of options to choose from, but I wish I could type in the name of the system plugged into a certain input, instead of just choosing from the list “Game Console”. I know that is getting picky, but I wish it was there still. I would recommend getting a sound system to hook up to this set, as the speakers it comes with are not the greatest. I already owed a speaker system, and personally like how the design of the TV doesn't make the built-in speakers stick out. There is a fan that is constantly running that is very soft. It isn't that big a thing, but it is noticeable. I am overall very pleased with this HDTV.
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| Date Reviewed: 12/27/2006 |
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Strengths: Picture Quality, size, light weight.
Weaknesses: No PC hook-up. Can sometimes hear the fan.
Summary: I have had this TV for about a month. I purchased it from Best Buy on Black Friday. I had a 36" Toshiba which I liked, but it weighed a ton and I wanted a bigger screen. I looked at plasma and LCDs, but for the same screen size were more money and I thought DLP looked better than LCD projection. I am not one of those PQ freaks, but the picture looks great, certainly better than my old Tube TV for sure. I see no rainbow effect and it looks good no matter the lighting conditions. I use it mainly for DVDs and Xbox360 since I live in a rural area with poor TV reception though I am considering looking at the dish for TV service if I can find a deal. On the down side, it has no PC connector. Its not a huge loss, but I was kinda hoping it would. I can hook the old PC in the bedroom anyway. I also can on occasion hear the fan in a quiet scene. Overall it has been a good purchase.
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| Date Reviewed: 12/25/2006 |
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Strengths: Bright and even picture! No comparison to the old CRT projection sets. Smoother picture than many we looked at, not the 'screen door' effect like some of the LCD ones.
Weaknesses: None than I can really see. I hooked it up to a surround sound, so sound quality didn't matter. It is adequate.
Summary: I also purchased this set at black Friday, best 2 hours in the cold I've spent! Picked it up for $1200, and like the others say, near plasma quality for half the price. I was really impressed with the brightness of the picture, thanks to DLP. I think the colors are awesome, especially with something like "Finding Nemo". I was looking for a Toshiba, as I've always liked their sets over the other brands, and was happy to see it on sale; and even happier when I set it up and turned it on! 1080p would be nice, but can't complain for the price! Plasma might have a greater viewing angle, but If something happened to this one today, I would buy same one tomorrow. Very satisfied!!
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| Date Reviewed: 12/15/2006 |
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Strengths: Great picture quality. HDMi input. Cablecard. Display
Weaknesses: Poor Sound and un-attractive look
Summary: I got this TV during black friday from bestbuy and I really started liking this. After looking many TV and reviews I decided for this TV. Picture quality is close to plasma. Its having HDMI input so I can connect my upconverting DVD player to get great picture.
Only part I don't like about this TV is that sound quality is not so good. I compared with Samsung TV and found it poor.
Overall this tv is good but not great.
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| Date Reviewed: 12/11/2006 |
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Strengths: Price. Looks. Quality
Weaknesses: No 1080p
Summary: Nice DLP TV when compared to others in its price range. I was able to get this set at a very low price. I really like the picture quality on this set. An HD TV is well worth the money if you are willing to get HD service. I recommend buying the stand by Toshiba that goes this this set; it is a perfect fit. The 56HM66 is a clear winner over other brands.
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