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Strengths: Crystal clear HD,
Attractive bezel and stand,
Some nifty functions on the remote
Weaknesses: Audio out is fixed,
CC is automatic with the sound muted
Summary: 2008-04-26 08:13:14 This TV replaces a four year old 32" Panasonic HD CRT set. I have read previously that a CRT picture is hard to beat, especially with LCD technology but, I must say I'm pleasantly surprised. I really didn't expect the HD images to be quite as good but, if anything, the Toshiba matches up to or exceeds the Panasonic picture.
Other reviews I've read on this set indicated some are disappointed with the SD picture quality. My comment would be - garbage in/garbage out. In other words, the SD picture provided is going to be only as good as the original programming provided by the cable or satellite provider. I find that certain SD channels are nearly as good as the Hi-Def stuff (ESPN, A&E, FSN, AMC to name a few). Case in point is when watching a golf tournament in HD. The picture provided by the tower cameras and especially the blimp shots are incredible because they are being shot with HD cameras. Then compare to the picture from the hand held cameras being carried around by individual cameramen on the course . Awful (in comparison)... The same holds true with a NASCAR race - the pictures provided by the fixed track cameras are superb but the in-car camera shots are pathetic (again, in comparison).
I think the bottom line on SD is that if the programming is being shot in HD (and you're watching on an SD cable channel) or has been digitally remastered, it is going to look very good on this set. Old TV shows and movies transmitted in their original format will be fair to poor. JMHO
Remember too that when going to a larger set as I have done, 480 lines on a 27" or 32" set are going to look better than 480 lines on a 42" or larger set. Only makes sense that the same number of lines spread across a larger area are going to look worse - no?
I find the remote very user friendly - especially all the "Channel Browser" functions. Included are "Favorites", "History", "Ant." and "Input". Use of these features makes finding specific channels a breeze, eliminates fumbling with the number buttons and avoids the necessary delay when switching channels.
I have a surround sound system hooked up and have always used the system to supplement the TV sound. Maybe it's just me but I like to hear sound coming directly from the TV and the surround sound adding a measure of depth to audio. The combination sounds best to me - so, I was a bit disappointed to find that the audio output is fixed. With my Panasonic set, adjusting the volume on the set (or muting the sound) also adjusted the surround sound system audio level. With the fixed output, I have to adjust the surround each time I change the TV sound level. Trivial but a bit of a pain -
The only other negative on the set would be the Mute feature - there is a "Half-mute" option that I use frequently - nice for use when the commercials come on. The full Mute however initiates the closed captioning banner (which blocks a portion of the picture) and this cannot be changed - Toshiba decided that turning the sound off would automatically initiate the CC. If you don't like it - Toshiba suggests that you turn the sound down to "0" instead of using the Mute feature. Sounds silly to me but that's the way they did it.
All in all though, I give this set a 9.8 rating. For the price (and there have been some great sale prices lately), I don't think you can come close with any other set.
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