phenom
07-24-2002, 03:10 PM
Now that I see this TV is DVI upgradeable, I'm seriously thinking of buying it. What does everybody think of it?
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View Full Version : Toshiba 50H82
PaxumBud
08-02-2002, 05:15 PM
after extensive research and several trips to my local best buy, i have decided that this is the tv i am going to purchase in the next month or so(if i can hold out that long). From what i have read this hdtv is an excellent choice for the money. its DVI upgradable, has an excellent stretch mode for strecthing 4:3 pics into 16:9(saw this first hand at the store), has a beautiful picture and is supposed to be able to recieve 720p signals(upconverting them to 1080p from what i understand). now, you must understand, i am a newbie, but i do know a good pic and cool features when i see them, and this hdtv has em. maybe somebody else here can comment on the more technical stuff this hdtv has to offer. someone like 57U, i wonder where he is, he usually seems to be the first to chime in on subjects around here. hope this info helped a little. good luck.
57U
08-02-2002, 08:03 PM
I didn't know I was that predictable... You should be happy with a widescreen Toshiba. I haven't read anything negative about them. On the contrary, most comments have been positive. Good luck.
woodman
08-17-2002, 07:48 PM
Phenom:
Take the word of someone who's spent more than 50 years inside of these critters ... you've picked what I'd consider the best VALUE in today's RPTV market.
If someone were to hand me $2K, I'd be on my way to my local Sears to buy one for myself. If someone were to hand me $5K, I'd still buy the same set, and have $3K left over for other things!
Hope that helps you
Take the word of someone who's spent more than 50 years inside of these critters ... you've picked what I'd consider the best VALUE in today's RPTV market.
If someone were to hand me $2K, I'd be on my way to my local Sears to buy one for myself. If someone were to hand me $5K, I'd still buy the same set, and have $3K left over for other things!
Hope that helps you
faceoff
08-17-2002, 10:48 PM
Woodman (and all),
I was ready to pull the trigger on the 65H82, and then got "cold feet". ..
I got cold feet for 2 reasons (both from forums like this):
1) The Screen protector - from what I've heard, it is not exactly anti-reflective, and will have problems with ambient light.
2) "Pink noise", is supposidely a problem when (if I recall correctly) the speaker volume is set between "0" and "1". I suspect that I will not be using the speakers, and will have it set up to an HTIB, but it might be another story for my beloved. The other option I' thinking (for her) is setting up a macro on a HT remote.
Any comment on either, or both of these issues?
THANKS!
David
I was ready to pull the trigger on the 65H82, and then got "cold feet". ..
I got cold feet for 2 reasons (both from forums like this):
1) The Screen protector - from what I've heard, it is not exactly anti-reflective, and will have problems with ambient light.
2) "Pink noise", is supposidely a problem when (if I recall correctly) the speaker volume is set between "0" and "1". I suspect that I will not be using the speakers, and will have it set up to an HTIB, but it might be another story for my beloved. The other option I' thinking (for her) is setting up a macro on a HT remote.
Any comment on either, or both of these issues?
THANKS!
David
woodman
08-18-2002, 01:26 PM
Originally posted by faceoff
Woodman (and all),
I was ready to pull the trigger on the 65H82, and then got "cold feet". ..
I got cold feet for 2 reasons (both from forums like this):
1) The Screen protector - from what I've heard, it is not exactly anti-reflective, and will have problems with ambient light.
2) "Pink noise", is supposidely a problem when (if I recall correctly) the speaker volume is set between "0" and "1". I suspect that I will not be using the speakers, and will have it set up to an HTIB, but it might be another story for my beloved. The other option I' thinking (for her) is setting up a macro on a HT remote.
Any comment on either, or both of these issues?
THANKS!
David
Comments:
#1. All screen protectors are reflective, but they can be removed - and/or the room lighting can be altered or controlled to eliminate the "problem". I recommend indirect lighting for TV viewing. This is not any reason to decide not to buy one.
#2. In any Home Theater worthy of the name, the sound is provided by a sound system that's external to the TV set, so this is a non-issue. But even when sound is emanating from the set itself, the complaint of noise when the volume is set between 0 and 1 sounds to me like "nitpicking" carried to a ridiculous extreme. Sound level that low would not be loud enough for ANY human ears ... only perhaps for dogs.
Bottom line: Don't believe everything you read (or hear). A lot of it is pure, unadulterated BS. Now go on and pull that trigger ... you'll thank me in the mornin'.
Regarding "macros". If you need or want such things, you'll have to be looking at after-market remotes that have those types of capabilities. One that I can highly recommend is the HomeTheaterMaster MX-500. It can be had for about $135 or so, and will do everything anyone might want, and do it in a very user-friendly fashion.
Hope this helps you
Woodman (and all),
I was ready to pull the trigger on the 65H82, and then got "cold feet". ..
I got cold feet for 2 reasons (both from forums like this):
1) The Screen protector - from what I've heard, it is not exactly anti-reflective, and will have problems with ambient light.
2) "Pink noise", is supposidely a problem when (if I recall correctly) the speaker volume is set between "0" and "1". I suspect that I will not be using the speakers, and will have it set up to an HTIB, but it might be another story for my beloved. The other option I' thinking (for her) is setting up a macro on a HT remote.
Any comment on either, or both of these issues?
THANKS!
David
Comments:
#1. All screen protectors are reflective, but they can be removed - and/or the room lighting can be altered or controlled to eliminate the "problem". I recommend indirect lighting for TV viewing. This is not any reason to decide not to buy one.
#2. In any Home Theater worthy of the name, the sound is provided by a sound system that's external to the TV set, so this is a non-issue. But even when sound is emanating from the set itself, the complaint of noise when the volume is set between 0 and 1 sounds to me like "nitpicking" carried to a ridiculous extreme. Sound level that low would not be loud enough for ANY human ears ... only perhaps for dogs.
Bottom line: Don't believe everything you read (or hear). A lot of it is pure, unadulterated BS. Now go on and pull that trigger ... you'll thank me in the mornin'.
Regarding "macros". If you need or want such things, you'll have to be looking at after-market remotes that have those types of capabilities. One that I can highly recommend is the HomeTheaterMaster MX-500. It can be had for about $135 or so, and will do everything anyone might want, and do it in a very user-friendly fashion.
Hope this helps you
Ricky
08-20-2002, 12:35 AM
What about any of the new Hitachi models i read good review on a Canadian forum any comments.
Ricky
Ricky
woodman
08-20-2002, 02:27 AM
Ricky:
Sure, Hitachi sets are in the same league with Toshiba, Mitsubishi and others, but we weren't talking about "what brand of RPTV is worth considering" - this post is dedicated to only one model of only one brand ... namely, the Toshiba 50H82.
As to "reviews" of products, no matter who they're written by, they are virtually worthless in telling you what you NEED to know. Why? Because the reviewer probably (make that undoubtedly) never climbed inside and serviced one - and found out about the product from the inside where it really counts. When servicing products, you also get to find out how the different companies respond to distress calls. This is one area "where the rubber meets the road" that can morph a contented consumer into a frustrated (and often angry) one - bigtime. So, considering that "reviews" of products are nothing more than subjective opinion of performance - and performance alone - you can see why I regard them as virtually worthless.
My strong recommendation of Toshiba sets is very largely based on how well I feel their products are built, and from my experience - how they respond when difficulties arise.
Sure, Hitachi sets are in the same league with Toshiba, Mitsubishi and others, but we weren't talking about "what brand of RPTV is worth considering" - this post is dedicated to only one model of only one brand ... namely, the Toshiba 50H82.
As to "reviews" of products, no matter who they're written by, they are virtually worthless in telling you what you NEED to know. Why? Because the reviewer probably (make that undoubtedly) never climbed inside and serviced one - and found out about the product from the inside where it really counts. When servicing products, you also get to find out how the different companies respond to distress calls. This is one area "where the rubber meets the road" that can morph a contented consumer into a frustrated (and often angry) one - bigtime. So, considering that "reviews" of products are nothing more than subjective opinion of performance - and performance alone - you can see why I regard them as virtually worthless.
My strong recommendation of Toshiba sets is very largely based on how well I feel their products are built, and from my experience - how they respond when difficulties arise.
Ricky
08-20-2002, 12:12 PM
Good point thank you.
hoopsbwc34
08-20-2002, 08:08 PM
Well, I've got the first negative Toshiba story for you...
I just bought the 57HX81, plugged it in and NOTHING. The red power light comes on, but that's it. No pic, no audio.
The worst part is I have to have a service tech from some local company, take the TV into the shop for 2 weeks. I never even got to see a picture on the thing.... it's killing me. I've saved and waited a year, doing the research and deciding to go with this set... :mad: Who knows what kinda damage will occur in THAT transfer to the shop...
I had hoped Toshiba would send me a new TV and just refurb the other, but no luck. They won't even consider it... Guess that will teach me to buy from a website (no matter how good their customer service) I imagine Best Buy would have taken it back the same day and brought me a new one the next...
Not that I wouldn't buy them again, but I wish they would have stood behind the TV a bit better.
woodman: what should I expect from the tech when he checks this out? sounds like it could be anything.
I just bought the 57HX81, plugged it in and NOTHING. The red power light comes on, but that's it. No pic, no audio.
The worst part is I have to have a service tech from some local company, take the TV into the shop for 2 weeks. I never even got to see a picture on the thing.... it's killing me. I've saved and waited a year, doing the research and deciding to go with this set... :mad: Who knows what kinda damage will occur in THAT transfer to the shop...
I had hoped Toshiba would send me a new TV and just refurb the other, but no luck. They won't even consider it... Guess that will teach me to buy from a website (no matter how good their customer service) I imagine Best Buy would have taken it back the same day and brought me a new one the next...
Not that I wouldn't buy them again, but I wish they would have stood behind the TV a bit better.
woodman: what should I expect from the tech when he checks this out? sounds like it could be anything.
woodman
08-21-2002, 02:49 AM
This only serves to prove what I've been advising people for years. Do NOT under any circumstances buy an HDTV set (or any RPTV set) over the internet. The money you save will be little consolation if/when troubles arise and you have to hope that it will get resolved correctly and in a reasonable amount of time. Unfortunately, the odds are stacked fairly heavily against you. Warranty service shops have NO vested interest in you whatsoever, and since mfgs. pay so poorly for warranty work, your set will not have a top priority status in the shop.
To try to answer your question Senor hoops is hopeless. You could get lucky and get a knowledgable tech or, you can get some oaf with little or no technical expertise and know-how ...... it's a total crapshoot!
Any chance that you can cancel out of the deal and go buy a set from Sears? That would be your very best bet. Other than that, about all I can offer you is a prayer. Sorry, 'bout that.
By the way, don't let this unfortunate turn of events sour you on Toshiba. I still consider them the best in the industry, all things considered.
To try to answer your question Senor hoops is hopeless. You could get lucky and get a knowledgable tech or, you can get some oaf with little or no technical expertise and know-how ...... it's a total crapshoot!
Any chance that you can cancel out of the deal and go buy a set from Sears? That would be your very best bet. Other than that, about all I can offer you is a prayer. Sorry, 'bout that.
By the way, don't let this unfortunate turn of events sour you on Toshiba. I still consider them the best in the industry, all things considered.
