Toshiba 46HM95 46-Inch Diagonal 16:9 Integrated HD DLP Projection TV with HDMI
A decent upgrade into HDTV
I bought this tv as an upgrade from an analog set.  I was aiming at getting a screen that was big enough (but not TOO big) for me to not feel as though I should have gotten the bigger size.  To date, I am 90% satisfied with the purchase.<br /><br />It's very convenient that the HD tuner is integrated into the television.  When I brought this set home from the store I was able to plug in my set of amplified rabbit ears and immediately receive the local HD broadcasts.  Ironically, even though I have a digital cable subscription, I still use my rabbit ears intermittently because Comcast hasn't negotiated a contract with CBS for their HD signal.  Strange, but true.<br /><br />I had no problems with the construction of the TV when it was unboxed.  There were no noticable flaws or defects, and I haven't noticed any sort of physical flaws or defects over the course of my initial ownership.  The size and weight of this set is excellent.  Carrying it up and down stairs is only a two-man job because it weighs just under 80lbs.  It's also very slender at only 15.25 inches (387mm) deep, which gives my lots of placement options.<br /><br />The picture quality is excellent when viewing from a distance greater than six feet - any closer than that and the clarity breaks down a bit.  Due to the size of the picture, the standard (NTSC) resolution images are rather grainy, but the HD images are excellent.  There are clear edges, good color saturation, and off-axis viewing is surprisingly good too.  It takes a second or so for the processor to switch formats if you're changing from an analog signal to a HD signal, but I'm getting used to that.  I just love the depth of color and brightness that you get with a DLP set - better than current LCD and just a notch below plasma, IMHO.<br /><br />There are plenty of inputs for my home theater equipment, and the built in multi-format flash card reader was a nice surprise.  The front accessible panel also has both standard A/V inputs and an S-video input, which is also quite convenient.  The layout of the rear inputs is easy to negotiate, and I was able to find connections for all of my home theater devices (digital receiver, digital cable box, DVD player) with no problems.  And the owner's manual provides setup suggestions for various combinations of components.  At the current time I am only using the component and optical digital signal inputs, and have nothing to comment on regarding the HDMI or IEEE1394 connections.<br /><br />Due to my digital cable with HDTV package subscription I have to use a cable box supplied by my provider.  I was advised that I wouldn't be able to receive premium services if I opted to use the Cable Card slot.<br /><br />The remote is large and kind of confusing to navigate, and there seems to be a low level high-pitched whine when the backlight buttons feature is active.  And though I've made a few different attempts to set up the TheaterNet device control system, I haven't been able to get it to work as smoothly as I'd have liked (but this point would be moot if you plan to use a universal remote.)<br /><br />Now on the negative side of things; I've had to completely reboot the processor several times over the first few months that I've owned this TV.  The HD signal processing software seems to be a mite touchy at times and can go into complete brainlock, which is what forces the reboot.  Also, there seemed to be an issue with the POP (picture-outside-of-picture) feature that caused a similar lockup when I tried to view two broadcast HDTV signals simultaneously.  This could have been due to user error in retrospect, and all problems have been solved without having to contact tech support.<br /><br />Because this is a rear-projection set, I will eventually have to replace the projection bulb assembly.  I've heard other owners say that they've had problems in ordering a replacement bulb because Toshiba is backordered at the present time.  I can't confirm or deny this rumor.However, it appears that the bulb assembly replacement procedure is simple enough, and the access hatch is conveniently located so I won't have to move the set in order to get to it.<br /><br />All in all, I'm extremely satisfied with my purchase and would definitely recommend this particular model to anybody who is shopping for an entry-level widescreen HDTV.  The price, size, and features are all very good in comparison to other TVs of similar size and design.<br /><br />***************************<br /><br />Since I have written my review, I have had to replace the projection bulb assembly.  This was covered under warranty and done via the Toshiba Customer Service working through a local service rep.  It took a reasonable amount of time to get my set back up and running and their online/telephone service was very helpful and courteous.  I hope that the replacement bulb assembly lasts longer than the first one did though...is simple enough, and the access hatch is conveniently located so I won't have to move the set in order to get to it.    All in all, I'm extremely satisfied with my purchase and would definitely recommend this particular model to anybody who is shopping for an entry-level widescreen HDTV.  The price, size, and features are all very good in comparison to other TVs of similar size and design.    ***************************    Since I have written my review, I have had to replace the projection bulb assembly.  This was covered under warranty and done via the Toshiba Customer Service working through a local service rep.  It took a reasonable amount of time to get my set back up and running and their online/telephone service was very helpful and courteous.  I hope that the replacement bulb assembly lasts longer than the first one did though...