Toshiba 42H83 42-Inch TheaterWide HD High-Definition Projection TV
Toshiba 42H83 HDTV Rear Projection
After a brief but intense period of widescreen HDTV comparison and study, we picked the Toshiba 42H83 rear projection HDTV (HD-ready). Tons of features, lots of inputs (including a DVI input) and it looks great. On the showroom floor, its picture outshone many other tv's two or three times its price, very bright, detailed, intense colors. The 42H83 is very compact depth-wise, and weighs only 130 pounds - pretty amazing. I have a small viewing room, and went with the 42\\" (once it was placed in the room, it was clear 42\\" was plenty, almost too big).  GREAT price, got a 10% discount, with the money left over (plus a little extra) we also grabbed the new Samsung DVD player with DVI 1080i output.  <br />  Got it home and fired it up.  I believe (if I read the manual correctly) that the 42H83 upconverts regular signals (S-video, etc.) to at least 540 lpi (?)  Scan lines are non-existent, even on regular broadcast/cable signals. Picture is brighter and has more accurate color than my old Panasonic Superflat CRT. The picture using the Samsung DVD with DVI connection is like looking at a Kodachrome slide - no scan lines whatsoever. The Samsung HD931 upconverts DVD to 1080 lines interlaced and the picture and color are absolutely stunning.<br />The 42H83 has different screen modes to allow widescreen viewing of 4:3 signals.  One in particular stretches the sides of the image but leaves the center relatively unmodified.  This provides for a pleasing widescreen view of non-HD signals, and the effect is more or less transparent - nice. Also featured are multiple Picture-in-Picture modes, which go far beyond the small image in the corner that you might be familiar with.<br />Due to the built-in resolution, any flaws or artifacts in the signal will be magnified; it is easy to tell which cable channels are strong and clean, and which are not. Plenty of rear inputs, including two sets of component, two S-video, coax, etc., as well as DVI input (DVI is the ultimate input for HDTV signals - requires a very expensive computer cable). Also has front panel S-video input set for easy connection of your camcorder or console video game box.<br />This TV has scads of features that I won't try to recall at the moment, but it is a complete package.  I haven't delved completely into fine-tuning the picture yet, but the adjustment menus provide plenty of tweaking if that is desired. The set also features Touch Focus which automatically adjusts the focus quickly and accurately with the push of a single button - for most folks, this handy feature is all that is needed to obtain a good, sharp picture. The 42H83 has a very full-featured and advanced sound system, although I've bypassed it altogether to use my home theater sound setup, so I can't describe here how it actually works.<br />Reservations:  By using the 9 point manual convergence, color bleed can be minimized to a large extent, but there seem to be some types of signals where it isn't completely tuned out (although it comes very close). Some DVD's have a lot of dark scenes, which do not come out pure black, but have a dark grayish tinge - although this may be particular to RPTV's. These might also be remedied by going deeper into the picture settings.  Much of it depends, of course, on the quality of the signal...  One last nit-pick - we've had some experience with occasional momentary signal \\"dropouts\\" using the rear S-video input - it's possible these are due to a complex home theater switching system I'm using, but time will tell on that one. <br />But I'm being a perfectionist here - the picture is truly amazing for a RPTV. We are very happy so far with the 42H83 (we hope we don't have any reliability problems, but so far so good).. Huge amount of features, small footprint, gorgeous picture, and a truly reasonable price.  We can't wait until ESPN HD comes to our area. <BR>Update:  1 month later of steady use, and no quality or reliability problems.  Still churns out a big, beautiful widescreen picture - Monday night football is truly satisfying and DVD's are like going to the theatre without getting gum stuck to your shoes.  Forgot to mention - we were a little shocked to realize this set was \\"Made in the USA.\\"  Nice surprise these days.