Can 40" Satisfy? Definitely!
Written: Dec 29 '99 (Updated Dec 29 '99)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Future-proof; Excellent performance; A true high-end TV value
Cons: Finding one to take home before February.
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| arjayeph's Full Review: Toshiba TW 40H80 40 in. TV |
The TW40H80 was a nice set for those with limited space and or/dollars, but wanted to maximize their enjoyment of the new 16:9-formatted movies on DVD and many VHS tapes. When viewing a source in this format, this petite rear-projection unit provided almost the same viewing area as a conventional (4:3 aspect ratio) 50" set, so for the true movie fan, little was lost except for a a bulky cabinet, and ideal for any situation where the the primary viewers would be 9'to 13' from the screen.
However, the TW40H80 has been replaced by the TW40X81. With the model change, Toshiba not only further streamlined the unit, providing the illusion that the set is a tabletop set on a pedestal-type stand, but made several MAJOR performance improvements-here's the killer- with little change in price.
What improvements? Well, the most obvious and welcome change is that the TW40X81 is a genuinely HDTV-ready set. Depending on where one lives might dictate how important that is to one, as many markets have few, if any, programs being broadcast in the breathtakingly-sharp 1081i, 16:9 format. However, the mere fact that it can faithfully utilize all available picture information speaks volumes for this television's capabilities. Even if you currently live in an area that has yet to dive into the digital age, it's reassuring to know that in a year or two, you won't be kicking yourself for blowing a few grand on a set unable to take advantage of the increasing amount of high-resolution programming. Sure, you'll need to add a set-top decoder, but it's wiser to wait for that, anyway, as prices for these boxes have fallen dramatically just over the last year and will, assuredly, continue to drop as industry competition increases.
Another improvement over the TW40H80 is the unit's guns and lensing system; the new unit, in essence, utilizes components and technology previously utilized in Toshiba's far larger 56" "wide" television. The result is a picture that is noticeably brighter, more vivid, and crisp than just about any rear-projection television, and certainly all that might sell for anywhere NEAR this unit's price. With an optimum source, the unit's crisp profile, and the new TheaterBright specially-etched screen, it is very easy to perceive that one is looking into the window of another room as opposed to watching television, even when viewing at a significant angle.
As with most higher-end Toshibas, the unit has dual Colorstream component-video inputs, a feature that will be greatly appreciated by anyone that ever plans on hooking up both a DVD and a set-top decoder box which, I suspect, would be anyone that would buy this type of television. It also has all the bells and whistles to keep any gadget-freak happy, most notably a multi-window, dual-tuner POP (picture-outside-picture), so one can channel-surf AND stay on a primary program, kind of like having two 20" sets side-by-side.
This set is ideally-suited for the person struggling to fit, spatially or financially, a conventionally-shaped 50-53" high-performance TV into their home, as well as those despondent that the biggest tubes (36") with HDTV capability are still made, despite attempts to make it appear otherwise, in a 4:3 format, thereby displaying a picture on less than 84% of its screen when watching letterboxed movies or other 16:9 high-definition sources.
The biggest downside to this set is that, because it DOES impress everyone that sees it, and because the manufacturer experienced several production glitches as well as grossly miscalculating the demand for this item, they're currently hard to get. Because they're hard to get, price haggling is pretty limited. Most stores have waiting lists for this piece, and are not too willing to cut a deal. On the up-side, this set is still a bargain at the asking price.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
arjayeph
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Location: Chicago, IL
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 3 members
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