Great Television!
Written: Apr 11 '04
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Pros: 1. Exceptional value. 2. Image Quality. 3. Incredible Built-in sound. 4. Easy setup.
Cons: 1. 240 lbs.
The Bottom Line: If you are looking for Big Screen with Big Value, then I recommend the 53hx71 that I purchased "reconditioned" on the Net. It exceeds my expectations in every way.
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| kansaidan's Full Review: Toshiba 53HX71 53 in. HDTV-Ready TV |
I needed to upgrade my 20-year-old NEC 27" television, so I decided to go with an HDTV-ready projection TV. They seem to provide more screen size for the money than any of the other technologies.
I wanted a 4:3 aspect ratio, as most of our viewing is regular TV. I took a risk and decided to purchase a "reconditioned" Toshiba 53hx71. I found it at a site where the price was rock bottom (under $1,200) and the shipping reasonable.
It came with heavy duty casters on the bottom, so I rolled it from the garage to the living room by myself. I hooked it up to the cable box in 10 minutes, plugged it in, and up came the most fantastic picture right out of the box I have seen on a TV.
This TV has all the premium features you could want: anti-glare screen, premium crt's, 3D surround sound, one-touch convergence, ambient light sensor, 3D Y/C Digital comb filter, dual colorstream component inputs, and the list goes on.
One thing though, out of the box I dialed the contrast and brightness down about 50%, as they were set at what some videophiles call "torch" mode from the factory. This can cause "screen burn-in" if not adjusted at setup. Surprisingly the picture is still plenty bright and the colors vibrant.
This weekend I setup two cable boxes through a splitter. One line has a Digital Media server/DVD/DVR and the other has premium cable with High Definition channels.
The HD channel viewing is awesome on this set! I used monster component cables and a one-touch focus, and the HD picture quality is like viewing TV on a mirror. Not only is it crystal clear, but you can actually feel the vibrant colors along with seeing them. And the sound is incredible for built-in speakers.
I sit about 8 feet away from the 53" screen. The PQ is so incredible I could probably sit closer. You really get that movie theater sense of being in the action. Believe me, I now have a renewed interest in Sports viewing.
I have yet to do a full AVIA calibration. When I do, if it gets any better than it is, I may quit my job and watch it full time!
It was a releif to discover that factory "reconditioned" products are just what they claimed: thoroughly tested, a great value, and rival "new" in performance.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1,187
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Epinions.com ID:
kansaidan
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Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 0 members
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