Toshiba 50HP66 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
Toshiba 50HP66 50-Inch Plasma HDTV
50″ HD PLASMA TVStep into the future with the 50-inch Toshiba 50HM66 plasma screen HDTV, which features a stylishly contemporary black cabinet and space-saving bottom mounted speaker system.The set’s built-in ATSC (DTV) tuner pulls HD signals (480p/720p/1080i) right from the airwaves, and its QAM tuner is fully compatible with unscrambled HDTV cable reception. A standard analog NTSC tuner receives standard-definition (SD) programming. It comes with a tabletop stand that can be removed for wall mounting (with optional hardware).
This plasma set features Toshiba’s CableClear DNR+ technology, which optimizes poor NTSC signals from antenna or cable sources to eliminate video noise (”snow”) for a clean crisp image. It utilizes the digital 3D/YC comb filter to compare frames and determine the existence and extent of video noise. It then applies the needed amount of digital video noise reduction, and the appropriate sharpness adjustment to keep the picture clear. This feature now works on RF, composite and S-Video inputs, and can be selected by input.
The aforementioned 3D Y/C comb filter separates brightness and color signals better in 3D domain to eliminate cross-color, cross-luminance and dot-crawl distortion. It performs field-by-field comparisons of the television image to accurately separate the color from the black-and-white information and remove both horizontally and vertically hanging dots, as well as dot crawl, resulting in a razor sharp image. The Cinema Mode feature performs 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal, too–a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. To adapt 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video, frames in the original movie must be duplicated; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this duplication by removing the redundant information to display a frame-accurate picture. This set also offers five TheaterWide modes that expand letterboxed images–which is particularly useful when watching narrow letterboxed Panavision or CinemaScope films.
The 50HM66 has a 1366 x 768-pixel resolution (XGA), a peak 1000 cd/m2 (candela per square meter) brightness rating, and an amazing 10,000:1 contrast ratio. (The higher the contrast ratio, the greater a TV’s ability to display subtle color details and not get washed out by ambient room light.)
The GameTimer feature allows parents to set the television to shut off after a specified period of time and stay off until a lockout key code is entered. For optimum display of each type of input source, the Individual AV Settings by Input function allows you to make video adjustments for each type of input, such as RF, composite, S-Video, and each component video input. Other convenience features include color temperature control, closed captioning on mute, sleep timer, tri-lingual on-screen display, video input labeling, channel labeling, channel/video lock, and V-Chip parental controls.
This set has two stereo speakers that provide 10 watts of power per channel (for 20 watts of total power) and SRS WOW virtual surround sound. The StableSound feature maintains television volume within a preset range regardless of the source signal. This helps to eliminate the annoyance of normal program volume being followed immediately by extremely loud commercial messages or drastic volume fluctuations while changing channels.
It’s easy to connect to brilliant imagery with the component and HDMI connections–the latter offering pure digital audio/video performance with no degradation of signal from just one convenient cable. This set offers the following connection options:
- Composite A/V: 3 (1 front) in, 1 out
- S-Video: 3 (1 front) in
- Component Video: 2 in
- HDMI: 2 in
- RF: 1 in
- PC VGA: 1 in
- PC audio in: 1
- Digital audio out: 1 coaxial, 1 optical
Tech Talk
HDMI is a lossless, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface to link any audio/video source (such as a set-top box, DVD player, or AV receiver) with your TV–all over a single cable. HDMI supports standard, enhanced or high definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It supports all ATSC formats–standard (SDTV), enhanced (EDTV), and high (HDTV).
SRS WOW virtual surround sound processing technology consists of three separate sound expanding systems, which work together to extract “buried” highs and lows. The three systems are, SRS 3D, TruBass, and FOCUS. SRS 3D creates a three dimensional sound field from just two speakers, thus giving the listener the feeling of hearing a multi speaker surround sound system. TruBass produces a powerful, yet low, frequency sound by utilizing a process called psychoacoustics. From only two small speakers, TruBass will give the effect of an expensive sub bass woofer that will leave the listener amazed by the quality of the sound. FOCUS was added to direct the energy from the speakers of the television set in a vertical direction up towards the listenerÕs ears. The addition of FOCUS means that there is virtually no loss of sound from the speakerÕs position on the bottom panel near the floor, which achieves a clear, undistorted range of audio.
What’s in the Box
Plasma HDTV, remote control (with batteries), power cable, tabletop stand, printed operating instructions
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Stars What a sad waste of money
We bought this TV about 3 years ago from Sears. The pic was fabulous and we were fairly happy with it even though we thought the price was excessive. Last year (just after the warranty expired) we had to have a tube (?) replaced to the tune of almost $500. We really debated over spending the money or buying a new TV. Since we had such a significant investment, we decided to repair it. Imagine our chagrin when the same thing happened again this year. So needless to say, we bought a Vizio last night and hope that we have much better luck with it.
1 Stars It’s a Lemon
This Toshiba plasma TV is simply a Lemon. Mine worked for only 3 years and had major component failure’s. Once upon a time Toshiba made high quality electronics. Another turkey I bought recently from Toshiba was the HD DVD player which they discontinued making . My advise to you is make yourself happy buy a different brand.
1 Stars 21 months to dead
After 21 months the picture went out. No help from Toshiba and an estimate of 495 to fix. I’ll never buy Toshiba again!
3 Stars Heard Loud pop
I have owned this tv for a year and two months and when watching it heard a loud pop and tv went off. Took it for service and they said the scaler board is bad and they want $485 for repairing it. Did not buy the extended waranty so I am out of luck. Also recommend a good surge supressor because it seeems that is what caused the problem.
5 Stars Great TV!!!
I have now owned this TV for over a year and still get amazed at the picture quality with Digital HD Programming. When a TV can get my wife to say WOW, it’s pretty good. I originally purchased a Samsung 42″ DLP HD TV and the second week of owning it the sound went out. I took the TV back, purchased this 50″ Toshiba 720P Plasma, and love it. If I had anything negative to say about it is the startup time. Takes about 30 seconds to startup but the TV goes through its checks every time. I really don’t mind the few second wait. The only thing that made this TV that much sweeter is that I got it on sale for $1600.00 at Best Buy when they were $2600.00 everywhere else. Shop Around and I recommend the extended service policy simply for the peace of mind due to the amount that you are already spending . What’s another $300.00? Hope this helps.
Josh
Filed under: 1080p HDTV Plasma Reviews