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"Best Deal in 32" LCDs" on by Nroswig
Pros: Bright picture with deep colors; comprehensive menu system; qam tuner is a must have for free network HD programming; price seems impossibly low for 1080p and feature range
Cons: No DVI; Buttons on side of panel give the set's front a clean look but are not convenient in tight spaces; remote does its job but has confusing labels and feels a bit flimsy
Summary: I bought this set a few days ago from Crutchfield at the introductory sale price of $899, and paid $45 for FedEx standard overnight (a great deal in and of itself). I've had it set up for a couple days in my apartment, and have been enthused about the performance, appearance, and feature set of the television. The picture is bright, shows deep color, handles skin tone exceptionally well, and motion is displayed very smoothly. I have not seen any missing pixels, nor any jaggedness in the edges. Toshiba provided extensive control over color and video settings within the menu: I stuck with the "film" picture setting but boosted the brightness up to 60.
The 32RV530U has many functions which I've judged to be rare in the 32" LCD market. The Theaterwide settings allow for the viewer to expand 1.85:1 and other extreme widescreen-formats to fill the entire screen (something that's always annoyed me). The option for "native" picture size avoids the cropping of 1080 signals that occur on other sets. The cableclear technology does a fine job of cleaning up NTSC signals. Most significantly for the casual viewer, every major Video adjustment feature on this set appears to possess an "Auto" setting that will automatically detect the best choice depending on the signal. While not foolproof, this automatic functionality is most welcomed.
Toshiba also nails the small details. The sleep timer adjusts in 10 minute increments. The stand swivels, and does so smoothly and surely like the door hinges on a german sedan. The mute button goes 1/2 volume and then full mute. There are 3 HDMI inputs on the back of the set, but a 4th on the side panel as well. The menu is graphically attractive, if a bit complicated in the number of windows to go through. The channel scanner uses QAM to pick up the "x-xx" digital in-the-clear channels, but avoids including the blank ones like I've experienced on Sharp's Aquos sets. Finally, the television is impressively slim at 3.5", and the curved contours at the sides make it seem even slimmer. I'll be updating the review soon when I test out Blu-ray 1080p to judge the set's full HD performance. If you don't have space for larger than a 32" set, and demand 1080p, then this tv is the best deal on the market. $899 at many major retailers, and free shipping at most of them as well (check out Vanns too as they are offering a free harmony universal remote with the set). -
"Got yesterday, use with antenna, 40 air miles from NYC!" on by KLPV
Pros: Easy to hook up. Picture OK with rotating antenna. Lots of items on menu to choose from. Can add stations not selected by automatic selector & delete others. Still figuring out how to & which feature is best for use with antenna. Satisfied custome
Cons: Second TV w/ converter box gets several more stations. Most Analog stations I can get on other set come in poorly or not at all. Some Digital channels w/3 stations, only 1 comes in. Remote return, goes to digital station rather than last one viewed!
Summary: Once antenna was rotated, the fuzzy picture came in beautifully.
However, the number of stations received is less than those available from our older analog TV (pre & post digital converter box). And manual (written in understandable English) states, for a better picture, sound, more stations, etc., you'll need to buy extra cables (i.e. Regza & HDMI), which do not come with the set. Manual explains most features well, but not all.
Features: has an advanced set up menu; can freeze frame, select picture size, cinema mode, power saver mode, & change all feature settings to your specs. Can connect to PC and multiple outside devices. Seems to have a software updates in menu as well (not fully explained in manual).
My set has a sticker "April 2008 "on back. (When it was built?) So, our cost at a retail store was half the price of "the best priced" web sites! -
"Purchased 2 wks ago. Great picture via antenna." on by G.T.
Pros: Live in rural area only have over air available and pick up 20 stations. Great picture and detail.
Cons: None as at this time.
Summary: Great TV for price. Have a smaller Toshiba (26 inch) for 10 months and it has performed great, no problems. Use antenna and did upgrade my cables and received better reception (more stations).
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"Solid Performer" on by da1951
Pros: No significant picture flaws; color adjustments available
Cons: Colors not entirely accurate
Summary: Overall, this set provides an excellent quality picture and mediocre sound - but I use it with a 5.1 system, so the sound doesn't bother me much. My set has no backlight bleeding or banding problems. Black levels are good, but there is still noticeable light output on an all black screen. Viewing angles and handling of motion are also good but not outstanding. Skin tones look very realistic and shadow details are decent. While the set does not offer a full range of color temperature controls, I was able to get an overall cast to the picture that looks realistic to me with the controls it does have. Colors are vivid without being overdone. I came to realize that the reds were too dark and the blues too light, but with hue adjustments from the colormaster control they look better now. At just under 31" wide, the set is about a 1/2' thinner than many competing 32" sets, which was critical in my case. Thus, I never checked out the Samsung or Sony 32" models, but at this point I don't feel at all cheated.
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"Toshiba's Regza is a JUNK TV" on by eric-101
Pros: Looked great at first
Cons: The screen got blacker and blacker until the backlight failed just after a year.
Summary: The reliability is so bad on this TV that I cannot recommend to anyone unless they have $800.00 they are willing to throw away. Toshiba's customer service was polite but wouldn't stand behind their product.
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