Any regrets among Toshiba 36HF73 owners ??

[kevindow]

I am looking at getting this set for around $1000, and was wondering if the current owners are still happy with their decision, or do they wish they had waited and paid more for the new Sony 36" TVs ? Thanks.
Kevin

[gpjnevada]

I bought this 185 pound HDTV, in the price range you are looking at. I am very pleased with this set and my Cox HD (Las Vegas) setup. The HD channels are are simply incredible and the SD channels (for me) are much better than my old JVC anolog set. With SD, some days/channels are better than others for signal quality, but overall the picture is excellent, especially with text. One area that an HDTV monitor exels in is text, even with a SD signal. A regular TV just can't hold a candle to it here IMO.

I chose this 4:3 HDTV because I feel it is the best compromise between price and programming (for me). I plan on 5-7 years of use and by then the technology will have undoubtedly changed. The TV itself is an excellent dispaly monitor....very sharp display when using HD with great color...great bang for buck. It is absolutely no fault of this TV for image quality, it is outstanding. However, a good clean signal is needed to get the best out of it, unfortunately , it is in the hands of the signal provider to send THAT signal. (One way to help yourself is to minimize signal resistance (degradation)...e.g. I minimized antennae connectors between the wall and TV. Also use high quality connectors).

I have not calibrated my TV yet, and there appears to be some geometry issues that will need corrected. When dislaying 16:9 through component or antennae, the top and bottom horizontal lines of the image displayed are bowed in slightly toward the center (I understand this is common for large CRT's with factory calibration). I can live with it for now, but a correction is in order. Between the Cox box and the TV itself, there are enough picture size adjustments to get you by until a calibration can be completed. Don't get me wrong, it is about 95% excellent right out of the box. It has not been something that is driving me crazy...and that's odd because usually I am very picky. In this case, I have accepted the fact that I need to calibrate. Would I buy this TV again had I known about this issue? ABSOLUTELY!

A question for any 36HF73 users....Can anyone point me in the right direction for Service menu codes, manuals, etc. for this set? I am a fairly technical person and would like to try the calibration myself. Any info is appreciated!

GJ

[RandyWalters]

A friend of mine has a 36HF73 with analog/digital cable and the picture quality is excellent. It's a perfect TV, no issues at all. He loves it and i can see why :D

[kevindow]

Thanks for the replies. Can anybody comment on the PQ using the standard DISH network programming, which I will likely keep for the near future ?

[kevindow]

I will answer my own question. Just purchased the Toshiba HF73 at Costco, and the standard DISH network programming looks excellent on this TV. I will tweak the picture once I get some time.

[rman]

Has anyone found how to get into the service menu? Any info on Service codes? I just bought this TV yesterday @ Costco, it's a really nice TV and perfect for my xbox gaming...but it has some serious geometry problems. The whole left side of the screen bows down at the bottom and bows up top corners and bows in on the left side. Toshiba only has one center here in town that repairs under warranty. I would rather return the TV before allowing those butchers touch the set....please help.

This is the third set I bought in the last 3 months, Sanyo, Sony and now Toshiba. Each one had a geometry problem. Does anyone make a quality TV anymore? I have a 5 year old 36" Sony TV that is not HD and it's PERFECT! Never had it serviced and to this date it produces the best colors I've seen on any set.

[kevindow]

Check my previous posts about this TV. I ended up taking the TV back to Costco for a full refund. I refuse to pay $1000 for a TV with poor geometry.
Kevin

[rman]

Same here, but what do you buy? This is my third set and a heavey one too! I love Sony TV's, but the one I bought last month had geometry problems. Seems that every Sony I saw had geometry problems in the stores too. So what do I buy? I want a TV for 4:3 HD xbox gaming with 720p displayed in native format and not up converted like this Toshiba TV?

[kny3twalker]

So what do I buy? I want a TV for 4:3 HD xbox gaming with 720p displayed in native format and not up converted like this Toshiba TV?

you will need to look into the digital displays then
like LCD, DLP, and plasma

CRTs are 480p, 480i, 540p and 1080i

[rman]

Originally posted by kny3twalker
you will need to look into the digital displays then
like LCD, DLP, and plasma

CRTs are 480p, 480i, 540p and 1080i

Really? None of the CRT will do 720p native? They only upconvert or down convert the signal?

[RandyWalters]

Originally posted by rman
Really? None of the CRT will do 720p native? They only upconvert or down convert the signal?

Well none of the consumer CRT TVs display 720p natively. There are a few large computer monitors that will though . . . .

[rman]

So can anyone point me in the direction of finding how to get into the sevice menu on this set? I want to give it a try before returning the set and a service tech coming out for repairs is out of the question.

Thanks!

[kevindow]

Since the TV had a one-year warranty, I really was not motivated to spend my precious time to fix the geometry problems. I would call a reputable authorized service center, describe the problem, and they will either fix the problem in your house or take your TV back to the shop where the problem may be fixed. This TV really had a great picture, but I could not live with the geometry problems.
Kevin

[rman]

That's the problem, the only service center in town couldn't replace burned out house bulbs...let alone try to fix my set. They are pretty much worthless, my only choice at this time is to return it for a refund because there are no more of these sets anywhere or try and fix it myself and that's what I did! I found how to get into the service menu and was able to tweek the set to my satisfaction...spent most of the day, but it was worth it. Looks fantastic!

[kevindow]

rman:
Did you have the common top and bottom middle bow on 16:9, and if so, did your tinkering make the top and bottom horizontal on 16:9? This was the most annoying of the geometry problems on my set. It really killed me to return the set because on 4:3, the picture was flat-out beautiful. Thanks.
Kevin

[rman]

Yes I have bowing, but it's on the corners and not in the middle. Bummer, because I can't find a way to fix it. I was so happy with the way the TV looked after I tweeked it that I forgot about the corners until I played a 720p game on the xbox and saw how bad the bowing still was. I will return this set back to Costco and pick up the Sony 32HS420 from Sam's Club.:mad: