Philips DVP5982 1080p Upscaling DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)To go along with my HDTV, I decided that I needed to upgrade my DVD player. While my Insignia DVD Recorder/VCR didn't look awful, it certainly didn't look good. And while the quality of HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are definitely impressive, the on-going format war combined with the cost made those players inviable options.
Enter the market of upconverting DVD players. These players, which take your standard 480i DVDs and scale them to high-definition resolutions are as common as regular DVD players these days. Places like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Circuit City, are full of them. I've actually owned two of them.
I started with the highly-touted Sony DVP-NS75H which is truly a great machine. It has a great design and a super picture quality. Sadly, it only upconverted to 720p or 1080i, not 1080p as my set is capable of. While I'd like to think that I'm not a total videophile, I noticed some of the ghosting and artifacts that interlaced video can expose when put on a big screen. Despite the claim of my HD monitor to do de-interlacing, I was finding that it didn't do an especially good job.
Enter the Philips DVP5982. Based on Philips well-received 5960 the 5982 adds support for 1080p output as well as improved USB compatibility. I returned the Sony, picked this one up, and set it up. Here are some of my observations:
The basics:
The DVP5982 is a basic upconverting player that you can get for around $70. It includes an HDMI output for upconverting along with coaxial digital audio outputs, plus the standard analog outputs (component, s-video, composite, and stereo audio). There is no upconverting over the component outputs however. It supports DivX file playback (as long as they're standard resolution and not too large) over USB from a FAT32 formatted device. The menu system on the 5982 is a bit archaic and hard to read, but it's manageable.
What I Like:
- True 1080p output. I was suspect of whether the 1080p output would make any visible difference over the 1080i of the Sony. I was wrong, the 1080p output made a huge difference in certain troublesome scenes from movies. I had noticed with the Sony that whenever there was a light or white background (such as a white wall or the sky) and there was motion in front of it, there were artifacts left all over the screen. In the same way, motion scenes would blur and leaving ghostly lines on the screen. Those problems are largely gone with the Philips.
- DivX playback. I have a 160GB hard drive attached to the USB and loaded onto their I have various movies that I've captured onto my computer from my cable dvr. Rather than burning all of these onto DVD or having to hook my computer up to the TV to watch them, I can just transfer them onto this hard drive and hook them up to my DVD player and they play. Pretty much every file I've thrown at it has played no problem (but I don't have any DivX HD files). The only exception was some movies that were encoded at incredibly high data rates. Even then, for the occasional really large or really high data rate file you can put it onto a DVD in DivX format and play it from the player.
- Image Quality - although its not as good as the Sony with some adjustment to my tv settings the image quality is still very good. There is some minor pinching
What I don't like
- Audio Output - this machine will either output over the HDMI cable OR the digital coaxial out - but not both at the same time. This really is only a minor problem, but it can make things more complicated than they need to be
- The Disc Tray - The tray feels kind of floppy and cheap
- The Menu System - Simply put, it's awful. Once you figure out the fonts and how it works, it makes sense, but the visual appearance really leaves something to be desired.
- The Image Quality - As I said above, it's not quite on par with the Sony, although the elimination of the ghosting and artifacts make it a worthwhile trade off.
The Summary:
Well, seldom am I so glad I spent $70 on something. Some minor inconveniences aside, for the price you cannot beat this player if you're looking for 1080p (or want to future-proof you DVD player). I feel very comfortable waiting out the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray battle with this player attached to my HDTV - DVDs look fantastic. The DivX playback, while somewhat limited by what USB devices can be attached, is a really nice added feature. But for me it was the combination of price and 1080p playback that convinced me - and I haven't been disappointed.

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Sony VPLHW15 Home Theater SXRD Projector (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had a projection setup for several years now, and this is my 4th projector. So while I'm not a real video expert, I've gotten enough experience to have a pretty good take - and this Sony VPL-HW15 is a pretty sweet unit. I've long been a fan of LCOS technology (SXRD as Sony calls it), but until very recently it was out of my budget range. Past projectors have been DLP models, starting with a couple of NEC business presentation units (rainbow city!) and then an Optoma HD80, one of first affordable 1080p models. The HD80 ran into problems recently so I decided to upgrade. This time, I was actually able to compare units using the 3 major projection technologies in my home: LCD, DLP, and LCOS. The LCD unit was an Epson Home Cinema 8100 - not in the same price range, so not a fair comparison, and it did not fare well. The Benq W6000 was a much better unit overall, and very bright, but that brightness and a slower color wheel led to seeing a lot more color fringing, or rainbows, which I seem to be fairly sensitive to. So I tried the Sony, and found a winner. It just has what I find a very "relaxing" picture - it may not be the absolute best at any one thing but it's very close on everything, and just a very pleasing image to watch. Color out of the box is very good. Black levels may be a tiny bit off the best in class, but not far. It's bright enough on my 100" screen in Dynamic mode that sports are easily watchable with light in the room. One feature I really appreciate is the pixel alignment utility that allows the red & green panels to be converged in 1/10 pixel steps. Coming from a single chip DLP model that had no convergence problems by its nature, that is something I really like. The only minor weakness that I find (aside from lacking some features I don't need like anamorphic lens support, or motorized lens), is that it's just a hair less sharp looking than a single chip DLP model, but that also gives it a nice smooth, less "digital" look that some find preferable anyway. The build quality and aesthetics are pretty nice, too. The lens seems to be very good quality.
Strengths: VERY good color, very good blacks, enough brightness, good lens, pixel convergence feature, lens shift, quiet, nice build quality and design
Weaknesses: Not as feature packed as some like the Panasonic AE4000, a little higher cost, not quite as sharp as a single chip DLP

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The Sony VPL-HW15 BRAVIA SXRD 1080p Home Theater Projector delivers an immersive cinematic experience and Full HD 1080p resolution at a great value. Three SXRD micro-display panels work with a specially developed ARC-F (All Range Crisp Focus) lens and BRAVIA Engine 2 digital video processor to display stunning, life-like images on a scale no flat panel HDTV can match. A 200W lamp provides startling brightness for enhanced performance in rooms with ambient light from lamps or windows, and Advanced Iris 3 technology delivers high contrast of up to 60,000:11 by automatically optimizing picture brightness on a scene-by-scene basis.

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Fujifilm FinePix JX250 14MP Digital Camera 5x Wide Angle Optical Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD plus BONUS Fujifilm 4GB SDHC Class 6 Card & Fujifilm Fitted Leather Camera Case Plus USB Card Reader/Writer Review

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(More customer reviews)The video clip was taken with my JX250 in my living room to demonstrate its optical zooming in movie mode as well as its indoor video quality. The video size was set to the lowest setting, 320x240 (QVGA). The 43-second clip takes up 24.5MB, in AVI format. Notice that there is no sound during zooming, and there is a clicking sound at the end of each zoom -- it came from the lens refocusing at the end of the zoom. Towards the end of the clip I tried to shoot a scene outside the window but the thick window screen prevented the camera from focusing properly.
The JX250 is a new ultra-compact 14MP 5x optical zoom digicam released by Fujifilm USA in April 2010. It's really small, measuring 2.7"x2.2"x0.7", and weighs 4.5 oz. including battery and SD card. (Yep, this Fuji takes an SD/SDHC card, not the old xD memory card.) The camera body's metal construction makes it feel solid and high-quality.
The JX250 is designed as an "idiot-proof" camera, meaning it's got all the automatic modes but little manual control. Indeed, the only semi-manual controls are exposure compensation, white balance choice, and ISO setting (100-1600, up to 3200 in 3MP or lower).
As is always the case with ultra-compact cameras, picture quality is not something you'd be boasting about. For an ultra-compact the JX250 takes very good ourdoor shots and decent indoor shots. Note that this camera does not have Fuji's famous SuperCCD technology, which makes the indoor shots not as good as the Fuji's with SuperCCD; in other words, its indoor image quality is average when compared to other name-brand ultra-compacts like Casio, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, or Olympus. The JX250 is best used as a companion "little camera" to a workhorse camera with better picture quality, such as a digital SLR or a compact (not ultra-compact) from Canon, Panasonic, Nikon, Sony, Casio, or Fujifilm's own bigger offerings.
The JX250 has 5x optical zoom, yielding a zoom range of 28mm to 140mm in the 35mm format equivalent, which is admirable for an ultra-compact. At the 28mm end, you're getting wide angle, great for scenic shots. It's only appropriate that this camera has a panorama mode. The lens is Fujinon, which is a high-quality brandname in the lens business.
The optical zoom operates very fast -- and you can zoom optically in movie mode, whether you're shooting in 720p, VGA or QVGA. Three things to note, though: first, sound is not recorded during optical zooming, you'll just get silence as you operate the zoom lever; second, at the end of the zoom, as the lens refocuses, the mechanical sound is recorded and can be heard, which can be annoying; third, I think the zoom is too fast for fine control. But it's really nice to have optical video zoom.
As a still image camera, the JX250 offers scene recognition as well as smile detection, face detection and blink detection. Indoor shots with flash are surprisingly good (at least for an ultra-compact). When shooting, you can choose the have the framing grid displayed, which is recommended for good framing practice. (This grid allows you to follow the "shoot in the thirds" rule.)
Typical of consumer-grade digicams, there is noticeable, 1/2-second shutter delay. (If you want zero shutter delay, get a digital SLR.) There is a convenient "silent mode" which turns off speaker, flash and self-timer lamp. (Hmm, I wonder if someone is going to use this as a spy cam, which, of course, may be illegal in your locale.) The JX250 uses SDHC cards and has 24MB of internal memory which can be used in an emergency. The LCD screen is 2.7 inches diagonally; out-of-box, there is this thin protective film over it, which you may want to leave it be to protect the LCD. The physically small LiIon rechargable battery is rated 720mAh and about 180 shots (half with flash); as always, I recommend a spare battery, especially if you plan to travel with this camera. Initial battery charging took about 90 minutes at 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
The companion software is compatible with Windows (all versions) and MacOS. The JX250 comes in black and silver; both colors are available at my local Costco, where I bought this for under 130.
In short, I find the JX250 to be an excellent secondary digital camera that can be taken anywhere (except under water) and allows you to capture pictures in a hurry (except situations that require 0 shutter delay). It supports 720p movie mode with optical zooming and despite the limitations in sound recording, makes a good personal video camera, too.

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The FinePix JX250 employs a 14-megapixel CCD, a 2.7-inch high-res LCD and a Fujinon 5x wide-angle (28mm-140mm) optical zoom lens. Soft, curved edges give it a sculpted, sophisticated look. Encased in a high-grade brushed aluminum metal body, it's not only well protected from bumps and scrapes, but features a simple, yet elegant design. The JX250 also has a new mode dial for additional convenience and functionality.HighlightsHD CapabilityThe new J-Series models all offer stunning movies in 720p with sound and high quality stills at 1920x1080. Tracking Auto FocusPreviously featured on Fujifilm's DSLR-style FinePix, the new J-Series models feature Tracking Auto Focus which is perfect for when you need to take a picture of a moving subject and can't keep your subject in the frame. Just switch Tracking Auto Focus on and it will track your subject and ensure that you achieve a crisp picture with you subject in the center of the frame in perfect focus.Smile & Blink DetectionPhotos are all too often spoiled by people blinking or grimacing. Smile Detection works with Fujifilm's highly-acclaimed Face Detection technology to detect smiles on faces: it will not take a picture until it detects a smile, so you're guaranteed happy shots! Another new feature is Blink Detection which warns you if you have captured an image with people blinking, to reshoot if necessary.Additional Features• Digital Image Stabilization reduces image blur and offers creative adaptability and excellent picture quality.• Face Detection and Automatic Red-eye Removal: To provide perfectly exposed and focused portrait shots, each J-Series model is fitted with Fujifilm's latest Face Detection technology which is able to track up to 10 faces simultaneously, at almost any angle to the camera. The system instantly corrects red-eye and then saves both the original and the corrected image file automatically

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Sony Handycam HDR-CX500V 32 GB Flash High-Definition Camcorder (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this camera last night and am so impressed with it I wanted to post an initial review ASAP since the camera is so new and there are so few reviews out there for it.
To begin, I am new into the HD video, but am a techie and have done a lot of research. My primary objective was to get a camera that took good low light video, so video in my living room with the kids with normal evening lighting looked good. Also important to me was ease of use so my wife can easily grab it and catch the kids and also a small size for ease of carrying to Disney and such.
After doing a lot of research, I initially bought the Panasonic HDC-HS250. One of the popular camcoder web sites claim the new Panasonic cameras with 3 sensors to be the best low light cameras.
Well, I had nothing to compare it against, but I was VERY disappointed in the video taken in my living room with normal incandesant lighting with this Panasonic. I spent about 1 week learning all the camera settings, and no mode or setting improved the low light video. It was fuzzy and grainy with washed out color. Based on the reviews of this CAM being so good at low light, I was beginning to wonder if I just had my expectations to high for this technology, and this was about as good as you get in this range of camera.
I was also not real happy with the outdoor video. While it was mostly good, the greens were far to vivid/bright, and just did not look natural.
I was about ready to settle for this camera, and then this past Sunday I had family in town. After dinner I took a lot of video in the living room of the family. Apon playing it back I was just disgusted in the quality. I then saw the Sunday add for Best Buy which had this new Sony camera which claimed 2X better low light. I searched the internet for reviews, only finding initial reviews with no actual tests since the camera was so new.
I decided to buy the Sony and compare it to the Panasonic. I got the camera home last night and was happy to learn that the charger plugs directly into the camera without removing the battery, so I was able to use the camera immediately (The Panasonic has a goofy system where you have to remove the battery and place in a separate charger, and then you can EITHER charge the battery OR run the camera, not both.).
It still wasn't dark but I took some video and pictures and toyed around with the menu system (I am a man so of course I didn't read the manual!). I found the menu system easy to navigate, with nothing terribly hidden or buried in layers to access. There are some features that I found I will need to read up on, and the MY CAMERA feature very confusing, but I suspect will be very useful after I read up on it and learn how to use it.
I hooked the camera to the HDMI of my 720P TV and was just FLOORED with the quality of the images and video! This is the feeling I hoped to have when I first watched the video from the Panasonic that I never had.
OK, so it is around 7pm, still light out but no direct sun in the house. I have big windows so this presents a tricky backlighting issue for most cameras. The video and picture from this Sony were just a true as life. The camera handled the tricky lighting automatically with no manual backlighting adjustments. I couldn't wait for dark to test the low light but I was really confident that I had a winner here.
While waiting for dark I test the still pics in both video mode and normal camera mode. The pics were FAR superior to the other camera. I just bought a Nikon D5000 SLR, so I have pretty high standards for my pics now, and this camera takes very good pics in either mode. I am not sure if it has a faster shutter mode (probably is) because the pics were a little subject to blurring from movement, but over all they were as good or better then my old Cannon S45 5 MP camera that took some darn good pics.
So now we come to the true test that I have to believe is very important to most average consumers that want to take family video, Low Light.
I was beginning to wonder what the reviewers meant by low light in their reviews. They had all types of fancy tests and terms which I am sure are good BUT please just tell me how the video in my living room at night will look with normal lighting! ! ! ! !
So let me tell you this, this camera capture video in low light as good or better them my normal sight. The video of my daughter playing looked exactly like it did for real in that kind of lighting setting, all without setting a thing. Then there is LOWLUX mode should you need it which takes two taps to set while recording (I think this takes the camera from 60 frames to 30 frames and probably something else too). This setting is for extreme low light and works wonderfully. I even went into the girls room after they were sleeping. The only light was from the hallway light coming threw the doorway. My one daughter was camping in her sisters princess bunk which had hardly any light and I almost didn't even see her there. I videoed her in auto mode and then turned on LOWLUX. It was amazing, I could see better through the camera than with my own eyes. When I played the video back I was surprised to see the my girl fell a sleep with her IPOD headphones on, which I couldn't even see with my own eyes.
So, there is so much more that can be reviewed with these CAMS that I pass on here because I have to get to work. I thought this article would be real important to many who have the same primary need as me and that is what I focused on.
I can also add that Sony has a new 3 way image stabilization technology in this CAM. I did a few zoom tests before it got dark and I can tell you that it also works FAR better than the other CAM.
So in closing, this Camera has FAR surpassed my expectations. It has fabulous low light, great still pics, small and light, great image stabilization, VERY quick startup time, and super easy to use for my wife, with plenty of more advanced gadget settings for me to learn to use. I strongly suggest you spend the money and get this CAM!


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The HDR-CX500V employs an advanced "Exmor R" CMOS sensor for excellent low light, 1920 x 1080 high definition video and 12 megapixel still images all to 2GB of internal flash memory. In addition, a built-in GPS receiver Geo-tags7 your videos and photos.

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DVI-I Dual-Link 24+5 Male to HDMI Female Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)The DVI-I Dual-Link 24+5 Male to HDMI Female Adapter is the perfect solution for connecting to various flatscreen TVs

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Hook up your old home theater equipment to your new HDTV! This Male to Male adapter can be used to easily connect DVI-I connectors to newer HDTV televisions and projectors which need an HDMI male adapter. Use it to connect equipment to your PC. This dual-link adapter provides faster data transmission and improved signal quality. Please Note: If used for connecting cables, signal quality will be best if cable length does not exceed 6 meters.

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Toshiba DVR660 1080p Upconverting VHS DVD Recorder with Built-in Tuner Review

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(More customer reviews)I have a Samsung digital TV (1080p), and with my new Toshiba DVR660 and an HDMI cable, I can turn HD programming into sharp DVD's that appear to match my 1080p picture pixel for pixel. (In actuality, the DVR660 records it to 480p and then upconverts it back to 1080p.) By the way, I get all my programming from a portable antenna, and the DVD recorder has an excellent HD tuner.
The VCR is adequate, giving me the same picture quality as the SONY which preceeded it. After seeing how easy it was to make a DVD recording, and how fabulous the results, I realized that I would never make a VCR recording again. It did an excellent job dubbing a VCR tape to a DVD.
Although I am not a computer programmer like the "Man from Happy Rock", who found it so difficult to use, I found that the machine was not so difficult to use at all, as long as you followed the instructions. One of the major complaints from Mr. Happy Rock was that the machine turns itself off after you use the "set timer" button. My brother, who IS a computer programmer, said that his Magnavox also turns itself off when you use the "set timer" function and that they all do this. He also said it took him 2 years to master his Magnavox!
I did have a couple questions the first day, and I called the Toshiba telephone number given for DVD recorders. My call was answered by a real person with an American accent within 30 seconds. She answered all my questions easily.
Before I purchased this recorder, I spent hours reading and re-reading the reviews for like products made by Sony, Samsung, Panisonic, JVC, Philips, etc. All the other products seemed to have fatal flaws, so I made the decision for Toshiba. I'm glad I did.

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DVD Recorder/VCR Combo with 1080p Upconversion with Built-in Digital Tuner

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Sharp Aquos BDHP20U 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently reviewed my Sony BDP-S300 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player, which gave me an insurmountable amount of quirkiness. In that review I commented at length about firmware updates (and more updates and more updates) to which finally spelled doom for my player. I also commented on replacing my Sony S300 with my newly purchased Sharp Aquos BDHP20U 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player. At this point I must say that this Blu-Ray player is exceptional - Dolby True HD Sound, HDMI output to 1080p video, etc - all the extras without the cost (without a HDMI cord included of course, but most players come without it).
Out of the box, this needed no firmware updates to play even the newest movie I owned (i.e. Superbad [Blu-ray]- released the same week as this review) - which my Sony BDP-S300 tried to load for 15 minutes before locking up (and this was with firmware 2.6 installed already - firmware 3.30 was needed but it couldn't load due to a system error - now my old player sits in Pennsylvania at a Sony service center). The load time on the Sharp BDHP20U for SuperBad was about 1-2 minutes, not too bad as you might know some players take much longer. The boot up time from off to on was only about a minute also.
The entire system seemed quick, and not to mention quiet. From the beginning I was completely happy. The system startup was simple enough - I connected my HDMI and opened the setup menu to finalize my preferences. In less than 10 minutes of opening the box I was watching a movie that my previous Sony BDP-S300 died attempting to do.
For the money, this is a great player with fairly speedy load time. Compare that to the $440 I paid for the Sony BDP-S300 which I bought and now loathe.
12-29-07 update - Player finally needed an update to play The Simpsons Movie [Blu-ray] - not a problem though! Unlike the Sony S300 I mentioned before, the Sharp Aquos BDHP20U uses a USB port via any ordinary thumb/flash drive loaded to the back of the player to deliver the update files. No more senselessly throwing away DVD-R's and waiting 30+ minutes for updates, my Sharp Blu-Ray player updated in about 8 minutes. That little USB plug on the back and the 8 minutes are two good reasons I'm glad I purchased the Sharp Blu-Ray player. Honestly that's the real reason I like this player... it's design (inside and outside) is well thought out.
02-03-2008 update - Encountered my first glitch problem. While watching Damages: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] my player froze up. I stopped the disc and checked it for scratching or debris - nothing, looked great. So, I instead checked the Sharp website for a player update since this Blu-Ray disc set was so new. The website showed that I had the most recent update already. I then decided to restart the disc. The player froze up again at a different point on a different episode. This time I knew something was wrong. I attempted to eject the disc and the player would not respond, it just powered down. But, it had no response to re-power on or anything else for that matter - only thing that was happening was that the Standby light was flashing - no other lights or responses. I checked the SharpUSAdotcom website, but it had no real error response information. So I checked the handy dandy manual that my player came with. There was information on the very last page of the English section which described power / static electricity / lightning strikes / other interference scenarios. I followed the steps by holding the power button down until RESET appeared on the front LED section. It then re-powered on perfectly - another simple solution that was unavailable on my Sony S300 Blu-Ray player when it froze up.
Sure I might truly be comparing apples to oranges with this problem and my Sony problem, but when I originally asked the Sony customer service rep for help on my S300 - she replied with this for resetting my system. She told me to unplug the AC chord and wait 2 minutes. When that didn't work, she said we could try it a few more times or possibly leave it off for a longer amount of time. She also mentioned that this system reset could cause my latest firmware updates to reset also (as well as my player preferences). With my Sharp Blu-Ray player, the reset only rebooted the system (within 20-30 seconds) - all of my preferences and my latest firmware update were still intact. I must say this was much easier than I would ever guessed. Maybe Sharp needs a newer update for playing Damages: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] and it plans to release it soon, who knows? Well not me. But I DO know this, the reset feature on my Sharp Blu-Ray player was better than sending my Sony S300 to Pennsylvania for over a month.
For those of you who have asked and those of you who are wondering, yes I did finish the entire season of Damages: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] without any other problems. I am still not sure what caused the freeze up, but believe me - I tolerated much worse from my Sony S300. I use this player usually three to five times a week and this has been my first "hiccup" since buying it. So all and all, I am still very pleased with my Sharp player and consider it among my smartest purchases of 2007.
04-14-2008 - New problem that as of now is unfixable. When playing 30 Days Of Night [Blu-ray] there is no dialog in either English or Spanish, all of the background sound works and the other languages work as well. Apparently this model has had some trouble with the True HD sound on some of the newer discs - and the only language tracks on this particular movie in True HD were English and Spanish, so in other words - turning to any other non-True HD audio language fixed the problem... if you listened in Korean or French or whatever then you would have no problems. I went to the website to get any updates, which the latest firmware update claimed to address True HD problems (so Sharp is aware that something is wrong). But, the newest update still didn't fix the problem. I tried the disc on my Sony BDP-S500 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player and on my Playstation 3 40GB - both of which played the audio perfectly. After contacting the Sharp customer service via email they emailed me 3 days later with no answers. So, maybe there is a new fix coming and maybe not, either way this makes the Sharp BDHP20U closer to a 3 1/2 star or 4 star until new firmware fixing the True HD audio problem is released. Personally I didn't mind watching the movie in another room, but not everyone has that option.
04-30-2008 - There was another update listed on the Sharp website, this update again addressed the True HD problem. Fortunately this time was the trick to finally fixing the problem I had with 30 Days of Night. This movie now plays perfectly, so now everything seems perfectly once again. Back to 5 Stars!
04-07-2009 - It's been a year since anything out of the ordinary has happened. The player recently started having trouble with some of the newer Blu rays we were renting. At first it wasn't a big deal, but eventually I decided to check for updates. The newest update (Oct 2008) was loaded but somehow it refused to accept the new firmware. So we had to call Sharp for help. They walked us through a few steps but soon realized that there was something wrong with our BD drive. We shipped our player to Sharp and they emailed us to keep us updated through the process. They had my player fixed, updated, shipped back to us within a week. They shipped it back via FedEx overnight and we were watching movies on the player within 8 days of my original phone call. I can't say that this player is perfect, but I can say that I feel very lucky to be dealing with Sharp. The Sony process for returning my player was very complicated and ended with me spending over $200 to receive a completely different Sony model. That was never an issue with Sharp. The woman at Sharp said what was going to happen and politely assured me that this was going to be a painless process. She was right. Thanks Sharp!
More updates to come...

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Now you can enjoy the best of 1080p video on your Sharp AQUOS HDTV. Especially designed to work with AQUOS LCD TVs, the BD-HP20U AQUOS Blu-Ray Disc player provides seamless operability via the AQUOS LINK™ function, through the HDMI connection. Performing as if it were all one system, the BD-HP20U's Quick Start feature lets you begin enjoying gorgeous Blu-ray Disc video with the touch of a button in less than 10 seconds.* The BD-HP20U provides outstanding versatility and is compatible with a wide variety of formats including BD-ROM/RE/R, DVD Video, DVD-RW/R and DVD+RW/R.Additionally, the BD-HP20U plays audio CDs as well. With eight terminal outputs including HDMI inputs and 1080p as well as DVD up-conversion to 1080p, you'll enjoy full digital high-definition video and high-fidelity audio. The piano black finish and slim profile design make it the ideal HD source for a large screen AQUOS TV.*Quick Start time may vary depending on movie content, type of video connection, and type of monitor being used.

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VideoSecu Articulating TV Wall Mount for Most 15" 17" 19" 20" 22" 24" and Some up to 26" LCD LED TV Monitor Flat Panel Screen W66 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Articulating , smooth , easy to install and inexpensive to buy. Nothing more can be said , or needs be said about this mount. It worked FLAWLESSLY.

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Brand New Adjustable Tilt Swivel Arm Wall Mount Bracket that will accommodate your 15" 17" 19" 20" 22" 24" LCD Monitor Flat Panel Screen TV Displays, and larger screens up to 26" (check VESA and weight). well-designed mounting solutions, we supply easy-installed mount at cost-effective prices. The wall mounts are perfect for installation on most ambience, sitting room, conference rooms, merchandising displays, hotels or anywhere else.The following are suitable TV model: SAMSUNG: LN22C350 LN22C450 LN22B460 LG: 26LE5300 26LF10 19LD350 22LD350 19LH20 22LF10 19LF10 Sanyo: DP19649 DP19648 DP19657DP19649Philips: 22PFL3505D/F7 19PFL3505D/F7 19PFL3504D/F7 19PFL3403D/F7 19PFL3403D/27SHARP AQUOS: LC-15AV4U LC-15AV1U LC-15SH4U LC-15SH1U LC-19SB24U LC-19SB14U LC-19SB15U LC-19SB24UW LC-19SK24U LC-19SK24UW LC-19SK25U LC-20B1-S LC-20B1U LC-20B2E LC-20B2EA LC-20B2HA LC-20C3U-S LC-20C2MA LC-20C2H LC-30C2EA LC-20C1-B LC-20B2HA LC-20B2HA LC-20AV4U LC-20AV1U LC-20SH4U LC-20SH1UAOC: L19W898 L19W861 L19W761 L22W898 L22W861 L22W761Dell: S1709W 1708FP 1908FP 2009WKDS: K-6mwb K72b K72mb K-726mwb K92mb K92bw K92mdwb K-20mdwb K-2026mdwb K-2026mdwb K-2237mdwb K-22B2W K22mdwb K-2237mdwbPanasonic: CT-L2000 BT-LH1700W LC50SPlanar: PL1700 PL1700M PL1711M-BK PQ1710M XP19W PL1910M PL1910MW PL1911M-BK PL1911Mw PQ1910M PL2010MW PL2210MW PX212MSceptre: X19GV-HDTV X23BV-Naga X23GV-Komodo X23PV-Komodo X23RV-Komodo X23WV-KomodoToshiba: 15LV505 19LV505 19LV506 19lv61k 20HL67 22LV505 22LV506Trutech: PLV31199S1

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Peerless ST650P Tilt Wall Mount for 32" to 50" Displays (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This wall mount is excellent. Don't be confused by the description however. The "horizontal" adjustment is linear, in other words it moves lateraly from side to side rather than rotates. But, this is a good feature if you have to locate studs to get a proper mount. You can adjust the mount to hit the studs by the many mounting holes and then move the screen to adjust to the center. Also, the package of bolts for connecting the flat screen should be tested in the flat screen mounting holes to make sure that you have the right bolts.

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The SmartMount for 32" to 50" flat panel screens provides a versatile and secure solution for professional environments such as boardrooms, hotels and stadiums. This mount offers smooth, continuous one touch tilt, allowing for easy adjustment to achieve the perfect viewing angle without tools. The mount includes simple to align universal brackets and a unique wall plate that can be mounted to two wood studs up to 24" apart, concrete, cinder block or two metal studs (accessory required). For easy installation the mount is preassembled and includes a Sorted-For-You™ baffle pack with all screen hardware and security fasteners.

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Philips DVDR3576H DVD Recorder with 160GB Hard Disc and Built-In Tuner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This excellent unit is truly powerful and capable. It's a real bargain if its price does not climb (see paragraph 3). It combines 3 different functions in one slim package, any one of which alone would have cost more than its sub-$300 price not so long ago: a 160 GB hard disk recorder, an ATSC digital tuner (and an analog NTSC tuner too), and a DVD recorder. Additionally, it breaks the DVD +/- format war by its ability to record on both.
This unit is one of the surprisingly few hard disk-plus-DVD recorder devices available today that has a digital tuner. It eliminates the high cost of monthly charges for a TIVO. No monthly charges at all! It can do two things at once, allowing playback from either DVD or HDD while recording to HDD. It has a fan but it's quiet, and turns off about a minute after turning the unit off. And, of course, you can watch live TV via your TV's tuner as well.
NOTE ON PRICES: In 2009 the Philip's price has increased, sometimes substantially above what it was last year, although you may still find it at a good price. It may be in limited quantities and/or about to be deleted: I do not know. If you can only find it at an elevated price you should also consider other units. Gary S. reports recently that the newly-available Magnavox H2160MW9, now at Amazon too, is essentially identical to the Philips and is at a sub-$300 price, so investigate that. At higher prices, there are other units that, unlike this otherwise excellent Philips, can record in high definition instead of standard def (albeit on hard drive only): the Moxi MR 1500 (for cable only, cannot be used with an antenna; 500 GB hard drive); or the TiVo TCD658000 HD XL DVR (for both cable and antenna; 1000 GB hard drive). TiVo imposes service charges, unlike Moxi or Philips, so the HD XL effectively costs about $900 for the unit + "lifetime" service fee. However, unlike the Philips, both Moxi and TiVo need an adjunct DVD recorder in order to download keeper programs to a DVD (in SD not HD, at least until Blu-Ray recorders are available). Otherwise you lose your recordings if/when the hard disk crashes.
Recording TV programs
I use a roof antenna, and receive both analog and digital TV signals. Programming to record TV shows is very similar to programming a VCR manually. There is no automatic programming system, but it's really not that hard to do manually. It records HD signals as SD (standard definition).
The listing of programs ("Titles") that you have recorded are clearly shown and easy to navigate to. But it is best to put at least a rudimentary title on the TV programs right after you record them. Otherwise all you have is the date, time, and channel of the recording. You have to add titles by a clunky texting method, requiring multiple presses of numbers 1-9.
Playback
I use an HDMI cable between this unit and my TV. Playback from the hard disk is a joy. Access is immediate. The unit remembers where you left off watching last time on each program individually. You can manoever around the recordings with an (adjustable) 30-second skip forward/backward button, or with an adjustable-speed fast forward/rewind, or with a chapter-jump ("next") which uses the (optional) 10-minute auto-chapters that are inserted.
Playback from DVD is fine, but loading a DVD is slow (perhaps because it can handle so many different DVD formats).
Aspect Ratio (edited 12/08--thanks to Arnold E.)
This will require fiddling with from time to time to display the picture properly.
When recording DIGITAL programs you get 16:9 playback with very good SD definition on a widescreen TV with the following settings: Setup/General/Video/TV Aspect/16:9. AND set the "HDMI" toggle button to 1080p (or 1080i if your 16:9 set doesn't have p). The TV should then choose the correct aspect ratio setting automatically.
If you play back a 4:3 ANALOG program (until June 2009) with these settings, it will play back stretched sideways: reset "HDMI" to 480p to fix this.
AND if you are recording some digital programs which are not broadcast full-screen (e.g. BBC News) you may wish to press ZOOM on your TV to fill the screen.
User-friendliness
Most functions are well thought out and the software is good. But you will have to read the manual.
The remote control has the buttons needed, but several important ones are badly laid out. The STOP button is tiny.
Since it's a multifunctional device, you have to tell it what component you want to use. If you have been watching a TV show recorded on HDD, and then insert a DVD, if you just press "play", it will resume playback of the HDD unless you press "DVD" first. It's not smart enough to realize you want the DVD now.
The 122-page instruction book is detailed. It is fairly well written. Mine is very well-thumbed and dogeared. To get the most out of this complex unit, you will need to read it carefully.
Editing
For copying from old VHS tapes or home DVD's, I find it best to record first onto the HDD. Then use "deleting a scene" to remove unwanted sections. The software for this is pretty user-friendly. Then transfer the cleaned-up version to DVD. You can in theory record directly to DVD from VHS, and delete unwanted sections on the DVD directly, using "Hiding Chapters" but this is clunky (first you have to define the section as a chapter). Worse, these deletions, and added chapter headings, were ignored when played back on another unit.
Upsides
An excellent, low-cost, way to record digital and analog programs over the air or on cable.
No monthly fee.
Good quality SD 16:9 recordings.
Versatile: able to transfer recordings either way between DVD and HDD.
Downsides
It can't record HD programs in HD--it downgrades them to SD.
It's slow to load a DVD.
The remote buttons are poorly laid out.
Titling tracks is tedious.
DVD edits may be ignored in other DVD players.
Summary
This is a really fine and extremely versatile unit, at a good price. It is a leapfrog into the digital age. Finally here is a device with the versatility to fully supplant S-VHS VCR's.
The next step will be when this kind of device is upgraded to record HDTV on its hard disk AND to record Blu-Ray DVD's. Don't hold your breath.
(This review is based on the predecessor model, DVDR3575H, similar except for the tuner).

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Philips DVDR3576H DVD Recorder with 160GB Hard Disc and Built-In Tuner

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1000uF 16V High Temp Radial Capacitor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)These capacitors are a perfect match for my underrated 10v 1000uF blown caps in the Korean piece of junk (Samsung 40 inch LCD TV) I purchased for $2700. Even though they look short and fat in the picture, their dimensions match that of the blown capacitors. This will make them fit the old capacitors without any problems.
I suggest you buy these high temperature rated capacitors over the ordinary ones as the power supply board gets very hot in summer and can stress the normal capacitors.

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High temperature electrolytics for use in switch mode power supplies found in TVs, VCRs, etc.105° C operating temperature satisfies characteristic W of JIS-C-5141 standards.± 20% tolerance.

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Sabrent TV-LCD05 Stand Alone TV Tuner Box with PiP For LCD/CRT/TFT Monitors Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)this tv tuner works, but isnt exactly what i wanted. it does the job. but the channels do not coincide with the ones on cable, and they are out of order, in addition to that, there's static looking thing on the top all the time, and if i put the picture in picture.. the color turns all blue and i have to reset the color code from auto to pal and back to auto. the audio output works, but has lots of hiss and background noise and is annoying to connect to speakers. overall, it does the job, but it could be better.

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Use your monitor for more than just computing: You can now watch TV on your monitor with the Sabrent TV-LCD05 Stand Alone TV Tuner Box with PiP For LCD/CRT/TFT Monitors.
With this box, you can enjoy full-screen, high-resolution entertainment on your computer monitor--at resolutions up to 1280x1024. An advanced video processor that performs 3D motion adaptive deinterlacing delivers video quality that surpasses that of your home television.
Features include picture in picture (PiP), full-screen TV display, automatic scanning for clear channels, progressive scan, three picture in picture screen sizes, a 16:9 display mode, and plug-and-play with no software or drivers required. As it is an external solution, you do not need to open up your computer case to install it, making it a breeze to set up. A fully functional remote is included so you can sit back and enjoy TV without having to fiddle with your computer.
What's in the Box TV-LCD05 VGA box, remote control, VGA cable, AV cable, audio cable, user's manual, batteries, and power adapter.

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LG 50PG60 50-Inch 1080p Plasma Frameless Edge HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this item from an Amazon reseller.
Let's start with the basics. The TV is about 3" thick, and weighs about the same as any other plasma it's size. A couple of things I found, that I did not see written anywhere (but I may have missed): The base DOES swivel. The range of the swivel is pretty high. The remote control appears to be an RF type of signal, which means I don't have to point it at the TV for it to work. The only problem I found is that sometimes when I sit it next to my PS3 Bluetooth remote it seems choppy in it's signal. No big deal, I just move it an inch or two away from the PS3 remote and it works perfectly. The remote is very easy to use, the buttons are easy to find and make sense in their location and labeling, so I don't have to deal with the, "Which button did that?" thing.
Next, let's talk about the picture quality. Some reviews I read compared it to the higher end Panny, and said that the blacks were not quite as black. Perhaps that is something you can only see when it's side by side with the $2K Panny, because the contrast ratio has easily met my expectations. The THX setting is the one I use for almost everything, and if you want your Blu-ray player on the 'THX' setting, and your cable on the 'Sports' setting (on a different HDMI port) then go ahead! Just set it to what you want for each port, and it remembers it. As for the Primary Colors, they really pop. One review I read actually compared the color quality to the $3K Pioneer. Motion is fluid, colors are clear, blacks are black. You will not be disappointed.
Now for the sound. My concern about sound was for the new technoogy of the speakerless speakers. How will it sound? Rest assured, it sounds great. Most people will be using surround sound, and I have a nice system, but where I am living restricts me from the higher volumes associated with proper surround sound. As a result, I use the TV speakers most of the time. They sound clear, and if you're like me and hate it when the music or background noise in a movie drowns out the actor's voices then you will love the audio setting that amplifies voice. I LOVE being able to easily hear what's being said, which is somtimes challenging for me because I have been to too may loud rock concerts over the years and my hearing is not 100%. lol
I looked at LCD and Plasma TV's for almost two months before coming across this TV, and with all that research under my belt, I saw this TV and purchased it the next day. It made a decision I had been agonizing over a very simple one. This has all the features of the $2K Panny, and is as thin as the Panny that's hundreds of dollars more. This TV is nothing short of brilliant, and when you weigh everything you get for it's asking price, I don't know how you could go with anything else - especially if you are looking for a good bang for the buck!

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50" PDP 1080P HDTV, 1920 x 1080 Resolution, 30,000:1 Contrast Ratio, 1,000 cd/m2 Brightness, ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM- 1 Tuner, SRS TruSurroundXT, 4 HDMI input, USB 2.0, Swivel Stand

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LG 42PQ30 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV Review

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(More customer reviews)Just replaced my 2 year old Panasonic Plasma with the 42pq30 from LG. The LG delivers a fantastic picture, the 600 mhz fluid motion effect works beautifully for sports and action movies. The ultra high contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1 really brings out the dark backgrounds when fitting. Oddly enough it performed especially well while I was watching Charlie Rose. That black back-drop he uses really creates a personal proximity between him and his guests. The classic mahogany table is equally appealing on the set creating the ultimate prop for shared space and time.
I would highly recommend this TV for anyone not looking to spend a fortune on a good quality flat panel television.

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600Hz refresh rate, HD performance and Mega Contrast 42" PDP HDTV, 1024 x 768 Resolution, 20,000:1 Contrast Ratio, 1,500:1 cd/m2 Brightness, ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM - 1 Tuner, SRS TruSurroundXT, 3 HDMI input. USB 2.0.

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Toshiba 19AV51U - 19" LCD TV - widescreen - 720p - high-gloss white Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love this tv its perfect for the kitchen, fabulous price johnsonscorp has the best price you cant find a better deal for a tv , thanks again for you great customer service.Destiny moore-Montgomery

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Take advantage of 720p HD picture quality and an impressive feature set with the 19AV51U. This model is a great addition for any space-confined area, and can also be used as a computer monitor by using the PC Input.

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LG 60PS60 60-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I will start out saying this is an excellent tv for the price! If you are like me you have probley read tons of reviews, shopped around, looked at the sets in the stores and so on. I was able to get lucky enough to view the TV's I was considering on to purchase at the local Sears side by side. The sets were the LG60PS60, Panny TC58S1, Panny V10 & Samsung PN58B650. To be honest they all looked good! The major deal breaker was the price point, the LG is around 200 to 300 dollars cheaper than the Samsung PN58B650 and about $1k less than the Panny V10(... on line that is). I eliminated the TC58S1 from my choice since I dont think it was in the same class as the other three. The Samsung B650 & Panny V10 did have deeper blacks I agree but for the price differance not an issue at all. The stand comes mounted on this tv in which isnt to bad but if you have little ones I would recomend mounting it on the wall... never know with little hands ( get a good mount thou, the tv weighs around 125lbs or so). Hands down the set is better looking the the other's I have mentioned, it looks like a big picture frame with the solid sheet of glass that covers the front, not to mention makes it easier to clean in the future.
They say you dont have to break in the tv but I did anyhow. I found a free download to burn on a dvd disc that runs thru radom colors, I used it when I was not watching tv prior to 100hrs. By no means is the TV picture that good right out of the box, its not bad but given time (over 100hrs) and use the "wizzard" that it has its to bad at all. I did use a dvd calabration disc that I had borrowed from a friend DVE ( long story short, it takes some time to play with it) but when I was able to "dial" it in, WOW!
The sound isnt to bad, I was actually impressed with it since its from a TV but never the less I use a surround sound set up so its not an issue for me. Face it, most tv's are not good for quality sound. The connections are pretty good, it has all that you will need for a good set-up. Quick note, the photo that shows the back panel is NOT correct. The connections such as HDMI and so on are the lower right hand (if viewing from the back) and not in the middle as shown above. Not a big issue unless you are mounting this on the wall and using cables thru the wall as I did, so plan ahead.
There is only one issue I have with this set thou, its the reflection is gives out. Now I knew this prior to purchase so I cant complain about it, its "glass"! I just thought I would warn those who may not think about it. We have an open living room with large windows on one side and an open kitchen in the back that when the lights are on you can see the reflection. This is not a "knock" on the set since most plasmas will have glare not to mention anything with glass such as the new lcd/led's.
Image retention is not an issuse with this set ( at least not this one), I have the orbiter set on to take care of that. If you do have an issue thier is a white wash along with a color watch, I found that to be very helpful if needed. As I had mentioned earlier the picture wizzard isnt to bad, it does a fairly good job but to get the full beauty you should think about getting it calabrated with a DVD, it really help's! With that I dont think its ness. to spend $300 to get if done by a professional but thats just my opinion thou. Just be patiant with it, give it least 100 to 200 hours then you be amazed.
I have the LG BD390 Blu-ray player so I did not need to 60ps80 series to stream netflix ( great player by the way!) The image is fantastic, I could not be happier. Standard tv is so/so, I believe any set its going to look so/so but standard HD channels (720p broadcast) look's very good! I had a Samsung 56' DLP that this set replaced that I thought it was very good but after getting this... hands down this set overwhelms it!
My final over-view:
I feel that I have chosen the right TV. The size, the price & the picture... I am quite pleased with this TV. I have never owned a plasma tv let alone a LG TV since most of them have been Samsung ( which is a great TV as well) but now I can say I am a LG fan as well. Just a fact, side by side the Samsung B650 & Panny V10 may have a little bit better blacks but in your home you cant tell the differnace. When I say "balcks" I mean more of a balance, I do believe the LG has better color thou. I would have to say the Panny V10 was very good but for $1k more no way. I gave this set a 5 star due to the size, picture and price. I didnt want to spend more than $2k for a set since that was my budget but I also wanted a great tv, so in essance I found both! Maybe this little review may help then again maybe not but I thought I would put my 2 cents worth in.

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THX display certification sets this series apart. 60" PDP 1080P HDTV, 1920 x 1080 Resolution, THX Display Certified, 600Hz Sub Field Driving, 2,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, 1,500 cd/m2 Brightness, ATSC/NTSC/Clear QAM - 1 Tuner, Dual XD Engine, SRS TruSurround XT, 4 HDMI input

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Toshiba 50A61 50-Inch Projection TV Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just purchased my first Big screen TV. I would like to say I did a lot of investigative work before i settled on the Toshiba 50A61. For the price ,quality looks workmanship I'm very happy about my purchse. I looked at HDTV,Wide Screen and all brands checked Best Buy, Sears, Wal-mart you name it ..But the picture is so clear and the features are some of the best for this price range.. I would suggest this television to anyone not looking to spend on the high end and still have a tv set that is top notch..you can't go wrong ...

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This widescreen 50-inch powerhouse packs everything from generous AV inputs to Toshiba's latest high-tech video innovations (including two-tuner, multiwindow picture-in-picture). The quality starts with a wideband video amplifier, works its way through the set's extensive lens system (including PowerFocus Plus CRTs and a five-element lens with Multilinear Digital Convergence and Multilinear Digital Focus), and manifests itself onscreen through a three-line digital comb filter with vertical contour correction, velocity scan modulation, and 900 lines of horizontal resolution. Can you say "HDTV ready"?
Among the 50A61's other image-enhancing features are flesh-tone correction and a color-detail enhancer, video noise reduction, black-level expansion, and color-temperature control (warm, medium, and cool).
This Cinema Series television uses Toshiba's TheaterShield Plus, an improved version of the acrylic shield the company uses to protect its screens. Standard TheaterShield incorporates a special hard coat to resist scratching, while TheaterShield Plus adds an antireflective layer to the surfaces of the shield. This additional layer reduces reflectivity by over 50 percent and improves the set's overall contrast.
Working in tandem with TheaterShield Plus is Toshiba's TheaterBright technology, which--between improvements to the projection lens and the screen--grants a wide, 160-degree viewing angle for use in any room. TheaterBright uses a double lenticular (two-lens) projection configuration, combining a Fresnel lens and a fine-pitch (0.72 millimeter) BlackStripe screen. The screen is tinted for increased contrast, and Toshiba has incorporated a surface layer diffuser, which concentrates the tinting on a thinner layer of the screen's surface. The result is a high-resolution, high-brightness, and--with TheaterShield Plus--high-contrast screen.
In the audio department, the set works either as a monitor in conjunction with your surround receiver and speakers, or as a self-contained audio-video entity, boasting 15 watts per channel through front-firing stereo speakers. Toshiba's Sub Bass System (SBS) ensures dramatic low-end performance with movies and music videos, and MTS Stereo/SAP (with dbx surround sound) delivers impressive broadcast audio. A center-channel audio input lets you enjoy 5.1-channel surround even if you have surround speakers but lack external front left, center, and right speakers. You'll also enjoy: variable audio outputs, PIP sound, and Stable Sound for minimizing the garish level hikes when the station cuts to a commercial break.
Other conveniences include an illuminated (backlit) AV universal remote control, color-icon trilingual onscreen display, direct video input selection, Movie and Sports modes, individual AV settings for inputs, Favorite Channel, and V-chip parental control.

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