Product Description

50" HD PLASMA TV

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #70573 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Toshiba
• Model: 50HP66
• Dimensions: 34.30" h x 16.20" w x 49.50" l, 106.90 pounds
• Display size: 50

Features

• Sleek, black 50-inch Plasma HDTV with bottom-mounted speakers; measures 49.5 x 34.25 x 16.2 inches (WxHxD) with included stand
• Integrated NTSC, ATSC tuners; QAM tuner compatible with unscrambled HDTV cable reception
• 1366 x 768-pixel resolution, 1000 cd/m2 brightness, 10,000:1 contrast ratio
• Inputs: 3 composite (1 front), 3 S-Video (1 front), 2 component, 2 HDMI, 1 PC VGA, 1 RF
• Two stereo speakers, 10 watts apiece (20 watts total); SRS WOW virtual surround sound

Amazon.com Product Description
Step 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

Customer Reviews

our 1st HDTV!!
we looked long and hard to find the best "value" and not price, meaning we were not interested in the lowest cost solution. In fact our focus was on the top 42" &43" Panasonics and Pioneers (based on Consumer Reports and Plasma TV Buyers.com) until comparing the Toshiba 50HP66 side by side with Panasonic at Video Only in Bellevue. (Toshiba was superior in every category!) The sales rep included "free delivery" so we are now into a 50" Plasma HD which has tranformed our tv experience where we can watch an excellent picture, sound and are more engaged. You should include Toshiba in your search also they are the first on the market with HD DVD recorder.

Very pleased, nice picture
This TV has brilliant depth to its colors, and watching sports in HD is amazing. The detail that the TV gives is truly great. The TV has 2 HMDI plugs for your cable box and DVD player, which even if you don't want to spend 1,000 on a HD player, you can get an upconverter DVD player with HDMI out for only 100 bucks. Its like watching movies in a theater.

Good Plasma TV and a Great Value
We purchased this TV in July of 2006 when it just hit the market. Overall we are quite pleased with the TV. We compared it with the Panasonics, Pioneers, Philips, LG, Samsung, Vizio and Maxent TVs on the market. Overall it compares favorably with the top tier brands (e.g., Panasonic, Pioneer) in picture quality, but the price is midway between the second tier brands (e.g., Maxent) and the top tier brands.

Pros:

1. 2 HDMI inputs - High Definition Media Interface (HDMI) is the wave of the future. One cable carries both audio and video feeds and is the standard for the next generation of HD DVD players, cable boxes and satellite boxes. Having 2 HDMI interfaces allows you to connect a DVD player and a cable or satellite box. I have my TV hooked up to a Toshiba upconverting DVD player using the HDMI input. The cable is connected via analog input to the TV.

2. HD Picture Clarity - Toshiba is using a Philips / LG panel, which is ubiquitous in the industry (e.g., Maxent, Vizio, LG, Philips and others all use the panels from this joint venture). However, Toshiba sets the panel resolution at a native 720 progressive (i.e., it paints the picture line by line), rather than a 1080 interlace (i.e., it paints alternate lines). Whatever signal it is fed, it will be converted to a 720P. I believe that this results in a smoother image. The HD picture quality is sharp and vibrant. Standard picture quality (e.g., from cable) is pretty good - the picture is definitely softer than HD, but definitely watchable. Our cable provider is Time Warner and their cable box does a great job of stretching a standard picture for the screen. When this TV was side by side with Panasonic, Philips and Pioneer and Maxent - the Panasonic seemed to have the best image, it was slightly sharper and colors were more natural. I was not impressed the Pioneer (colors looked off) picture or the Philips (a little soft) picture. The Maxent picture was surprisingly good, but not quite as sharp or natural as the Toshiba or Panasonic.

3. Price - When we purchased this TV, it was $400 below the Panasonic and and $300 above the Maxent and Vizio TVs. It was priced about the Philips. Considering Toshiba's reputation as a top tier brand, the price was more than competitive.

4. Predicted Reliability - According to Consumer Reports, the Toshiba TVs have relatively low rate of repair compared to other brands (particularly the second tier brands).

Cons:

1. Picture Color - The Toshiba tends to have a "red push" (i.e., skin tones and reds seem to be redder). One can help reduce the red push by setting the temperature settings to "cool" and "film". Still it is a warmer picture than Panasonic. Also, like most plasma TVs, it has a harder time with blacks. On HD signals, blacks are nice and dark and inky. On standard definition or DVD, the blacks can sometimes seem blotchy and pixelated.

2. Input Selection - The TV has a number of inputs. On the remote, one selects the input key and all of the inputs are identified. One then selects the input desired (e.g., cable, DVD, etc.) If you hit enter, it then calls up the menu. If you leave it alone, the TV will wait a few seconds before switching signals. Also, when switching between HD and regular signals, the TV takes a couple of seconds to switch signals.