4 comments about Toshiba REGZA Cinema Series 40XF550U 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV.

1. The Toshiba 40XF550U has, at this writing, been available for about a month. Here are my observations after 10 days' use
   
   This brand and model appealed to me for three reasons. First, a new widescreen TV had to fit into a cabinet that previously held a 32" Panasonic CRT (tube) TV. While a 37" LCD TV fits, bigger is definitely better and this narrow bezel Toshiba is currently the only 40" on the market whose width is comparable to most 37" TVs. Second, I wanted technology that would not become obsolete for several more years, and this TV seems to fit the bill. I judged it superior features-wise to 37" offerings from Sony, Samsung, JVC, and Sharp. Third, I wanted a "name" brand that had consistently good ratings for performance and reliability from independent reviewers like Consumer Reports and techie users on avforum.com.
   
   PROS
   Nicely executed cutting-edge technology. Toshiba's 2008 top of the line 40" LCD HDTV: 1080p resolution, 120 Hz frame rate, and 5:5 pull down with a 10 bit panel. Features go on and on and are impressive.
   
   Very high quality panel with no dead (that I could detect) or stuck pixels. It's uncertain whether the 40" panel is sourced from Samsung (generally recognized to make some of the best panels) or Sharp, though informed opinion leans towards Samsung. My set was assembled in Mexico.
   
   Excellent picture, with good color and black levels (some techies think blacks could be slightly better, but I'm impressed). Subjectively, the picture is superb in HD; perhaps a similar Sony or Samsung's picture would "pop" slightly more (I've always been impressed with Sony picture processing). I have detected flashlighting on black backgrounds like movie credits. Haven't fiddled with the default settings, but there seems some green push. However, haven't seen any ghosting, banding, or motion blur (shouldn't with 120 Hz refresh). This set, though, is not used for gaming.
   
   Living in the San Francisco bay area with numerous broadcast stations around, I prefer freeview over-the-air (OTA) to cable and satellite. Standard definition (SD) from OTA analog broadcasting sources, if strong signals, is surprisingly good - the equal if not slightly better than the old Panny. Old VCR tapes and SD broadcasts, when recorded on, dare I admit it, a VCR, are also surprisingly good. Note, though, that this TV (as most any HDTV) will struggle with weak analog broadcast signals, generating a grainy picture. Of course, all analog broadcasting will be history in a few months. (Digital OTA broadcast signals are subject to the "cliff effect" - if the signal's weak, you'll just get a bluescreen.)
   
   The digital tuner is fine, but not as sensitive as a Samsung's I tested last year. Note that digital broadcasts are largely in the UHF part of the spectrum, so an existing UHF antenna might be adequate. See [...] for more information. Reception problems in my area are largely solved by adding a signal amplifier (both the Philips 24DB Dual Output Vhf/uhf/fm Amplifier and more expensive Motorola 484095-001-00 Signal Booster worked equally well). So if you have a good existing UHF antenna try a signal amplifier before investing in a new one. Note that VHF antennas are still good for analog channels 2 through 13 but useless for digital.
   
   Audio: pretty typical, meaning not superb but adequate. Mute button gives half-mute and full mute. Full mute is complete.
   
   For the most part, well-engineered, solidly built, and elegant form factor. It's hard to tell from pictures posted on the net, but this set has a thin and shiny black frame (bezel) with a stainless band about ½" thick set back from the outer edge (can't see it facing on). The lower part of the speaker strip at the bottom is a dark silver color.
   
   Judging from my set and early adopter comments at avforum (see some really thoughtful and technical reviews and comments there on this line of products from Toshiba) this model seems nicely put together from both an engineering and manufacturing quality control standpoint.
   
   CONS
   The remote control is a bit clunky and not up to the design standards of the TV in my opinion (I like Samsung's so much better). No separate buttons for input sources. No separate audio button, though there is a picture size button. It's as though the remote was an after-thought or farmed out to a junior design team.
   
   Some users have complained that custom preferences for input sources can be lost under some circumstances - if true, this can be fixed with a firmware upgrade. I haven't yet been able to do a global turn-off of the annoying closed-captioning that sticks.
   
   NOTES
   You can dim the bottom blue light if desired from the menu. The two-pronged power cord is not detachable from the set.
   
   Toshiba's product literature has been inconsistent about the 40XF550U's dimensions - a very important consideration for those placing in entertainment center cabinets. I can confirm they are: 36.77 inches (934 mm) width, 25.3" (632 mm) height w/stand, and 12.1" (130 mm) depth w/stand. Toshiba customer service is 1-800-575-5469.
   
   The set is not as tightly and securely packed as the Samsung that I reviewed last year. The box can be easily opened by popping 4 plastic tabs at the bottom (my set had a hand smudge on the top and the seller told me that freight companies routinely open the boxes to make sure all is OK !; I can't confirm the veracity of this statement but try to convince your seller to securely seal it before shipping). The TV has a loose cover over it, and is accompanied by a sealed plastic packet with serial number label on it containing user's guide, remote, and AA batteries. An included sealed and (finally) well-packed box contains the stand, also with serial number sticker.
   
   Finally, I recommend checking with your credit card providers before purchasing. My Amex and MasterCard credit cards double Toshiba's 1 year parts and labor in-home warranty. My VISA does not.



2. I love it. If there is a flaw I haven't found it yet. I have not used all of its options so far, but right out of the box the picture was incredible, even on non-digital channels. I bought the monster 1000hd high speed hdmi, and I highly recommend that for this tv. Also, I found the overall height to be slightly smaller than stated, which is a good thing for me, as it fits perfectly in my tv armoire. I have it in a 13 x 17 room and the speakers are more than adequate, although I increased the bass a bit. I admit I spent more than I wanted to, but I had space restrictions that this accomodated. However after seeing it in action, I have no regrets. I LOVE IT!



3. I have an heirloom quality solid cherry TV armoire which is said to fit 36" crt tvs. There is no way I'm getting rid of the armoire. The 36" was a Toshiba. Next was a 37" 1080i, also Toshiba. When the 40" Regza came out, I saw that it was just enough to fit in the cabinet what with the thin frame. Every inch makes a difference. I am very pleased that I have been able to fit the maximum size screen into the armoire. Viewing height was also improved because the thinner speaker outlets allowed for installation closer (lower) to ideal viewing height. I actually floated the TV inside the armoire via a series of brackets and mounting boards which I rigged up, thus getting rid of the stand that comes with it. Viewing is eye level seated so no craning of the neck looking upwards!
   
   Admittedly, the primary reason was aesthetics and fit but I did see it demonstrated at the store and also relied on the Toshiba reputation and past experience. I am extremely pleased with picture quality. I only use it to watch DVDs and it is a perfect match as part of a high end 5.1 system. Watching BluRays is pleasing.
   
   I'm not good at TV technical specs but I like what I see. I love it. My friends love it.



4. Like many purchasers of this TV, one of main motivations was that it would just fit in our existing cabinet. I know many would say 'get a new cabinet' but we don't worship TV, 40" was plenty big enough and we really like our cabinet. I also like Toshiba and had previously purchased a couple other Toshibas (to replace Sony's that had expired before their time) with good results. I am not a cognoscenti and some of the other reviews here and on the web will be more informative for experts but I think the picture is great. The detail in the HD feeds from our cable provider are just stunning; too bad they are wasted on talk shows for the most part but the occasional sporting event makes viewing a really enjoyable experience. DVDs, of course, look very good. SD material can look pretty bad depending on the channel but we mostly use the TV for movies. I agree with others that the remote is not the strong point of this model. I particularly dislike the favorites browser and thought it was done better on the other Toshibas we own. I also look at the Mitsubishi but I think we made the right choice. I don't think you will be disappointed with this TV.

5 comments about Samsung LN46A530 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.

1. i recently bought this tv and let me tell you the image is excellent. i never actually thought that i could get so much quality at this price. the only downturn for me is that is still have a lot of AV devices and this tv lacks on that. i've only found one and it is a side one. so if you are like me (that still has a lot of AV systems) this tv is a bit of a bummer (i hate swapping cables). apart from that the set is great, love the swivel stand. i honestly dont know what good can i get from 120 hz as of today.



2. (note: I bought this TV elsewhere, but I am grateful to the Amazon community for its reviews, so I wanted to add one)
   
   I found the process of researching and buying an HDTV to be overwhelming, but I am thrilled with the end result.
   
   The picture quality has been nothing short of stunning. I'm sure that the black levels could be better on a high-end Sony, but for me they are excellent. NBC's coverage of the Olympics has been luxurious to watch. The colors are fantastic.
   
   There are a few times when I notice artifacts, such as with water polo and with the Olympic logo that flashes through between replays, but I can live with it. I actually think that the reason is NBC's 1080i signal, because Fox's 720p signal for football and baseball has been flawlessly smooth.
   
   I am typing this on the TV screen, using it as my computer monitor, which has worked great through both the VGA port and the (DVI-to-)HDMI port. Movies on an upconverting DVD player have looked great, and the big screen is lots of fun with the 480p component signal from our Nintendo Wii.
   
   Sound could be better, with the speakers being in the back as well as the sides, but it's as good as any other TV I've owned. I would get a separate sound system if it really mattered to me.
   
   I found the setup to be easy, and it was a pleasant surprise to see that the TV could pick up the HD local channels through the cable, even though I just have basic standard-definition service. The standard channels are much less attractive than the HD ones, but I'm willing to accept that in order to enjoy the HD.
   
   Knowing that 120hz technology and other features will be coming down in price, I think that this was an excellent purchase in terms of getting a good deal on features that are mature enough to enjoy right now.



3. Excellent product in all respects. I researched many 46 inch sets and I believe this was the best buy. Very satisfied.



4. The picture on this TV was great but a few days after arrival I noticed a stuck pixel. I did not want a brand new TV with defective pixels, so I called Amazon. They took the TV back and issued a full refund. Amazon has taken the risk and hassle out of shopping on the internet.



5. Samsung has a great product in this big screen LCD. It has been great during this football season. A lot better than my team has been. This big screen LCD is everything it was advertised. It has a much better picture than the Visio for not much more money. The LCD reduces glare incredibly over a previously owned projection HD TV.

1 comments about Sharp Aquos LC46D65U 46-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.

1. I absolutely LOVE this t.v. The picture is crystal clear and I have had no problems with it. If you are hesitant about making the move to HDTV and a high-end LCD - don't be! It is worth it and the price is the best out there right now. I am addicted to this TV!
   
   the one con is that the t.v. takes a brief long second to up load...but that is it!!
   
   this t.v. is super sleek, sexy and will be a eye grabber as soon as you walk into the room!!!!!!!

5 comments about Sharp Aquos LC46D43U 46-Inch 720p LCD HDTV.

1. I'm noticing while brighter background colors are displayed, and the subject is darker I'm receiving faint gray horizontal lines on the brighter background. It doesn't matter what device the image is coming from, upconvert dvd player, cable reciever, or xbox 360. Its less noticeable on the HD cable signals. Has anyone else discovered this or is this just an isolated case?



2. I bought this tv at sears after months of consideration, i work there so i looked at them almost every day, i finally got it for a good price and i havent looked back since! The xbox 360 looks amazing and i watched sin city on it last night omg its amazing. I ordered some hdmi cables on amazon i cant wait to see the improvement, it is all ready great.



3. Ordered this product in good faith at a price that was too great to pass up...Amazon conveniently stated that it was mispriced; so they were canceling my order and oh, by the way my Amex was never charged, which by the way is a lie. My Amex was charged through Amazon.com who was in fact given an authorization code. Then Amazon.com told me that they didn't even have this particular T.V. in stock or even sold it...well that's odd too, since here it is. I can clearly see that they do have it in stock.
   If you made a mistake cool, pony up to it Amazon.com; but don't lie to the consumer about it. I Didn't really expect to get a T.V. for $40.00, but I also didn't expect to be lied to as to why you can't deliver on what you advertised.



4. Saw an outrageous price of $38.45 for this T.V. through My Office Source. Ordered it and immediately received confirmation email two days ago. Today I received the cancellation email and was given no reason for cancellation.



5. Got this TV for a great price at Sears last year on Black Friday. Picture is good, but sound is not as other reviews have stated. Sometimes you can have the sound up all the way and have trouble hearing people speak unless the room is quiet. For better audio you will need a sound system which I have since purchased. The picture is great though and the TV works great and is easy to use. My only other issue was that if you connect a DVD or BluRay player to HDMI and you connect the Digital Audio Output to a receiver, you will only get 2 channel stereo because the HDMI ports don't support passing Dolby 5 channel surround sound. What this means is that the player's audio must go directly to the receiver. But I've been told that most TVs don't support this anyway.
   
   PROS: great picture, easy to use, good price
   CONS: only 720p, sound quality

No comments about LG 22LG31 22-Inch 720p LCD HDTV, White.

4 comments about Viewsonic N2635W 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV.

1. ViewSonic's high-performance N2635w 26" widescreen LCD TV flips you in high-definition. slow video response, low brightness. Build a complete high-definition home theater by connecting a DVD pl and contrast ratio deliver crystal-clear slow action flicks , gaming console, HD set top box and more with the multiple video and audio connections. HDMI with HDCP ensures long-term compatibility with emerging technology. Advanced Clearpicture Electronics enhance contrast, define details and boost color for amazingly lifelike images. Built-in 20-watt Dolby Digital sound completes the experience. For a total multimedia experience that your neighbors will envy, choose the ViewSonic N2635w.



2. WARNING! If you want to be forced to watch stretched (distorted) image, (with a few exceptions of some HD digital channels), this ViewSonic model is the right TV set for you!
   The two tuners on this HDTV receive both digital (w/ or w/o HD), and analog channels. When tuning to the analog and to some of the digital non-HD channels, the originally broadcasted 4x3 images are stretched to fully cover the wide screen size of 16x9 ratio of this HDTV set. This "linear image distortion" causes people to look fat and the overall image very unpleasant to watch.
   After going through the manual, I could not find any setting selection to correct this problem. (Some LCD HDTVs have setting options like "STRETCH", ZOOM, SIDE BARS, etc., but not this one).
   I called ViewSonic customer service, and, after being on hold for 15 minutes, I was told that "this is normal" and "there are no settings to correct this problem", and then the call was somehow disconnected (did they hang up on me? I don't know!).
   NOTE: Not all of the TVs are like this one. I have one LCD HDTV that automatically switches between the 3x4 and the 16x9 ratios, according to the broadcasted image and the settings performed through the TV setup menu. The only time this problem cannot be corrected is when some (abnormal) TV stations intentionally broadcast an originally distorted image in HD, which may occur in 1 or 2 stations within 100.
   Be aware of this problem before you fall in a trap and buy LCD HDTVs like this ViewSonic N2635W!



3. This isn't a bad TV. I paid $380 for it brand new. The TV does take a bit longer than normal to change channels, but the video (head-on) is very crisp. Of course, from side angle, it is not the greatest, but I have it in the basement (game table, workout gym, lounge area) and it is on a swivel arm, so I can swing it around based on activity I am working on.
   
   Contrary to other reviews, I've had no complaints so far. Then again, I've only had it 2 weeks, but its a beautiful TV, great picture using HDMI cable, decent size 26" screen, the audio I've connected to my basement wall-mounted speakers...I'm VERY pleased!



4. Worst TV never buy this worst picture quality
   never buy even it is 100$

5 comments about Samsung FPT5084 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV.

1. The TV ROCKS!!! No more to say here! One of the top ten HDTV's of 2007 according to cnet and I agree.
   
   A small glitch with the company contracted to deliver it. As other reviewers have stated, be proactive and call the company early and often to make sure no delivery issues exist. That said, once the issue was resolved (a data entry error that started with Amazon actually) the tv was delivered professionally with free white glove delivery. I never thought I would spend so much money on a tv on Amazon but I have to admit, they had the best price and included free white glove delivery so I went for it and haven't regretted it.



2. I've had this TV for almost a year and it's darned nice! As it should be, for the price. However, the optical connector went out on it. It was covered under warranty. The service guy had to change out the entire motherboard to replace the optical connector. I examined the old motherboard, and the optical connector had broken off--it appears to be a very weak unit; can't handle any stress. Samsung's customer service is the worst, however. Wait times are long, and then when you finally get connected to a real person, they go by the script and cannot think for themselves. First thing to do when you call is ask to speak with a supervisor and that will bump you past the robots. However, don't expect a lot more from the second line. They get to be a bit more rude than the first line, but that's about it.



3. I have had the TV for over a month now. It is more than worth the money! The picture is amazing. The sound is fine (I only heard a buzzing sound once the second time I used the tv. Since then I have not heard it).
   
   I would highly recommend this product!



4. I researched TVs for a year. Picked up the 5084 on the 4th of July and it's a winner. I saw it next to the Panasonic TH-50PZ800U and the Panasonic 50PZ80U. I set all 3 TVs to movie mode and liked the Samsung better. Here is how I arrived at this decision.
   
   1. First I got the plasma vs. lcd choice out of the way by appreciating that plasmas still do better blacks and deeper color. My wife and I watch 90% of time at night. This is where plasmas excel.
   
   2. I narrowed down the plasmas to the pioneer 5080, Panasonic 50pz85u, and 50PZ800U.
   At the time, the Samsung 5084 wasn't even in the running. As I spent time watching the Panasonic 50pz85u I noticed noise in dark scenes even connected with a monster cable and a good line cleaner so I passed. I found that the pioneer even on sale was $600 more than the Samsung. The Panasonic 50PZ800U was $1000 more. Clearly these two TVs are superior with more goodies, but not life changing enough to justify the cost.
   
   3. In the end what pushed me to the Samsung was the fact that it's a "high end TV" from last year that was $1500.00 less than when it came out. I paid $1570. I would rather have an older high end TV than an newer low or medium end TV. While I'm at it Id rather pay a low end price for a high end TV.
   
   4. This TV is still among the top ten on Cnet almost a year later with the same rating as it's newer 2008 model: PN50A550
   
   5. At the writing of this review all knows bugs have been worked out. Another reason to wait on an older high end model.
   
   Pluses:
   I have had the Samsung for a month now and it has performed flawlessly.
   Good Standard Def picture. Excellent high def. Can't comment on DVD picture because I am running my DVD player through an Onkyo 605 receiver that up converts the picture to 720p and it looks fabulous.
   
   My wife loves the bezel (frame). This is what made the whole thing work for her. Plus setting up the room so that it looks like a display room.
   
   Minuses:
   You have to be careful how long you pause a picture as it will retain the image. I created a macro key on my Logitech remote (that a got at Amazon) called safe pause. When I press it, it pauses the picture and turns the TV off. If however you get picture retention, Samsung has excellent tools that act like window washers for your screen.
   
   Some times I might watch TV during the day if I am off and the light coming in can be a drawback in dark scenes. This is easily remedied with $15 window blinds.
   
   I am very happy I bought this TV and have no regrets. Get one before they disappear.



5. Bought this TV in 8 months ago (January 2008). Very, very happy with this plasma TV. Excellent picture and easy to use remote control. I haven't had any problems since purchasing it. The side panel inputs are convenient. The contrast with black and other dark colors is great.
   
   The HD channels are great. However, like other plasma's, the non-HD channels are average at best.

5 comments about Westinghouse SK-19H210S 19-Inch LCD HDTV.

1. I've had this TV/Monitor for about a month, and I've been very happy with it.
   
   The TV works/looks great. Nice remote, easy controls, etc. etc.
   
   As a computer monitor, it is FANTASTIC. The built-in speakers means that I don't need other items cluttering up my desktop. Image is very sharp.



2. Pros:
   + Great image quality (HDTV quality), screen also coated with anti-reflective coating (which means that it doesn't reflect light from the background that much, & thus you the screen is not that shiny)
   + Many ports (HDMI, VGA etc), can be used as a computer screen
   + Ultra portable
   + DTV, no digital to analog converter required (Feb 17, 2009 transition to DTV in the USA).
   + Really good for its price
   + Setting up very easy (I also find using its remote control very easy : for eg, while watching DTV, I can change the language, include closed captioning, and check the programming guide.
   + Included in the box: VGA cable to connect this TV to your computer and another one to transfer sound from your computer to the TV speakers. I use my laptop as a DVD player with this TV.
   
   Cons:
   - Found only one: I don't find the sound quality that superb. To my ears, the sound sounds as if it is coming from a pair of sound blasters enclosed within a box that is partly open. That is, the sound is kind of muffled - my laptop sound blasters output a much better sound than this HDTV. However, you can always attach your own sound system to this TV to get a better sound.



3. this is a great hdtv and i can hook it up to my pc to this is great for the money must buy!!!



4. On the positive side: the image is excellent, the system supports a multitude of inputs, the analog tuner works perfectly.
   
   On the negative side: the QAM tuner and the computer that selects the detected stations via the remote are flawed. I connected this TV to my cable without the cable box to watch the clear-QAM digital stations from my cable provider. Autoscan found all of them. But trying to use the remote to select the detected channels are so frustrating that I just stopped trying to use the digital tuner. As I installed two of these TVs and both had the identical problems, I suspect that there is a serious design flaw.
   
   If your purpose for this TV is as a PC monitor, for connection to an antenna, for connection to a DVD or for connection to a cable box (either using the analog output [which makes no sense] or using the digital connections) this might be very acceptable. However, if your application is to use the TV to tune QAM signals, this is not the TV for you.
   
   Westinghouse's tech support was so poorly trained that they did not even know what a QAM tuner was for.
   
   Have returned mine. Proceed corefully.



5. GOOD -- PRICE, BI-PLATFORMED FOR TV AND COMPUTER
   BAD -- NOT TRUE 16:9 (16:10), ACCESS TO DIGITAL QAM DIFFICULT, VIDEO AND AUDIO MEDIOCRE
   
   For a cheap utility hdtv that can double as a vga plugged computer screen (or visaversa) as in a home office, this screen is a really good deal for the money. However pix and audio quality only mediorce and the viewing range on the lcd limited.
   
   16:10 slightly distorts hdtv pix, elongating images by 10%.
   
   CAUTION: You can not key-in digital channels directly on the remote, even though it has a dot key.
   The only access to Qam digital is via on screen menu and then you can only access channels directly through the onscreen programming guide. Lots of key strokes. NOTE QAM is important, since it allows access to local HDVD channels without renting a box from cable or satellite.

4 comments about Toshiba REGZA 52XV540U 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV.

1. I've been looking at buying a 52 LCD for 6 months. Wanted a Toshiba lx177 from last year but decided to wait for further change in technology. Looked at last years Samsung 71's and Sony xbr4's and all had issues. I waited for the 52xv540 because the quality was there for the right price. This tv looked great out of the box and has dazzled my Sony owning nieghbors who paid more than a $1000 more for thier tv's. Bluray & ps3 are incredible and if you like the motion technology on these high end tv's, you'll love Toshibas version of it. It's less intrusive than Samsungs & Sony's version but still it's evident and gives the picture a 3D look. Your HD channels will really shine. SD tv looks pretty good but your not buying this tv to look at analog channels, right? If your looking at this tv or the thin bezel version xf550, then you'll want to compare it to the new Samsung 650's and the new Sony w series. Take a look at those and price compare, read some forums and I think you'll love this tv as much as I do! I saved over $800 by buying online!



2. This tv is the best at it's PRICE range for a 52" lcd tv. At this price range you want to consider this tv and a sony z series. I will elaborate on the reason why in this review. It's got a great picture but it's not as sharp as the sony z series which costs the same amount for a smaller 46" generally. The toshiba does have a slightly better picture than the new sony 52" w series of the same size which is around the same price. However the toshiba does support deep color and 5:5 pulldown which is the same thing as 24 p or film speed or 24 frames per second. this is a important new technology that samsung forgot to include on their new lcd series. Many blu ray players output blu rays at 24p if your tv can take the signal. When this happens the movie looks like it did in the movie theater with smooth motion. The same sized sony w series does this also but isn't as sharp picture wise as this tv but and it lacks deep color which this tv has. Anyways if you have a blu ray player or ps3 you want a tv that can intake 24p or 5:5 pulldown. (these are the same thing). the toshiba does this and gives you deep color and the w series of sony of the same size just gives you 24p. You get more picture size for a little more money with this toshiba than the z series. But you don't get x.v. color which helps expand the color. the sony z series and above do this function.
   the new sony xbr6 will have 24p, deep color, and x.v. color too and will be the same size as this tv but will run you alot more. Of course you DON'T want any lcd that can't do 120hz and most NEW lcd tv's do that. At this price range for this size of tv , toshiba is the best bet. If you want a sharper picture though you will have to drop down to the z series which is only a 46" or xbr5 which is more expensive. Why am I going on about x.v. color , deep color, and 24p (5:5 pulldown)?, because these are the standards that will carry us into the far future. deep color and x.v. color allow the tv to accept more color and show more color. if they offer tv's with greater than 1080p this is LESS important because nothing will be set to output at that anyway. so it's not that important. but having a lcd tv that can do 120 hz, is a good thing, greater hz(240) lcds will come in the next few years probably, but you will have a good enough tv to be satisfied with a 120 hz tv.
   for many , many , years to come. and this tv is good enough to be happy with for at least five years conservatively. It has the 24p (5:5 pulldown)amd deep color and a large screen. It doesn't have the x.v. color but to get it at this price you must find a smaller z series from sony. Many representitives at stores have not been informed on these new standards , which you will want far into the future. But if you have blu ray you NEED a tv that does 24p (5:5 pulldown). why spend money on a LARGER 42' and above lcd without this feature? So it comes down to it at this price range, a smaller z series with all the new standards or this great tv with two of the new standards. But whatever you get you want the 24p standard. this has it, sadly the samsung lcd ranges and many others don't. If you can't live without a 52 inch then this a good buy also. but if you want the best picture (at this price range) out there right now you would go with a z series. These are the new 2008 models of course that this review has been comparing. This is a long review but few salesmen are telling their customers about the new standards at all. And you do get two of them on this tv so that makes this a better buy than alot of other tv's at this price. At this price range I would suggest you look at this in a showroom, the picture quality is great , the z series is clearer though but smaller for the same price range. So far the models on showrooms here show no defects or purple blotches. Some lcds get those defects in early runs. So that is more good news. All in all , this is a fine tv with a great picture and good blacks, it has a good processor too so it is a better buy than the sony w series of the same size. And it's not as great a tv as the sony z series but it is bigger. Many go for the samsungs at this size but they shortchanged their customers by leaving off 24p film speed and deep color. So skip them and think toshiba or sony lcd and then compare.



3. I ordered this TV with a lot of trepidation. Not because of the TV, because I had looked at it at a local Fry's Electronics and new it was a good-looking TV. I wanted to save money since Amazon was cheaper and I wouldn't have to pay sales tax, but I was leery of ordering such a big ticket item online.
   
   Fortunately, my fears were unwarranted. The white glove delivery service was excellent. They brought the TV into my apartment, unboxed it and placed it on my TV stand. The delivery men then waited, somewhat patiently (but were still in a hurry), while I plugged in the HDMI cable from the cable box and checked the set for any sign of dead pixels or screen damage.
   
   So far, the TV has been great. I wish it had slightly less reflections on the screen, but it's at least a matte screen, so they aren't bad. And really I only see them when the TV is off or on really dark screen sections. I think some curtains in the living room will clear them up.
   
   I've only had it less than a week so far, so I haven't done everything with it, but I've watched some standard def DVDs, standard def TV, and HDTV. The standard def TV is good, but it's not what you buy this TV for. The HDTV channels are AMAZING. DVDs look great, too (playing through my PS3, which is upconverting). I can't wait to get Iron Man as my first Blu-ray disc and check it out.



4. After reading many reviews, talking to people, and viewing the product in store, I decided on the 52" Toshiba Regza 52XV54OU. I bought it primarily for movies and gaming - but will order the HDTV service within the week after choking down the $570 cost of the PVR. Before I hooked up even regular cable service to the TV, I attempted to see what an Xbox 360 game looked like. I have an original Xbox 360, so no HDMI, but I was using the VGA adapter. Hooking the game system up to the PC proved to be slightly problematic as I had the X360 set to the highest resolution. For some reason the TV couldn't accept it at the resolution - discovered that thanks to the internet! - so I had to hook up my PC monitor back to the X360 to change the resolution to the 2nd last highest setting. Note, you'll also have to turn on the "PC input" in the settings on the TV and set the TV to be on the PC setting via INPUT on the remote. Even thought it wasn't 1080p, the game looked out of this world fantastic. We watched Iron Man on the X360 and it was fantastic. I was all set to buy a PS3 for the BlueRay DVD (and for gaming) today, but after seeing how impressive a regular DVD looks on this bad boy, I decided to keep my money in my pocket a little longer.
   
   Regular cable TV looks excellent on this set, better than most in my opinion, although the HDTV is jaw-dropping having seen it at the store. While I was at an electronics store, I happened to walk by a display which included a 46" Regza, surrounded by some Sharp, Sony and Samsung product. The folks standing around were admiring the picture of the Regza which was definitely sharper and superior to its peers. I think they walked out with one.
   
   Haven't seen a need to try the Gaming Mode which decreases the time it takes for the button input on the controller to register with the onscreen movement.
   
   Setup was incredibly easy and intuitive. Everything is labeled clearly and the onscreen menus are easy to navigate and understand. The TV takes awhile to turn on, but after reading the manual I realized it's because the TV is set to Power Saver Mode.
   
   The TV speakers are functional and not bad at all, but if you're going this big you have to with some quality home theater speakers, natch.
   
   I could not be happier with this TV. It's so big and vivid that it makes my wife ill - which is almost a bizarre selling feature. My son was playing Spider-Man Web of Shadows and I took to the skies and as I fell towards the streets of New York, I got butterflies in my stomach. That hasn't happened before.
   
   There is literally no point in going to the theater anymore and paying big bucks to take the family as we've now got the best seats in the house and there's never a line up.

5 comments about Philips 42PFL5603D/27 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV.

1. I have been a Samsung TV guy for long. I just sold my Samsung DLP 42" projection TV to buy this Philips 1080p HD LCD TV.
   
   Samsung Series 5 size offerings are 40" and 46", so for approx. the same money I was getting 42" from Philips, and more recent model with very good reviews. In my opinion, Philips has been a well kept secret when it comes to value for money, so I felt very confident with my choice.
   
   I just finished setting up my new TV a few minutes ago, and here are my findings:
   This TV has astonishing looks with its black/glass finish.
   Setup was a breeze with the unit's Settings Assistant.
   GREAT PICTURE, with lots of buit-in software to make standard signal look great.
   Very good sound (despite what other reviewers say), with 25W it has enough power to fill the room when watching TV (typical is 10W).
   
   BUT...
   
   - This TV has no Picture-in-picture AT ALL. I don't feel misled, because this feature was not listed. But I guess after having 2 built-in tuners in my 4 year old DLP Samsung, I just took this for granted. This is one feature I will miss.
   
   - The Source button scans ALL inputs, even those that have no signal, and there is no way to disable the unused sources. I find this VERY annoying.
   
   However, since this is the TV set for my home theater, and considering its great picture quality, I believe I can live with these drawbacks.
   
   Don't get me wrong. This is a VERY GOOD TV for the price, but probably I should have made the effort of spending the extra $300 for the 40" Series 6 Samsung.



2. 42" Philips TV purchased on October 20th, 2007 from Costco.
   
   Television began to have intermittent problems after seven months. The power would come on, then the screen would go black. Contacted Philips customer care on August 10th, 2008. The tv was still under warranty.
   
   Philips said a satellite repair agency would contact me within a couple days.
   
   A week later, after no reply, I called Phillips again on a friday. They called the repair agency while I was on hold and told me that the satellite repair agency would call me on Monday.
   
   The following Friday, after no call from the repair agency, I called Philips again. They told me that the satellite repair agency said they called me, and I told them I had returned the television to the store, so I didn't need their services any longer. This was a lie. I had never heard from the repair agency.
   
   Philips then set me up with another satellite repair agency in my area. The repair agency then called me and set up an appointment. One rep called me from there, stating they would be at my residence at 3pm. Another called the same day and told me between 1 and 2 pm. I took off work, and was at my place between 1 and 5 pm, and no one showed up.
   
   I called Philips, and they said they would escalate the claim, and they would call me back, sending either an actual Philips technician out, or replace the tv.
   
   Philips called me back, and decided to set me up with a 3rd satellite repair center. They called me and made an appointment. They showed up as scheduled, and had a flash drive for a firmware update. When plugged in, the flash drive would not work. The technician said that one of the other workers had some personal pictures on the flash drive, preventing it from automatically updating the firmware. Instead, he said that he would go ahead and order a replacement board for the tv from Philips.
   
   The satellite repair center called me the next day, and told me Philips had no estimated time of arrival for the part. It took 4 weeks for the satellite repair center to receive the part. The satellite repair center came and installed the part in my home. The television was experiencing the same problems, preventing him from running the service codes on the tv, as the tv would not stay on. The technician decided to take the tv to check it out in their shop. This was a Tuesday.
   
   I called Philips on Thursday, discussing my lack of trust in the satellite repair services ability to fix my tv, as it seemed they did not know what they were doing. Philips called the repair agency and reported to me that the repair center had had the tv working for two days in the shop. I called the repair center on Friday, and they told me they had the tv working since Thursday (discrepancy of two days), and would deliver it on Wednesday.
   
   They delivered the television to me on Wednesday, and it worked. On Thursday, I turned the tv on, and the same intermittent problem was occurring. On this same day, Costco had contacted me regarding how the progress of the tv was going. I told them it still was not working. They escalated the problem on their end.
   
   On Friday, October 24th, Costco called me. They called Philips customer care, and Philips told Costco, they would contact me within 48 business hours. Costco had told me that the Philips representative was surprised that Philips had not offered to buy back the tv at this point.
   
   On Friday, October 31st, after not hearing anything from Philips, Costco called Philips customer care again. Again, Philips told Costco that they would be contacting me within 48 business hours.
   
   48 business hours have passed, and I have heard nothing from Philips.
   
   I am clearly getting the run around.
   I have waited 13 weeks for a resolution through Philips and don't think they will ever provide one.



3. I purchased this TV from another retailer about half a year ago, and I have found it to be a great TV. The picture is outstanding and crisp using an HDMI cable and a PS3. The power saver mode seems to 'dim' the picture, making it less bright and vibrant. When I'm watching the news or just flipping around, I tend to use this mode. I also use it at night when my significant other is sleeping or going to sleep (or vice versa.)
   
   The edges do not glow, and the TV doesn't look light blue in my lighting conditions. Pretty much looks black to me.
   
   The sound is pretty decent, if you aren't going to hook it up to anything. I was actually mildly surprised by the quality of the sound. I have to set about 7 inches from a wall and the speakers are in the rear of the TV. (obviously) I think if you are going to have it in the open, the sound might suffer.
   
   I use comcast cable (Hunterdon County,NJ area) and this TV was ablt to pick up ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, My Network TV, and FOX's HD feeds from my regular cable connection. Which is nice at no extra charge. I also get some others, like USA as well.
   
   I really am pleased with this product and think that if you are in the market for a flat panel LCD TV, you should check this TV out.



4. We bought this TV just so we could watch Obama's inauguration in HD while being as caring and compassionate as we can about Mother Earth. This TV carries Al Gore's signature of approval, having been imported from a foreign country, to eventually be disposed of in the same foreign country - thereby restoring America's claim as the happiest shiniest beacon on the hill, the envy of eurotrash throughout the world. However, we have had to explain (several times) to our neighbors that the U.S. is not YET a socialist country, and that the communal "borrowing" of the set for extended periods of time is not chillbilly. They can cling to their guns and religion all they want - but hands off the HDTV. One other positive note - the TV appears to have a glitch when attempting to access FOX News - every 30 seconds or so it mysteriously flips back over to MSNBC. So we give this television a 4 out of 5, the set having lost one star due to the passage of Proposition 8 in California. Not entirely the TV's fault - but it feels good to blame someone other than the urban homophobes who showed up to vote for Obama.



5. The reason why I love this television is 1. It received great reviews on CNET.com 2. Eco-friendly and if I'm not mistaken most of the parts are from biodegradable materials.
   Technicalities: I am pretty tech savvy, and the setup is extremely easy to use. As well as the attachments necessary for other components in your audio/video fields. The only issue I may have is that I need to find the code for my cable remote control, so that I don't have to keep using the television remote for volume and on/off function.
   I haven't gotten the hand as of yet in programming the style of television viewing; whether I like widescreen ratios or regular ratios or zoom features, and color schematics, but that will come with time.
   In the meantime, if you're thinking about purchasing this item, I'd say yes. I am not the only one this year who has purchased this item, and a good friend of mine works in IT for a large corporation, and has purchased this item as well. So there you go, if IT purchases this, then you should too!