| Reviews : Toshiba 42HL196 42-Inch 1080p LCD TV |
Technical Details
- 1080p 42-inch LCD television with built-in ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners and CableCARD port; measures 41.15 x 30.55 x 13.9 inches (WxHxD) with stand
- True HD 1080p native resolution, PixelPure Hi-Bit digital video processor provides smoother, more natural images
- 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution, fast 8ms (millisecond) response time, 500 cd/m² brightness, 800:1 contrast ratio
- Inputs: 2 composite, 1 S-Video, 2 component, 2 HDMI, 1 PC VGA, 2 RF, 1 Ethernet
- Two stereo speakers, 10 watts apiece (20 watts total); Dolby Digital and SRS WOW virtual surround sound
Product Description
42" XHD 1080P HD LCD TVAmazon.com Product Description
This Toshiba 42HL196 is a high-definition widescreen TV that's ideal for the latest digital entertainment. Not only does it feature a Cinespeed XHD LCD panel capable of state-of-the-art 1080 progressive lines of HDTV resolution and two HDMI input ports, but it also has a built-in Ethernet jack, allowing you to access digital photo and audio files from your home network using the included universal glow remote. You can even connect a PC and have the set double as a computer monitor.The Value of LCD TVs
Aside from their obvious aesthetic value, LCD TVs are much more practical in the home than CRT (tube-style) televisions. They take up a smaller footprint, and thus use up less floor space in the room. Also, LCD TVs are lighter and easier to move around when cleaning or redecorating. The 42HL196 is only 4.85 inches deep and weighs less than 64 lbs. without the stand. Best of all, LCD screens use less power than CRTs and plasma screens.
Video
Response time is the interval an LCD screen takes to switch from its darkest color to its lightest color and back again, measured in milliseconds (ms). This screen's response time is 8 ms, which is at the faster and better end of the spectrum. This screen is likely to display cleaner, sharper images during high-action scenes and display fewer image artifacts than other screens in its class. And because the set has a 12-bit digital processor, it can display many times more shades of gray and levels of color than 8-bit systems can. The set is rated with a 176-degree viewing angle, so the picture will be viewable from nearly any part of the room. While it has a CableCARD slot and built-in QAM digital cable tuner, it lacks an ATSC tuner that would bring in terrestrial or over-the-air HDTV signals.
HDMI Compatible
The set comes with two built-in High-Definition Multi-media Interface (HDMI) ports. HDMI is an interface format that provides uncompressed digital audio and video directly from a DVD player, next-generation game system, or some other digital video source. It represents the current state of the art in high-definition video and sound because the information never has to be converted into an analog format or compressed. Another benefit of HDMI is that it puts all that information into one cable and one easy-to-use connector.
Audio
SRS WOW, a combination of SRS 3D, TruBass, and Focus sound-expanding systems, creates a 3-D sound field with improved bass response over standard TV audio as well as a directed, three-dimensional audio sweet spot for maximum enjoyment. The cabinet includes stereo speakers, but the TV also has optical digital output for connecting to your audio system. Toshiba's StableSound feature maintains television volume within a preset range regardless of the source signal. This is an extremely useful feature when transitioning between a quiet television program and a very loud commercial advertisement or when changing channels.
Parent Features
The 42HL196's sleep timer allows you to set the television to automatically shut off after a preset duration. It's a handy and common feature to modern TVs, but the 42HL196 takes it a step further. Game Timer shuts the TV off after set duration and can only be turned on with a special lockout code. The Video Lock feature allows the user to lock out selected inputs, which is handy when limiting a child's access to video games. Of course the built-in V-Chip functionality makes it so parents can set a threshold content setting and effectively lock inappropriate TV content out of the home. Another handy filtering feature is the 42HL196's Channel Lock, which password protects channels you select.
Other Features
The 42HL196 comes with a TV Guide on screen interactive program guide that provides a searchable, easy to read listing for eight days in advance. It includes the G-Link IR blaster for controlling a cable box. It also features double window/multi window POP, allowing you to view two sources at once and get snapshot images of up to 9 channels at once.
42-inch Widescreen
A general rule of thumb for selecting the right size television screen is that the screen width--not its 42-inch diagonal measurement--should be between three and five times the optimum viewing distance, such as the distance from the TV screen to where your eyes are while sitting on the couch. Less than that, and you may be distracted by the scan lines of the picture. More than that, and you may lose the detail of your TV. Based on this guide, the 42HL196 is ideal for viewing distances of nine to 16 feet.
Here is a list of the set's audio, video, and data connections:
- A/V input: 2 (back and side)
- A/V output: 1
- ColorStream HD component video input: 2
- G-Link/record out: 1
- HDMI input: 2
- Optical TosLink digital audio output: 1
- PC monitor input: 1 (VGA 15 pin D-Sub)
- RF input: 2
- S-video input: 1
- THINC Ethernet port: 1
What's in the Box
Television, remote control, AA batteries(2), blaster cable, installation guide, operating manual, TV guide onscreen, lead clip
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Customer Reviews
By Michael G. Tomaselli (Houston, Tx)
I have black vertical lines, screen burn-in and no 1080p input. The upscaling is a decent job I find the picture is pretty nice looking, but if I wanted 1080i I would have bought that. Just stay away.
By Ewen Roberts (San Diego, California United States)
First off, no, it's not really a 1080p TV, Toshiba claim that it converts the image to that. If that's important to you, look elsewhere.
However, if you're ok with a good quality 1080i screen, this is a good buy. The various inputs work, and you can get more than the VGA 1026x768 VGA res if you have a DVI video card on your PC and a DVI-HDMI cable, only the D-sub connector is limited. We have ours connected to Cable, Xbox 360, Apple TV, and Wii no problem. The picture quality is good, and the TV is nice to watch.
The network connectivity is a bit limited. The TV can display images, and can play Mp3 files, but only seems to read the top level folder, and there are limitations on the number of files it can cope with. There are dozens of better ways to get those features though and I'm not sure who would be swayed by this as a feature anyway. I suspect the programmers got bored just making menus and decided to stick that in!
It's a nice TV overall, and well worth it the asking price, just don't be surprised when it won't take 1080p inputs.
By Hal Peebles (Portland,Orygun,usa)
I bought this TV last Spring and am very pleased with it.HD and regular DVDs look great running on a Toshiba A-2. I was kind of upset because I thought I was getting 1080p but not the case.That kinna pissed me off cause I saved up to get the VERY best I could afford and then find out 1080i is the limit on this baby. Still a killer picture tho.
By Tiago Barbiero Saad (USA)
Hi, people.
I've just talked to toshiba and they told me the TV actually does not accept the 1080p video input. They say it's "1080p" because it always shows 1920x1080 no matter what is the input signal, but it's an interpolation of it... they confirmed that the TV DOES NOT ACCEPT 1080P INPUT SIGNAL.
The TV is fine, but i'm VERY DISAPPOINTED with its description. This "1080p" name is a durty sales strategy. I was looking for a true 1080p television (that can truly accept a 1080p input) and i bought this one and now i would spend at least 400 bucks returning the TV and buying a new one... result: i'll keep this TV, but unsatisfied... i've been made a fool.
If you're gonna buy this product, be aware of this issue.
By E. Lemes
Let me make this short. Beware when Toshiba says FULL 1080P, good chance it is not! Bought the tv and hooked up ps3 and no 1080P. Called up Toshiba and got some real bulls__t! Liars, and will never buy from them again!
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