Toshiba - 72" 1080p DLP RPTV - Details and Price

[geomick]

Lordy Lordy Lordy.................

Could it be time to trade-in the faithful ol' LG 111cm Rear-Pro DLP on a shiny new Toshie 62"???????

Anyone have any suggestions where I could cast my peepers on one of these behemoths in operation in Melbourne?

PS: Anybody wanna bid on a reliable LG??

[gusangora]

I've been told that there is one on the floor at U & S Audio Visual, in Preston, but yet to confirm.

Several retailers have advised that they can organise a visit to Castel, and they will have one set up ready to view and play with.

Looking forward to seeing this one myself. I rang every Toshiba retailer in the Eastern and South-Eastern suburbs, no-one has it on display (but all are willing to sell me one!).

Steve

[geomick]

I've been told that there is one on the floor at U & S Audio Visual, in Preston, but yet to confirm.

Several retailers have advised that they can organise a visit to Castel, and they will have one set up ready to view and play with.

Looking forward to seeing this one myself. I rang every Toshiba retailer in the Eastern and South-Eastern suburbs, no-one has it on display (but all are willing to sell me one!).

Steve

Thanks for doing my homework, Alfred-the-Great!!

Who are the usual suspects when it comes to retailing Toshie? The GG's, HN, Rectumvision?

[gusangora]

Try this:

http://www.castel.com.au/toshiba/dealerser.asp

Most HN have them, some Retravision, and specialist stores.

[paul_c100]

Try this:

http://www.castel.com.au/toshiba/dealerser.asp

Most HN have them, some Retravision, and specialist stores.

I actually found that although HN etc can sell them, they don't usually carry them on display or stock. After ringing (and waiting on hold) with about 10 stores I located on the website, I rang Castel and spoke to somebody in sales who told me which stores had actually ordered the TV from them. I rang those people and they had them in stock.

I have a feeling the website simply displays who is an authorised Toshiba dealer, not specifically if they carry this TV. I could be wrong though.

So, a phone call to Castel was the best solution for me .. Hope that helps ..

Also .. Played a V8 Supercars II on the 72inch Toshiba over the weekend. The graphics / picture quality were stunning. I am really enjoying this TV.

[pietro1503559499]

Anyone who can go to Castel themselves....they have the 72" set up with the J35 PVR via HDMI, on demo.

[gusangora]

I actually found that although HN etc can sell them, they don't usually carry them on display or stock. After ringing (and waiting on hold) with about 10 stores I located on the website, I rang Castel and spoke to somebody in sales who told me which stores had actually ordered the TV from them. I rang those people and they had them in stock.

I have a feeling the website simply displays who is an authorised Toshiba dealer, not specifically if they carry this TV. I could be wrong though.

So, a phone call to Castel was the best solution for me .. Hope that helps ..

Also .. Played a V8 Supercars II on the 72inch Toshiba over the weekend. The graphics / picture quality were stunning. I am really enjoying this TV.

I was actually referring to retailers of Toshiba products, not stockists of particular items. As my previous post stated, I had called many stores but none had it on display. A salesperson at one of the HN stores stated that their computer shows that no HN stores in Victoria have the 62" on display.

[paul_c100]

I was actually referring to retailers of Toshiba products, not stockists of particular items. As my previous post stated, I had called many stores but none had it on display. A salesperson at one of the HN stores stated that their computer shows that no HN stores in Victoria have the 62" on display.

ooops .. sorry ..

An Nvidia 6200 will be very marginal with 1080i video mate.

I found a 6600GT worked ok, but going up to a 7800 has been a rewording experience for me.

I should add that I NEVER play games, and the 7800 is in a dedicated HTPC that is only used for video.

It sounds over the top, but you get what you pay for in my experience.

Low end PC’s and video cards can work ok, but never offer the best picture quality or smoothest glitch fee video playback.

Spending an extra $300-$400 on a HTPC is not significant compared to the cost of the display.

Following this post, I am trying to decide which Graphics Card to get with a $400 budget. I find graphics gards really confusing so any assistance would be very helpful. The card will be specifically for HTPC use as well as playing computer games on the PC :

I am considering either :

Nvidia 7600GT or Nvidia 6800GS. Both come in around $399.

Any thoughts or suggestions ?

Thanks

Paul

[Owen]

A good quality Leadtek 7800GT can be had for $445, so don’t much around with lesser cards.

[KLoNe1503559836]

Will be going to check out the 62" this Friday if I can find one. Definitely mine if under $5k.

[geomick]

I've been told that there is one on the floor at U & S Audio Visual, in Preston, but yet to confirm.

Several retailers have advised that they can organise a visit to Castel, and they will have one set up ready to view and play with.

Looking forward to seeing this one myself. I rang every Toshiba retailer in the Eastern and South-Eastern suburbs, no-one has it on display (but all are willing to sell me one!).

Steve

Your rumour is correct, A-T-G.

U & A Audio Video in Preston have a 72" up and running via HDMI and Component, and a 62" (not connected) in the window.

I managed to find a 72" at a HN store at Narre Warren (connected via composite to a STB) and it looked like C-R-A-P! Just about called off the search then and there.

Now I'm glad I made the trip to U & S.

I gotta say................I'm stunned. A brilliant PQ on a 6ft screen!! Plain old (??!!) DVD looked brilliant via Component, with just the slightest sign of artifacts. The same section of the DVD via HDMI was noticably better. Not exactly "OMG.........", but noticably better. Recorded 1080i (from the HD35J) of Ch 9's morning programme was significantly better in the PQ than DVD. Colour depth, saturation, blacks..........dammit, the whole package was terrific.

And to my mind, since the 62" is identical internals (except for the lens), if the picture is that good at 72", it'l be just as good (if not better) on a 62".

U & S's pricing was way off the mark ($7999 for 72", can't recall $$ for the 62"). But I'm sure a very enthusiastic and knowledgable salesman (Mark) will be willing to talk.

Troops, this is a machine worthy of some travelling. Get yourselves mobile, and go and have a squizz!

[paul_c100]

Your rumour is correct, A-T-G.

U & A Audio Video in Preston have a 72" up and running via HDMI and Component, and a 62" (not connected) in the window.

I managed to find a 72" at a HN store at Narre Warren (connected via composite to a STB) and it looked like C-R-A-P! Just about called off the search then and there.

Now I'm glad I made the trip to U & S.

I gotta say................I'm stunned. A brilliant PQ on a 6ft screen!! Plain old (??!!) DVD looked brilliant via Component, with just the slightest sign of artifacts. The same section of the DVD via HDMI was noticably better. Not exactly "OMG.........", but noticably better. Recorded 1080i (from the HD35J) of Ch 9's morning programme was significantly better in the PQ than DVD. Colour depth, saturation, blacks..........dammit, the whole package was terrific.

And to my mind, since the 62" is identical internals (except for the lens), if the picture is that good at 72", it'l be just as good (if not better) on a 62".

U & S's pricing was way off the mark ($7999 for 72", can't recall $$ for the 62"). But I'm sure a very enthusiastic and knowledgable salesman (Mark) will be willing to talk.

Troops, this is a machine worthy of some travelling. Get yourselves mobile, and go and have a squizz!

Just my view in relation to DVD. I have found that DVD (via component 576p) is very good on the 72" and completely acceptable, however I far prefer the picture of the same DVD via my HTPC upscaled by the HTPC to 1080i which is then upscaled to 1080p by the Toshiba. So far, I have only been using PowerDVD version 5 for playing videos, but once I upgrade my video card, I will use Nvidia's PureVideo drivers which I have been told are amazing at upscaling DVD to 1080i resolution.

I have got Foxtel Digital (IQ) plugged in via S-Video inputs. There is noticeably variable quality. Some Foxtel looks really good, some looks pretty average. My view is that its the underlying content which is the issue. I am going to trying switching Foxtel to component output and seeing if that improves things. I expect it will, though will wait and see. I suspect that much of the content will continue to look poor because of the source material.

[gusangora]

Have you thought of running poor source material (ie most of Foxtel) via your HTPC?

That way, you can take advantage of the upscaling but also, you could watch the poor channels in a smaller window, say, 42" size screen (which would not show as many defects). Not sure how this would affect the screen though, due to a constant large black border?

[morkli]

Have you thought of running poor source material (ie most of Foxtel) via your HTPC?

That way, you can take advantage of the upscaling but also, you could watch the poor channels in a smaller window, say, 42" size screen (which would not show as many defects). Not sure how this would affect the screen though, due to a constant large black border?

Since it's a DLP, none at all. DLP doesn't suffer from screen burn-in.

Cheers,

morkli.

[T800]

Might have to go donw and have a demo at U & S.

Anyone seen the new LG LcOS 72 RPTV? wonder how it compares to the Toshiba.

Looking on the avs forum, apparently the Toshiba model over there now has the new 5XD chipo, whereas ours only has the 4XD. Wonder if we will get the upgraded version anytime soon?

[paul_c100]

Have you thought of running poor source material (ie most of Foxtel) via your HTPC?

That way, you can take advantage of the upscaling but also, you could watch the poor channels in a smaller window, say, 42" size screen (which would not show as many defects). Not sure how this would affect the screen though, due to a constant large black border?

Yes, I have considered this. I will be taking delivery of a Leadtek 7800GT Extreme on Monday which has VIVO capability. This card working with the Purevideo drivers might just be make some of the poor Foxtel source product look ok.

The problem is, I haven't yet managed to make the HTPC completely Wife Friendly yet and it's a fair way off .. So may just run the Foxtel into the TV directly. I will experiment in due course when I have some time.

I am not really that stressed about the picture quality. I guess now I have seen what the Toshiba CAN do, I am spoilt and I'm expecting too much from a SD signal and even lower quality programs coming from the US in NTSC.

[Gladus Maximus]

Yes. I have seen the Lcos 72inch LG at Clive Peters at Aspley in Brisbane and I must say it is up there with the Toshi. Not bad looking set too I must say, I even got the nod from the misses and I'd say a few reading this would understand what that means (under the thumb???). I did notice that the RRP of the Toshiba is significantly lower than the LG. Normaly it is the oter way around. Anyone know why for sure? Which set would be better for playing an XBOX 360?

[geomick]

So now we're getting down to it. Yep, it's bullet biting time.

I'm interested to see some more recent posts about $$...........mainly for the 62"er.

Alcoop suggested $5300 as a good price, while Wags was offered $5000 + $250 for the stand by HN as was Paul C. And yet arita sky was able to get $4900 up in Brissie. 2 days ago the local HN store (Taylors Lakes) dropped with no hesitation from a sticker price of $6299 to $5200 for cash or card, $5400 for store finance.

Anyone had any advances - better or worse, please?

[rsbj]

Does anyone know of any stores on the Gold Coast that have either the 62" or the 72" on display? I tried Harvey Norman at Bundall, but no go.

[simplelogik]

I'm from WA, but actually bought my 62" Toshiba from Sunnybank QLD for $5050 including delivery. They actually organised it with Toshiba to deliver the local TV to my door step within two days.

I'm sure Sunnybank could arrange it with Toshiba to deliver locally to anyone within Australia.

[KLoNe1503559836]

I think $5000 is a very nice price for this set, and I am definitely willing to pay that much. I'll head upto Sunnybank and I'll slam the $5050 inc. delivery to on em and see what they can do for the set without delivery for ca$h.

[paul_c100]

I have got Foxtel Digital (IQ) plugged in via S-Video inputs. There is noticeably variable quality. Some Foxtel looks really good, some looks pretty average. My view is that its the underlying content which is the issue. I am going to trying switching Foxtel to component output and seeing if that improves things. I expect it will, though will wait and see. I suspect that much of the content will continue to look poor because of the source material.

Just wanted to followup my own post from a few days ago.

In relation to Foxtel Digital IQ via S-Video, the variable quality is absolutely based on the underlying program material, not the Toshiba, Foxtel or the S-Video connection. Over the weekend I watched a number of new FBO movies and I was blown away with the picture quality. I really couldn't fault the image at all, in fact, I would more say I was very very impressed. I am very fussy, but I have to say I watched the movies and was watching the picture as much as the movie it was that good.

So, in relation to the picture quality, I have to say I am now 100% impressed. This is by far the best display I have seen period. This includes the Panasonic 50inch plasmas.

Can only continue to highly recommend the 62inch or the 72inch tv's ..

[Owen]

I was blown away with the picture quality. I really couldn't fault the image at all, in fact, I would more say I was very very impressed. I am very fussy, but I have to say I watched the movies and was watching the picture as much as the movie it was that good.

Come on now, when you make comments like that about Foxtel, your credibility comes into question.

Foxtel – Austar provide a relatively smooth, artefact and noise free picture, due to pre filtering, but it is VERY soft, and completely lacking in fine detail, because of that filtering.

It definitely is not 720x576 resolution, so on a big screen, there is only one way to describe the picture, and that is BLURRY.

How far away from the screen do you sit, and have you ever seen 1080i.?

[allanjohn]

I'm from WA, but actually bought my 62" Toshiba from Sunnybank QLD for $5050 including delivery. They actually organised it with Toshiba to deliver the local TV to my door step within two days.

I'm sure Sunnybank could arrange it with Toshiba to deliver locally to anyone within Australia.

post cancelled

[O-3]

Hi All,

Does that mean there is finally a RPTV that works flawlessly connected to a pc via DVI?? No overscan problems etc etc?

Any chance of getting some pics of a windows desktop??

I'd like to wait for the Sony but I'm sick of waiting!

BTW, Owen -any news on when the Sony will arrive(and price)? Sorry if it's already been covered elsewhere, first time I've been on for a while.

cheers