Digital Trends

Toshiba 52HM84 November 7th, 2004 | by Dennis Barker

Evaluation

Connection was easy and straight-forward.  Since I currently have one source component using DVI (RCA's second-generation DTC-210 DirecTV HD Receiver), it was attached directly to the separate HDMI-DTV input.  Since the set-top box uses DVI and the TV HDMI, I used Monster Cable's new Monster 400 HDMI to DVI Video Cable with a DVI connection on one end and a DVI connector on the other.  It worked flawlessly passing both 720p and 1080i HDTV signals.  Other video signals came into Component Video 1 (from my Pioneer Elite VSX-49TXi A/V Receiver).  In fact, there are two separate component video inputs (HD level) with their own respective analog audio inputs.  There's also twin A/V/S-Video inputs along with 1 A/V out.

The inputs on the back of the Toshiba 52HM84

To calibrate this DLP set for optimal picture playback, I used a special DVD entitled Digital Video Essentials by Joe Kane Productions.  This special disc allows you to correctly set contrast, brightness, black levels, color, sharpness, and gray scale among other video settings.  It also educates about different signals received, and helps set-up your audio system also (if need be).  Set-up was relatively easy, but you have to remember that aspect ratio, and image quality for this DTV is controlled via the DTC-210.  The on-screen menus are clear and concise.  However, you always have to remember that (except for DVD) all video signals are coming from RCA's DTC-210.

Using the DTC-210 as my HD DirecTV HD Satellite Receiver in-place, the displayed images on the 52HM84 produced realistic color with unprecedented picture detail and resolution free from any perceived artifacts.  In the end, it all comes down to images and pictures.  Either way picture quality is nothing short of spectacular for this exceptional Toshiba set!   I had thought that I had seen excellent HD images in the past.  Well, I was wrong.  Both broadcast and satellite HDTV images were simply stunning!  They were among the best that this reviewer has seen to date.  I am at a loss to find negative things to say about picture quality.  In prolonged viewings of numerous Prime Time TV shows the HD images that were received (via rooftop antenna and satellite dish) came in perfectly clear and crisp without any signal degradation or loss of detail in both 720p (ABC-HD and FOX-HD) and 1080i (CBS-HD and DirecTV HD). 

The colors displayed on the 52HM84 were truly vibrant and very life-life giving you the feeling that “you are there.”  It cannot be understated!   It's almost like watching the world through a clear pane of glass.   DirecTV's HD-Net and DiscoveryHD in particular produced some of the most compelling HD images.  Test grids from Digital Video Essentials and Silicon Optix's HQV Benchmark DVD Ver.1.0 certainly confirmed what my eyes were telling me, that image clarity was right on the mark.  Color bars, for example, were in perfect alignment with no coloring bleeding between colors.  As well, the lines between colors were straight and true with no jagged edges.  Grayscale transformed itself from light to dark seamlessly.  Test patterns clearly re-affirmed image clarity with image resolution!  Also, using THX's video optimizer as well, you can certainly delineate white balance from the eight different squares.