Toshiba 30HF84 30" TheaterWide HD-Ready Flat-Screen TV
By: Toshiba Average Rating: 3.0 Total Reviews: 31
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 On: 2008-05-12
I figured I would put my two cents in on this baby. I bought the Toshiba at the local Best Buy two years ago to get into the HDTV game at a reasonable price. Since then Ive gotten a Westinghouse 32"LCD for our finished basement room. But you know what? This TV is still our primary one. If you were to compare HD picture versus HD picture between the two, the LCD would probably edge it out slightly.
But thats not to say the HD on the Toshiba is bad. Far from it - it looks fantastic! You need to set the picture quality to one you like. I concur with what someone else said - "movie" is way too dark. Sports is pretty good. You also need to fart around with the color, tint, balance, etc. to get the most out of it. But when you do its worth it - an amazing picture.
One area where this kind of TV beat the LCD is in the televising of just a plain old digital signal. For as good as HD looks on an LCD, the regular 480p digital signals just look a little bit "off" to me. But on the Toshiba the colors look vibrant and everything really "pops" alot better.
I feel bad for the people that have had bad experiences with this TV. But if you look at the best, top of the line Sony, youll find similar reviews of what a piece of junk it is because of X, Y and Z. Personally I think all TVs are being made to be "disposable" these days, but thats just my opinion.
You could do worse than this CRT HDTV from Toshiba. The only real drawback in my book is the size. Its a behemoth. Dont plan on moving it too much once you have it where you want it. But for me, after two years, so far so good. I have a Time Warner HD box plugged into it via HDMI and it looks wonderful.
 On: 2008-01-11
This Toshiba HDTV has worked perfectly since the day I bought it. Despite the weight (which makes it tough to move), the picture quality is better than a thin HDTV in my book. I dont understand all these people who have had problems with their product when mine has worked perfectly for two years.
On: 2006-08-16
I got this baby in late 2004 Ive been in love with it since. Today, due to a move and much larger living room Im retiring this sexy baby for a 50-inch plasma (I still feel the pain).
There is NOTHING that compares with a "true" CRT video image and this Toshiba (or its 32" sister) is THE CRT TV to own. As a television professional I monitor TV programs and quality-check graphics, video and animations every single day --- all using CRT broadcast monitors (monitors with a bit higher resolution than a consumer TV). Should I start monitoring HDTV programming today, the 30HF84 would be THE monitor Id choose to be installed in my office to continue enjoying high-end graphics and video footage only a CRT can provide.
Im highly pleased with the performance (ABSOLUTE silence while powered on), surprisingly powerfull and rich sounds (despite tiny speakers) and HDTV in 1080 as well as 720 (the set switches modes automatically upon channel change, for ex: ABC-HD and DiscoveryHD).
Standard NTSC image isnt bad all in comparison to often-pixelating LCD, Rear-projection, and some plasma TVs - except for Panasonics PRO TH**PH9UK series.
Im retiring this baby for the above-mentioned series 50" Plasma from my living room, but this 30" CRT is coming with me... to the bedroom. I cant wait... Long Live CRT!!!
 On: 2005-06-24
I purchased a Toshiba HDTV and had it fail just after the 2 year warranty expired. Toshiba explained there was nothing they would do back up their product. No TV should fail after 2 years. I recommend selecting another brand, you can get the same performance and price, and end up with a more reliable product.
On: 2005-06-13
For anyone considering this unit, consider our experience:
We selected this unit because it was the best fit for our existing TV cabinet.
Apr.29, 2005- Ordered the TV via the internet from a very reliable supplier.
May 2- TV delivered and installed, and tested out OK, but within a couple of days, only the green image appeared at first, and it took several minutes for the red and blue to come up. It took longer to stabilize each time it was turned on.
May 5- Checked Toshiba website and located nearest authorized service...approimately 75 miles away. The service center advised that we would have to obtain special authorization for service from Toshiba, because of the traveling distance.
May 6- Faxed all necessary information to Toshiba, and were advised that authorization was being sent to service center.
May 9- Service center advised us that servicemen would come May 12.
May 12-Two servicemen came, checked out the TV, and decided they would have to take it back to their shop.
May 28- Checked with service center and were advised that the picture tube was faulty, that a replacement had been ordered and was expected following week.
June 7- Checked with service center and were advised that the replacement tube was also faulty, and that another was on order, and expected in 10 to 15 days.
At the moment it would appear that at very best, we are unlikely to have our TV back before June 17, and more likely well onto the next week...and that is assuming that Toshiba can come up with a picture tube that works!
Edgar L. Parks,
PO BOx 26, St. Marys City, MD 20686
Tel: 301-862-9675
On: 2005-03-14
I bought this 30 inch TV from Amazon back in July or August 2004. I recently got a DVR from my cable company (RCN). I got the Monster Cable silver-plated copper HDMI cable and the HDMI-to-DVI-D adapter cable (also silver-plated copper) and plugged the TVs HDMI port into the DVRs DVI-D port so that I have a 100% digital signal. I then calibrated the TV with Digital Video Essentials. The picture is excellent. The high-definition channels (HDNet) are spectacular, and any channel in HD looks fantastic. The standard definition channels look much better. Some channels have the graininess that others have mentioned but I think this is more to do with the signal quality coming in on the cable and not the fault of the TV. My only complaint is that the channels that have an HD signal but with a 4:3 picture. The picture is shown with black bars on either side; right? The left side of the picture; instead of being perfectly vertical; the lower half of the vertical bar curves out to the left just a little. Ive tried to adjust this but without success. Sitting at the normal distance from the TV its not really noticeable. Still; this TV is a major step up from my old RCA purchased back in 1989. Having the cables so that I have an all-digital signal does make a distinct difference. This TV was the lowest-cost way ($717 + shipping) for me to step up to a HD 16:9 digital TV, and Im glad I did.
On: 2005-03-08
The picture looked grainy like a compressed video file. I will be returning to Bestbuy today. I am dissapointed with it. My tv that is 8 years older looks quite a bit better.
On: 2005-02-22
You describe your "Toshiba 30HF84 30 inch HDTV-Ready TV" as weighing 88.2 pounds. Toshiba and other vendors say it is 118 pounds. It makes a difference to my intended purchase. Can you explain?
ashleyja@comcast.net
 On: 2005-01-19
I did not purchase this TV from Amazon, I purchased it instead at my local electronics store. I was limited on options because this is the only 30" Widescreen HDTV that would fit into our entertainment center. I think the picture overall is very amazing when viewing channels in HD. I agree that the movie mode can be a little dark so I typically watch everything with the sports settings. I had to read my owners manual to learn that the reason the picture appeared to be slanted was because if the earths magnetic pull. After using the image tilt adjustment I seem to have fixed this problem. I think the picture quality looks far superior to the other HD pictures I saw in the store when I made my purchase. Overall I think it was a good deal in the interim until prices on the plasma and LCDs comes down.
On: 2005-01-13
I dont know why other people had problems. I bought this television and everything looks stunning. HD is mindblowing, and I love the widescreen. My Digital Cable and Xbox are hooked up through the component inputs and everything looks spectacular. Sound is great, and I didnt even have to adjust the picture one bit. The default TV and Movie settings are just fantastic. I highly recommend this TV to anyone on a budget. And because its CRT, you can view the TV from anywhere.
On: 2005-01-12
I risked buying one of these, because it was the maximum amount of TV I could fit into my 32" cabinet. But I should have listened to the warnings. When I got the TV in the cabinet and turned it on, the screen was spotted by blobs of pink, green, and blue. The picture tube was shot. I have no choice now but to wait for Toshiba to bring another and hope it works better.
On: 2005-01-06
Ordering this TV from Amazon is a risky venture. The Toshiba model has a spotty reliability history. Amazon will not accept returns or assist in resolving problems. Toshiba is uncooperative in fixing any defects.
My experience: I purchased this TV from Amazon thinking I had gotten a good deal on a good TV. After turning the set on, the picture became erratic before completely failing soon after. The next day I contacted Amazon and was told there was nothing they could do and I needed to contact Toshiba.
Toshiba was slightly more helpful. They had a factory authorized service center pick up the TV. The TV has now been gone for six weeks and I still know nothing about its status. My calls to the repair shop go unanswered. My calls to Toshiba are equally unhelpful. Toshiba verifies that the repair shop is a factory authorized outlet and that they pay them for their work, yet Toshiba says they also cannot contact the shop.
No one is able to tell me when or if I can expect the return of my set. It could be days, weeks, or months, or even longer. If the set still doesnt work correctly, I get to go through this experience again. This is standard acceptable customer service for both Amazon and Toshiba.
If you are considering purchasing a TV from Amazon, you would be wise to ask yourself a very important question- "do I feel lucky?"
On: 2005-01-04
I ordered the TV from amazon directly and it arrived in just a few days. I actually picked it up from the shipping companies hub in Los Angeles (Eagle) - great service people! The TV was shipped from Reno, NV. It was manufacted in July 2004 in Thailand and worked right out of the box. I did have to adjust the color and contrast settings as the default sports mode it way to bright in my opinion. No trouble with any horizontal or vertical alignment at all. I purchased a dvd / vhs combo machine also from toshiba (SD-V392)and hooked it up with component cables, the picture quality is very good. On regular digital TV (Charter Comm.) hooked up via coax cable due to a old box (scientific 3100) quality is mixed. Some channels come in perfect, others are not so good. I was told by a Charter servcie rep. that all channels above 100 come in with better signal and all networks channels may be not so good on weekends as their signal come in nationally as compared to local during the week. go figure! I will try their HD service with new HD box (8000)and see if teh picture gets better. The new box can be hooked up with DVI or component Cable.
Fo regular TV I mainly use Theater Wide 1 or 3 to get a full 16:9 picture. TW 3 has a benefit of cutting of those annoying runners on the bottom of Fox and CNN and MSNBC! and I still see most of the picture on other channels like HGTV and local WB (KTLA) for news etc.
On: 2005-01-02
I just purchased this HDTV a month ago. After reading all the bad reviews I decided not to purchase it until my wife pointed out that there were also some good reviews. The next day I ordered it from Amazon .com. What I really did was throw $750.00 out the window because this TV absolutely sucks! The picture quality is so terrible. I keep getting these mosaic patterns all over the screen. I also get these dark shadows that come in and out on the characters faces. The picture is exceptionally grainy even fed through the component input. I will never purchase a TV again unless I see it first. Its really my own fault for buying a TV that dont have a return policy. I just hope that maybe someone will read this and decide not to buy this terrible TV.
On: 2004-12-09
I bought this TV because it had the biggest HDTV picture that I could fit into my wall unit for the lowest price. When I read some of the other Amazon reviews, I got worried, but fortunately there was nothing to be concerned about in my case. I am thrilled with this TV. The picture is spectacular from both my DVD player and my cable box (I get HDTV programming from Cablevision in NYC). I also hooked it up with top of the line component video cables (from Monster) which is supposed to increase picture quality, but I havent done any comparison tests. All in all, I can highly recommend this product.
On: 2004-12-09
DONT BUY THIS TV. ESPECIALLY FROM AMAZON.COM. THE PICTURE SUCKS. THE IMAGE IS SO SMALL ON STANDARD BROADCAST TV THAT YOU MIGHT AS WELL BUY A 13" CHEAPIE. WHEN YOU STRETCH THE FRAME EVERYONE LOOKS LIKE THE NUTTY PROFESSOR. I GOT RIPPED OFF BY AMAZON WITH A DAMAGED SET, THAT I DIDNT NOTICE UNTIL THE GOONS HAD LEFT IN THEIR TRUCK. IF YOU DONT KNOW ALREADY, AMAZON DOESNT TAKE TVS BACK, DAMAGED OR NOT. BUYER BEWARE, GO TO A STORE THAT HAS A RETURN POLICY AND PAY THE REAL PRICE.
 On: 2004-11-27
Well, my neightbour just bought this TV today and brought it home. I helped him setup the system and thought it was a nice little TV. So I go search for more info on this TV and run across the info here, on Amazon. First of all, Id like to mention that I spent over an hour trying to fix the fuzzy picture that they had and it still was not fixed. Even when playing a DVD via the HD signals it was VERY grainy. The best picture I got was in movie mode, but even then I could see it. Movie mode is far too dark for standard TV viewing, and in standard mode everything is really fuzzy (youll see this a lot when looking at monotone colors) and it looks like people have cast shadows all around them; looks like a silhouette. Its very weird looking.
Anyway, Im not a A/V buff, but Ive seen this problem with my own two eyes and I would seriously suggest that if youre interested in this TV, PLEASE buy it locally so you can return it as my neightbours are planning on doing. They know close to nothing about TVs and were dissapointed with how bad everything was showing especially compared to the [very old] 34" Sony that this TV was replacing.
Otherwise, its a beautiful looking TV... if youre lucky enough to get a "good one" then its probably a worthwhile buy.
Finally, if you put on a DVD in Movie mode and sit far enough away the TV looks Ok, but not great. Just be weary and buy locally, thats all. Or look for another TV. :-/
On: 2004-11-04
I bought this TV on September 12th, 2004 and I am not quite sure if I am a moron for not seeing the faults on this TV that others have found. I couldnt be happier with the 30HF84. I currently have HDTV through Comcast and while the channels currently are limited by quantity, the quality is exceptional! I am a HUGE sports fan and have enjoyed watching my Sox win the World Series in HD. I would agree that watching non-HD channels in "Widescreen" may be just ok, the HD is great and DVDs are even better. I find that I only end up watching the major networks and ESPN anyways on HDTV. I didnt have a progessive scan DVD player, so I ended up buying a $39 Cyberhome DVD player from Best Buy and movies look great! I have a Cambridge Soundworks System, so I do not use the speakers at all.
It was toss up between this TV and the Sony 30", but this TV was smaller and less expensive by $100. I was told that Toshiba made the better TV from stores that didnt even carry the Toshiba. My only wish was that I could have convinced my wife to get the 34" model. Oh, well! I agree with one of the prior reviews that this TV is to bridge the gap that plasmas will become more reasonably priced. After having this TV for more than a month, I have become a snob and can not stomach watching a Patriots game on any TV other than mine. Good luck!
On: 2004-10-31
Using a comcast motorola 6200 HD box , the HDTV is exceptional( like looking out your window to see something in the backyard ) and the Non HDTV is acceptable (it is no better nor no worse than the picture I got with a Toshiba 27" I have had for 16 years.) As with anything new there is a learning curve ,as far as the geometry problems some have mentioned , I have not encountered the problem . I have used my DVD player and after some adjustmets the pictures were fantastic . With the HD box I am using component video cables for the connections
On: 2004-10-23
I bought this TV when it was $714 w/free shipping. For what you get, this was an awesome deal. The delay in shipping was a little frustrating. Probably due more to my impatience. It took about 2 weeks.
Im not sure if my expectations were set too high, or what, but when I finally got home & hooked it all up, I thought ok, good picture but what is all the HDTV fuss about? I think I was expecting to see drastically different picture because of the HDTV. I have had a TV w/component cables connections & always used the best hookups when available. Not sure if my being accustomed to these connections lessened the improvement, but...
After 1 1/2 months of using this TV, I am getting used to HDTV & this monitor, and watching regular TV on my other TV is frustrating. I have gotten used to the stubble, wrinkles & spots on actors faces, to seeing the blades of grass on the football field and all the other details that regular TV seems to not capture. The TV itself has performed very well. Good remote - lights up and includes controls for my DISHnetwork satelite receiver. I have an Xbox with component cables connected & the images are sharp as can be. I use widescreen on a few games and 480p on all that support. I dont own any 1080i or 720p games yet.
I hooked up a uhf antenna to my DISHnetwork 811 receiver, so I can get all NYC digital stations. Reception is great. I was surprised at how much digital content is available.
If I dropped 3 times the price on a nicer TV would I be happier? I might have a better picture, but I would have not liked paying that credit card bill.
UPDATE after 3+ months(1/2/05):
The TV is very solid and I am very pleased with my purchase. I just read thru some of the other reviews, and not sure what is going on. I have not had any problems. My picture quality on local over the air HD or Dishnetwork HD is wonderful. Maybe I am just not as demanding - I am just a regular consumer not some AV-phile - or maybe the bad reviewers got lemons. Whatever the case, I continue to rate this at 5 stars. Hope it helps.
Overall, I have been very satisfied with this TV.
On: 2004-10-19
This is an excellent HDTV.
I purchased the TV at the end of August from Amazon direct.
Shipment was delayed a couple of weeks due to availability.
The shippers called in advance to schedule a date/time. They were right on time and the package arrived in good condition. The shippers also helped set it up in the cabinet which was a big help to me.
I hooked up my progressive scan DVD to the TV using component inputs. The TV powered up fine. DVDs look awesome. Make sure you force your DVD player to 480p.
The cable company then came and brought in their new HDTV and DRV set top box. It is a Motorola 6208. I have it connected to the TV using the second set of component inputs. I eventually want to use the HDMI port on the TV but dont yet have the DVI to HDMI cable. HDTV on the 30hf84 is tremendous. Geometry is spot on. focus is sharp as a tack. Colors are bright and contrast is perfect. The TV comes with 4 default color/contrast modes to choose from. I ended up creating a custom one in which I reduced the contrast to obtain an even better picture than the default modes. Whether its sports, weekly shows, movies, or informational programs, the HD picture is flawless and watching in 16:9 beats the 4:3 mode by a longshot.
Non HDTV digital cable is grainy, especially in 16:9 mode. switch to 4:3 when watching non HD channels.
I have not evaluated the TVs sound package as I use my home theatre audio receiver instead of the TV speakers.
I receommend this TV wholeheartedly...especially at the Amazon price. Its a great TV!
On: 2004-10-18
This is an excellent HDTV.
I purchased the TV at the end of August from Amazon direct.
Shipment was delayed a couple of weeks due to availability.
The shippers called in advance to schedule a date/time. They were right on time and the package arrived in good condition. The shippers also helped set it up in the cabinet which was a big help to me.
I hooked up my progressive scan DVD to the TV using component inputs. The TV powered up fine. DVDs look awesome. Make sure you force your DVD player to 480p.
The cable company then came and brought in their new HDTV and DRV set top box. It is a Motorola 6208. I have it connected to the TV using the second set of component inputs. I eventually want to use the HDMI port on the TV but dont yet have the DVI to HDMI cable. HDTV on the 30hf84 is tremendous. Geometry is spot on. focus is sharp as a tack. Colors are bright and contrast is perfect. The TV comes with 4 default color/contrast modes to choose from. I ended up creating a custom one in which I reduced the contrast to obtain an even better picture than the default modes. Whether its sports, weekly shows, movies, or informational programs, the HD picture is flawless and watching in 16:9 beats the 4:3 mode by a longshot.
Non HDTV digital cable is grainy, especially in 16:9 mode. switch to 4:3 when watching non HD channels.
I have not evaluated the TVs sound package as I use my home theatre audio receiver instead of the TV speakers.
I receommend this TV wholeheartedly...especially at the Amazon price. Its a great TV!
On: 2004-10-16
Short and sweet, this TV is crap.
Serious geometry problems, grainy picture. Check out more on the avsforum. If you do buy it, buy it locally and NOT from amazon so you can return it.
On: 2004-10-15
Short and sweet, this TV is crap.
Serious geometry problems, grainy picture. Check out more on the avsforum. If you do buy it, buy it locally and NOT from amazon so you can return it.
On: 2004-10-11
I was extremely apprehensive when I ordered this TV, especially after reading all the negative reviews. But I can say confidently that any and all apprehension was completely unnecessary.
The TV came delivered ahead of schedule by Eagle Direct. The delivery men were very helpful and insisted on setting up all aspects of the TV, which I didnt mind at all.
On regular digital cable the picture is just what one would expect. The picture as good as a standard digital TV signal can provide.
I hooked it up through a component video cable to my PS2, and the picture is better than any PS2 picture Ive seen before.
As we speak, Im watching HDTV. No vertical line problems, no focus problems, just a great clear sharp picture.
I have yet to view a DVD through a progressive scan DVD player so I cant comment on the performance through one at this time.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because under certain conditions, the interactive guide menu appears out of focus. It seems to depend on the brightness of whatever show is in the background.
For the price, I really believe this TV delivers its money worth. If you have the extra 1/2 g to spend, youre probably going to get a better picture with another TV. But if youre on a budget and would prefer to get the most bang for your buck, go with this TV. I am more than pleased with my purchase and am certain I found the best deal around.
On: 2004-10-08
I tested various sources. My conclusion is..
1. Geometry is really crap. I know every direct tube TV cannot be perfect in geometry, but this one is beyond it. Toshiba has to be responsible for this issue.
2. Significantly out of focus. Left side is ok, but on the right side I cannot read any characters. Especially, it is almost impossible to play any RPG games. And, this is apparent in watching DVD.
To sum up, I cannot recommend you to buy this TV. Please, do not believe every positive review.
On: 2004-10-07
I was a little skeptical about this TV after reading the bad reviews it received on Amazon. When I first got the TV and connected it to my $40 Daewoo DVD player with progressive scan, the picture quality was terrible. I experienced the excessive grains and out of focus problems that other reviewers have experienced. I thought I have been ripped off especially when Amazon wont let you return it.
I then decided to buy a $250 Denon 1910 DVD player to try it up on the TV. The picture quality was absolutely amazing and gorgeous. I was blown away. I only watch DVDs, so I cant comment about the HDTV reception. But Playstation 2 games also look stunning. I also like the small size of it with the speakers on the bottom and it is 30 pounds lighter than the comparable Sony model.
So, for everyone that is complaining about the bad picture quality, it is not the TV fault, it is your crummy DVD players fault.
This is a great item for a great price
On: 2004-10-03
This TV arrived in perfect shape, and fully functional. The picture is awesome, vibrant, clear, and the sound is good, although I run my sound through my home theater. I have compared a huge number of models from many different manufacturers, and decided to get this Toshiba model from Amazon for $716 shipped. I am definatly glad I did! Dont miss out on this deal.
On: 2004-10-01
I received mine today and the picture and sound are great. I also love the size of this TV as it isnt much bigger than my old 27". Youll obviously take a bit of a risk buying a 30" TV off Amazon given that they dont let you return it, but their price on this TV is also lower than any other place I could find.
On: 2004-09-22
Anybody who is still interested in this TV, PLEASE, PLEASE, take a look at Brandon Conovers comment below. Remember: amazon does not take return for TV with a size > 27 inch. If anything is wrong with your TV, your only hope is Toshibas warranty service or the God.
I purchased the 30HF84 at early Sept. from amazon and I am in my deepest regret right now. My TVs problems are as follows:
1.Serious geometry problem. Just like Brandon Conovers descriptioin, I can hardly find any straight lines on the screen when I use grid test pattern in Avia.
2. The more serious problem is the picture quality of this tube. Excessive grains and out of focus problems when showing the progressive DVDs. Sometimes I can see the shadows to the right of the characters on the screen. I have used Avia to tune the brightness, contrast, sharpness and they helped little. My Xbox and PS2 games all look jaggy and grainy and like craps.
3. Toshibas service is terrible. Since the first day I received this TV, I called to request a service. Now two weeks passed, I am still waiting and might still need to wait another 1-2 weeks because the service manual is even not available for this TV. Toshiba couldnt care about less about my situation. After multiple calls to them, what they can do for me is to tell me wait patiently. Thats what they call customer satisfaction!!!
I learned this lesson hard: Never buy a TV from a place that doesnt allow the return and Never buy a TV blindly just because you think the brank is good. I have made this mistake and Please dont repeat my experience.
If by any situation, after reading both Brandon Conovers and my experience, you still want to purchase this TV. PLEASE, PLEASE, do yourself a favor and buy this TV from a store can accept the return.
Note: The following is the update of my situation.
After 5 weeks waiting and numerous calls to Toshiba and my local service center, finally two technicians come to my home to see the TV. They did nothing to repair the TV and said they need to ask Toshiba first. When they were in my house, they did admit my TV has problems and they cannot fix them. But they changed the story later and told Toshiba there is nothing wrong with my TV and no service will be performed. Today I even spoke to a supervisor in Toshiba customer service but it still didnt work. They said if I need 2nd opinion, I need to pay myself to find other technicans to take care of my TV and my case is gonna be closed. Till now, I havent been able to speak to the technicals myself to ask why what they told Toshiba is different than what they said in my house. Now I am stuck with this defective TV becuase Toshiba refuses to admit my TV is problematic and refuses to repair it. I feel so frustrated during these contacts with Toshiba and I cant tolerate it any more. Their customer service people seems polite but actually do not care about the customer.
I trusted Toshibas product and service before and thats why I bought this TV from Amazon.com, an online store that doesnt take the return of large TV even it has quality issue. I am now deeply disappointed at not only the poor quality of my new TV, but also the lack of help from Toshiba and the fact Toshiba is trying to deny the existence of problems on my TV.
This is the worst TV I have ever seen and this is the worst company and customer service I ever dealt with. I also do not understand how a company can be so mean to a customer.
I want to say good luck to all of you who still want to purchase a Toshiba product. I am sure I will never touch any Toshiba product in my life and I will try my best to persuade my friends and relatives not buy their products!
On: 2004-09-21
Anybody who is still interested in this TV, PLEASE, PLEASE, take a look at Brandon Conovers comment below. Remember: amazon does not take return for TV with a size > 27 inch. If anything is wrong with your TV, your only hope is Toshibas warranty service or the God.
I purchased the 30HF84 at early Sept. from amazon and I am in my deepest regret right now. My TVs problems are as follows:
1.Serious geometry problem. Just like Brandon Conovers descriptioin, I can hardly find any straight lines on the screen when I use grid test pattern in Avia.
2. The more serious problem is the picture quality of this tube. Excessive grains and out of focus problems when showing the progressive DVDs. Sometimes I can see the shadows to the right of the characters on the screen. I have used Avia to tune the brightness, contrast, sharpness and they helped little. My Xbox and PS2 games all look jaggy and grainy and like craps.
3. Toshibas service is terrible. Since the first day I received this TV, I called to request a service. Now two weeks passed, I am still waiting and might still need to wait another 1-2 weeks because the service manual is even not available for this TV. Toshiba couldnt care about less about my situation. After multiple calls to them, what they can do for me is to tell me wait patiently. Thats what they call customer satisfaction!!!
I learned this lesson hard: Never buy a TV from a place that doesnt allow the return and Never buy a TV blindly just because you think the brank is good. I have made this mistake and Please dont repeat my experience.
If by any situation, after reading both Brandon Conovers and my experience, you still want to purchase this TV. PLEASE, PLEASE, do yourself a favor and buy this TV from a store can accept the return.
Note: The following is the update of my situation.
After 5 weeks waiting and numerous calls to Toshiba and my local service center, finally two technicians come to my home to see the TV. They did nothing to repair the TV and said they need to ask Toshiba first. When they were in my house, they did admit my TV has problems and they cannot fix them. But they changed the story later and told Toshiba there is nothing wrong with my TV and no service will be performed. Today I even spoke to a supervisor in Toshiba customer service but it still didnt work. They said if I need 2nd opinion, I need to pay myself to find other technicans to take care of my TV and my case is gonna be closed. Till now, I havent been able to speak to the technicals myself to ask why what they told Toshiba is different than what they said in my house. Now I am stuck with this defective TV becuase Toshiba refuses to admit my TV is problematic and refuses to repair it. I feel so frustrated during these contacts with Toshiba and I cant tolerate it any more. Their customer service people seems polite but actually do not care about the customer.
I trusted Toshibas product and service before and thats why I bought this TV from Amazon.com, an online store that doesnt take the return of large TV even it has quality issue. I am now deeply disappointed at not only the poor quality of my new TV, but also the lack of help from Toshiba and the fact Toshiba is trying to deny the existence of problems on my TV.
This is the worst TV I have ever seen and this is the worst company and customer service I ever dealt with. I also do not understand how a company can be so mean to a customer.
I want to say good luck to all of you who still want to purchase a Toshiba product. I am sure I will never touch any Toshiba product in my life and I will try my best to persuade my friends and relatives not buy their products!
On: 2004-09-19
I wanted a TV that would fit in my existing entertainment system, so the options were very easy between this Toshiba 30HF84 and Samsung TXN3098, both which were less than 33" wide. The decision on which one, however, was excruciating for me. I had a difficult time finding either of them in person to compare side by side, researched every possible feature down to the smallest detail, ending up looking at the Samsung 26" or a similar model Toshiba in the store for comparison purposes, and read all the online reviews you could imagine. Yes, Im one of those types of people. In the end, I chose the Toshiba based on the following:
Pros on Toshiba
- Less money
- I bought it locally so it got here in time for football season
- Generally thought of as better product than Samsung
Cons on Toshiba
- Does not have PiP
- Silver case instead of charcoal (my preference)
Pros on Samsung
- In the store, seemed to have a brighter picture
- Had PiP
Cons on Samsung
- An issue - as seen in reviews and confirmed by their tech support - where if you go in and set the picture to wide, stretched, etc, it doesnt remember it and you have to reset it each time you turn on the tv.
- Generally thought of as a lower end product, but I had differing stories that they were making TVs for Sony, they were up and coming, etc etc.
The Decision
I was going back and forth for 2 weeks. Was I stupid to get the Toshiba if the Samsung picture looked better? Did I need PiP? There were pros and cons on each. In the end, I realized that I would be getting a great TV no matter what. I called tech support for both companies and got right through. So in the end, the switching-modes issue for Samsung was a slight factor, but the Toshiba was $200 cheaper and I could have it 2 days later (I consider this a filler TV anyway for a year or two until Im ready to step up to a 42" plasma when prices come down).
Heres what sucks... while I was concerned because of the Samsung issue in switching modes, this feature is not usable AT ALL for me on the Toshiba. I have Time Warner in NYC and HD channels work fine widescreen in that mode. But non-HD channels show up as 4:3 and I guess theyre broadcasting at 1080 or 720, because I cant stretch a 4:3 show into wide mode. Toshiba only can take 480 signals and stretch them. Could be a setting Im missing, but thats me. However, Im finding I mostly watch the main networks and DVDs anyway. Right now I hooked up my regular DVD player through digital audio cables and component video, and it looks and sounds spectacular. Not sure how much better it can get with a progressive scan player, but theyre only $65 so Im going to get one anyway and hope theres at least a noticeable difference.
Bottom Line
Both TVs are sweet, and I am very very happy so far with the Toshiba. I have it hooked up through an HDTV digital cable box with DVR built in using component video, and to my receiver with Digital Audio Coaxial cables for sound. Ten seconds watching Discovery Channel HD Theater and youll be in heaven. I recorded the Patriots-Colts NFL kickoff game and have been using that as a demo to show my friends how good the signal and picture are. Im looking forward to a great fall of football, baseball playoffs and am currently buying some surround sound widescreen DVDs off Amazon (True Lies, Ronin, Braveheart, Gladiator, True Romance, The Fugitive, Finding Nemo, Pirates of the Carribbean, etc) to build up a little collection.
On: 2004-09-18
I wanted a TV that would fit in my existing entertainment system, so the options were very easy between this Toshiba 30HF84 and Samsung TXN3098, both which were less than 33" wide. The decision on which one, however, was excruciating for me. I had a difficult time finding either of them in person to compare side by side, researched every possible feature down to the smallest detail, ending up looking at the Samsung 26" or a similar model Toshiba in the store for comparison purposes, and read all the online reviews you could imagine. Yes, Im one of those types of people. In the end, I chose the Toshiba based on the following:
Pros on Toshiba
- Less money
- I bought it locally so it got here in time for football season
- Generally thought of as better product than Samsung
Cons on Toshiba
- Does not have PiP
- Silver case instead of charcoal (my preference)
Pros on Samsung
- In the store, seemed to have a brighter picture
- Had PiP
Cons on Samsung
- An issue - as seen in reviews and confirmed by their tech support - where if you go in and set the picture to wide, stretched, etc, it doesnt remember it and you have to reset it each time you turn on the tv.
- Generally thought of as a lower end product, but I had differing stories that they were making TVs for Sony, they were up and coming, etc etc.
The Decision
I was going back and forth for 2 weeks. Was I stupid to get the Toshiba if the Samsung picture looked better? Did I need PiP? There were pros and cons on each. In the end, I realized that I would be getting a great TV no matter what. I called tech support for both companies and got right through. So in the end, the switching-modes issue for Samsung was a slight factor, but the Toshiba was $200 cheaper and I could have it 2 days later (I consider this a filler TV anyway for a year or two until Im ready to step up to a 42" plasma when prices come down).
Heres what sucks... while I was concerned because of the Samsung issue in switching modes, this feature is not usable AT ALL for me on the Toshiba. I have Time Warner in NYC and HD channels work fine widescreen in that mode. But non-HD channels show up as 4:3 and I guess theyre broadcasting at 1080 or 720, because I cant stretch a 4:3 show into wide mode. Toshiba only can take 480 signals and stretch them. Could be a setting Im missing, but thats me. However, Im finding I mostly watch the main networks and DVDs anyway. Right now I hooked up my regular DVD player through digital audio cables and component video, and it looks and sounds spectacular. Not sure how much better it can get with a progressive scan player, but theyre only $65 so Im going to get one anyway and hope theres at least a noticeable difference.
Bottom Line
Both TVs are sweet, and I am very very happy so far with the Toshiba. I have it hooked up through an HDTV digital cable box with DVR built in using component video, and to my receiver with Digital Audio Coaxial cables for sound. Ten seconds watching Discovery Channel HD Theater and youll be in heaven. I recorded the Patriots-Colts NFL kickoff game and have been using that as a demo to show my friends how good the signal and picture are. Im looking forward to a great fall of football, baseball playoffs and am currently buying some surround sound widescreen DVDs off Amazon (True Lies, Ronin, Braveheart, Gladiator, True Romance, The Fugitive, Finding Nemo, Pirates of the Carribbean, etc) to build up a little collection.
On: 2004-09-17
I purchased a Toshiba HDTV for $4500 in 2000 from Amazon.com. The tv went out this past June 2004. The authorized Toshiba repair site informed me that the the digital convergence board needed to repair the set was discontinued by Toshiba. Toshiba customer service told me they would do nothing to help me repair the set nor would they give me any consideration towards a new set. Think long and hard before purchasing an expensive set from Toshiba. They obviously do not care about their customers or their reputation.
On: 2004-09-17
I initially purchased this hdtv on the first of september, simply due to the fact it was an outstanding deal and I was happy with previous toshiba products. When the tv arrived two weeks later, however, I was deeply dismayed. Picture quality is terrible. Sources fed through the colorstream component inputs are full of grain and poor coloration. The geometry of the set is so bad that any vertical lines in the middle of the screen bend around. Anytime a window, building, or doorframe appears in a DVD, it curves at the center of the screen. I have calibrated the set with DVE to no avail. Even the service menu does not seem to contain a way to fix the poor geometry.
Whatever you do, do not purchase this set from amazon.com. They will not accept returns on tvs larger than 27". Speaking to other members at the AVS forum, many other people have 30hf84s with the exact same problems I do. Adding to this is the fact Toshiba completely denies any problems with this set and shows no level of caring or support for the consumer.
Buy this set at your own risk only from a store with a good return policy. Dont be fooled by the cheap price on amazon which is obviously too good to be true. I hope not everyone has the same negative experiences with this set that I have.
I also hope someone from Toshiba reads this review because they do not seem to want to reply to my emails. Thanks Toshiba.
On: 2004-09-16
I initially purchased this hdtv on the first of september, simply due to the fact it was an outstanding deal and I was happy with previous toshiba products. When the tv arrived two weeks later, however, I was deeply dismayed. Picture quality is terrible. Sources fed through the colorstream component inputs are full of grain and poor coloration. The geometry of the set is so bad that any vertical lines in the middle of the screen bend around. Anytime a window, building, or doorframe appears in a DVD, it curves at the center of the screen. I have calibrated the set with DVE to no avail. Even the service menu does not seem to contain a way to fix the poor geometry.
Whatever you do, do not purchase this set from amazon.com. They will not accept returns on tvs larger than 27". Speaking to other members at the AVS forum, many other people have 30hf84s with the exact same problems I do. Adding to this is the fact Toshiba completely denies any problems with this set and shows no level of caring or support for the consumer.
Buy this set at your own risk only from a store with a good return policy. Dont be fooled by the cheap price on amazon which is obviously too good to be true. I hope not everyone has the same negative experiences with this set that I have.
I also hope someone from Toshiba reads this review because they do not seem to want to reply to my emails. Thanks Toshiba.
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