This widescreen 50-inch powerhouse packs everything from generous AV inputs to Toshiba's latest high-tech video innovations (including two-tuner, multiwindow picture-in-picture). The quality starts with a wideband video amplifier, works its way through the set's extensive lens system (including PowerFocus Plus CRTs and a five-element lens with Multilinear Digital Convergence and Multilinear Digital Focus), and manifests itself onscreen through a three-line digital comb filter with vertical contour correction, velocity scan modulation, and 900 lines of horizontal resolution. Can you say "HDTV ready"?
Among the 50A61's other image-enhancing features are flesh-tone correction and a color-detail enhancer, video noise reduction, black-level expansion, and color-temperature control (warm, medium, and cool).
This Cinema Series television uses Toshiba's TheaterShield Plus, an improved version of the acrylic shield the company uses to protect its screens. Standard TheaterShield incorporates a special hard coat to resist scratching, while TheaterShield Plus adds an antireflective layer to the surfaces of the shield. This additional layer reduces reflectivity by over 50 percent and improves the set's overall contrast.
Working in tandem with TheaterShield Plus is Toshiba's TheaterBright technology, which--between improvements to the projection lens and the screen--grants a wide, 160-degree viewing angle for use in any room. TheaterBright uses a double lenticular (two-lens) projection configuration, combining a Fresnel lens and a fine-pitch (0.72 millimeter) BlackStripe screen. The screen is tinted for increased contrast, and Toshiba has incorporated a surface layer diffuser, which concentrates the tinting on a thinner layer of the screen's surface. The result is a high-resolution, high-brightness, and--with TheaterShield Plus--high-contrast screen.
In the audio department, the set works either as a monitor in conjunction with your surround receiver and speakers, or as a self-contained audio-video entity, boasting 15 watts per channel through front-firing stereo speakers. Toshiba's Sub Bass System (SBS) ensures dramatic low-end performance with movies and music videos, and MTS Stereo/SAP (with dbx surround sound) delivers impressive broadcast audio. A center-channel audio input lets you enjoy 5.1-channel surround even if you have surround speakers but lack external front left, center, and right speakers. You'll also enjoy: variable audio outputs, PIP sound, and Stable Sound for minimizing the garish level hikes when the station cuts to a commercial break.
Other conveniences include an illuminated (backlit) AV universal remote control, color-icon trilingual onscreen display, direct video input selection, Movie and Sports modes, individual AV settings for inputs, Favorite Channel, and V-chip parental control.
Product Features
Power focus lens system for maximum sharpness and brightness
Built in high-contrast TheaterSheild minimizes reflections while protecting the screen
Dual-tuner Picture-in-picture lets you monitor two programs at once
Backlit universal remote control
2 sets of component-video inputs for DVD player or gaming console hookup
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
A very satisfied buyer, January 24, 2002
Gerald White (Upper Marlboro, MD United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Toshiba 50A61 50-Inch Projection TV (Electronics)
I just purchased my first Big screen TV. I would like to say I did a lot of investigative work before i settled on the Toshiba 50A61. For the price ,quality looks workmanship I'm very happy about my purchse. I looked at HDTV,Wide Screen and all brands checked Best Buy, Sears, Wal-mart you name it ..But the picture is so clear and the features are some of the best for this price range.. I would suggest this television to anyone not looking to spend on the high end and still have a tv set that is top notch..you can't go wrong ...
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
nice buy not over price, December 22, 2001
E (so/cal) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Toshiba 50A61 50-Inch Projection TV (Electronics)
Most clerks in the big box store will push you to buy hdtv wide screen. They are great but there is so little programming to see and the little there is requires a "STB" that cost 700 buck. Add in Dish or direct tv plus to access local hdtv station you must put a antenna on you roof. So i compared the major brand look at the non hdtv by sony, mit and panasonic. I felt the tosh is cheaper by hundreds of dollar. Also has the best picture to me but you really can't tell until you set it up in your home. Mine's look great even on cable.You can find this tv online or check at bb after a holiday maybe as low as 1100.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
My Own Movie Thearter, March 3, 2002
Naomi Holness (Jamaica West Indies) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Toshiba 50A61 50-Inch Projection TV (Electronics)
Its great!!! No fantastic sitting and watching this set. We are the envy of many. I can't wait to watch world cup soccer on this. The new improved screen will prevent my kids fromscratching etc. Wow the 160 degree veiwing is unbelievable. I could not ask for anything better. The person in line wating to buy mine, can keep on waiting!!!! My next door neighbour wants to buy one too. I am happy I picked this. I will soon be looking to buy a surround system for it. Thanks for a good item....
(6 customer reviews) 
A very satisfied buyer, January 24, 2002 