Ok guys, I really need some help form the experts here. I am in the process of finishing my basement and i need some help with recommendations. I have a Toshiba 56HM1 :D 95 and it is great.I am partial to Toshiba'a based on their value and quality. Also I looked at the Sonys and Mitus and frankly the price does not out way any "perceived" So can some one convince me why or why not I should get a 62HM196, which has been highly rated vs. a 65HM167.

The 65HM167 is newer, bigger, has three 1080p HDMI inputs, and a pc input. The 62HM196 does not have 1080p inputs, but has cablecard, POP, and TV Guide (which the 65HM167 doesn't). Go out and look at both if you can find them with a good source playing. See how the picture compares to your 56HM195, looking at HD and SD and seeing if SSE is the same, better, or worse.

I was able to see the 65HM167 and compare side by side with a Direct TV feed to a Sony 60XRB2,Sony 60A2000, and Mitsubishi 65 (circuit city model) at CC. I did not see the SSE or Rainbows. I also watched in bright lamp mode and low lamp and low lamp mode in both HD and SD In low lamp mode the 65HM167 appeared as bright as the XBR2. I have to say that the 65HM167 better than the other sets, even the XBR2 and for over 1000 less.

While there I ran into the Toshiba rep and asked them about the TV. The basic guts are the essentially the same as last year but with some internal process improves for the 1080P capabilities. The items removed were the TV Guide, PIP and card card, none of which I use. I was curious about the price drop compared to last year and why Toshiba was not pushing these TVs. I was told that the main emphasis for Toshiba was the LCDs, they we backing off of Plasma but still planned to stay in the DLP business The price drop was due to the overall drop for DLPs and HDTVs and removal of the several; "features" ;)

Good to hear they are keeping with the rear projection line. I was wondering about that since they didn't push this year's models and didn't offer the MX line for 2007.

There is good and bad in the internals for these sets being basically the same design.

The troubling issue with the new Toshiba DLP models is whether they inherited the early lamp failure problems the last two model years suffered from.

History with this line indicates that it takes 9-12 months before the lamps start failing. Toshiba's replacement lamps haven't lasted any longer.

There seems to be a problem either with the lamps themselves or the set's ability to deliver power to the lamp.

It looks like Toshiba is moving away from DLP sets and that this may be their last year. If so, it makes sense to put limited engineering into them.

If not mistaken the major lamp issue was w/ the first years' model. In fact, I have Toshiba 56HM195 purchased in 9/2005 and it is still on its same lamp. This TV is on 7-8 hours per day on the high setting. Lamps are a notorious problem with the newer RPTVs, not just Toshiba. I can say that Toshiba's have one of the better repair records unlike several other brands I can live with the lamp replace given the screen size a picture quality, on thing.

Everyone has their own opinion and I don't want to start a fight but is anyone can convince me that the SONY and Mitus are $800-1200 better......I have to see a man about some swamp land that he want to Sell me. Regarding, Toshiba's intent regarding DLPs, their engineering has always been underrated because of their lack of BIG name recognition. I don't see them getting completely out of the business, they have always made a damn good RPTV for the money and never had many different models of DLPs. I see them putting more emphasis in LCD based on economics so the can take advantage of all the stylish suckers out there into overpaying for a flat screen. :D :D :D

I hope Toshiba got these sets right. The PQ and price are excellent.

Toshiba is the only maker of HD DVD players. With those, problems existing in one version of the hardware tend to be there in subsequent versions. Some eventually get fixed, others linger.

This tells me that Toshiba focuses more on time to market than quality. That drives my concern with these sets longer term reliability.

Bottom line is that any of the micro displays need extended warranty protection. The Toshiba is no exception. An extended warranty would cover the lamp(s) leaving unexpected downtime of the set as the only real drawback.

Be cautious about warranties that don't cover lamps or limit the replacements during the warranty (CC).