Toshiba 52HMX84 $1399 on Ebay, Good Deal??

sammyols · 12-23-2005, 11:06 AM

The TV is listed as refurbished with a factory 90 day warranty. I've done some research and it seems this is a really good deal on a pretty good DLP with HD2+. The seller is located near me, so I could go take a look and also save on shipping. Any thoughts regarding this type of transaction or people's expierence with this TV would be greatly appreciated. Same place also has the 52HM94 for $1550, Is there that big of a difference between the two? Thanks a lot in advance for the help!!

pswilson1 · 12-23-2005, 12:19 PM

I have the 46HM94 (2004). Have had it for 1 whole year now. TWO (2) lamp failures!! The only reason Toshiba is going to replace my 2nd lamp is because the lamps have a pathetic 6 month warranty and the lamp didn't even make that, neither of them did!. These lamps cost $200 for the 46 inch DLP so the larger ones might be more.

Toshiba says the lamps should last 3 to 4 years, ha ha, so they are good enough to extend my warranty for a month to cover the cost of a local service tech to come see what the problem is with my DLP that it gobbles lamps. I may be wrong, but I suspect the tech will find nothing wrong with my DLP other than it needs a new lamp.

If you are not able to spring for some type of extended warranty that will cover multiple replacement lamps (I didn't understand that this was necessary when I bought mine) then you better have a black market connection on ebay for lots of spares. At $200 to $400 dollars each, you will really be paying a premium to watch HDTV. Hey, the picture is really great on a HD channel during the brief life of the bulb. Oh yeah, the lamps are never readily available when one blows; both times for me they are "backordered" and your set will be down, as mine now is, for a couple of weeks or more.

In my experience, and our set isn't on more than most families, these DLP lamps are a technology disaster for the consumer. They should be free or $10 if they are going to fail all the time. It is difficult for me to enjoy a movie wondering if the bulb is about to go. And the bulb WAS about to go.

JohninTenn · 12-23-2005, 09:19 PM

just goes black?

pswilson1 · 12-24-2005, 08:05 AM

I haven't been at home either time the lamps failed, the family just said that suddenly the picture very quickly darkened to black, followed by the flashing of little red & green lights at the same time, which the manual explains reports lamp failure.

BTW, the lamps are supposed, according to the owner's manual, to last 8000 hours at low power. Mine were at low power both times, and neither approached 4000 hours. Less than half. I would like to hear from anyone with any brand of DLP that has actually got 8000 lamp hours from a lamp.

12-23-2005, 11:06 AM	#1
sammyols What is HD? Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 4	Toshiba 52HMX84 $1399 on Ebay, Good Deal?? The TV is listed as refurbished with a factory 90 day warranty. I've done some research and it seems this is a really good deal on a pretty good DLP with HD2+. The seller is located near me, so I could go take a look and also save on shipping. Any thoughts regarding this type of transaction or people's expierence with this TV would be greatly appreciated. Same place also has the 52HM94 for $1550, Is there that big of a difference between the two? Thanks a lot in advance for the help!!

12-23-2005, 12:19 PM	#2
pswilson1 How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 20	Lamps are disaster I have the 46HM94 (2004). Have had it for 1 whole year now. TWO (2) lamp failures!! The only reason Toshiba is going to replace my 2nd lamp is because the lamps have a pathetic 6 month warranty and the lamp didn't even make that, neither of them did!. These lamps cost $200 for the 46 inch DLP so the larger ones might be more. Toshiba says the lamps should last 3 to 4 years, ha ha, so they are good enough to extend my warranty for a month to cover the cost of a local service tech to come see what the problem is with my DLP that it gobbles lamps. I may be wrong, but I suspect the tech will find nothing wrong with my DLP other than it needs a new lamp. If you are not able to spring for some type of extended warranty that will cover multiple replacement lamps (I didn't understand that this was necessary when I bought mine) then you better have a black market connection on ebay for lots of spares. At $200 to $400 dollars each, you will really be paying a premium to watch HDTV. Hey, the picture is really great on a HD channel during the brief life of the bulb. Oh yeah, the lamps are never readily available when one blows; both times for me they are "backordered" and your set will be down, as mine now is, for a couple of weeks or more. In my experience, and our set isn't on more than most families, these DLP lamps are a technology disaster for the consumer. They should be free or $10 if they are going to fail all the time. It is difficult for me to enjoy a movie wondering if the bulb is about to go. And the bulb WAS about to go.

12-23-2005, 09:19 PM	#3
JohninTenn High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 595	Did it give you any warning or... just goes black?

12-24-2005, 08:05 AM	#4
pswilson1 How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 20	I haven't been at home either time the lamps failed, the family just said that suddenly the picture very quickly darkened to black, followed by the flashing of little red & green lights at the same time, which the manual explains reports lamp failure. BTW, the lamps are supposed, according to the owner's manual, to last 8000 hours at low power. Mine were at low power both times, and neither approached 4000 hours. Less than half. I would like to hear from anyone with any brand of DLP that has actually got 8000 lamp hours from a lamp.