Projectors Reviews, price and comparision

Recently, I reviewed the REGZA 46SV670U, which resides at the pinnacle of Toshiba's LCD TV line. Though one limb down on the family tree, the REGZA 47ZV650U bears a striking resemblance to its kin.

This 1080p LCD evens features many of the same technologies included on the 670 series, like a 240Hz display.

The one major difference between the two is that the top dog SV670U's LCD panel is backlit by an array of LEDs with Local Dimming. The 47ZV650U's panel is backlit with the more conventional CCFLs (cold cathode fluorescent lights).

In my review of the 46SV670U, I waxed rhapsodic about LEDs with Local Dimming. I believe the technique provides a superior level of black and therefore better picture quality over CCFLs.

But this new dynamic LED display comes at a cost. The 46" SV670U retails for $600 more than the slightly larger 47" ZV650U. Toshiba is providing you clear choices at different price points. And considering the highly respectable video performance of the 47ZV650U, this less expensive relative in the REGZA bloodline is an option worth considering.

(Editor's Note: Toshiba also makes a 42" and a 55" version of the ZV650U series, the 42ZV650U and the 55ZV650U. Since all three models have similar specifications, this review of the 47ZV650U can apply.)

Performance: 4.0 Toshiba's 47ZV650U video performance is workmanlike solid. Compared to last year's models, this 240Hz display would easily earn a 4.5, but the bar is constantly being raised. The audio output from the integrated speakers is fine for everyday TV viewing. Features: 4.0 I like the inclusion of both a USB port and an SD card slot. But this REGZA lacks a LAN port to connect to Internet content. Of course, if you are not interested in fidgeting with widgets on your TV, then add an extra half point. For videophiles, Toshiba provides one of the best picture adjustment tool sets around. Ease of Use: 4.5 Since you don't need to worry about connecting the TV into your home network, setup and operating the 47ZV650U are much less complicated. Value: 4.5 The MSRP for the 47ZV650U is $1699, which is comparable with other 240Hz LCD models from many manufacturers. Surfing the web, I'm finding it in the low $1200 range, which makes this REGZA more attractive. And with the holiday season just around the corner, who knows what Santa might bring. Ratings are relative to when the review was written. The obvious example is Value, what you could purchase for $2000 two years ago or even two months ago would seem like a bad value for that price now. We have given only a precious few 5 Star ratings, which we reserve for truly outstanding accomplishment.

Toshiba labels the wide two and a half inch bezel on this 47ZV650U "Deep Lagoon". From inside to out, it gradates from dark gray to pebbled silver.

The screen's CrystalCoat is touted as stopping "ambient room light reflections from washing out the picture." I still found that the viewing angle was not extremely wide. The farther off center you sat, the more washed out the picture. This is characteristic of most LCDs.

Luckily, this REGZA sits on a swivel stand allowing the TV to be rotated about 30 degrees left or right, giving you a more direct viewing angle no matter where you sit in the room. Weighing over 57 pounds (with stand), you'll appreciate the ease of adjustment the swivel stand gives.

This REGZA locates all its connections in two panels on the right side of the TV. On the edge, the smaller convenience panel contains one

HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio, and interactive controls on a single cable. It transmits all ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committe) HDTV standards and supports 8-channel digital audio. First product releases using HDMI occurred in 2003.">HDMI input, one Composite Video In with stereo Audio Ins, and a USB port for uploading JPEG photos, DIVX videos or MP3 songs. Also, on the side is an SD card slot where you can play JPEG photos (no music or video files).

Next to this on the back, a larger panel includes three more HDMI inputs, two Component video (YPbPr) Ins (with matching stereo Audio Ins), one more Composite Video In (with matching stereo Audio Ins), one VGA PC input with an Audio In (stereo minijack), and an S-Video In.

For sending audio to external speakers or a receiver, an SPDIF (optical) digital Audio Out is provided next to analog L/R Stereo Outs (with fixed volume). Also back there is an IR Pass-Through Port to control source devices that may be hidden out of line of sight to a remote control.

The one RF antenna connector links to integrated NTSC/ATSC/QAM tuners. Since the tuner system is Clear QAM compatible, you can attach your cable TV signal directly into the RF connector and tune in unscrambled cable stations.

The Media Player interface for playing back photos, videos and music is basic. For example, with photos, no transition options are available, though you can set the slide duration time to 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 or 90 seconds. And you cannot play music with the slideshow. In addition, you can't adjust the picture settings inside the photo menu.

You are also limited to one format each for video (DIVX) and music (MP3).

The 47ZV650U does not offer a LAN port, which means that you cannot connect this TV directly to your home network and stream content off the Internet.

I imagine that we will see this web-enabled feature in future Toshibas, but none of the current models include it. Of course, judging from the numerous questions I receive about networking TVs and Blu-ray players, not adding a LAN port makes this TV easier to use.

The TV also does not include Picture-in-Picture functionality.

I keep thinking that this boxy, silver edged remote control is backlit, but the only buttons that I can get to illuminate are the four Mode Select ones.

Most of the buttons on this multifunction remote are large with easy to read labels. The one oddity is that the three buttons around the navigation wheel serve two functions. For example, if you press the left side of the top button, it brings up the Favorites Browser. Click on the right side and the Setup Menu is revealed. I never had a problem using these controls.

The EPA is now publishing a list of ENERGY STAR qualified TVs. (You can find it here.) The Toshiba REGZA 47ZV650U is on the list.

The EPA states that this Toshiba's On Mode Power is 156W and Standby Power Consumption is .4W. Based on the formula that the TV is on five hours a day and in Standby for the other 19, the Estimated Annual Energy Use is 287 kWh/year.

You need to check your electric bill to see how much you are paying for a kWh. The rate that I have been using in previous reviews is 10.4 cents. Doing the multiplication, at that rate, the yearly energy cost is $29.85.

Since manufacturers are not attaching those yellow ENERGY STAR tags that you find on air conditioners and refrigerators, you will have to study the ENERGY STAR list to see how the 47ZV650U compares to other 47" TVs.

A quick perusal indicates that this REGZA is comfortably in the middle of the pack. I'm finding some older models with much higher power ratings and some newer ones with better energy efficiency.

To calibrate the TV, we use two discs, the Blu-ray version of the Digital Video Essentials DVD called HD Basics and the Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark Blu-ray DVD. We are playing the DVDs on the OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray player connected to the HDTV with an HDMI cable.

We use the test patterns to adjust black level, white level, and color bias. The player is set to output a 1080p signal, which is the Maximum Resolution.'>native resolution of the 47ZV650U.

As far as I can tell, the picture and audio adjustment tools are the same for the 47ZV650U as they are for the 46SV670U that I reviewed earlier. I don't wish to keep referring you back to that review, therefore, I will reuse some of that text when it applies to this TV.

With that said, let me repeat that this REGZA has some of the best fine tuning tools that I have encountered. For those who wish to tweak the dickens out of test patterns, this is a TV for you.

Now, if you just want to pull the TV out of the box, plug it in and watch the big game, then choose one of the default Picture modes. Toshiba offers six: AutoView, Sports, Standard, Movie, Games, and PC.

Even for football or futbol, I would avoid Sports because the picture is just too bright. The field looks overfertilized. I suggest Standard. For the cinephile in a darkened viewing room, definitely try Movie. Though you may want to bump up the Brightness a notch or two.

If you want to follow me into the trenches, I picked Standard as my jumping off point and went into the Advanced Picture Settings and turned everything like Dynamic Contrast to Off.

Next, I set the Color Temperature, which is in the Advanced Settings Menu. Even with this adjustment, you can begin to see the amount of control that Toshiba is giving you. Usually, the choices are Cool, Normal and Warm.

The 47ZV650U offers a slider from 0 to 10. 0 being Warmest Warm and 10 being Coolest Blue. Standard mode defaults to 7. I pushed it to a neutral 5. As a reference, Movie mode defaults to 2.

I then went back to the first page of the Picture Settings menu and turned down the Backlight to 50 (out of 100). Lowering the Backlight saves electricity. Your number may vary depending on the lighting conditions in your room.

According to the test patterns, I notched Brightness up to 8. I dropped Contrast (Picture) to 80. I lowered Color (Saturation) to around -8, and Tint (Hue) was unchanged at 0.

The Sharpness scale runs from -50 (Min) to 50 (Max). When looking at a Safe Zone test pattern, I noticed the beginning of fringing at about -10 and it became more distracting around 0. Since I am not a big fan of over-sharpness, I hedged the setting even lower to -25. There is definitely some wiggle room for those who like a little more edginess in their TV.

For most of you Sunday morning tweakers, working through those adjustments should produce a highly satisfying picture. But for the serious squeeze-every-last-pixel-out-of-a-color-bar-test-pattern types, Toshiba provides you a robust list of fine tuning features.

For example, in the appropriately labeled Expert Mode submenu, you can turn off the Red, Green or Blue components of the picture. Calibration DVDs usually come with a blue filter which helps you adjust the color of the display. You can achieve the same effect by disabling Red and Green in this menu. The one disadvantage to this tool is that it flips back to full color when you exit this menu.

If you turn On the ColorMaster feature, you can then go into the Base Color Adjustment and set Hue, Saturation and Brightness for individual R, G, B, C, M, and Y colors. I found these sliders to be responsive.

Basically, you will have to experiment with tools like Dynalight and Dynamic Contrast to see if they suit your eye. I left them alone. I did fiddle with Static Gamma and ultimately set it to -2.

Finally, the 47ZV650U sports a 240Hz LCD panel. Toshiba uses backlight scanning to jump from 120 Hz to 240. VIZIO employs the same technique and I have discussed the technology in detail in my review of the VIZIO SV471XVT. Please read it if you need a refresher.

I want to talk about two settings that influence how this Toshiba deals with interpolation and backlight scanning. Both are fairly straightforward.

The ClearScan 240 setting is either Off or On. Turn it Off and the TV interpolates the original 60 frames to make 120, but backlight scanning to 240 is disabled. Turn it On and backlight scanning is enabled.

The Film Stabilization feature effects 24p content. When turned to Standard, the display simply repeats a frame five times to reach 120Hz. In Smooth, the MEMC (motion estimation, motion compensation) technology interpolates to reach 120Hz.

I honestly did not see much difference between ClearScan On or Off or Film Stabilization set to Standard or Smooth. None of the settings caused any annoying artifacts.

Experiment with the different combinations to see which you prefer.

I'll admit that the LED backlit Toshiba 46SV670U spoiled me. It's local dimming was luscious. This traditionally backlit 47ZV650U simply cannot reproduce such deep blacks.

But when you compare the 47ZV650U with other similarly priced 240Hz LCDs models, its performance holds up quite well. The colors are true, the image is sharp and you can tweak it to match your eye.

Video technology is definitely advancing every year and Toshiba's PixelPure 5G 14-Bit Internal Digital Video Processing pushes this 2009 REGZA incrementally beyond last year's HDTVs.

Though when it comes to audio performance, sometimes I believe we are mired in the last century. Yes, the 47ZV650U does employ Dolby Volume to control annoying loud commercials or fluctuations when changing channels. But the basic sound fidelity is still limited by an undermanned speaker system.

To be fair, if you are watching Jon Stewart or even South Park, you don't need a lot of dynamic range from your TV speakers. But when it comes to movies or even American Idol, you should consider a dedicated audio system or at least a sound bar.

The Toshiba REGZA 47ZV650U provides the type of solid performance that you should expect from a high end 240Hz LCD. It does not match the deep richness of the LED backlit with local dimming REGZA 46SV670U. Then again, its lower price tag reflects that.