Toshiba have recently launched their new REGZA SV range of LCD and LED TVs, so I went for a viewing at my local store. They have got used to me turning up every couple of weeks now...and bribing them with Starbucks coffee to show me the latest sets early on a Monday morning! To be fair they quite enjoy it as well!
Anyway, back to the plot! The new SV range combines state of the art Full HD 1080p picture processing with stunning design making the Toshiba Regza 55ZV670U a real gem amongst HD TVs.
The REGZA SV Series is the first Toshiba series to feature LED Local Dimming backlight technology and it certainly results in deep, genuine blacks and rich bright highlights.
Utilising Toshiba's latest Active Vision M200HD technology the 240Hz picture processing produced by the Toshiba Regza 55SV670U offers one of the clearest, smoothest and most astonishing pictures they have produced to date.
I also really liked the Dolby Volume control which stops those annoying volume variances when the commercials come on or you switch sources or change channels. Very sharp of Toshiba (excuse the pun) to pick up on something that is very annoying but that everyone seems to have just put up with.
Another interesting innovation is "Resolution+" which Toshiba claim can optimise the picture dependent on the ambient conditions in a room therefore offering the best possible viewing no matter how conditions change. I'm not sure about this but I suppose conditions on the shop floor don't eally change. Nonetheless I find this one difficult to believe.
It's true that most thin HD TVs offer poor sound. I have to say I felt the Toshiba Regza 55SV670U 55 Inch LCD TV is probably slightly better than the Samsung range. But, it's an inherent problem with all HD TVs due to their thiness. Again I think most people prepared to pay this amount for their viewing they would almost certainly hook up a surround system and that obviously solves the problem.
For my money, the picture quality of the Regza series is as good as it gets in LCD TV at the current state of technology.
For a 55 inch screen the Toshiba Regza 55SV670U projects a stunning viewing experience, rich, deep colors and at 240 Hz all fast action remain crystal clear and completely void of any of the traditional motion blur. It's an amazing experience to watch full 1080P HD inputs for hi-octane action and sport. I loved it.
There are a couple of other features that are also worthy of mention. Firstly the Toshiba Regza 55SV670U has a special "game" mode which is superb for gaming. I don't game an awful lot but the quality of games does appear slightly enhanced and do seem a bit easier to follow the on screen action...easier on the eye maybe? I managed to sneak a preview of the Wii HD console that the lads had rigged up and it was very, very good (they played Metriod: Other M).Again, it's a dificult one to discern the difference, and it is really just a perception, but I think (perceive) gaming is better!
One thing I really do like is that the Toshiba Regza 55SV670U LCD TV allows you to switch HDMI channels immediately. Most HD TVs have an inherent delay in HMDI channel switching. This TV makes changing HMDI channels the same speed as a normal channel change which is very cool and another very welcome innovation from Toshiba.
I think I've banged on about the technology a bit too much here, but...the Toshiba Regza 55SV670U provides a superb viewing experience, especially when coupled with true 1080 HD input (HD Box / Blu Ray / XBox). An expensive "toy" and Toshiba do come up a little more expensive, but worth it in my humble opinion!
