Toshiba Regza LCD TVs — A Compelling Option
Posted by hdtv buying guide on August 25, 2009 under HDTV Reviews, LCD HDTV, Toshiba | 
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There is no shortage of options today when shopping for a LCD high-definition television. Solid choices are available from a half-dozen companies, each with its own selling point.
Sony has its name as the undisputed king of electronics, Samsung has the cache of a true innovator and Sharp pushes the advances made possible by its massive new factory in China.
Toshiba’s company tagline is “Leading Innovation,” and its Regza LCD flat-panel televisions are its flagship consumer products. While the company offers many different televisions, only a handful are tagged with the Regza name.
None of the TVs are named by easy-to-remember series names (Series 6, L Series, etc.). Rather, the way to tell the difference is by deciphering the string of numbers and letters that make up model names. All feature 1080p resolution.
The top-of-the-line offerings are called ZV650 models. The series comes in three screen sizes — 52 inches ($2,399.99), 47 inches ($1,699.99) and 42 inches, the 42ZV650U, ($1,299.99). Each of the three models can be found on places like Amazon.com for a few hundred less than MSRP. Because they’re all relatively new models (released in June 2009), don’t expect deep discounts on any of them.
Toshiba’s main selling point with the ZV650 series is its ClearScan 240 feature. While it makes it seem like it’s refreshing the rate at 240Hz (240 times per second), it’s not. Through the work of the panel and a bit of backlight tomfoolery, it makes a “240Hz effect.” The panel is actually refreshing at 120Hz, which is plenty fast.
Once you get past the marketing-speak, the connectivity of the ZV650 series is interesting. Included along with the standard HDMI/component video package are USB and SD card ports. Music, movies and photos can be enjoyed from almost any source.
Missing, however, is internet connectivity on any of Toshiba’s LCD models. The company expects to add that feature to its 2010 line. Meanwhile, other companies have been doing that for a couple of years now.
The next step down is the XV648 line. Sizes are 48 inches ($1,999.99), 46 inches ($1,499.99) and 40 inches ($1,099.99). This line was released in August 2009, so don’ expect deep discounts.
The XV648 line has many of the same features as the ZV650 models, but without the “240Hz effect.” The USB and SD card inputs are also gone.
The XV645 models are the lowest level for the Regza series. Screen sizes are the same as the XV648 line — 48 inches ($1,799.99), 46 inches ($1,399.99) and 40 inches ($999.99) — and the features aren’t much different.
The short space between the two lines highlights the problem with Toshiba’s line. They’re all solid TVs, but there’s nothing compelling about choosing one over the other. If you’re looking for a quality TV without extra features, Toshiba could be the way to go.
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