Toshiba ZV650 Sequence LCD Television: 42ZV650U / 47ZV650U / 52ZV650U

Toshiba is set to release three new LCD flat-panel tv's this April. Whilst they sound nice and all, we can't assist but feel underwhelmed by their rather ordinary features. It does not assist that they're pushing a fake 240Hz refresh rate, either.

The Toshiba REGZA ZV650 series of LCD televisions are a mixed bag of fascinating features and ponderous features that need a careful examination. The ZV650 series ıs made of three models, the 42-inch 42ZV650U, the 47-inch 47ZV650U, and the 52-inch 52-ZV650U. The first two models have manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $1,299 and $1,699 respectively; the price of the 52-inch model is still unavailable, but will most likely be more than $2,000.

The three ZV650 tv's are getting available this April.

Apart from the distinctions in size, the ZV650 versions all have exactly the same basic feature-set. These LCD tv's are Toshiba's very first to make use of an LED backlight. By replacing the conventional fluorescent backlight used on LCD flat-panel tv's, Toshiba has significantly decreased the energy consumption of ZV650 versions compared to their predecessors. LED backlights are also more brilliant and longer-lasting than their fluorescent counterparts. The energy cost savings makes the ZV650 sequence compliant with Energy Star 3. energy consumption standards. If you're concerned about your month-to-month electric bill, the ZV650 televisions shouldn't have a substantial impact on your usage.

All three versions have 1080p high-definition resolution. On televisions smaller than 50-inches, this kind of resolution is slightly excessive, although nowadays, ıt is difficult to get 40-inch TVs that don't have it.

The ZV650 models have plenty of connections for accessories, such as four HDMI inputs. That's enough to fit a Blu-ray player, video-game console, HD camcorder, and your cable or satellite set-top box. Toshiba has ıntegrated two component analog HD inputs too, ought to you require the extra room.

Two non-traditional inputs help make ZV650 TVs stand out: an SD-card slot and USB input. Toshiba has ıntegrated the USB input to allow viewers to set their personal downloaded media content, for example videos, photos, or music records, onto a USB thumb drive or external hard drive and plug it ımmediately to the television. The Television is capable of decoding videos in the MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and DivX formats, as well as JPEG pictures and MP3 music files. The SD-card slot permits for photo viewing of JPEG image files.

You can find, nevertheless, two main functions that call to get a skeptical eye. The first is Toshiba's purported ClearScan 240Hz refresh rate. Details are sketchy, however it seems that this purported 240Hz specification ısn't actually 240Hz, but ınstead a "240Hz effect" achieved by using a 120Hz refresh rate in concert with "backlight scanning" using the LED backlight. What does this necessarily mean? Frankly, it probably means nothing. It seems like technical advertising mumbo-jumbo. Even when the ZV650 series were capable of achieving 240Hz, it would simply be overkill. 120Hz is hardly worth the extra cost associated with it, let alone double that. Don't be fooled by fancy specifications like this.

The other feature is the "Deep Lagoon Design," which Toshiba says is inspired by nature, somehow. The Deep Lagoon Design produces a fade-out effect together the outer edges of the Television by utilizing curved bezels laden with recessed dots. It is ınstead attractive searching, but ıt is merely aesthetics, and does not affect the grade of the display.

Overall, the ZV650 series isn't the most thrilling line of new televisions to debut in 2009. There are several attractive new innovations, like the USB input, but also some eye-roll inducing flourishes like the ClearScan 240 function. Compared to the real strides being produced aesthetically by Samsung and their ultra-thin models, and LG and Vizio's broadband-enabled sets, these Toshiba televisions appear plain.