toshiba 47 lcd panel in stock

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.

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).

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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"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.

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.

Toshiba takes its REGZA Series LCD HDTVs to the next level with 2009"s ZV650 full 1080p lineup, which feature a number of technological advances in both audio and video to make the most of your home theater experience. Fans of sports, video games, and fast-paced action movies will be wowed by the ClearScan 240 advanced frame rate technology, which greatly improves on previous 120Hz LCD panels for fluid, natural motion. The amazing high-definition picture is powered by the new PixelPure 5G 14-bit video processor, and the set includes Dolby Volume technology for a consistent audio level when changing the channel or when a program switches to commercial.

It includes a PC Input for use as a PC monitor or gaming TV, and--unlike other smaller TVs--it also features a Gaming Mode to shorten the signal to screen time for faster game controller response. Other features include Toshiba"s DynaLight dynamic backlight control for deeper black levels, a fast 8ms response time CineSpeed LCD panel, and four HDMI digital inputs for simple high quality connection to cable/satellite boxes, DVD players and more. And this HDTV, like all Toshiba 2009 TV models, meets Energy Star 3.0 certifications for reducing energy consumption by up to 25 percent compared with standard TVs.