Toshiba REGZA 55ZV650U 55-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with ClearScan 240, Black

by Toshiba

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 53.6 x 33 inches ; 68.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 142 pounds
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B001TOD3JQ
• Item model number: 55ZV650U
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,507 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

From the Manufacturer Manufacturer's Review (April 7, 2009)
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.

The 2009 Toshiba REGZA ZV650 lineup features ClearScan 240 advanced frame rate technology, Resolution+ upconversion, and Dolby Volume audio leveling.

The REGZA ZV650's stylish Deep Lagoon Design.

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.

In addition to this 55-inch 1080p REGZA model, the ZV650 lineup also includes the 42-inch 42ZV650U and 47-inch 47ZV650U models. (Learn more about what size TV should you get.)

Key Features

• 1080p Full HD Display: With Full HD, there’s no need to scale down a 1080 signal. With twice the pixel resolution of 720p HD models, Full HD creates the pinnacle in picture quality.
• ClearScan 240: 240Hz screen technology vastly improves on 120Hz LCD panels by combining with LED backlighting to create significantly clearer full motion video. (Learn more)
• PixelPure 5G 14-Bit Internal Digital Video Processing (Learn more)
• Resolution+ super resolution technology upconverts and enhances 480i/p and 720p input signals for a more detailed picture. (Learn more)
• AutoView uses an external light sensor to automatically adjust various picture quality settings based on the amount of ambient room lighting and the type of video content you are watching for an improved viewing experience. (Learn more)
• CineSpeed LCD panel has an 8ms response speed necessary for cleaner high-action home theater images. A wide viewing angle ensures that you'll have the best seat in the house.
• DynaLight Backlight Control utilizes advanced image processing to monitor the brightness of each video frame, and adjust the backlight intensity accordingly. This precision creates seamless transitions with deep blacks for increased detail and depth analysis.
• Native Mode restores the size of the picture by the 3-5 percent that is generally lost during the normal over-scanning that occurs on traditional sets.
• Built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM digital tuning allows for tuning of standard cable channels as well as off-air digital broadcasts, in addition to digital "cable-in-the-clear" broadcasts.
• Cinema Mode 24 fps (3:2 Pulldown): This HDTV performs 3:2 pulldown detection and reversal, too--a handy feature for watching progressive-scan movie programs in their native 24-frame format. To adapt 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video, frames in the original movie must be duplicated; 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this duplication by removing the redundant information to display a frame-accurate picture.
• Color Temperature Control: Most Toshiba televisions provide three user-selectable Color Temperature settings affect the sets overall white balance. The "Warm" setting reduces the color temperature to an NTSC standard 6500 degrees Kelvin and delivers a redder image that is ideal for display in a dimly lit room. "Medium" and "Cool" provide a progressively bluer image for the best picture as room light levels are increased.
• CrystalCoat high contrast screen coating: Stops ambient room light refl ections from washing out the picture, creating up to 30 percent better contrast in bright rooms.
• REGZA-LINK makes controlling multiple components easy. Just connect your player to other compatible devices using an HDMI cable, and then control them using one remote--no additional programming or setup required.
• TheaterWide: Sets with TheaterWide modes are ideal for displaying HDTV signals as well as enhanced for widescreen television DVDs.
  • TheaterWide 1: Letterboxed image is digitally expanded 33 percent horizontally and vertically. Useful for reproducing Academy Standard (1.85:1) formatted software.
  • TheaterWide 2: Letterboxed image is expanded 33 percent horizontally and 42 percent vertically. Particularly of use when viewing narrow letterboxed images originally filmed in Panavision or CinemaScope.
  • TheaterWide 3: Letterboxed image is expanded 33 percent horizontally and 24 percent vertically. Can be utilized when displaying letterboxed images that incorporate narrow bands at the top and bottom of the picture.
• Gaming Mode enhances the gaming experience by reducing the amount of time it takes for the signal to travel from the game controller to the TV.
• Channel Browser allows you to easily scan through the last 32 channels you have viewed, with screen images for the last five channels displayed, by channel, by favorites, and by input, at the touch of a button.
• Channel Labeling allows you to put station call letters on the screen along with the station numbers, so you always know what channel you're watching.
• Dolby Volume maintains system playback volume at the same preferred level across all sources, from progressive programming and channel selections on a TV set to a connected source such as a Blu-ray Disc player. (Learn more)
• USB Port for viewing downloaded content from the Internet. (Learn more)
• Energy Star 3.0 compliant
• Deep Lagoon Design is inspired by the beauty and elegance of nature and provides a three dimensional feeling to a clean flat design. New invisible speakers further enhance the sleekness of the design
• 4-Item Universal Remote
• VESA Mounting Pattern: 200 x 400
• Warranty: 12 months for parts and labor

The REGZA ZV650's jack pack (see larger image).

Connections

• HDMI: 4 (1 side)
• Component: 2
• Composite A/V: 2 (1 side)
• S-Video: 1
• PC input (15-pin, D-Sub): 1
• Analog audio output: 1 fixed
• Digital audio output: 1 optical

Dimensions

• TV without stand: 53.62 x 33.03 x 4.02 inches (WxHxD); 68.6 pounds
• TV with stand: 53.62 x 35.47 x 15.59 inches (WxHxD); 80.3 pounds
• What size TV should you get?

What's in the Box
REGZA 55ZV650U HDTV, removable pedestal stand, remote control (with batteries), screen cleaning cloth, printed operating instructions

Learn More

---

ClearScan 240

Toshiba is taking fast motion picture quality one step further with ClearScan 240. ClearScan 240 combines an advanced 120Hz scan rate with Toshibas new Backlight Scanning technology to create a 240Hz effect. This innovative solution improves picture clarity making action-packed movies and sports more crisp and clear than ever before. Compared to standard 60Hz, or even standard 120Hz systems, this new technology provides significantly clearer full motion video for a better home theater experience.

---

PixelPure 5G 14-Bit Internal Digital Video Processing

The heart of this Toshiba REGZA HDTV is the processing power of Toshiba's fifth generation engine, PixelPure 5G. With a 14-bit internal digital video processor, gradation is increased, creating smoother, clearer images. Ongoing enhancements like the new 2D Chroma enhancement, 2D Luma enhancement, dynamic sharpness and adaptive noise reduction mean that PixelPure continues to lead in processing technology.

---

Resolution+ Super Resolution Technology

But if PixelPure 5G is the heart, then Resolution+ super resolution technology is the soul, bringing images to life with complex image enhancement. Formerly referred to as SRT, the next generation Resolution+ is a highly-regarded technology that overcomes an industry-wide issue of lower picture quality when watching less than Full HD sources. Using a proprietary processing system, Resolution+ improves 480i, 480p, and even 720p image detail for enhanced video quality when watching DVDs, TV channels, camcorder videos or even video games that output less than Full HD. Not just simple scaling, Resolution+ uses complex image correction to enhance the detail of each image, making everything feel like HD.

---

AutoView for the Best Settings Automatically

Toshibas enhanced AutoView feature helps ensure the best possible image quality at all times of the day. By combining an ambient room light sensor and incoming video content monitoring, AutoView automatically sets most of the TV picture parameters for you. You don't have to worry about a picture that isn't set bright enough for the afternoon sunlight or eye strain from an overly bright TV in a darkened room. In addition to setting brightness, contrast, gamma, sharpness and color saturation, the newly enhanced AutoView can also adjust color temperature to adjust for changes in the color of home lighting or the surrounding walls.

---

Hear the Difference with Dolby Volume

One of the biggest issues with TV audio today is inconsistent volume levels when changing channels, or with commercials. Dolby Volume addresses this common problem by applying a sophisticated psychoacoustic model of human hearing. This system delivers a level listening experience by automatically bringing down the volume of louder stations or commercials or raising the volume of lower channels or commercials to maintain the preferred listening level. Unlike other systems, Dolby Volume does this while retaining the perceived audio dynamics for consistent sound quality. The new REGZA with Dolby Volume makes the annoyance of inconsistent TV volume levels a thing of the past. Dolby Volume models the complex nonlinearities of loudness perception, compensating for the human ear's changing sensitivity as gain levels are increased or decreased. Advanced psychoacoustic-based signal analysis and processing properly balance low, middle and high frequencies, maintaining all the nuances and impact of the program's audio regardless of playback volume level. Importantly, Dolby Volume applies independent loudness adjustments to different frequencies and channels only when needed. The integrity of the overall mix remains intact; spectral and spatial balances are fully maintained.

---

Plugging In Your Content

With more and more content available from the Internet, Toshiba's ZV650 lineup makes it easy to play downloaded movies and TV shows without an external content player. With the USB port, you can view your JPEG pictures, listen to MP3 audio, watch MPEG-1 & 2 video and even watch DivX Video--all done through a USB hard drive (or even a USB thumb flash drive). There is also an SD Card Slot that allows easy viewing of JPEG digital pictures by simply taking the memory card from the camera and placing it in the TV.

---

Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience. If you know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it, you can figure out the size HDTV you should get. Minimum size = Viewing distance/3 Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5

Product Description

The ZV650 Series takes LCD TV to the next level of picture quality, design, and features. ClearScan 240™ raises the bar for picture clarity with fast motion video, the Deep Lagoon™ design creates a new level of design elegance, and the long list of new features and next-gen connectivity are more than you could ever expect.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic TV at a great value, December 18, 2009

By 

Carl S. (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toshiba REGZA 55ZV650U 55-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with ClearScan 240, Black (Electronics)

I've had this TV for about a month now and absolutely love it. I have a 40" Samsung 550 TV as well. A family member who lives next door has a 46" Samsung 650 series so we we're pretty familiar with the Samsungs and that is what we were looking at when purchasing this one. After looking at the prices for 52" and 55" Samsung 650 series I kept coming back to look at this one as it seemed like an incredible value compared to those. I was actually concerned because the price was significantly lower. However, I have owned Toshiba, Hitachi, and JVC TVs in the past and have been pleased with the Japanese TV companies in the past so I bought this from Amazon sight unseen. I had read a lot of reviews on the net on the Toshiba Regza models and most appeared to be positive.

The TV gets shipped via an air freight company and was delivered to my house as scheduled. I elected to not have them do anything but help get the TV in the house and unboxed and setup everything myself. Packaging was standard as was the same as the Samungs. (remove the white clips from the bottom of the box and lift the top off)

I placed it on a solid stand and did not feel the need to attach the recommended safety straps. It is solid on the pedestal and is not going anywhere with the location I have it at.

When I first powered on the TV I was very happy to see a prompt asking me if the TV was being used in a store or at home. I chose home for the obvious reason. Many manufacturers crank up the brightness and contrast to make them look better at the store. Unfortunately, this is the default out of the box experience for other manufacturers. I remember having to turn these down on the Samsungs. While this was a small thing, it was greatly appreciated. Here are my experiences with other areas of the TV:

APPEARANCE

The TV looks beautiful. A solid black border would have suited me just fine. However, this TV has a light gray gradient on the edges with a checkered pattern. From the viewing position you really do not notice it and it certainly is not a factor when watching TV but it looks like art in that regard. There is an illuminated Toshiba logo centered at the bottom of the TV. If the illumination bothers you then you can disable it in the preferences. Overall it looks a little nicer than my plain black Samsung.

PICTURE

Excellent picture. Sharp crisp detail. I played Blu-Ray discs through a Samsung 3600 player I had connected to it and they looked awesome. When I purchased this TV from Amazon I got a free Toshiba BDX2000 Blu-ray player with it and moved the 3600 to another room and used it after a couple of days. No difference in the picture between the two. I've also watched much HD programming via satellite as well as some SD material too. I hooked my Roku up and streamed SD content from it as well. Regardless of source, the TV performs beautifully. The detail is razor sharp, the colors look true, and the picture continues to impress me. I watch a LOT of movies via HD premium channels as well as Blu-Ray discs. I was really concerned about an LCD over a plasma in this regard but have not bit disappointed in this regard. My other major concern was that movies would look more video-like as opposed to movie-like. On the 46" Samsung my personal opinion is that things appear to look more video-like. On the 40" Samsung not so much so, but neither look as good as this Toshiba in my opinion. Of course sitcoms and your standard TV fare look great on the Toshiba as well. Bottom like is that I think this Toshiba looks better for movie buffs. I also noticed that the depth of field on the 40" and 46" Samsung do not seem as accurate as on this TV. Depth of field looks normal here and perspective looks accurate to me. I don't see how anyone can knock anything with the picture on this set. It has a good as anything I have seen in the stores.

GLARE

Toshiba says this TV has a "CrystalCoat high contrast screen coating". The best way I can describe the look is by comparing a laptop screen that is glossy vs. one that is matte. This TV definitely falls into the glossy category. The tradeoff between glossy vs. matte has always been glare with vivid, bright, beautiful display vs no glare and a more muted picture in that regard. No TV made is going to have zero glare. This is just part of the way light behaves in regard to reflective surfaces. I have seen complaints that this TV has too much glare. Those who feel strongly in that regard might be a candidate for a set that is more matte-like. However, what we are really talking about here is glare when dark images are displayed on the screen. For example, if you are watching a sitcom or things that are generally more lit then you aren't going to see any glare even with the windows open and the sun shining in. The difference comes when you have something like the Dark Knight playing where you have many night scenes and dark environments. In those cases, you are going to see glare from any light sources that give off any light in front of the TV. The bottom line is that glare may be worse here than on other LCD TVs. However, and this is a big however...this is also what makes this picture look a lot better in my opinion. So if you choose to go the less-glare route you are also sacrificing something picture-wise to accomplish this. It will not look and bright, vivid, and beautiful. Personally, I do not find the glare to be an issue.

BLACK LEVELS

A couple of the reviews I had read stated that the black levels on this TV were not good or accurate. This is simply not even close to true. Black levels are excellent. Black levels here are better than the Samsungs in my opinion. Toshiba states that the "DynaLight Backlight Control" automatically adjusts the backlighting to help in this regard and I believe them. To me, this looks more like a plasma in this regard that other LCD TVs. Black levels have always been an issue with LCD TVs to some degree but it looks like Toshiba has resolved that issue here. My last 50"+ TV was rear projection and I was worried that the black levels (especially in movies) might be an issue with the new LCD TV but it simply is not the case.

SOUND

First, I do not use the internal sound. I set the volume level to 0 after 5 minutes. I find it hard to fathom that someone buys a 55" TV and uses the internal speakers. At this size I would expect must people have a home theater audio setup. (I do) The few minutes I listened to it through the internal speakers, I did not notice any problems so I cannot speak to the internal audio. Bottom line, if you do not have a 5.1/7.1 setup outside of the TV, do yourself a favor and get one.

FEATURES

First, you normally do not see LCD TVs with 120Hz at this price point but you get it here. Toshiba uses the backlighting to simulate 240Hz performance but personally I haven't seen any of this motion blur in sports even on my 40" Samsung without 120Hz. I have watched HD NFL and NASCAR and just have never seen it on any of the LCD TVs I have seen. Tons of people and reviews have talked about it and I guess that where this would occur, 120Hz is going to help.

Next, another feature you do not see on sets in this price range and many that cost much more and that is the ambient light sensor which can automatically adjust the picture based on the room lighting.

Finally, this TV supports 1080p24. If you do not know what that is or why it is important then do a google search. For those of us that love movies, it is a great feature.

I won't go through all the features as you can read them in the description or by downloading the user manual. However, I have to say that this TV has more (and friendly) options in the menus and has some really cool stuff that many of the Samsungs do not. (ambient light sensor mentioned above for example). Overall this set has every feature I have seen on other TVs and more. Again, at a great value.

VALUE

I paid $1631 with free shipping and I see it is now down to $1573. Comparable Samsung TVs will set you back $500-$800 more. Personally, I found this set to exceed my expectations and feel it is better that the Samsungs. Add the price difference in it because a huge value in my opinion. Personally, I am not sure why Toshiba is currently selling at these amazing price points but I am glad I jumped onboard while they were. I assure you that if you buy a Vizio, Insignia, or Sharp LCD TV at this price point then you are getting a sub-par TV. You can spend more to get the LG, Sony, or Samsung but I don't believe the extra money is buying you a better TV. Best Buy is still selling this TV for $1999 so buy it here from Amazon.

OVERALL

There is a reason Consumer Reports rated this the #3 TV Overall and the #2 Recommended TV in the 52-inch and larger category. It is a fantastic TV and I think it is being overlooked at the moment only because Samsung and LG are doing so well at the present. If you are reluctant about the price being lower than other TVs with less features, do not be concerned. I would not hesitate to buy this TV again and would recommend it highly to others. Feel free to comment if you have any specific questions.

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Investing in your entertainment, May 14, 2009

By 

Nathan M. Stephens "N8Dawg" (Kearney, Nebraska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Toshiba REGZA 55ZV650U 55-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with ClearScan 240, Black (Electronics)

Got this at a great price. Free shipping. Ordered on Sun. Got it on Thursday. Best video ever. So sharp and clean, colors are brillant. Gaming on Xbox 360 fast and on the PS3, its the best gaming ever. Going to 1080p, is like going from 800x600 to 1920x1200. Its so much fun to watch tv in HD. And the bluray, is the most incredible imaging. I recommend this tv to anyone who is looking at HD. Easy to set up. One thing it doesn't have, is Picture in Picture. Otherwise, best tv I have seen yet. Sony hasn't even released their 240 hz tv's yet. Toshiba beat them on price and speed.

One feature that I have noticed since owning this hdtv, is the remote control is programmable, it can control my home audio system, dvd player and is very easy to set up.

I really like how there are 4 HDMI ports, and a PC port which I don't use because my computer has a HDMI port so watching facebook on this 55" HDTV is so much more fun.

With the use of my computer as a multimedia center, I can stream video from HULU and Netflix right on the tv.

The SD video card reader is a plus. I love to take photos and then I can view them right on the tv. As sharp as it is, the photos look like you were there on the screen as you view them.

I did notice that watching a movie on my PS3 vs using my older dvd player which is also hooked up HDMI, the PS3 is much sharper and has more detail. I didn't realize how much of a difference the quality of a movie is played back on the player. So I watch all my movies DVD and Blu ray on the PS3. I am looking at getting a dedicated Blu Ray player, I don't want to burn out the drive on my PS3 like I did to my PS2.

Nate Stephens
Kearney, Nebraska

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can't beat the price and performance..., September 12, 2009

By 

J. D. Hon - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Toshiba REGZA 55ZV650U 55-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with ClearScan 240, Black (Electronics)

This TV is everything I was looking for and more. You can't get a better TV for the price; you can hardly get a better TV by paying more. I have a good friend who paid twice as much for a Samsung LED TV, his picture quality does not match the Toshiba.

The TV was delivered to my living room by a delivery company in town. I have to move every couple of years for my work so I was pleased to see the quality of the box the TV came in. It has latches down one side and around the entire bottom portion of the box.

It comes mounted on the stand and ready to sit on a piece of furniture. I didn't wall mount so I am not sure how difficult mounting would be.

The TV looks gorgeous without it even being turned on. Toshiba did a great job on the design.

As I mentioned, the picture quality is amazing. I am a sports fan and haven't seen a picture this nice until now. The Toshiba ClearScan 240 handles the speed of the games. All of the HD Discovery and Science channels are breathtaking. I have the TV sitting with 3 large windows to one side. I was concerned about how the light would affect the picture during the day. The TV is bright enough to overpower the light from the windows. It has an ambient light sensor and automatically adjusts the picture. It also has a special coating to prevent reflections of ambient light.

The features of this TV are amazing. Check them out at regza.com for yourself. I also considered Samsung and Sony. I found this TV to have better specs and features than the other brands. The price of the Toshiba makes it a no brainer.