Toshiba 42XV505D Review

42in LCD

Picture
Sound
Features
Usability
Value

A very competent all round performer just off the pace of the best LCD TV's.

HD Ready:

yes

Resolution:

1920 x 1080

Rating:

89%

Reviewed: 17 May 2008

Design

The stylistic presence of Toshiba's 42XV505D is derived not from any embellishment of the screen but simply from its proportions. At around 1 inch at the top and sides, the screen's frame is one of the slimmest around. Unlike other LCD TV's which are doing a lot to stand out from the crowd, the 42XV505D doesn't need to try.

With a glossy black finish along with a silver trim at the base of the screen along with a rounded finish at the corners the 42XV505D offers a quietly classy alternative in screen design.

Features

The 40XF355D sports Toshiba's proven 'Active Vision LCD' picture processing system which addresses four core elements of a TV image: detail, colour, movement and contrast.

Screen: 42in 16:9

Tuner: Digital

Sound System: Nicam

Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Contrast Ratio: 25,000:1

Brightness: 500cd/m2

Other Features: Active Vision LCD, Exact Scan Mode.

Sockets: 3 HDMI, 2 SCART, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input.

With 10-bit processing along with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, the 42XV505 has the credentials to impress. A Full HD screen may have to work hard to translate the 576 or so lines of a terrestrial TV broadcast but it does have the potential to provide pristine High Definition (HD) pictures.

With three HDMI inputs the 42XV505 has good rather than outstanding connectivity, although there is a line out for adding a subwoofer along with 24 frames per second (fps) compatibility for displaying films at there intended speed (most TV broadcasts are 25fps).

The screens "Exact Scan" mode, allows a 1080i (such as Sky SD) signal to be processed by the TV in the original broadcasted format, with no scaling of the original image.

Due in part to a dynamic backlighting system (which reduces the brightness of the picture during darker scenes) Toshiba claim an impressive 25,000:1 contrast ratio for the screen.

The energy conscious amongst you will be glad to know that Toshiba's light monitoring system, 'Luma Sens' measures ambient light around the screen and automatically adjusts the picture for optimum performance and efficiency.

Performance

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the 42XV505's performance is its black level ability. Gone are any traces of greyness we have seen on previous Toshiba LCD TV's and the screen displays a subtlety across darker scenes which presents us with visible detail where once there would have been a murky blur. The problem Toshiba face is that the best LCD TV's are just as good in this respect and the performance falls short of the best plasma screens.

HD performance from the 42XV505's Full HD screen is admirably sharp and detailed although we couldn't help comparing its abilities in this respect with Panasonic's TH42PZ85. While the Toshiba is as good as many screens we have tested with an HD source, it fails to reach the sublime heights of the Panasonic which compels you to reach out and touch the screen, just to check that what you are watching is not in fact reality.

Things are not so great with Standard Definition (SD) sources, with a small but noticeable amount of picture 'noise' creeping into the picture with low quality input. The picture improves significantly with cable or Sky (1080i) which benefits from "Exact Scan" with the Toshiba proving itself to be a better SD performer for a Full HD screen than many of its competitors.

Unfortunately, the 42XV505D's screen does not have the quality to handle fast moving action that well. The lack of 100Hz processing shows with noticeable blurring with even medium paced action. Even without 100Hz, Toshiba's rivals (notably Sony's KDL-40W4000) have raised the bar with their motion handling performance.

Along with most LCD TV's, the concession to style with a minimalist approach to speakers produces a less than convincing acoustic performance. To be fair to Toshiba, the 42XV505's performance is no worse than the majority of flat panel out there.

To finish on a slightly more positive note, the 42XV505D has a vibrant colour palette which avoids the trap of appearing too 'garish'. Tricky areas such as skin tones are handled reasonably well if not quite up to the standard of the best screens we have come across.

Conclusion

Toshiba's mid range offering is a significant improvement on previous efforts from the Japanese manufacturer. The problem is that the bar has been raised by a number of other manufacturers with the 42XV505D finding itself just off the pace.