Toshiba 42Z3030D Review

42in LCD

Picture
Sound
Features
Usability
Value

Stunning all round ability let down only by mediocre black level performance.

HD Ready:

yes

Resolution:

1920 x 1080

Rating:

91%

Reviewed: 28 September 2007

Design

With the 42Z3030D, Toshiba are maintaining their tradition of producing quietly classy flat panel Tv's. Excellent build quality and chic styling will lend an air of understated elegance to your living room.

Features

With 3 HDMI inputs (1.3) along with 2 Scarts, Component and Composite video inputs, S-video input and PC input the Toshiba 42Z3030D is one of the most well equipped LCD's around.

Screen: 42in 16:9

Tuner: Digital

Sound System: Nicam

Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Contrast Ratio: 10,000:1 (dynamic)

Brightness: 500cd/m2

Other Features: Active Vision M100 HD, MPEG noise reduction, Digital noise reduction, 3D Digital Comb filter, 24 fps with 5:4 pull down, REGZA link.

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

On the picture processing front, Toshiba’s 100Hz Active Vision M100HD technology doubles the number of frames shown on the Z series over previous LCD TV's from 50 to 100 by interpolating an extra frame in between each source frame. Doubling the 42Z3030D's frame rate has been designed specifically to combat a bug bear of LCD TV's, poor motion handling capabilities.

Being 24fps (frames per second) compatible, the 42Z3030D has the ability to play movies (typically shot at 24 frames per second) at their correct speed. Without 24p support they are played on your TV at 25 fps (PAL TV standard).

Additionally, the Z series sports 5:5 pulldown instead of the normal 3:2 pulldown. Movies are often converted for home viewing using 3:2 pulldown which uses 4 frames from the original to create 5 (interlaced) frames. As a result 3:2 pulldown shows odd frames for 49.98 milliseconds and even frames for 33.33 milliseconds. With 5:5 however, all frames are on screen for the same 41.65 milliseconds. This eliminates the jerky effect associated with 3:2 pulldown called telecine judder.

Colour reproduction on the Z series has been enhanced with the introduction of 10 bit processing which increases the number of available on-screen colours which should result in more precise detailing. Additionally, colour processing is further refined by employing 'Dynamic Gamma Curve Correction' technology which has been designed to provide a smoother transition of the colour tones.

Recognizing that the Achilles heel of many flat panels is their acoustic ability, Toshiba have teamed up with Onkyo, the Japanese speaker manufacturer (amongst other things) to provide this element of the 42Z3030D. An integrated digital tuner comes as standard, with the promise of enhanced audio projection/coverage.

Finally, the 42Z3030D sports Toshiba's Regza Link (CEC) technology which provides interactivity with all other Regza Link devices through a single remote control.

Performance

Toshiba have a good track record with 100Hz processing on their LCD TV's with previous models such as the 42WLT68 employing the technology to good effect. With the 42Z3030D, 100Hz processing has evolved into Active Vision M100HD, the HD indicating that the technology has been optimized for the Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution. Too often in the past technological wizardry has translated into mediocre performance - not so with the 42Z3030D.

High definition (HD) pictures on the Full HD screen are absolutely stunning, with a level of sharpness and clarity that few rival LCD's can match. Up the pace a little and 100Hz processing optimized for Full HD starts to flex its muscles with even the fastest sporting action displaying a fluidity that only the best plasmas can hope to achieve.

10-bit colour processing has significantly increased the number of available colours, and in combination with the processing capabilities of this screen we are provided with one of the richest and most authentic colour palettes around. Skin tones in particular benefit from the expanded range of colours and are never less than perfectly authentic.

Toshiba have been criticised in the past for producing over saturated colour palettes on their LCD's with pictures that have become a little 'garish' as a result. The 42Z3030D seems to have addressed these concerns, and while the colour performance remains 'strong' intensely coloured scenes show how much Toshiba's picture processing technology has matured in this respect.

Switch to Standard Definition (SD) sources, and although we were not stunned into silence by the performance of the 42Z3030D we were certainly impressed. The Toshiba is up there with the likes of Panasonic and Sony when it comes to SD performance. There is a tiny amount noise and motion blurring with the fastest movie or sporting action, but you have to look closely to spot it. Sky SD (1080i) looks particularly good on the 42Z3030D, with 1 to 1 pixel mapping onto the 1080 (horizontal pixels) screen and although there is some deterioration with terrestrial Freewiew, viewing enjoyment is never compromised to any great degree.

The only real criticism of the 42Z3030D is the black level performance, while far from bad or even mediocre, is placed firmly into the shade by the screens all round capabilities in most areas. We haven't come across an LCD where there was no room for improvement in this respect, and the problem is symptomatic of LCD technology rather than this particular model.

Completing the impressive all round performance are the on board Onkyo speakers which produce a depth and range of sound which is a cut above your average LCD.

Conclusion

The Toshiba 42Z3030D may not ultimately claim the title of best medium sized LCD TV, but it has certainly joined a select group of leading manufacturers including Panasonic and Sony who are at the leading edge of LCD technology.