42in LCD Picture Sound Features Usability Value An excellent all round performer but an evolution rather than revolution in TV technology HD Ready: yes Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Rating: 90%

Reviewed: 22 February 2009

 

Most of us are happy with the pristine High Definition performance of our flat panel TV's, but the Standard Definition abilities of those same screens often leaves us disappointed. Toshiba's Resolution+ technology claims to have resolved the problem by upscaling SD material to HD quality. Resolution + makes its UK debut on Toshiba's 42ZV555DB.

Design

Not as sleek as Toshiba's Picture Frame designs, the 42ZV555DB still presents a relatively slim profile which immediately lends it an air of sleek sophistication. 

Features

Not to be confused with Toshiba's XDE upsacling technology, which enhances the colour, resolution and sharpness of DVD's, Resolution+ focuses principally on improving picture sharpness on screens to which the technology has been added. Resolution+ can be set at five different levels of intensity or switched off completely.

	Screen: 42in 16:9 Tuner: Digital Sound System: Nicam Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Contrast Ratio: 17,000:1 Other Features: Active Vision M100HD, Resolution Plus, Regza Link, Game Mode, SRS WOW. Sockets: 3 HDMI (v1.3), 2 SCART, PC input, .

 

Although Resolution+ is not as all encompassing as XDE, it has also been designed to enhance the perceived depth and texture of Standard Definition material. It is worth noting that Resolution+ is disabled automatically when input coming through HDMI is detected.

Elsewhere the 42ZV555DB includes Toshiba's Active Vision M100 (100Hz) which doubles the frame rate from the usual 50fps (frames per second) to 100fps. Like most high end LCD TV's these days the ZV555 sports a Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution.

There is support for 24fps, a claimed Dynamic Contrast ratio 17,000:1 although rather disappointingly, just 3 HDMI inputs and no USB input or SD card slot.

A 'Dynamic Contrast' system automatically dims the screen's backlight when dark scenes are detected in an attempt to counter LCD's traditional problems with reproducing a convincingly deep black level performance.

Game Mode provides an optimized environment for gamers, which is specifically directed towards improving response times. The 42ZV555DB also automatically displays the content with 1:1 pixel mapping, using Exact Scan.

Performance

Having been rather sceptical on hearing Toshiba's claims for its Resolution+ system it came as a pleasant surprise that the technology does actually work. The previous statement needs qualifying however in that Resolution+ does not really get anywhere near to reaching High Definition quality.

What Resolution+ does achieve is a noticeable improvement in the sharpness of even poor quality SD sources. Whats more, this sharpness is achieved without introducing any undesirable artefacts such as jaggedness. Even more impressive is the fact that the 42ZV555DB retains the improvements afforded by Resolution+ with fast on screen action with very little trace of smearing.

Toshiba's upscaling technology has one Achilles heal however. When any kind of graininess is present within an SD source (ie low quality analogue) Resolution+ tries to enhance it along with the rest of the picture; which can and often does present a horribly over processed outcome.

While Resolution+ has elevated the Toshiba into the leading pack of LCD TV's whose abilities with SD material are amongst the best, the same can't be said for its black level ability. There is no hint of greyness to the screen but there is no subtle graduation of greyscale detail that comes with the better plasma and LCD screens.

The 42ZV555 ups the ante again however with a stunning High Definition performance. The combination of a Full HD screen and Toshiba's picture processing wizardry makes for one of the most involving HD pictures we have seen. The depth clarity and detail that the screen is able to reproduce is at times transfixing.

Demonstrating the 42ZV555DB's all round competence colours are vivid without becoming over saturated. Subtle areas such as flesh tones are never anything less than wholly realistic.

Conclusion

Toshiba's 42ZV555DB has demonstrated a technology which successfully enhances a Standard Definition source. The result is not comparable with HD but good enough (with a more than competent performance in all areas) to make this screen a serious contender.

Toshiba 42ZV555DB

 

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