New Toshiba Z-series

[Jimboli1]

Check out the new Toshiba Z-series range

http://www.home-entertainment.toshiba.co.uk/consumer/products.nsf/pages/lcdplasma-regzaz?opendocument

Specs are Full HD, 100Hz processing, Active Vision M100HD, full 10bit colour processing, Dynamic gamma curve correction, WCG and 5:5 pull down for accurate HD-DVD pictures.

Regards,

Jimboli1

[Vincent]

I've put up some photos and impressions of the Toshiba 42Z3030D and 40XF356D I saw at IFA Berlin 2007 here:

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/2007/09/03/toshiba-42z3030d-40xf356d/

Warmest regards
Vincent

[Mythos]

I've put up some photos and impressions of the Toshiba 42Z3030D and 40XF356D I saw at IFA Berlin 2007 here:

Relly nice, this seems to be the 1st place competitor of the Samsung F86 series, thus a review of the Toshiba 42Z3030D would be highly appreciated.

Vincent, are you already know which devices will be reviewed next?

[ALMI]

I am absolutely looking forward for a couple of reviews to look back and compare with the Samsung LE-40F86BD and finally take a plunge.
One of them would be the Toshiba 42Z3030D. really!!

Are any rough launch dates announced for the Toshiba 42Z3500D and the Sony W3500 (the sony x3500 is over my budget)?

Thanks!
Almi

[DaveC]

The Z series looks like it could be a winner, but I'm most interested in the ZF version of the screen with those sexy picture frame looks.

I've read elsewhere that the Z series and the ZF will actually use different panels.  The standard Z uses Phillips IPS panel and the ZF uses a Sony/Samsung S-PVA.  This seems to be born out in the actual screen sizes that are being offered (Z series = 42, 47 and ZF = 46).  I'm guessing this will affect the screen performance as the S-PVA panels have a better viewing angle and usually better blacks.

Vincent, what do you think?  Is there any chance we might get to see a review of both of these sets when they appear?

[Vincent]

@DaveC: I saw the 42Z3030D being advertised as featuring an SPVA panel in IFA Berlin, but of course they could have messed up the specs.

I have lodged a request with Toshiba to send me some review samples when they become available.

Warmest regards
Vincent

[DaveC]

Thanks Vincent.  I'll look forward to the review(s). 

I think there must still be some confusion with the panel spec.  I always thought that the SPVA panels didn't come in a 42inch size....something to do with the way the panel substrates are divided up in the factory?  Not totally sure though.  Actually the new XF series supposedly uses SPVA panel too, so maybe we'll get some indication of performance when they hit the shops in the next couple of weeks.

[DaveC]

Found a Toshiba catalog (in german) here:

http://66.249.91.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://www.hifi-forum.de/extURL.php%3FrefreshContent%3D1%26transmit%3D0%26extMode%3DTRUE%26header%3D1%26tail%3D1%26noQuery%3DYES%26goURL%3Dhttp://www.toshiba.de/consumer/files/katalog.pdf&prev=/search%3Fq%3D46zf355%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

got it from here:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.hifi-forum.de/viewthread-148-1538-4.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=10&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D46zf355%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Although my german is rubbish-to-nonexistant, there is a spec sheet on pg 46 of the pdf file that details the different panels used in the toshibas:

37X3030D - IPS panel
42X3030D - MVA panel

37/42/47 Z3030D - IPS Panel
52/57 Z3030D - SPVA Panel

40/46 XF355D - SPVA Panel

46ZF355D - SPVA panel


I hadn't realised that Toshiba used quite so many different types of panel....I don't even know who makes MVA panels?  I'm guessing from this info that different screen sizes in the same model ranges are very likely to perform differently.  So it's something to watch out for

[IanM]

@DaveC: I saw the 42Z3030D being advertised as featuring an SPVA panel in IFA Berlin, but of course they could have messed up the specs.

Does anyone know which type of IPS is in the 37Z3030D? is there any chance it's the IPS-alpha panel shared by the Panasonic TX37ZLD70 & the Hitachi L37X01? or is it more likely to be an LG.Philips product (similar to the X3030 as mentioned in the news story )

I have mailed Toshiba UK to ask, but I suspect they won't be willing to answer

[philippe]

we can find the first review of 42Z3030D - black level seem to be below average !! to be checked with other reviews....
[/http://www.hdtvorg.co.uk/reviews/lcd/toshiba_42z3030d.htm]

[Mythos]

we can find the first review of 42Z3030D - black level seem to be below average !! to be checked with other reviews....
[/http://www.hdtvorg.co.uk/reviews/lcd/toshiba_42z3030d.htm]

Regarding the black level the 52Z3030D must be the most interesting device since Toshiba uses the same S-PVA panel as Samsung uses for their own F86 serie. And the F86 has an unbelievable good black level. Below 52" Toshiba uses IPS panels having bad black levels and poor viewing angles. The differences between IPS and S-PVA panels were obvious on the Toshiba stand at the IFA in Berlin.

[philippe]

which type of panel is the best?

[DaveC]

we can find the first review of 42Z3030D - black level seem to be below average !! to be checked with other reviews....
[/http://www.hdtvorg.co.uk/reviews/lcd/toshiba_42z3030d.htm]

Regarding the black level the 52Z3030D must be the most interesting device since Toshiba uses the same S-PVA panel as Samsung uses for their own F86 serie. And the F86 has an unbelievable good black level. Below 52" Toshiba uses IPS panels having bad black levels and poor viewing angles. The differences between IPS and S-PVA panels were obvious on the Toshiba stand at the IFA in Berlin.

The review on hdtvorg seemed a bit confused about the black levels anyway...the main text of the review said it wasn't bad or even mediocre just what was expected from an LCD.  The review synopsis at the top of the page then winged about the black levels....I don't think this review carries too much weight it's too subjective.  The only thing that really interested me was the fact the 100Hz system didn't produce any nasty artifacts....that's a big plus against some of the other manufacturers.

I'll be much more interested in seeing a Z series TV reviewed here.  It's also be interesting to see what the black levels and colour reproduction is like on the new XF and ZF ranges as they use S-PVA panels.

[Mythos]

which type of panel is the best?

IPS panels provide bad viewing angles and poor contrast levels. PVA and S-PVA can offer good black depth, wide viewing angles and S-PVA can offer additionally fast response times thanks to modern RTC technologies. Sony top-series X3500 uses S-PVA panels built by Samsung, the same panel is used in the Toshiba 52Z3030D.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFT_LCD

[philippe]

according to Vincent report (http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/2007/09/03/toshiba-42z3030d-40xf356d/) the 42Z3030D is equipped with a S-PVA panel!!
Can someone clarify that point???