More screen, less cabinet

Proving that less is often more, Toshiba’s latest top line Cinema Regza LCD HDTV series features a dramatically thinner bezel than earlier offerings, trimmed down to just under an inch. Compared to last year’s model, the 46XF550U is dramatically smaller, with a much shorter overall cabinet height, and similarly trimmed width – which should allow the set to fit into a wide range of home entertainment cabinetry that would have only allowed a comparably-sized 42” model, for example.

As befits its top line product positioning, the set is loaded to the gills with features, including an extensive array of picture processing modes. The set features Toshiba’s ClearFrame 120 Hz technology, which upconverts (via interpolation) the standard 60 Hz video signal timing, providing a noticeable improvement in picture clarity, and it pretty much eliminates motion blur. We reviewed this model’s predecessor last year, and were highly impressed with the ClearFrame Film Stabilization feature, which works to reduce judder from 24 frames-per-second film-originated sources. That feature carries over to this latest series, and works like a charm to smooth out the judder that is most often noticeable with slow lateral camera pans.

The set’s picture quality depends on finding the right combination of adjustment settings, and, as expected, the default mode (Sports) is really only intended to provide the absolute maximum perceived brightness on the showroom demo floor, and it produces a horribly over-bright, garish picture that is devoid of detail on both bright white and dark gray scenes. With a measured output of a whopping 163 foot-Lamberts of brightness in that mode, it won’t take too long for eye strain to kick in. Choosing the Movie mode transforms the picture instantly, with preset settings that include the proper color temperature choice (Warm), along with a sensible 20% backlighting setting that presents a much more pleasing and sufficiently bright 43 foot-Lamberts of brightness.

While the set features individual picture memories for each input (as do most sets these days), it lacks the ability to save more than one picture memory setting, which would allow a brighter backlighting setting for daytime viewing, with a lesser backlighting value for evening viewing, for example. I’m also disappointed to note the lack of direct input selector buttons on the remote control, meaning that I have to step through the 8 input choices to get to the input I want.

As expected, the Movie mode’s Warm color temperature setting provides the most neutral white balance (neither too red, nor too blue), and a 10-step gray scale measurement with my color analyzer reveals a remarkably flat result, varying only slightly over the gray scale range, measuring very close to the D65 color temperature ideal at the various measurement points.

When I connect my Samsung Blu-ray player to one of the Toshiba’s HDMI inputs, I’m surprised to find that the Toshiba recognizes it as such, displaying a BD (for Blu-ray disc) indicator, and via the HDMI cable connection it turns the player’s power on automatically. When I put a disc in the player, I’m surprised to find that I’m actually able to operate the Samsung via the Toshiba’s remote control. This HDMI control functionality, named CEC (for Consumer Electronics Control), had previously been restricted to control of components of the same brand. Here however, the Toshiba remote control lets me initiate the Samsung’s disc playback and disc menu selections, the first time I’ve been able to do so with HDMI-connected components from different brands. I note that the Toshiba owner’s manual cautions that only Toshiba components (presumably their HD DVD players, for example) can be controlled via the HDMI hookup, which they call Regza-Link, but if it worked with the Samsung, it just might work with other brands as well.

Using Joe Kane’s Digital Video Essentials HD Basics Blu-ray disc, I am easily able to adjust the set’s basic and advanced video settings, and then evaluate the results with the disc’s various high quality demonstration clips. Once properly adjusted, the Toshiba puts out an impressively good looking picture, about as good as I’ve ever seen from an LCD set, and coming remarkably close to plasma flat panel picture quality. The quality of deep blacks and very dark grays is especially good, as this is an area where LCD TVs often stumble.

Donnie Brasco on Blu-ray is an ideal movie for deep black and dark gray evaluation, since most of the mobsters as well as Johnny Depp’s undercover FBI agent’s character are often dressed in black leather jackets along with black shirts and pants. On dimly lit night scenes, the Toshiba does an above average job of preserving the film’s shadow detail, and is much better in this regard than I’m used to seeing from LCD HDTVs. The color quality is also of a very high standard, with realistic flesh tones and a complete lack of noticeable color banding or gradation artifacts.

Although the set includes a number of picture enhancement features, such as dynamic backlighting and dynamic contrast, I found that the set looked perfectly fine with those features turned off. The set’s audio options include SRS WOW enhancements, which I found provided a slight increase in soundstage expansion along with a fairly pleasant and not too colored bass response. While the Toshiba is somewhat above average in terms of typical TV audio quality, you’ll always be better off with an external audio system.

Overall, this latest Cinema Regza model is a strong performer, and it puts forth a very good looking picture that is as good as I’ve seen from an LCD set. The feature complement is substantial enough, with 3 HDMI inputs and 2 HD component inputs, and the plethora of video adjustments and enhancement options will let enthusiasts tweak the picture to their optimum preference. The very slim cabinetry looks smashing, and the substantially reduced overall cabinet size will allow greater placement flexibility. That the set carries a suggested retail price that is hundreds of dollars less than last year’s comparable model makes it an even better value, and one that I’m easily able to recommend.

DESCRIPTION: 46” (diagonal) high definition 1080p LCD television; comes with fixed-height tabletop swivel stand. Can be wall-mounted with optional wall bracket.

DISPLAY CAPABILITIES:Widescreen 1080p LCD panel operates in both 4:3 and 16:9 modes. Accepts 720-line progressive and 1080-line interlaced and progressive HDTV, 480-line progressive and interlaced standard definition signals. Includes analog and digital broadcast tuner with analog and digital cable (unencrypted ClearQAM) tuner.

RESOLUTION: 1920 by 1080 pixels

CONNECTIONS: Two component video inputs, one S-video input, two composite video inputs, three HDMI inputs, one RF/antenna input, one VGA input, five stereo analog inputs; one IR output, one optical digital audio output, one stereo analog audio output (fixed level).

DIMENSIONS: 28 x 42.3 x 5.4 inches (hwd)

PRICE: $2,799.99
CONTACT: 800.631.3811 RegzaLCDTV.com