The good news is that before I’d even switched on the 40ZF355D, the specification sticker informed me that some of the problems with its predecessor had been addressed.
So, it was with some trepidation that I unboxed the new 40ZF355D, which is set to pick up where the 40XF355D left off. The result was that many consumers wanted the features of the Z series, but in the chassis of the XF series an option that simply wasn’t available to them. The disappointing black levels were something that I was willing to let slip slightly back in May 2007, when I reviewed the Regza 42X3030D, but by the end of last year Toshiba was still putting out sets with very disappointing black levels that simply couldn’t compete with rival models – the Regza 40XF355D highlighted this problem when I reviewed it.Īnother problem with the XF range was that it injected a degree of schizophrenia into the Toshiba range – while the XF looked like it was the flagship model, with its slim bezel and catwalk looks, it lacked the features of the Z series, which sported 100Hz processing and 5:5 pulldown for 1080p 24Hz playback. You see inconsistency wasn’t the only problem with last year’s range, Toshiba’s sets also suffered from quite poor black level response. On paper this was great, but the reality left a lot to be desired. The result was a 40in LCD TV with a physical size that was considerably smaller than many rival 37in models. Last year also saw the introduction of the XF range, which wrapped decent size panels in cases with unbelievably slim bezels. Both John and myself talked with Toshiba at length about these issues and we’re both hoping that this year’s range of sets can exorcise those inconsistency demons once and for all. It appeared that not only did different models in the range exhibit wildly different picture quality, but even identical models had a habit of behaving like chalk and cheese. As John pointed out in his review of the Toshiba Regza 42XF505DB a little while ago, last year’s range of HDTVs from Toshiba were inconsistent to say the least.
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