Toshiba 47Z3030 - TechRadar UK

One of the traditional drawbacks with LCD is it tends to loose clarity with moving images. Now, this might be construed, quite rightly, as a minor problem for a telly. But while early LCD screens turned to a blurry mush whenever anyone so much as sneezed, current models have access to a raft of digital jiggery-pokery to maintain clarity.

One of solutions being advocated is doubling the screen refresh rate to 100Hz. A variation on the technology once used for CRT TVs, its implementation on LCD screens can be quite effective in reducing, if not eliminating, image smearing altogether.

Toshiba was one of the first brands to use 100Hz processing but, maybe because of its commercial success with more affordable models, the brand has elected to use 100Hz for only its elite Z-Series screens. Enter the pimped out 47in 47Z3030.

While most would consider the screen on the large size, its bezel is actually rather slim. Admittedly not as thin as the ground-breakingly skinny 23mm of Toshiba's upcoming 'Picture Frame' models, but certainly thin enough to give the set a sense of elegance.

The premium feel extends to the TV's connections, which include three HDMI v1.3 inputs. This makes them compatible with the DeepColor video sources, such as some video games and AVCHD home movies. Also present are a component video input, a D-Sub PC port, an optical digital audio output, and a subwoofer line out (should you want to try and bolster the set's standard stereo output).

The HDMIs are compatible with 1080p/24fps sources, but the 47Z3030's interest in 1080p/24 runs deeper than that of most rival sets; it provides a 5:5 pulldown facility that replicates the exact image frames in sets of five. This - it's claimed - vastly reduces the juddering artefacts that can plague some sets' 1080p/24fps playback.

The screen flaunts a resolution of 1920 x 1080, joined by a high claimed contrast ratio of 15,000:1. This isn't a truly 'native' figure - it's achieved via a dynamic contrast system that dims the backlight when dark scenes are detected, reducing the image's brightness. This approach is extremely common in the LCD world. In point of fact, our Tech Labs measured the set's real world contrast at a more modest 218:1 after calibration.

Ahoy there!

Keen to put the set's vaunted 1080p/24 talent to test right away, I fired up a Sony BDP-S1E Blu-ray deck and, after sitting through the usual interminable wait for this machine to load the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, settled down to enjoy the show.

The benefits of 1080p/24 replay instantly pay dividends, with camera pans, like the early one across the fort's parade ground, pleasingly free of judder and twitching. The sword fight between Captain Sparrow and Will in the blacksmith's workshop, meanwhile, shows the benefits of the TV's 100Hz tech.

As the protagonists flash their blades around, their movements certainly lose less resolution than they do on Toshiba's own non-100Hz sets.

The 100Hz picture processing engine isn't as aggressive as that of some rival systems, leaving definite traces of blur over the very fastest action. But the result is at best quite natural and not overly distracting. Of course, the 100Hz engine forms part of Toshiba's wider ActiveVision M100HD processing system, which additionally works to improve colour tones and saturations, contrast, and sharpness levels.

Plus you get 10bit video processing for, I'd hope, a wider and more subtle colour palette; MPEG noise reduction to clean up the blockiness seen on many digital tuner broadcasts; and something called Dynamic Gamma curve correction, which Toshiba argues produces more natural colours while reducing excessive white peaks and black 'hollows'.

Living colour

Overall I was impressed with the set's visual performance. The 47Z3030 is capable of superb colour saturation. The red coats of the fort's soldiers look as vibrant as I've ever seen them, and the scenic delights of the Caribbean islands appear rich and verdant.

This colour vitality doesn't preclude subtlety, though, as the TV's colour gradations give objects and people a three-dimensional solidity. A natural-enough palette ensures that the picture alwayslooks believable and video- rather than PC-friendly.

The 47Z3030's high-definition performance can be considered sharp and clean. I was able to make out every pore on Johnny Depp's face, every ripple on the sea, and every stain on Captain Barbossa's teeth- all without a trace of shimmering interference and only the rarest appearance of dot crawl.

That was, however, with the set's Exact Scan mode for 1:1 HD pixel mapping activated. Forget to do this and noise levels increase markedly. This raises concerns about some aspects of the 47Z3030's image processing - and these concerns are reinforced by the set's handling of standard-definition sources.

They're certainly not the horror show witnessed on many large, Full HD TVs, but the sheer aggression of the Toshiba's picture processing can leave digital tuner and standard-def Sky sources looking harsh and noisy.

Using the set's MPEG and normal noise reduction circuits on a low setting helps, but only a little. My biggest concern regarding the 47Z3030 is its black level. There's a definite grey pall over dark scenes that leaves them feeling flat, especially when compared with the terrific vibrancy displayed during brighter moments. Furthermore, the viewing angle is really poor. Watch the TV from much of an angle and the image's overall brightness and contrast begins to collapse.

The 47Z3030's audio is sufficiently good to merit a mention, combining masses of power with real clarity and, most unusual of all for a flat TV, a wide dynamic range that actually includes some believable mid-bass. This is probably due inno small part to the know-how of audio brand Onkyo, which has provided the speaker tech.

Black to business

Deciding exactly how high (or low) I should rate the 47Z3030 is actually quite tricky. In some ways, especially when it comes to colour fidelity and HD sharpness, the set is quite outstanding. Yet its black level falls short of its top-tier LCD rivals, not to mention the majority of decent plasma TVs.

So, while the 47Z3030 puts up a good show, it's ultimately a disappointing screen. On the plus side, Toshiba is heavily bundling its screens at the moment, and on this model will throw in a 15in LCD TV- or an HD DVD player if you push - to sweeten the deal. Overall, a cautious thumbs up.