June 10th, 2009
Toshiba announces its first LED-backlit LCD HDTVs
Readers of this blog know that LCDs using LEDs instead of fluorescent tubes for backlighting are the wave of the future for the HDTV industry. Their superior contrast ratio and lower power requirements are the perfect answer to plasma’s image quality advantage and energy-slurping tendencies. Samsung and Sony have led the way with LED-based LCDs, but competition is mounting. Yesterday, Vizio announced its first model, and now Toshiba is introducing its first LED TVs, the Regza SV670.
Available in 46-inch and 55-inch flavors, the 670 series is notable for its FocaLight technology, which Toshiba claims gives the sets “superior local dimming,” as well as new backlight scanning technology that is combined with 240Hz refresh rates to improve playback of fast-moving action. Toshiba is also first to use Dolby Volume technology, which applies “human psycho-acoustic algorithms” to keep your set’s volume at a consistent level, for those cases when commercials would otherwise scream out louder than the program you’re watching.
That technology better make the SV670 series a standout, because its pricing can’t compete with Vizio’s. While Vizio is offering its 55-inch LED set for $2,199.99, Toshiba’s equivalently sized screen costs $2,999.99. It’s the 46-inch Regza that has a closer price to Vizio’s model: $2,299.99. One advantage that Toshiba’s sets will have over the Vizio is that they will be available this month, whereas the Vizio won’t be available until September.
Sean Portnoy spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
Subscribe to Home Theater via Email alerts or RSS.
