Toshiba is a long-established Japanese company that can trace its origins back to 1875. In 1952, Toshiba produced the first TV transmitter in the country, and the company subsequently released Japan's first transistor-based TV in 1959. The manufacturer has been active in Europe's TV sector since 1975 - and flat-panel Toshiba TVs have been available since 2002. Following an unsuccessful attempt to ready its own SED display technology for the consumer market, Toshiba concentrated its efforts on LCD models, which it markets as the "Regza" range.

Toshiba LCD TV: Series RV 635
Toshiba fits all of the models in the RV 635 series with Full HD screens. Though the company chooses not to specify exactly how, the "Eco Panel" is supposed to save power. If you also activate the "AutoView" controller, you can reduce the TV's energy costs by 65 percent - promises Toshiba. AutoView adjusts the brightness, contrast, and other settings automatically to match the TV's surroundings - in low ambient light, the TV screen needn't shine as brightly.

The RV 635 series also offers Resolution +. The "nerve center" of this is a processor known as "Meta Brain", which Toshiba claims to be especially powerful, bringing benefits in terms of picture quality.

The tuners in the RV 635 series match those of the AV 635: analog cable, DVB-C, and DVB-T (the digital formats both in high definition), and no CI Plus. Naturally, this series also has four HDMI sockets with "Instaport", as well as two Scart sockets. The RV 635 models also allow you to display JPEG photos from USB devices. Toshiba specifies 1080p compatibility for the RV 635 series at 24-, 50-, and 60-hertz frame rates.

We've already reviewed the 42 RV 635 D - also read the full review of the Toshiba 42 RV 635 D. In addition, we've produced detailed previews of all of the TVs in this series - along with a look at their direct competitors.

Toshiba LCD 32 RV 635 DB

The RV series represents the lower mid-range of Toshiba's current catalog - you might, therefore, expect a lot of TV for your money. But, in fact, fancy extras are few and far between. Still, the 32 RV 635 D B does offer some - one of which will appeal to picture-perfectionists.

Toshiba LCD 37 RV 635 DB

In Toshiba's current product range, the RV series promises a lot of TV, for not a lot of money - this is the manufacturer's lower mid-range selection. This means the Toshiba offers solid TV technology, but that the buyer will have to live without fancy, sophisticated extras. Nevertheless, Toshiba has given this series a few sweeteners that the competition cannot yet provide.

Toshiba LCD 42 RV 635 D

Hugging the top end of the watch-list for entry-level home-theater fans, the Toshiba 42 RV 635 D combines excellent picture-adjustment settings with surprisingly affordable pricing. In fact, you'd be hard pushed to find better in this price class. Purists, however, will struggle to see past the relatively weak contrast and lack of correct 24p playback.

Toshiba LCD 32 RV 635 DB, 32 inches (81.3 cm), around 400 GBP
Toshiba LCD 37 RV 635 DB, 37 inches (94 cm), around 450 GBP
Toshiba LCD 42 RV 635 DB, 42 inches (106 cm), around 600 GBP

Toshiba LCD TV: Series DV 615/6
Toshiba's DV 615- and 616-series TVs are the ideal size for the kitchen or bedroom, and with a built-in DVD player, all you need to do is slot in a disc, and you're off! As well as video DVDs, the drive accepts audio and video CDs and super-video CDs. With data discs, it supports MP3 music files, JPEG photos, and DivX videos.

The screen has a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels - that's more than sufficient for DVD and standard TV, but it's still not Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels). In the TVs' size-class, however, Full HD wouldn't be all that sensible. You also won't find any extra image-enhancement technologies, such as 100-hertz, in this price-class.

The tuners accept analog cable TV and digital, terrestrial TV (DVB-T), and the series provides one Scart socket and an HDMI input. The largest TV in the series, the 26 DV 615 D, even has two HDMIs. For these models, the manufacturer doesn't specify 1080p compatibility - and this is no surprise, given the size and resolution of the screens.

Toshiba LCD 19 DV 615 DB, 19 inches (48.3 cm), around 200 GBP
Toshiba LCD 19 DV 616 DB (white), 19 inches (48.3 cm), around 200 GBP

Toshiba LCD 22 DV 615 DB, 22 inches (59 cm), around 280 GBP
Toshiba LCD 22 DV 616 DB (white), 22 inches (59 cm), around 280 GBP

Toshiba LCD 26 DV 615 DB, 26 inches (66 cm), around 350 GBP

Toshiba LCD TV: Series AV 635
This is the cheapest series of Toshiba's standard TVs (non DVD-combi models). Still, the feature list is anything but bare-bones: The tuners receive analog and digital cable, as well as DVB-T - the digital formats also in HD. With some cable channels and operators, the screen will remain blank, since the TVs lack support for the forthcoming CI Plus encryption system.

The panels in the smaller models have a resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels and can therefore only be classed as "HD ready" - the largest model, on the other hand, boasts a Full HD screen (that is, with 1,920 x 1,080 pixels). The screens run at the original frame rate - usually, therefore, at 50 hertz. With the "Resolution +" technology, Toshiba hopes to display conventional TV or DVD pictures as sharply as possible on the high-definition screens. The TVs in the AV 635 series play back JPEG digital photos from USB storage devices.

The four HDMI inputs are impressive for an entry-level model, and there's another smart extra: Whenever devices connected via HDMI are switched on, the TV and Blu-ray player, for example, carry out the digital handshake in the background - when the user then selects the device, the picture takes just two seconds to appear on the screen. Other TVs often require twice as long. As recently as spring 2009, Toshiba called this technology "QuickView" - now, it's known as "Instaport".

Toshiba hasn't forgotten about the traditional connectivity - of the two Scart sockets, one is RGB-capable, the other S-Video capable. Even the headphone socket can't be taken for granted with some manufacturers - but you'll still find one on the AV 635. Although only the biggest model in the series offers the full HD resolution, all of the TVs in the AV 635 series accept 1080p signals at 24, 50, and 60 hertz.

Toshiba LCD 32 AV 635 D, 32 inches (81.3 cm), around 330 GBP
Toshiba LCD 37 AV 635 D, 37 inches, (94 cm), around 450 GBP
Toshiba LCD 42 AV 635 D, 42 inches (106 cm), around 500 GBP

Toshiba LCD TV: Series RV 685
At the time that this overview was written, Toshiba had just extended the RV series by three new models. The technology corresponds to that of the RV 635 series, but the RV 685 has a different casing.

Toshiba LCD 32 RV 685 DB, 32 inches (81.3 cm), pricing not yet known
Toshiba LCD 37 RV 685 DB, 37 inches (94 cm), pricing not yet known
Toshiba LCD 42 RV 685 DB, 42 inches (106 cm), pricing not yet known

Toshiba LCD TV: Series XV 635
The XV series represents the upper mid-range among current Toshiba models. Here, you get 100-hertz technology (with the rather long-winded name "Active Vision M 100 HD"), which is intended to give moving objects more precisely defined edges. "Dolby Volume" is supposed to balance out the changes in volume between movies and ad breaks, as well as between different channels, and the "Audyssey" calibration system, highly respected by HiFi fans, aims to elicit the best possible sound from the TV's built-in speakers. Along with a USB port, Toshiba's XV 635 TVs also have a slot for SD and SDHC memory cards. From USB and SD media, therefore, the TVs can play back not only digital photos, but also MP3 music and DivX videos.

One option in the menu allows the user to switch off individual colors temporarily in order to check that the TV's settings are correct - using only a test DVD or Blu-ray disc. Given the ease with which this can be achieved, this means the Toshibas allow even non-expert users to calibrate their TV.

Naturally, the XV 635 offers all of the features of the lesser series: Resolution +, Meta Brain processor, Eco Panel, Auto View, 1080p compatibility at 24, 50, and 60 hertz, two Scart inputs, and HD-capable, digital tuners for cable and terrestrial signals - but, once again, without support for CI Plus.

Toshiba LCD 37 XV 635 DB, 37 inches (94 cm), around 550 GBP
Toshiba LCD 42 XV 635 DB, 42 inches (106 cm), around 650 GBP
Toshiba LCD 46 XV 635 DB, 46 inches (117 cm), around 825 GBP

Toshiba LCD TV: Series ZV 635
In the ZV series, Toshiba doubles the frame rate of the screen once again - the flat-panels in the manufacturer's upper class run at 200 hertz. Offerings from Sony and Samsung that offer "200 hertz" will actually generate 200 images from the 50 supplied by the TV broadcast. Toshiba's "Active Vision M 200 HD", along with, for example, the similar technology from Philips, generates and displays just 100 images, between which it displays the same number of black frames. This promises to increase both the motion-clarity and the contrast.

Although the casings are different (and, in one case, the screen diagonals, by one inch), the innards of the ZV series are based on those of the XV series: "Dolby Volume" and the "Audyssey" calibration system aim to provide top sound; the USB port and SD slot accept MP3, JPEG, and DivX files for the times when TV gets dull; and users can tune the TV using the expert menus and a test DVD or Blu-ray disc.

"Resolution +" is on board again in the ZV series, aiming to pep up the sharpness of traditional TV or DVD pictures; Eco Panel, AutoView, and the Meta Brain processor promise the best picture at the lowest possible power-consumption. And again, the four HDMI inputs perform an HDMI handshake with sources devices in the background whenever they are switched on, reducing the waiting time when the user selects the device. Like those in the TVs from Toshiba's lesser series, these inputs accept 1080p at 24, 50, and 60 hertz. Two Scart inputs connect the TVs to older devices, and the digital tuners for cable and terrestrial signals are also HD-compatible, although they lack support for CI Plus.

Toshiba LCD 42 ZV 635 DB, 42 inches (106 cm), around 800 GBP
Toshiba LCD 47 ZV 635 DB, 47 inches (119 cm), around 930 GBP
Toshiba LCD 55 ZV 635 DB, 55 inches (140 cm), around 1,700 GBP

Toshiba LCD TV: Series SV 685
Oops: Toshiba's product planners had come up with a catchy system for naming their TVs - and then they reached the end of the alphabet with the ZV series. So what do you do when you want to bring out a model that's supposed to be even better, but there aren't any letters left after Z? Obviously, the only option is to choose one of the letters you missed out along the way, and to completely fudge the nifty naming system. To cut a long rant short: the top models in Toshiba's current range are those in the SV 685 series and not - as you might expect - those in the ZV 635.

A glimpse at the price makes this abundantly clear: No other Toshiba models cost more - or are bigger - than the SV 685s. The sophisticated backlighting is also testament to the series' position at the forefront of Toshiba's selection: Instead of conventional fluorescent tubes, these models use light-emitting diodes (LEDs). What's more, these can be adjusted separately for different regions of the picture ("Local Dimming"), a method that Toshiba hopes will allow it to overcome a typical LCD weakness - weak blacks.

The inner workings of the SV 685 series build on those of the ZV series: Here you'll also find the "Active Vision M 200 HD" 200-hertz technology, as well as "Resolution +", the Eco-Panel, AutoView, and the Meta Brain processor. On top of that, Toshiba promises standards-compliant color reproduction: the color space meets the HDTV specification, and the color temperature claims to lie at exactly 6,500 Kelvin (D 65). And naturally, the calibration options of the Toshiba TVs mentioned earlier are also present in the company's top model.

But there's one extra that Toshiba offers only in this series - the network connection. If you connect an SV 685 to your home's PC network, and install DLNA-server software on one of the computers, the TVs can play back MP3 music, JPEG photos, or DivX videos from one of the PCs' hard disks. Under Windows, all you need is the latest version of Media Player; a more flexible alternative is "TwonkyMedia Server" (around 18 GBP). As with other Toshiba series, the SV 685 can of course also do this from SD or USB storage media.

Although Toshiba surely sees the SV 685-series TVs as the ideal partner to a fully fledged home-theater sound system, the on-board audio technology is still pretty respectable: "Dolby Volume" discreetly balances out differences in volume, while "Audyssey" adjusts the TV speakers to suit the characteristics of the room ("room correction"). But there's no luxury bonus in the connectivity: the top models also offer "only" four HDMI inputs (with "Instaport") and two Scart sockets. Like their cheaper siblings, they also accept 1080p at 24, 50, and 60 hertz via HDMI. The tuners can receive HDTV where such broadcasts exist, but may have trouble doing so in practice due to their lack of CI Plus support.

Toshiba LCD 46 SV 685 DB, 46 inches (117 cm), around 2,200 GBP
Toshiba LCD 55 SV 685 DB, 55 inches (140 cm), around 3,200 GBP

Even though flat-panel technology is advancing at a fast pace, not all of the models from previous years are necessarily out of the question. If you've noticed an older model at a clearance price or second hand, or if you're curious whether it makes sense to replace an old model, then check out the reviews of some Toshibas from 2007 and 2008 that we've listed here.

Toshiba LCD 26 A 3000 P

- this compact TV from 2007 offers a pleasingly natural picture, but the tuner is no longer up-to-date.

Toshiba LCD 32 CV 505 D

- this compact model from 2008 impresses with its picture quality and user-friendliness, but the owner will have to put up with a slight tint and juddery movie playback from Blu-ray discs.

Toshiba LCD 37 WL 67 Z

- this TV from summer 2006 delivers passable pictures, but doesn't get on well with progressive Blu-ray signals (1080p). The tuner is also showing its age.

Toshiba LCD 37 X 3030 D

- this TV from autumn 2007 impresses with Full HD resolution, but the picture looks too bluish and cool.

Toshiba LCD 37 Z 3030 DG

- this model from summer 2007 scores well for its sharp picture. But the contrast disappoints, and Blu-ray movies suffer from judder.

Toshiba LCD 42 WL 67 Z

- the big brother of the 37 WL 67 Z exhibits similar weaknesses: 1080p material doesn't go down well, the picture looks bluish, and the built-in speakers sound thin.

Toshiba LCD 52 ZF 355 D

- sharp picture, slender design, but once again a blue-green tint: Despite its many positive aspects, this TV from summer 2008 failed to fully impress.

The following were involved in producing this article on Toshiba LCD TVs:

Author(s): Karl-Gerhard Haas
Editor in Chief: Florian Friedrich
Photos: Manufacturer and AV T.O.P. Messtechnik GmbH
Last updated: October 2009