The Toshiba 40ZF355DB rectifies the absence of 100Hz technology on last year’s similarly gorgeous Regza XF “Picture Frame” range of LCD TV. Blessed with excellent black level (due in no small part to its S-PVA LCD panel) and top-notch video processing (including judder-free 5:5 pulldown), the Toshiba 40ZF355DB is – along with the SPVA-based Samsung A656 and Sony W4000 – one of the best LCD HDTVs you can buy on the market today.
While conducting your research on this LCD television on the internet, you may have come across slightly different model names, for example either the Toshiba 40ZF355D or the Toshiba 40ZF355DB. For all intensive purposes, both employ the same S-PVA panel and the same video processing engine, and so should share similar picture qualities (inky blacks, etc.); the latter (with the extra alphabet ‘B’) simply denotes the British 3-pin-plug version which is sold in the United Kingdom.
Here’s our full Toshiba 40ZF355D review.
At last! After repeated hints on the survey form as being the exemplar of proposed set to be reviewed it is now online.
Thanks Vincent. Now to wait for the price drop nearing to the one grand threshold.
Thanks Vincent!!
Excellent review again, thanks Vincent. I’m looking for a new 40inch LCD tv for my gameroom. It seems like this Toshiba is a great LCD tv. I’m not too happy with the input lag though.
Thanks for the excellent review Vincent. I’ve ordered the 46ZF and this has put any doubts I might have had to rest.
While I would very much like to receive all the accolades, this excellent Toshiba Regza 40ZF355 review is actually written entirely by David Mackenzie (known as Lyris on various forums), which is surely a testament of his unwavering thoroughness and beautiful prose if he can be confused with one of the best in the business (i.e. myself :) ).
Thanks David, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to more from you.
Warmest regards
Vincent
Hi
Thanks for a great review – very pleased that the SD performance was so good! It would be interesting to see how the new Super Slim & Picture Frame models from JVC would fare against this Toshiba! So, out of the Pioneer 4280, Panasonic 42PZ85/42PZ800 would the Toshiba come out on top or do the Plasmas still have th edge?
Excellent review :) . I have owned this TV for some months now and been very satisfied with it. It truly is an awesome set. The only downsides are the inability to save settings for each input and the quite unresponsive remote.
I think I’m not the only one who’s very interested in the settings you use (or did I just miss them?), including the service menu.
thanks for the review, it pretty much shares my 2 months experience with this awesome lcd.
Is it possible to post calibration settings for ZF355, including service menu, would be highly appreciated.
I alse have a question about Motion Resolution, is that a test pattern from 1080i (interlaced) source? I don’t see how could you lose any of resolution with progressive 1080p source on 1080p set. Can someone please confirm that or even better explain more? Thanks.
Thanks everyone! JJJ: the test pattern is actually from 1080i, yes – the reason for that is that the Blu-ray Disc Spec (unlike the HD DVD one!) doesn’t allow 1080p/60 video!
You can lose motion resolution on any source, though (even a progressive one) simply due to standard LCD panel blur, or interpolation artefacts like slight flicker or shimmer in the case of 100hz mode being enabled.
Hi another great review vince.What in your opinion from the three lcds you have reviewed ( samsung-le40a656,sonykdl40w4000 and the toshiba regza 40zf355) is best suited for watching football and gaming on xbox 360?
Excellent review, very thorough as usual! One query, as the motion resolution wasn’t as high on this set as others (even with 100hz enabled), was there any noticeable blurring with fast movement?
Not in real world usage, no.
Excellent,!
what is your preference regarding this set and the samsung 6 and sony W4000 sets (Do you plan to test philips 7600 series that seems to be rather good too) if you consider that I still have a majority of of SD content – emphase on the scaling capability?
Thanks.
Anyone who have compared ZF355 and W4000.
Which one of these perform SD(sky) best?
David M, couldent you release the settings?
It would be great if you give us your opinion about the sky question.
Thanks in advance.
David,
Thanks for the review, I have been looking forward to it for a while. I have now ordered a ZF355 based largely on your positive comments. However, I fear I will not be able to get the best out of the panel, as I am certainly no expert ‘tweaker’ and don’t own any calibration equipment. Therefore, if you could publish your calibrated settings it would make me and probably a lot of other people very happy.
Cheers
Hi,
Impressive review! i’m going to buy a new lcd in a couple of weeks and this one is on top of my list now.. with SD upscaling to be that great!
Thanks to your fast reviews lately the only lcd i’m still thinking of is the new philips pfl9603 series.
I’m new with calibrating, so i would be very pleased if you could post the calibration settings
Greatings a common reader
David,
Apologies for another question about the 100hz setting, but if 100hz doesn’t actually increase motion resolution by much what does it add to the viewing experience. I’m intrigued because you seemed very pleased with it, yet it seems much less effective on paper than the Philips or (latest) Samsung 100hz settings.
Thanks in advance.
Hey everyone,
I didn’t note down exact post-calibration settings. The ones you see in the review are probably fairly close (give or take a few increments), so you can try those.
I also used the following for Greyscale in the service menu:
BDRV 7EH
GDRV 82H
RDRV 88H
BCUT FCH
GCUT FFH
RCUT 00H
Im going to buy the toshiba regza40zf355 after your great review.Will you be posting your picture settings soon hd and sd much appreciated.
Hi!
Thanks for a great review and on the strength of it I purchased the 40″ version on of all days Friday 13th!!
So far I must say I am very pleased with the set.. I don’t have SkyHD only a V+ box so only BBC HD on that which looks beautiful. Even Freeview looks okay on some of the channels.
The only other experience I have had with an LCD tv at home was the JVC LT42DS9 which I found to be a complete waste of space. Picture quality was awful and I suffered motion sickness trying to watch a football match! Sent it back to QVC!!
It was a toss-up between the 40″ Tosh and the Panny 37″ LZD85 but the Tosh won out after standing in PRC’s showroom for the best part of 2 hours!
One question for you, how do you access the service menu?
Cheers and your good work is appreciated!
Could you let me know what settings were used on the colour management system to achieve close to the Rec 709 standard.
Thanks
David
The exact scan setting is remembered is you turn off the auto picture formatting. You don’t need that anyway as the set handles 4:3 and 16:9 switching properly even with it off.
Great review, thank you for that. I’m interested in the 46″ model and notice from the specs that it lists a different contrast ratio (20000:1 as opposed to 30000:1 on the 40″). Should I be concerned about this? I can’t seem to track down one of these TVs to look at but am generally unimpressed by black levels on most LCDs. The Sony W4000 and Samsung 6 series are the first I’ve seen that seem to get it right. I don’t suppose there’s any chance of a review of the 46″ model (probably not but though I’d ask!)
Thank you for this review! Even though the Sony KDLW4000U is about £100 cheaper as of today, I am likely to by this TV based on your review, and because of it looks or rather the looks – although I suspect Toshiba would have been well advised to avoind that silly blue light alltogether. The only question I have is, does this TV suppport Picture in Picture? I use this on my current TV very often and know that SOny does support it. For me this is a make or break all else being equal.
Many thanks!
Hi, AAM!
Haven’t found a PIP function on this set so guess it doesn’t have one.
Comparing the Sony W4000 and the Sammy A656 on SD. IMHO I would rate the Toshiba higher. It is difficult standing in a shop trying to compare. Shame you can’t take them home on 7 days trial to test them out!!
Looking forward to hopefully getting update to my Panny DVD recorder now!
I can confirm that turning off [Auto Picture Formatting] does enable the [Exact Scan] setting without having to reset it each time.
Hi would be interested to know what your thoughts (anyone please) are on the XF versus ZF Toshiba, I realise the 100mhz is the main difference, but what picture differences gain or loss on SD freeview and Sky 1080i HD, I don’t have a need for gaming and don’t have blue ray. the price diff is so hign. approx $450 to £500 on the 46 and £350-£400, help please!
What happened to the xcYCC Colour Space graphic in the review? You know, the one which showed a load of values for the various colours, and David Mackenzie refers to about 10 posts above.
I’m sure I’m not imagining it, it was there wasn’t it?
Geoff
Thanks for your review. Based upon it I just bought a 46 inch screen and am completely satisfied. Good work! regards from Germany!
ACB
Geoff:
Not sure what you mean about the xvYCC colour space graphic – do you mean the 3D Colour Management system? I’m not sure I showed an image of this in the review, if I ever did, it didn’t contain final calibrated values.
10 posts above, I’m actually talking about greyscale settings, yet another different thing!