Wayne, N.J. — Toshiba America Consumer Products released pricing on its Regza TV line that was first introduced at the International CES, and revealed that it is now shipping many of the models in the premium step-up Regza ZV650 series and SV670 LED back-lit LCD TV series.
Additionally, the company said models in its Regza XV648 series will follow in August.
All ZV650 and SV670 Regza models offer a suite of next-generation connectivity features including a USB port, SD card slot, 4 HDMI inputs with InstaPort and Regza-Link (HDMI-CEC), IR pass-through port and high-resolution PC input.
For sound, the sets incorporate Dolby Volume sound leveling and Audyssey EQ. technology. Toshiba is the first TV company to incorporate Dolby Volume, which uses human psycho-acoustic algorithms to maintain a consistent volume level at commercials and during channel changes.
Toshiba television products marketing VP Scott Ramirez said, “Toshiba LCD TV market share has seen a meteoric rise from just 4.1 percent in November 2007 to 11.4 percent in April 2009.”
As for the new top-of-the-line Cinema-series SV670 Regza models, he said: “We didn’t just make LED TV — we innovated by utilizing superior local dimming. We didn’t just utilize higher frame rates — we innovated by adding new Backlight Scanning Technology. We didn’t just wrap everything in high-gloss black — we innovated by creating the stunning new Deep Lagoon Design with Infinity Flush Front. The new Regza is more than our dealers and consumers expected, and the response has been nothing short of amazing.”
The Regza XV648 models will be available in August in the 40- ($1,100 suggested retail), 46- ($1,500) and 52-inch ($2,000) screen sizes.
All include Dolby Volume and CrystalCoat technology, which keeps ambient room light reflections from washing out the picture, while improving contrast performance 30 percent.
The Regza ZV650 series is shipping now in the 42- ($1,300), 47- ($1,700) and 55-inch ($2,400) screen sizes. All feature ClearScan 240 technology, which combines 120 fps with advanced Backlight Scanning Technology to create a 240Hz effect for smoother fast-motion images. This new system also helps boost the dynamic contrast ratio to 100,000:1, Toshiba said.
The ZV650 incorporates a USB port for playback of digital video, audio and picture files, an SD card slot, four HDMI inputs with InstaPort for faster switching and Regza-Link for two-way device control, an IR pass-through port to control source devices, and a high-resolution PC input that allows the TV to be used as a big-screen PC monitor.
Regza ZV650 is available in 42-, 47- and new 55-inch screen sizes (measured diagonally at 42, 47 and 54.6 inches, respectively).
At the top of the line is the Regza SV670 Cinema series, which is shipping now in the 46- ($2,300) and 55-inch ($3,000) screen sizes.
The models incorporate the company’s FocaLight full matrix LED backlight with local dimming technology to offer better uniformity of brightness, deeper blacks without impinging peak white levels and a 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. Also added is ClearScan 240 motion enhancement for improved picture clarity on fast-motion video. Other features include an enhanced Regza Engine with PixelPure 5G 14-bit video processing, Resolution+ super resolution technology, and AutoView histogram controlled automatic picture adjustment.
The sets use Toshiba’s Deep Lagoon Design with the Infinity Flush Front that is said to have been inspired by nature. The styling effect is meant to evoke the image of sand disappearing below the surface of calm shores.
The Infinity Flush Front adds an edge-to-edge anti-reflective front panel.
