Even better, this motion sharpness is produced without the TV generating such common processing-related artefacts as blocking or haloing around moving objects. There are, we must say, screens out there that reduce judder more emphatically than the 42ZV635DB. But the Active Vision M200HD system certainly reduces judder enough to stop it from being distracting, aside from an occasional momentary pause when watching 1080p/24p material.
Picture shortcomings
It's a pity, then, that the 42ZV635DB's motion-handling prowess isn't matched by similar quality elsewhere. Particularly upsetting is the screen's contrast, at least as concerns dark scenes. There's a grey look to supposedly black picture components, which leaves dark scenes feeling flat and undetailed. This situation is exacerbated if you're forced to watch the screen from much of an angle.
You can improve the situation with some careful adjustment of the TV's backlight and brightness settings, but then you're left with a picture that's noticeably less dynamic and bright than that of many rival LCD sets at the 42ZV635DB's price point.
The 42ZV635DB is certainly not the first of Toshiba's current TVs that suffer from black-level limitations. But, while such limitations might be acceptable on some of Toshiba's ultra-cheap models, they're really disappointing on a high-spec machine like this.
Also, the 42ZV635DB's colours don't seem quite as natural or dynamic as we'd like them to, and, while the set does a pretty good job of revealing the extra detail inherent in HD sources, some finely detailed shots can look rather flickery, due to the scanning backlight system. The 42ZV635DB's audio isn't great either, due to a lack of genuine bass that can leave trebles sounding harsh and unbalanced.
Conclusion
Although Toshiba's debut 200Hz engine helps the Regza 42ZV635DB give a generally good account of itself so far as motion-handling is concerned, the set's susceptibility to other common LCD problems -- in particular, poor contrast and viewing angles -- ultimately leaves it feeling rather lacking compared to many of its similarly specified rivals.
Edited by Charles Kloet
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