Toshiba Regza 40XV645U

Value Comparison Summary

The Sony KDL-46Z5100 is a significantly better HDTV than the Toshiba Regza 40XV645U in a variety of ways. It produces much more accurate colors, motion performance is better and it has more connectivity options, including access to online content. It's also a larger HDTV at 46-inches versus the 40XV645U's 40-inches. That would seem to indicate that it's by far the better value, but when you look at the price you have to ask yourself how much all those extra features are worth. At $2,200 the Sony KDL-46Z5100 is going to cost you about 2.5 times the Toshiba Regza 40XV645U. Although we're not enamored of the 40XV645U, you will have to ask yourself if the Sony's improved performance is worth that much more.

	Comparison Specifications
	Toshiba Regza 40XV645U	Sony KDL-46Z5100
Size	40 inches	46 inches
Price	$899	$2,199
Type	LCD	LCD
Format	1080p	1080p
Other	120Hz Refresh Rate	120Hz Refresh Rate

Blacks & Whites

Both HDTVs do a very good job with black level and peak brightness, producing excellent overall contrast ratios.

Blacks & Whites Comparison Chart
Toshiba Regza 40XV645U Score: Black Level: 9.11 Peak Brightness: 8.3 Contrast: 9.15	Sony KDL-46Z5100 Score: Black Level: 8.48 Peak Brightness: 8.74 Contrast: 8.77

Color Accuracy

The Sony KDL-46Z5100 significantly outperforms the Toshiba Regza 40XV645U in color accuracy. It doesn't exhibit the problems with color temperature or banding in RGB curves that we saw on the Toshiba television.

Color Temperature Comparison

Toshiba Regza 40XV645U Score: 6.69

Sony KDL-46Z5100 Score: 9.08

Color Gamut Comparison

Toshiba Regza 40XV645U Score: 5.20

Sony KDL-46Z5100 Score: 5.19

Motion

The Sony KDL-46Z5100 also beats out the Toshiba Regza 40XV645U in motion performance, despite the fact that both sport 120Hz refresh rate. The Sony's processing is simply much better done, with significantly lower motion blur and much fewer artifacts appearing in moving objects.

Viewing Effects

Both HDTVs have very reflective displays, so be careful where you place the lights in your room. The viewing angle on the Sony KDL-46Z5100 is significantly wider than the Toshiba Regza 40XV645U, which isn't to say it's paticularly good, just better.

Viewing Angle Comparison
Toshiba Regza 40XV645U Score: 4.43	Sony KDL-46Z5100 Score: 6.71

Connectivity

The Sony KDL-46Z5100 offers one additional HDMI input and a LAN port for connecting to your computer network and the internet over the Toshiba Regza 40XV645U.

Other Comparisons

The Sony KDL-46Z5100 offers significantly better audio quality from the built-in speakers. It also offers a wider arrange of media support as you can play back pictures, music and videos from connected USB devices, versus just pictures for the Toshiba Regza 40XV645U. Finally the internet connectivity offers a wide variety of online sources for additional media, including Amazon's on-demand store.