Toshiba TV Z670M Review – Age of Gaming TV

Toshiba, once a pioneering leader in the market, had taken the lead with its unique Toshiba Boomba series. This powerful line of products whose jingles resounded in every household, offered not only splendid visual experiences but also extraordinary audio presentations. I had the pleasure of owning one of the original CRT Toshiba Boomba TVs, which was remarkable. During that time, I paired it with a PS2 and played games like Metal Gear Solid 2 and Ace Combat 5. However, just as magically as it arrived, the Toshiba Boomba series faded into the passage of time, lost amidst the ripples of newer series.

The Toshiba Z670M marks a revival of Toshiba’s commitment to the TV market. I have come to believe that Toshiba has incorporated many of its bells and whistles into it, and it will be as awesome as I remember. So, will the Z670M recreate the amazing experience it once provided, or will it be just another ripple until the next one arrives?

The Toshiba Z670M

The Toshiba Z670M , released this time, has entered the mainstream price range of RM5000 for the 65 inch and RM4000 for the 55 inch, positioning itself within the mid-to-high-end market segment. Straight out of the box, it exudes a premium and edgy appearance, designed with the philosophy of “Essential Beauty,” featuring lines that seamlessly blend into the living space.

Encased within a metal ring, the display is embedded inward by 2mm, accompanied only by Toshiba’s signature ring indicator. The body maintains a slim profile, measuring a mere 3cm at its thickest point.

The back cover houses the Bazooka Bass Woofer Pro sound system powered by Toshiba’s REGZA. Additionally, the left side of the I/O is located, complete with 2 HDMI 2.0 (Port 1 & 2) and 2 HDMI 2.1 (Port 3 & 4), 1 USB Type A 3.0, 1 USB Type A 2.0, 1 SPDIF audio out, 1 3.5mm audio out, and 1 Mini AV in.

Display

The 65-inch 4K 144Hz display panel is a dream come true for serious gamers. Driven by the latest REGZA Enginze ZRi accelerator hardware, which leverages AI machine learning to process both image and sound profiles, this technology also employs millimeter-wave radar to recalibrate itself for optimal visual and audio presentation, adapting to its surroundings.

To further elevate the visual experience, the Toshiba Z670M features Dolby Vision technology. This technology enhances HDR content display, maximizing color and contrast. With this TV, users can enjoy a cinematic visual experience with ultra-vivid colors, true black and white contrast, and an unparalleled gaming experience characterized by surreal environments with vibrant colors. The Dolby experience is further enriched by Dolby Atmos audio technology, which will be elaborated on in the audio segment.

To enable a powerful color spectrum, Toshiba has incorporated Quantum Dot Color Technology into the Z670M . This technology expands the TV’s color range, delivering rich and realistic visuals, offering billions of shades of color.

Audio – Deep, Powerful Bass

While many modern TVs require pairing with a dedicated sound system to achieve a cinematic experience, the same cannot be said about the Toshiba Z670M. Equipped with the Bazooka Bass Woofer Pro, it impresses with its robust audio capabilities. The system comprises a 20W subwoofer and two 10W all-spectrum speakers.

The woofer’s performance is further enhanced by the Tru Bass Booster technology, heightening the TV’s sound pressure level, bass response efficiency, and the perception of bass frequencies to provide a deep, rich, and powerful bass effect.

Despite the focus on bass, Toshiba hasn’t neglected other frequency ranges. The TV features unique ziggurat-shaped speaker units protruding from the back, emitting sound in all directions at mid and low frequencies.

Paired with the REGZA Engine ZRi and Z670M ‘s wave radar, the sound is emitted with the intention of bouncing off surfaces, creating a surround sound environment.

Designed for Gamer

One of the most remarkable aspects of this TV is its focus on gamers. Sporting a native 144Hz panel, the image display ensures smoothness akin to silk, rendering fast-moving motions with a realism that closely mimics real life. To eradicate any tearing during gameplay, the TV is integrated with AMD Freesync Premium, guaranteeing artifact-free visuals across a range of framerates.

Gamers also have the luxury of accessing a multitude of gaming-oriented features, all bundled into the Game Mode Pro. This encompasses features like Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). Furthermore, the Game Deck allows gamers to access critical settings such as display configurations, picture dimensions, and positioning without exiting the game. This feature-rich utility even provides a HUD for real-time information, including refresh rates and input lag status reports.

User Experience

VIDAA OS: No-Nonsense Entertainment Center

Setting up the VIDAA OS requires minimal effort, allowing for instant access to major streaming apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV. The user interface is intuitive, presenting all streaming services directly on the welcome screen. The settings page is concise, offering access to various configurations through a user-friendly menu.

Based on the features available on the Z670M we highly recommend utilizing Prime Video and Apple TV+ to fully leverage the capabilities of the Z670M. Both platforms support Dolby Vision and HDR+, guaranteeing the most immersive visual experience. However, in scenarios where users predominantly consume Dolby Vision content, all platforms would suffice as well.

Viewing Experience

Viewing movies on this TV offers an extraordinary experience, especially when coupled with its powerful sound system. For my test, I tuned in to Tom Clancy’s “Jack Ryan” Season 4 to fully immerse myself in both Dolby Vision and Atmos. To provide a clear comparison, I also watched a version of the show without Dolby Vision and Atmos.

Right from the outset, differences were evident. The contrast was notably flatter without Dolby Vision, while the version with Dolby Vision showcased sharper images. However, the presence of artifacts due to AI compensation was noticeable.

There are a total of four preset Dolby Vision modes available: Filmmaker, Dark, IQ, and Custom. The Filmmaker profile, curated by the production team, presents the film as the director intended. The Dark mode is designed for dimly lit or dark rooms, with warmer colors for enhanced color reproduction. The IQ mode allows the TV to detect and apply the best mode, while the Custom mode offers user-specific customization.

In my dimly lit room, I found the Filmmaker profile to be the most enjoyable. The accurate color rendition, optimal contrast, and brightness truly conveyed the director’s intended emotions, intensity, and suspense. While not directly related, I also adjusted the Ultra Smooth Motion to film mode to minimize motion artifacts, achieving a smoother frame rate than usual.

In terms of audio, during the show, I turned my back to my door when there was a knocking sound. It’s truly remarkable how effectively the surround sound works with just the TV. I compared the experience with and without Dolby Atmos, and the difference was astounding. Dolby Atmos provides a broader soundstage, with dialogue sounding more natural and fluid – akin to listening to a conversation from someone directly in front of you. Explosions and gunshots featured distinct layers of sound, rather than just a single impact.

Gaming Experience

Given that gaming is one of the Z670M’s key selling points, I had to test its gaming performance. With no console at hand, we seeked Aorus to lend us their AORUS Geforce RTX 4080 master, which sufficient even for the most demanding game in the market. This evaluation wasn’t focused on benchmarking the games, but rather on achieving the best possible visual experience. I lined up the current selection of games to assess their visual presentation on the Z670.

There are three unique functions on the Z670M that significantly enhance the user’s gaming experience: the 144Hz refresh rate panel, Gaming Mode, and Game Hub. The 144Hz refresh rate signifies a panel that refreshes at high frequencies. Currently, this feature is supported by Windows PCs with modern GPU support and the Xbox Series X. For the PS5, it can still opt for the 120Hz option.

The second function is the Game Mode, a hardware-based feature that reduces latency between frames. It achieves this by utilizing the REGZA Engine ZRi to pull and project incomplete rendered frames segment by segment. This creates a smoother visual appearance in games without requiring an increase in FPS.

The Gaming Hub, as its name suggests, is a heads-up display for gaming. It showcases vital game information such as FPS, HDR, and VRR mode status. It also enables users to toggle settings that might otherwise be buried deep within menus. It’s worth noting that the absence of Gaming Mode in the hub seems peculiar, as it would be highly useful for users to toggle it on the fly.

Conclusion

With its well-rounded features for visual, audio, and gaming experiences, it stands as a comprehensive entertainment package for any household

The Toshiba Z670M is impressively well-balanced, delivering an exceptional visual experience with Dolby Vision and HDR10+, an enhanced audio experience thanks to Dolby Atmos and Toshiba’s signature Bazooka Bass Woofer Pro sound system, and, in the realm of gaming, offering a Game Mode with a 144Hz refresh rate.

Priced at the range of RM5000 for the 65-inch model and RM4000 for the 55-inch variant, the Toshiba Z670 comfortably fits into its intended market segment while offering features that set it apart from its competitors. With its well-rounded features for visual, audio, and gaming experiences, it stands as a comprehensive entertainment package for any household.

Given its value proposition, we wholeheartedly recognize the Toshiba Z670M and award it our Gold award.