Toshiba 47TL515U 3D LCD NetTV with LED Edge Lighting - Review

As with other 3D TVs I have reviewed, I found that the default picture settings (in the case of this TV it is the Autoview setting) were definitely not adequate for 3D viewing as the contrast and brightness are two low to reproduce adequate 3D depth. When viewing 3D material, I found that it was best to use the Standard or Sports setting, as the maximization of Backlight level and Contrast made the 3D images more defined and compensated well for loss of brightness when viewing through 3D glasses.

When viewing 3D content, I thought that the depth rendering was very good, and I did not encounter any significant flicker, ghosting, or motion lag that can be known to occur with 3D viewing. Some 3D Blu-ray discs that I thought provided a good viewing experience were Avatar, Captain America - The First Avenger, Despicable Me, Drive Angry, Kung Fu Panda 2, and Resident Evil - Afterlife. For information on other 3D films I use in my 3D product reviews, refer to my listing of Best 3D Blu-ray Discs.

However, although 3D viewing overall was quite pleasant, there are some factors to take into consideration with the Passive 3D viewing system. The first thing that is noticeable is a thin horizontal line structure that is present in 3D images, the second is the periodic presence of stairstepping or interlace-type artifacts on some objects. These artifacts most noticeable on text and objects with straight edges. Also, the closer you sit to the screen, the more noticeable these factors can become.

One question that has come up for debate since the introduction of 3D TVs that use the passive system, is whether you are actually seeing a full 1080p image on the screen in 3D viewing mode. My opinion is that I did sense that the 3D image was softer than I have seen on TVs that use the active glasses system - but without doing a side-by-side comparison, I can't say for sure.

However, the presence of the horizontal line structure and interlace-type artifacts seems to indicate that not all the intended information actually does reach your eyes. For more on this ongoing controversy, read the arguments put forth by Joe Kane (advocating for active side) and Dr Raymand Soneria (advocating for the passive side).

One last comment I want to make regarding 3D is the built-in 2D-to-3D conversion feature. Although the 476TL515U has the ability to perform real-time 2D-to-3D conversion, the results are not nearly as good as when viewing native 3D content. The conversion process does add depth to a 2D source image, but the depth perspective is not always accurate. Sometimes there is a "folding" look, and many times objects just seem out place within viewing space. However, the TV does provide a 3D depth control that allows you tweak the 2D-to-3D conversion effect that can help minimize some the above issue.

I would consider using the 2D-to-3D feature very sparingly, limiting its use to sporting events or live concert performance broadcasts. On the other side of the coin, the 57TL515U can also covert 3D to 2D if there is a need, and that function does work fine.

The Toshiba 47TL515U also offers internet widgets, which is referred to as NetTV.

Some of the accessible services and sites include: Blockbuster, Netflix, Pandora, Vudu, and YouTube.

If taking advantage of the internet streaming features, you need a good high-speed broadband connection. If you have a slow broadband speed, video playback may stop periodically to buffer. If that happens, you may have to select a lower resolution option, if the service you are accessing provides multiple resolution feeds.

For instance, Vudu offer an SD format that it still looks pretty good and help limit buffering issues. Also, Netflix has a function that automatically adjusts the quality of its feed based on your connection speed that helps to prevent excessive buffering. For more details on these issues, read our article: Internet Speed Requirements for Video Streaming.

It must also be noted, with regards to video streaming, that there is a lot of variation in the video quality of the streamed content, ranging from low-res compressed video that is hard to watch on a large screen to high-def video feeds that look more like DVD quality or slightly better. Even 1080p content streamed from the internet will not look quite as detailed as 1080p content played directly from a Blu-ray Disc.

The Toshiba 47TL515U provides several audio features.

Audyssey Dynamic Volume limits annoying volume variations within a problem, when changing from one channel to another, or from one source component to another, providing a better listening experience when using the TV's speakers or when the audio from the TV is connected to your home theater system. Settings are also provided for Voice Enhancement and Bass Boost.

Frankly, the audio quality of the 47TL515U is anemic, but on par with other LCD and Plasma TVs I have reviewed. Despite the audio settings that are provided, the built-in amplifier and speakers are no substitute for a separate audio system. Even a modest sound bar, paired with small subwoofer, would provide a much better audio listening experience, especially when playing DVDs or Blu-ray Discs.

This is where the included Audio Return Channel can come in real handy. ARC allows transfer of audio from 47TL515U back to an ARC compatible theater receiver without having to connect a second cable between the TV and home theater receiver. The only issue I had with ARC is some instances of the audio and video being out of synch, so you may have to engage your home theater receiver's audio delay adjustments (refer to my article: How To Correct Audio/Video Synch Problem in Home Theater.

However, even if your home theater receiver or external audio system is not Audio Return Channel compatible, the TV's Digital Optical or Analog stereo outputs can also allow connection to an external system with good results.

1. Very good color and detail. Good video processing and scaling.

2. 3D works well provided contrast and backlight settings are set high and the content is produced well for 3D viewing. No noticeable 3D ghosting or motion lag.

3. NetTV provides good selection of internet streaming options.

4. Very good motion response on 2D and 3D material when Clearscan 240 is engaged.

5. Four Pairs of Passive 3D Glasses provided - you can also use RealD glasses that you get from the movie theater.

6. Passive 3D glasses are very comfortable and lightweight - just like wearing sunglasses.

7. Lots of internet widgets.

What I Didn't Like About The Toshiba 47TL515U

1. 2D to 3D real time conversion does not provide a good viewing experience.

2. Passive 3D system exhibits thin horizontal lines and edge artifacts if viewed too closely - noticeable on text and objects with straight lines.

3. TV takes a long time to boot up (well over 10 seconds) and there is a long duration when changing TV channels. This may be frustrating for some. There is a delay of about a second or so when changing from one TV channel to another.

4. Remote control is rather cumbersome to use - lots of buttons.

5. Brightness decrease when viewing 3D content. Contrast and Backlight settings should set high or the TV set in Standard or Sports mode for best 3D effect.

6. Some unevenness in black levels across the screen - most noticeable in very dark scenes and letterbox or pillarbox bars.

Final Take

I found that the Toshiba 47TL515U provides a lot of features and good performance for the price. For 2D viewing, the 47TL515 provides good performance with both high definition and standard definition content, and the internet and network streaming options provide access to an abundance of content. Also, there are lots of input connections as well as both analog and digital audio output connections.

I also found that viewing 3D was an overall good experience, although the horizontal line and interlace-type artifacts may be disctracting for some. I would strongly suggest, when shopping, to do some comparative 3D viewing with both active and passive 3D TVs and see what looks best to you.

However, even if you are not looking for a 3D TV, there is enough packed into the Toshiba 47TL515U for the price to definitely consider. If you don't want to watch 3D, you don't have to, but if you do, it comes packed with four pairs of 3D glasses and extra ones are a lot less expensive that the active shutter glasses required on some other sets.

For a closer look at the Toshiba 47TL515U, also check out my Photo Profile and Video Performance Test Results.

Compare Prices

Also available in the 55-inch screen size: Compare Prices for the Toshiba 55TL515U, 42-inch screen size: Compare Prices for the Toshiba 42TL515U, and 32-inch screen size: Compare Prices for the Toshiba 32TL515U

Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.