Panasonic LZ2000 (2022) review

Ousting the JZ2000, the 2022 model of Panasonic’s range-topping TV ranee, the LZ2000 employs the most recent excessive brightness panel know-how, boasts an enhanced color efficiency and has a dramatically revised Dolby Atmos sound system, with audio steering audio system. 

It additionally introduces a Sport Management Board interface, which teams collectively related parameters reminiscent of VRR, enter lag, HDR standing and Darkish Visibility Enhancer – the latter a tweak that helps reveal something untoward hiding within the shadows of your sport. 

When you’re in search of a premium display optimised for motion pictures and gaming, then you definately’ve undoubtedly come to the suitable place… 

Design & Construct

• Wafer skinny
• 4 HDMI ports
• Customized My App button on distant

The LZ2000 could reside on the greater finish of the worth scale, however the worth is certainly seen within the package deal. Construct high quality is excessive, with the set handsomely completed in darkish gray, with a wafer-thin bezel and pedestal stand.

Panasonic

It’s a bit bulkier than some, however that’s all the way down to the Technics tuned top and side-firing speaker enclosures constructed onto the again panel.

Connections embrace 4 HDMIs, however solely two are appropriate with Excessive Body Fee 4K 120fps video from a video games console. All 4 assist ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR (variable refresh price). Latency is sweet as I measured enter lag at 14.5ms (1080p/60fps).

There are additionally three USB ports, a digital optical audio output, an AV minijack and Ethernet. Wi-fi connectivity is obtainable by way of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

One key new attraction on the LZ2000 fashions is the Sport Management Board. To avoid wasting you navigating menus, you possibly can assign it to the customisable ‘My App’ button on the distant zapper, a pleasant contact.

Steve Could / Foundry

Sensible Options

• My Residence Display 7.0
• Freeview Play

On the subject of linked smarts, the TX-55LZ2000 makes use of Panasonic’s My Residence Display platform, now as much as v7.0. This easy-going interface is intuitive to make use of, and permits welcome customisation.

Streaming apps seem as a strip of buttons just like Samsung’s interface, with content material thumbnails that pop up as you hover over them. You may change which streaming button seems in your launch display by ‘pinning’ favourites.

There’s lots to select from together with Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Britbox, Disney+, Apple TV+, YouTube and Rakuten TV.

Steve Could / Foundry

The availability of Freeview Play additionally ensures that there’s a full set of mainstream catch-up companies baked in, together with BBC iPlayer, ITV hub, All 4, My5, UKTV Play, Legend, and CBS Catch Up.

Image High quality

• 4K OLED
• Extensive HDR assist
• HCX Professional AI processor

To explain the image high quality in a phrase: Wow! Effortlessly cinematic, combining a excessive common brightness (for OLED) with dynamic HDR, wealthy hues, and beautiful near-black shadow element, the LZ2000 doesn’t disappoint in relation to image prowess.

Steve Could / Foundry

Panasonic engineers have managed to eke greater ranges of efficiency from their OLED panels for a number of years now, by using creative warmth administration strategies. Right here they get to use their experience on new OLED.EX glass, giving us a Grasp OLED Professional panel that greater than warrants its nomenclature.

Their endeavours have resulted in not solely a elevate in peak HDR efficiency (which I measured at round 1000 nits utilizing a 5% window), however a bump to the typical image stage. In consequence, there’s a bit extra pop to its photos, in comparison with its predecessor, the JZ2000.

A lot of the credit score for the set’s total picture excellence has to go to the HCX Professional AI processor, which works hand in glove with an ambient gentle sensor to optimise the display, and expertly manages upscaling for non 4K sources (helpful as I nonetheless watch a whole lot of HD as do a lot of viewers).

HDR format assist is huge. The set boasts Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive, each of which react and modify to ambient room gentle. There’s additionally a Netflix Adaptive Calibrated mode, which is analogous and new, and for individuals who need to minimise processing there’s Filmmaker mode with Clever Sensing.

Picture presets comprise Regular, Cinema, Filmmaker mode with Clever Sensing, True Cinema, Skilled 1 and a couple of, Sport, Dynamic, Auto AI and Customized.

The only choice is to depart the set on Auto AI, which works effectively sufficient for many sources. My most well-liked viewing mode although is True Cinema, which affords a extra constant viewing expertise.

Sound High quality

• Dolby Atmos
• Top and side-firing drivers
• Tuned by Technics

With 360° Soundscape Professional, the LZ2000 fields arguably probably the most elaborate Dolby Atmos sound system ever constructed right into a TV.

Steve Could / Foundry

Along with its forward-firing ‘soundbar’ array, you’ll discover top audio system positioned on the high rear of the display, with aspect firing drivers left and proper, and a woofer for surprisingly first rate bass. Considerably, the entrance soundbar design has had an replace this season, with the adoption of latest beam forming drivers.

Utilizing an onscreen graphic, you possibly can direct their sound output left or proper, zone by zone. The thought is to pay attention audio at a specific spot within the viewing room, maybe permitting your roommate to snooze when you catch-up on some Disney+.

In full Dolby Atmos anger, the set sounds genuinely theatrical, and with a complete energy output rated at 150W there’s sufficient muscle on tape for a rewardingly rowdy listening expertise. The LZ2000 sounds nice with motion motion pictures, atmospheric TV exhibits and even music programming (a profit of getting Technics in your nook to tune issues).

Value & Availability

The Panasonic LZ2000 collection is obtainable in three display sizes: 55-, 65- and 77-inches (TX-55LZ2000, TX-65LZ2000, TX-77LZ2000), priced at £2,299, £2,899, and £4,299 respectively. 

This places it within the higher echelon of huge display 4K TVs with the likes of the LG G2 OLED and Philips OLED+936. Try our chart of one of the best TVs for extra choices.

Sadly, the LZ2000 vary isn’t obtainable to US patrons, as a result of Panasonic hasn’t bought TVs into the North American marketplace for quite a lot of years now. 

We’re testing the 55in mannequin within the vary right here which you’ll be able to sometimes purchase alongside its stablemates from the likes of John Lewis, Currys, AO and Laptops Direct. Oddly, Amazon doesn’t inventory this mannequin on the time of writing.

Verdict

The Panasonic TX-55LZ2000 is an excellent purchase in case you’re in search of an all-in-one house theatre answer. Not solely is the display modern by way of tech and efficiency, it comes with one of the best all spherical implementation of Dolby Atmos built-in we’ve heard to this point. No further gear is required. 

Having huge scale adoption of ambient gentle AI image monitoring, with Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Filmmaker mode with Clever Sensing and Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode doesn’t damage both. 

A disgrace then that when once more we’re restricted to only two HDMI inputs which assist HFR playback – however that’s a comparatively remoted niggle. 

Keep in mind in case you just like the look of the set’s Grasp OLED professional panel, however merely don’t want the added expense of the 360° Soundscape Professional audio system, then the stablemate LZ1500 vary sells for much less and boasts the identical Grasp OLED Professional panel and HCX AI professional processor. 

Specs

• 55-, 65-, 75in
• OLED Grasp Professional show know-how 
• Decision: 4K 3840 x 2160 
• HDMI: x4 
• HDR assist: HDR10, HLG, Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ,  HDR10+ 
• My Residence Display v7.0 sensible platform 
• Freeview Play terrestrial tuner 
• Dimensions:: 1227(w) x 764(h) x 69(d)mm   
• Weight: 19.5kg