Televisions

The light sensor in the LZ2000 is a big contributor to the set's visual success, as it informs the Auto AI process, which balances the image based on content and ambient lighting conditions. Picture presets include Cinema, Filmmaker Mode and True Cinema (potentially confusing), the aforementioned Auto AI, and Custom. Select the latter and you'll unlock the Advanced settings menu where you can manage contrast, adjust white balance and explore colour management. Take care, this is not a place to casually tinker.

As we've come to expect from Panasonic, the LZ2000 has multi-HDR support, and includes Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive modes to analyse ambient room lighting. A new wheeze is Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode, but it really doesn't seem to serve much purpose – most content on Netflix is Dolby Vision encoded, and the set jumps to Dolby Vision IQ, which does much the same thing.

There's no other word for it: this screen's HDR performance is outstanding. I measured close to 1,000 nits using the Normal image default with a five per cent window, which means the set can accommodate most commercially available HDR content with ease. It's also able to retain bright HDR detail, rather than abruptly dimming, which adds to the solidity of its picture presentation.

You can best notice this lift to peak HDR performance in those various 'cinema' modes. My favoured preset is True Cinema, which manages to feel theatrical without overt motion smoothing, yet isn't choppy when it comes to pans and movement.

Near-black shadow detail performance is best-in-show. In Gemini Man (4K Blu-ray), Will Smith's hitman is woken by an alarm as assassins close in on his rural retreat. The sequence that follows is presented virtually black, albeit with plenty of low-level shadow info. The LZ2000 lets you peer into Smith's weapons bag, without recourse to any obvious light. It's still dark, but you can clearly make out fine details. And even in low light, the clarity in the big close-ups of this disc's 4K/60 transfer is amazing. Other strong picture points include the smoothness of its near-black rendering, with minimal shadow detail crushing, as well as colour depth. The HCX Pro AI processor can take the credit here. This SoC handles the small stuff with painterly precision. Skin tones are convincing, colours are bright but not over-pumped, and 4K content appears razor-sharp.

Not exclusively interested in movies? Motion smoothing technology is well honed. Intelligent Frame Creation (IFC) is available in Custom, Max, Mid and Minimum, all acceptable options for live TV and sports. There's also a Black Frame Insertion mode, although switching to this results in quite overt flicker, and a darkening of the overall picture. It might measure well but it looks horrible.

Onboard With Gaming
For smart functions, the LZ2000 uses the My Home Screen 7 OS, which remains an easy to navigate and customisable platform. You can pop your favourite apps or inputs onto the Home Screen using 'pins', and the app selection rail opens up contextual menus as you hover over its icons. All very useful.

Panasonic offers a variety of VOD apps, and catch-up is well catered for thanks to Freeview Play. It has also added some more content to its Gallery 'relaxation' mode, which I'll file away under 'things I'll never use, but others might like'. There's also voice control with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

Significantly, the brand has focused more on gaming this year. A new Game Control Board UI groups resolution, frame rate, input lag and VRR and HDR information in one place for easy inspection. You can also assign this pop-up to the customisable 'my App' button on the remote control, so you don't have to dig through menus.

To catch out adversaries, an adjustable Dark Visibility Enhancer allows some tweaking of near-black. Input lag with 1080/60Hz material was measured at 14.5ms.

Two Thumbs Up
Long story short: the TX-55LZ2000 is a supremely good 4K flatscreen. Its picture performance is remarkable, bright yet subtle, colour-rich but believable, and it delivers Atmos audio at a scale that can rival high-end soundbars.

Gaming ambitions don't yet match the hardware. The Game Control Board feature is slick, but hobbled somewhat by the provision of just two HFR-capable HDMIs. But if you can live with that limitation, you'll have few quibbles.

Expensive but brilliant, the 55LZ2000 more than warrants two thumbs up.

HCC Verdict

Panasonic TX-55LZ2000

Price: £2,299
www.panasonic.co.uk

We say: The LZ2000's Master OLED Pro panel and HCX Pro AI processor offer a slick blend of effective HDR, colour fidelity and detail. Add 360° Soundscape Pro, and this TV raises the bar.

Overall: 5/5

Specifications

4K: Yes. 3,840 x 2,160 HDR: Yes. Dolby Vision; HDR10; HDR10+; HLG; HDR Photo TUNER: Yes. Freeview Play; satellite CONNECTIONS: 4 x HDMI inputs; 3 x USB; optical digital audio output; Ethernet; headphone/sub out 4K/120 PLAYBACK: Yes SOUND (CLAIMED): 150W, 5.1.2-channel (70W front line array; 2 x 15W side; 2 x 15W height; 20W woofer; 2 x passive radiators) BRIGHTNESS (CLAIMED): N/A CONTRAST RATIO (CLAIMED): N/A DIMENSIONS (OFF STAND): 1,227(w) x 764(h) x 69(d)mm WEIGHT (OFF STAND): 19.5kg

FEATURES: Wi-Fi; Bluetooth; Dolby Atmos audio system; HCX Pro AI processor; Filmmaker Mode with Intelligent Sensing; My Home Screen 7; Dolby Vision IQ; HDR10+Adaptive; 2 x HDMI 2.1 inputs; eARC; ALLM; VRR (incl. FreeSync Premium); Auto AI sound mode; Master OLED Pro panel; Calman Ready