Panasonic announces LZ2000: Like its predecessor, the JZW2004, the LZW2004 has been tuned by Hollywood professionals to create the most realistic image possible. New gaming improvements, such as the Game Control Board, automatic NVIDIA GPU detection, improved 60Hz latency and support for HDMI 2.1 also make the LZW2004 a powerful gaming television, according to Panasonic.
Panasonic LZW2004 OLED TV
Panasonic wants to provide users with optimal picture and sound quality regardless of the content they watch, when and where they watch it. The image is therefore optimized according to the color temperature of the ambient light, according to the Japanese manufacturer. To optimize image quality for the time of day being viewed, the LZ2000 uses a sensor that detects the color temperature of the ambient light. This is important because people perceive ‘white’ differently depending on the ambient light. For example, in most European homes, lamps are lit in the evenings that spread warm light, so that white colors on the screen can be perceived as blue and too cold. The new sensor works in tandem with the HCX Pro AI processor to adjust each color tone as realistically as possible based on the ambient light, for a more enjoyable viewing experience at night. Colors with which the human eye is familiar, such as skin tones, are preserved, creating a natural image.
The Auto AI mode now even better automatically detects what type of content is being watched and automatically adjusts the image and sound quality accordingly. If you know best which settings are suitable for you, these functions can also be switched off.
The LZ2000 is available in 65- and 55-inch, and in 77-inch – a size that Panasonic calls ‘Master OLED Pro – Cinema Size’. The latest 2022 generation Master OLED Pro configuration has been applied to all three sizes. According to Panasonic, this produces an even clearer image through improved image quality processing. Due to the even greater clarity of the midrange, HDR more fully and details in lighter parts of the image are more accurately reproduced. The LZ2000 supports all major HDR formats, such as Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Vision, Filmmaker Mode, HDR10+ Adaptive and HLG Photo.
Dolby Atmos and Directional Sound
According to the manufacturer, the various built-in upward, side- and forward-facing speaker units produce a spatial sound with Dolby Atmos content, something that Panasonic calls 360° Soundscape. This year, however, Panasonic has completely revamped the front-facing speakers. They have been replaced by a row of speakers (array speakers) that are placed next to each other over the entire width of the TV behind the front speaker grille.
These speakers offer a number of advantages. They create a wider sound field and a more accurate and clear sound. In addition, they enable directional sound. Using a GUI, the LZ2000 can adjust the relative loudness of the sound in different parts of the room. For this, the TV offers three modes: the Pinpoint mode, which allows the sound to be focused on one specific point; the Area mode, which allows the sound to be moved to a group of people in a specific part of the room; and the Spot mode which boosts the volume at one point while others can still hear the sound. This function makes it possible, for example, to comfortably watch TV while someone is sleeping on the other side of the wall.
gaming
With the LZW2004, Panasonic is also focusing on gaming. A new feature called Game Control Board brings all relevant settings and information together in one place and displays them as an overlay over the game. Gamers can access this without exiting the game. In addition, the function can be programmed to be accessed at the touch of a remote control by assigning it to the customizable my App button.
The Game Control Board overlay provides real-time access to the following key features and information:
- Information – This option displays all information from the game being played, such as frame rate, HDR metadata, and chroma sub-sampling data.
- Dark Visibility Enhancer – Allows the gamer to fine-tune the near-black portion of dark scenes, making it easier to follow the correct route or spot enemies hiding in the shadows.
- HDR Tonemap – This displays the current HDR tone mapping settings. The possible settings are: Off (the game console controls the tone mapping); On (the TV controls the tone mapping); or Dynamic (the TV analyzes the incoming frames in real time and produces dynamic tone mapping for each scene, even if the source is static HDR content).
- Input Lag and VRR – For viewing and adjusting Input Lag and VRR settings.
- Viewing Mode – Allows gamers to adjust the screen mode in real time and see the effect live to select the view they prefer.
Other new features include SPD Auto Game Mode, the automatic detection of compatible HDMI 2.1 4K HFR/VRR supporting NVIDIA GPUs (for example RTX30–), so the LZ2000 can automatically optimize both the input lag and VRR settings for a perfect gaming experience. In addition, Panasonic has limited input lag for 60Hz games, which are supported by most game consoles through the new 60Hz Refresh Mode. By default, the LZ2000 supports HDMI 2.1 features such as High Frame Rate (HFR) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) at 120 Hz in full 4K resolution.
Price and availability of Panasonic announces LZ2000
The Panasonic LZ2000 (LZW2004) OLED TV should be available for sale in the Europe around the summer. Prices have not yet been announced.
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