The Panasonic MZ2000 is the last word house cinema bundle

For lots of flagship TVs this yr, brightness has been a key focus – and no extra so than for “conventional” OLEDs, for which this has standardly been one in every of their largest weaknesses.

The Panasonic MZ2000 is not any totally different. It’s the cream of Panasonic’s OLED crop this year, and makes use of the identical brightness boosting MLA (Micro Lens Array) know-how because the LG G3.

This goals to push the brightness out to the viewer extra successfully, through the use of billions of lenses within the panel to higher mirror outwards gentle, making footage brighter and HDR extra impactful.

Not simply that, it additionally packs what seems to be to be a really succesful Atmos sound system inbuilt too. Does the MZ2000 make a late cost in what’s been an unimaginable yr for TVs? Right here’s my full assessment.

Panasonic

Panasonic MZ2000

Editor’s alternative

The Panasonic MZ2000 serves up all the normal advantages of OLED, with a brighter general image and nice image processing for a very cinematic efficiency. Add in a robust characteristic set and excellent built-in sound, and it raises the bar of what a terrific TV seems to be like in 2023. It is a complete house cinema bundle.

Execs

• Stunning, cinematic image efficiency
• One of many brightest OLEDs you should buy
• Nice built-in sound
• Full complement of HDR assist

Cons

• Solely two 4K/120Hz HDMI
• Not nice for wall mounting

Pricing, specs and availability

The MZ2000 is accessible in a alternative of 55, 65 and 77 inches, and retails for £2,699, £3,599 and £4,499 respectively. Sadly there aren’t any costs for the US as Panasonic would not promote its TV in North America.

That makes the MZ2000 one of many costlier OLEDs this yr, coming near the Sony A95L‘s £2,999 price ticket at this examined 55-inch display measurement. By comparability, the MZ2000’s MLA competitors, the LG G3, prices “simply” £1,900, with Samsung’s flagship QD-OLED, the S95C costing £1,899.

Design

The design of the MZ2000 seems to be very a lot the identical as final yr, with slim bezels sitting on a round central pedestal, which swivels. This helps it to sit down on slim furnishings that the broad ft of Sony’s A95L could make troublesome – one thing I respect, as somebody with restricted house (and a penchant for big-screen tellies). It’’s maybe a barely purposeful look, however it’s sensible sufficient.

You may additionally discover the MZ2000’s built-in sound system, a 360-degree Soundscape Professional Dolby Atmos setup, tuned by Technics, that contains a traditional-looking soundbar inbuilt alongside the underside, two upfiring audio system sitting on the highest of the panel – simply out of sight – and a pair of side-firing drivers too.

This beneficiant setup for a TV is able to 150W of sound, and if different iterations of it are a sign, it’s possible you’ll – as is certainly Panasonic’s purpose – not want an exterior sound system in any respect.

In actual fact, utilizing a soundbar wouldn’t solely look a bit foolish, you might also wrestle to get it to sit down underneath the display, because of it sitting relatively low on the pedestal. The excellent news is, I do not suppose you’ll want to fret – however extra on that in a bit.

Connections comprise 4 HDMI ports, although like a few of its competitors, the MZ2000 solely manages to make two of those 4K/120Hz succesful (Dolby Imaginative and prescient gaming solely at 4K/60Hz), for VRR/ALLM assist.

The truth that one in every of these can be the eARC port limits your choices additional right here, although its succesful built-in sound system might assist to ease this port stress a bit.

There’s additionally an optical digital out, three USBs, a 3.5mm AV enter and a headphones/subwoofer in. There’s ethernet when you do not need to use the built-in Wi-Fi, and naturally tuners for terrestrial TV or satellite tv for pc.

Panasonic continues to shun the pattern for smaller, slimmer remotes, with the inclusion of a completely huge one within the field. I might lose among the issues on there, however it’s complete to say the least, and consists of shortcuts for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, Freeview Play and Rakuten TV on the high.

It’s fairly plastic-y although, and would not look as premium as you would possibly anticipate from a TV at this stage.

Not like its large competitor, the LG G3, the MZ2000 feels prefer it was made to sit down on its stand. Its built-in sound system makes it comparatively chunky on the again – that makes no odds when you’ll be able to’t see it in fact, however it’s higher for a TV to be on the slimmer aspect when wall mounting. That does not imply it is not doable, however when you’d been planning that to your subsequent TV, it is one thing to think about.

Options

The MZ2000 might look similar to its predecessor, however inside, it is a very totally different story.

In fact, there’s that MLA panel I discussed above, nicknamed the Grasp OLED Final, which has one of many largest impacts on the MZ2000’s efficiency, providing a claimed 50 per cent brightness improve on the five-star LZ2000.

Nonetheless, it is price mentioning right here, that the 77-inch model makes use of a unique panel, which does not use MLA know-how – so efficiency could possibly be very totally different. In case you like what you learn on this assessment, keep on with the 55- or 65-inch variants to make sure you’ll get the identical.

Irrespective of which measurement you go for, the Panasonic’s HCX Professional AI processor is working the present, promising Panasonic’s finest color accuracy and high notch AI-enhanced image processing. There’s additionally optimised warmth administration too, permitting the the system to push for these brighter footage, with out inflicting it to overheat.

The MZ2000 has the total complement of assist for HDR, with HDR10 and HLG, in addition to HDR10+ Adaptive as effectively as Dolby Vision IQ – which perceive the quantity of ambient gentle within the room and tweak the HDR efficiency to swimsuit.

The ambient gentle sensor in command of this additionally works with the Netflix Calibrated Mode that is on board right here, in addition to an improved Filmmaker Mode – essentially the most correct mode you will get out of the field. However extra on that shortly.

Panasonic’s sensible TV system is dealt with by its personal comparatively easy, minimally invasive My House Display 8.0.

Press the “House” button on the distant, and a scrollable bar of round thumbnails will overlay over no matter you might be watching. It has all of the streaming apps you may need, with a pop-up rail of suggestions showing above it whenever you decide on an app for greater than a second.

It’s also possible to add or take away providers and transfer them round relying in your preferences. Anticipate Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and AppleTV+ amongst others, plus all of the UK’s TV catch up providers, because of Freeview Play.

There’s additionally the choice to load up My Surroundings, which lets you show your alternative of “restful photos or video” – typically accompanied by corresponding Dolby Atmos soundtracks. Get pleasure from a soothing picture of a rainforest with a soundtrack to match, when you want downtime earlier than mattress.

Avid gamers can profit from a brand new Recreation Management Board on the MZ2000, which – alongside the precise Recreation Mode in image settings – ought to make gaming all of the extra insightful.

It will show particulars like decision, HDR and body charge, which you’ll view at any time, in addition to select particular sound modes for the sport sort you are taking part in and improve darker areas of a sport for improved visibility it (I will not inform when you do not).

Lastly, there’s voice help accessible by way of Alexa (you will have to press the mic button on the distant to activate, as soon as arrange), or you can too use Google Assistant to get requests to the TV, if in case you have a appropriate system within the family.

Image efficiency

Out of the field, you’ve got acquired at least 13 image modes to select from – in SDR mode at the very least, and nearly the identical in HDR10/HDR10+.

Probably the most correct of those is Filmmaker Mode – for each SDR and HDR content material – which turns off all further processing and preserves issues like color, side ratio and body charges from the unique supply, making certain you see what the director needed you to.

Whereas different modes is perhaps instantly extra participating, it is the mode I might suggest attempting out first. It will not get you the brightest image although – nor will or not it’s the place these large peak brightness numbers might be measured from.

That is reserved for the Dynamic Mode, however – like most modes of this ilk – it verges on cartoonish in its color dealing with, and never one thing I might suggest in any respect.

In case you really feel such as you want a brightness increase on Filmmaker Mode, you may strive the extra palatable Skilled 1. This boosts the luminance whereas preserving additional processing off, however you may even see a knock on impact on black stage, so bear that in thoughts.

A fast point out, too, for Auto AI mode, which makes use of AI to detect what you are watching and adjusts the TV’s settings appropriately. Nonetheless, I discovered it a bit unreliable, and that it had a bent to verge in the direction of cooler tones than I would like.

Dolby Imaginative and prescient content material is fortunately rather more straight ahead, with simply three choices to select from. The one to stay with right here – except you have got a devoted darkened cinema room – is the default, Dolby Imaginative and prescient IQ. Easy.

Whichever mode you select (and you may set totally different modes for various sources), I might suggest turning off all processing and extra options to start with after which including it again in slowly when you suppose the image wants it. Panasonic’s native image dealing with actually would not want that a lot assist in any respect.

That stated, there are some things to be careful for. For instance, except you are watching in a extremely darkish room, preserving the Auto Brightness on underneath Ambient Sensor Settings permits the image to subtly dim up or down primarily based in your atmosphere. That is notably useful in shiny rooms, the place the additional brightness of the MZ2000 actually comes into its personal, and also will be wanted for superior HDR modes, like Dolby IQ, to work.

One other factor to look out for is Clever Body Creation – that is the identify for Panasonic’s movement processing. I discovered the MZ2000 handles movement fairly effectively with none further assist, however when you suppose it wants it, a ‘minimal’ setting will help to easy out any niggles with out being too heavy handed. Something greater than that causes unnatural smoothing and distracting image artefects, which is far worse than a little bit of movement blur in my books.

So now you are arrange, how does the TV look? In brief, it is as about as cinematic because it will get.

Panasonic is understood for its image processing prowess, and that is on present right here from the second you begin watching. There is a actually pure dealing with of all footage, however with loads of punch to color whenever you want it too.

From a brightness perspective, there’s most likely not lots in it when put next with its 2023 flagship competitors, however the step up from final yr – and certainly from this yr’s succesful vary of sub-flagship fashions – is evident.

Even in my comparatively shiny lounge, the brightness on provide right here is sufficient to maintain distracting reflections at bay, and is not only including punch to highlights but in addition elevating the APL (common image stage) to be general brighter too.

Beginning with the good things, and a 4K HDR10+ streaming of John Wick: Chapter 4 from Prime Video seems to be excellent. Within the scene the place the Harbinger visits the New York Continental to offer its proprietor an hour’s discover earlier than its destruction, the variable lighting of the moody setting is excellently dealt with.

Blacks are as inky deep as solely an OLED can muster, however a superb stage of shadow element is retained too, giving depth and texture to every thing from swimsuit jackets to leather-based briefcases.

As daylight pours via some excessive home windows into the darkened room, it exactly highlights areas on in any other case shadowed faces.

Leather-based chairs decide up a wealthy reflection the place they dimple, lamps glow warmly on aspect tables, and the sand timer that counts down the hour till the lodge’s destiny glistens simply so – the brightness of those refined highlights won’t be one thing you’d suppose to select usually watching, however it’s this consideration to element that makes all of the distinction to the broader viewing expertise.

In John Wick’s desert chase scene, simply moments earlier, the MZ2000 additionally reveals what it could do with brighter scenes. The gloriously daring, burnt orange sand sits dramatically towards the brilliant blue sky, with excellent element retrieval giving a tangible depth to the sweeping surroundings, in order that it nearly seems to be 3D.

Colors are brilliantly dealt with throughout the board too. As this scene reveals, there’s a richness accessible when it is wanted, however there’s subtlety in spades too, and pores and skin tones look spot on.

Switching to a Dolby Imaginative and prescient Netflix stream of Intercourse Schooling and there is a slight elevate in general image brightness, with but extra left to push behind the white writing that overlays whenever you pause it. It is piercingly shiny.

Colors look simply as nice right here, with loads of pop behind the 80s-inspired clothes. But change to the low-lit scenes of Seven Kings Should Die, one thing many TVs can wrestle with, and the MZ2000 takes them in its stride, retaining element, avoiding black crush and searching nearly as good as I’ve seen it.

Drop right down to a full HD stream of Drive and the MZ2000’s upscaling means is laid out for all to see. It is excellent, and free from noise and some other processing quirks. Until you’re being very choosy certainly, it is nearly unimaginable to decipher that this isn’t 4K.

HD TV broadcasts won’t be fairly so undetectable, with some faint element softness in faces and descriptions, however it’s solely actually customary definition broadcasts the place issues get questionably fuzzier. Color dealing with stays actually stable throughout the board although, making something you throw on the MZ2000 very watchable certainly.

Sound efficiency

It isn’t fairly often that I am going to say this, however with the MZ2000, you can also make do with no soundbar long run. The sound system that’s inbuilt right here is actually that good.

You may be prompted to set it up correctly whenever you arrange the TV, with a comparatively brief, however loud, calibration course of referred to as Area Tune – exhibiting it means enterprise. As soon as completed there are additional choices to re-run the method or tweak the leads to the menu do you have to require them, however I did not have to.

There’s additionally the choice for various sound modes, however I discovered the default Commonplace labored for many issues. There’s additionally Speech, Music and Stadium choices, the latter attempting to emulate the expertise of being within the crowd at sports activities occasions, plus a customized consumer setting – or you’ll be able to go away it within the arms of Auto AI to pick out for you.

It is a loud, ahead presentation, which has quantity to spare. Voices sound pure and centered, there’s weight within the low finish for giving combat scenes authority, and encompass results are pushed fairly broad too. It is a significantly larger sound than you’d anticipate from a TV.

Watching one thing with an Atmos soundtrack on Netflix delivers a noticeably extra ethereal and open presentation, and whereas peak results are dangled in a 3D house someplace above the TV relatively than above you, the soundspace is far larger, and extra detailed than just about any TV I’ve heard this yr.

In case you actually end up wanting extra, there’s the choice for including a subwoofer, although I believe what’s on provide right here might be greater than sufficient for almost all of individuals.

Verdict

The Panasonic MZ2000 is a superbly shiny OLED TV that serves up all the normal advantages of OLED, with a brighter general image and extra impactful HDR.

It is nice to have all HDR codecs supported too, and when you might spend loads of time within the menus tweaking settings if you want, deciding on Filmmaker Mode out of the field gives you a stable beginning floor inside minutes of getting it out of the field.

The images that the Panasonic MZ2000 is able to are nothing lower than excellent, producing a finely detailed, cinematic image that appears nice with every thing you throw at it. The image processing right here is simply effortlessly good.

Add in a surprisingly succesful built-in sound system, and the MZ2000 delivers an excellent efficiency that raises the bar, as soon as once more, of what a terrific TV seems to be like in 2023. It is a complete house cinema bundle.